Joyfull Living

It is Friday!! I love Fridays and Jean invited me to join her in her Friday fun and share 5 Things About Me. 1. I love mornings! They are the most productive time of my day. A typical morning routine includes, Bible study, exercise, laundry, dishes washed, house tidy and supper planned. All before leaving for work! 2. I love outdoor activities. Summer evenings are perfect for walking or riding bicycles or just being outdoors. 3. Coffee and dessert are some of my best friends! 4. Peace and order help me function at maximum capacity at home and work, but with three sons, flexibility is a grace I am learning. 5. My new buzz word is "anticipate". Anticipating needs before they arise, solutions before problems surface and planning ahead for what I know will come up, saves time and sanity.

Often I remind myself the importance of the words I say. Often I struggle to say the words that I should. Sometimes sharp, unkind words come out when I know that gentle and edifying words are what brings grace to those who hear. This verse - " I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth" is a great place to begin to get my heart and mouth in order. When we think how wonderful the Lord is and bless Him and praise Him, our hearts are filled with His goodness and that is what flows from our heart out of our mouths. We are blessed to be a blessing!

Today I am over At the Well talking about making a house truly a home. Come over to At the Well for a visit!

The topic for today over At the Well is about Family Visions. Some questions to ponder are: Do you have a family vision? Why does having a family vision matter? If you have not considered having a family vision, what are some steps you can take towards it? A family vision is a focus, goal or place the entire family has committed to and is moving toward. While my family does not have a formal "vision", we are a Christian family and as parents, our goal is to raise our children to grow into men of integrity who love the Lord and seek to follow the plan He has for their lives. Working toward that goal involves every day training, teaching and setting a good example. Woodrow Wilson said “No man that does not see visions will ever realize any high hope or undertake any high enterprise.” Having a vision matters. If there is nothing that we aim for, we aim and achieve - nothing. As parents there is a common desire for our children to do good and to be successful. We instinc...

What can gather 4 generations of men in one place and also be a centerpiece for great conversation and fellowship? Good Ole Southern Boiled Peanuts... If you're not familiar with this southern delicacy, you take peanuts and boil them in salted water until they are tender. Then the fun begins as you sit around and shell the peanuts and discard the hulls into a container like this. On a summer afternoon like this, sharing peanuts and fellowship - life is good!

Today as I was searching for a verse, this picture grabbed me with it's intensity. Usually I am drawn to nature, floral and pleasant, peaceful pictures, but this picture commanded attention! A waterfall is a powerful and intense creation of nature. It symbolizes the flowing power of rushing water that cannot be contained, but flows in a channeled direction. A waterfall always attracts me and I love to stand in awe and watch them flow. Proverbs 10:11 says: "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life..." Our words flow with the power and force of that waterfall. They are a fountain from our hearts into the hearts of those around us. We are encouraged in Scripture to "let our words minister grace to those who hear them". This verse is a beautiful reminder for kind, caring, loving words to flow from us and to fill others with love and grace!

Today's At the Well promises to be powerful as we discuss a very serious subject - "Lust and Sex In Today's Culture". As wives this is a very intense subject that we need to be not only aware of, but we also must be diligent in the fight for purity for our marriages. For many years, lust has been swiped at as men having an appreciative eye for women, men noticing other women or following them with their eyes, or perhaps an occasional look at inappropriate magazines or books etc. These have been overlooked as just a part of what men do. In our culture today, this area has exploded. Notice the clothing that the fashion world dictates for women. Clothes today are designed with the sole purpose of drawing attention to a woman's body. The shorts are short, the shirts are high, the pants are low and what area is not showing, the clothing fits snug enough to enhance the body. If a man looks anywhere except the woman's eyes, he is bound to have lustful thoughts. There...

Very early this morning, my son left for a week long mission trip. Here he is on the bus: Telling Mom goodbye: The mission team passed out a prayer card and I want to share it with you, hoping that you will keep my son and each mission team member in your prayers this week. Dear Friend: Myself and over 45 others will be going on a mission trip this week. The missions will include construction projects, Vacation Bible School and prayer walking for a church and community in a poor and depressed area. Would you please pray for the team each day this week that God would grant safety and success on this trip and that Jesus would be exalted. Please pray for the salvation for many and that the church and community would receive God's love and hope. Thank you in Jesus' name.

Today for Word Filled Wednesday, this familiar verse jumped out at me. This verse is a beautiful reminder that each day is a gift from God. Each day is a new canvas for us to fill with beauty. It lets us know that again, God has blessed us with His gift (a new day) and we should embrace this gift with joy and thankfulness. This verse also reminds me that attitude is everything! My attitude many times determines the attitude of those around me - for the good and the bad. Embracing each day with an attitude of thankfulness and cheerfulness sounds like a recipe for a great day!

Today's At the Well topic deals with the issue of how we can stay spiritual (respond with a Christlike attitude) when we are surrounded by unspiritualness . As Christians it is easily evident that not everyone shares the beliefs that we have. The discussion questions bring up situations that occur in daily life that challenge our values and beliefs and how we respond to these. Question 1: How can you react when someone tries to undermine you as a parent or encourages something with your children that you do not agree with? Do you get mad or angry like a momma bear? How can you better react and still stay in the Spirit? As a parent, especially a young parent, wisdom comes through trial and error, situation by situation and mistake by mistake. It is easy for a young parent to be intimidated and question "Am I doing this right?" It is easy to get angry when our parenting skills are called in question. Many aspects of parenting change through the years and seasons of ...

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." John 15:16 It always overwhelms me when I read and am reminded that Jesus chose each of us. He gave His life for each of us as it is told in Scripture, "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us...". Even though we had no desire to know Him, He chose us and then with His love drew us to Him, and when we accepted His free gift of salvation He filled us with His love and His Holy Spirit. He also appointed and expects us to be fruitful. Being fruitful should encompass a life filled with the Fruit of the Spirit - "for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness , and truth" and consistently striving to overflow God's goodness into the lives of others. A Christian should seek to live a lifestyle of graciousness , extending love, kindness, compas...

Last week my oldest son celebrated his 18 th birthday! We invited the family to dine at his restaurant choice - The Texas Roadhouse. Here are the adults that came to celebrate: The teenage boys got a table of their own: There is the birthday boy in the left corner - with the hat on! His friends made sure that even the restaurant staff celebrated with him! You know...that's what friends are for! It was a great evening of dinner and fellowship. Many prayers and blessings go with him for a great year!

The discussion At the Well today centers around the question "Am I Showing Love?". Wow! This promises to be an interesting topic complete with a little soul searching! The first response that comes into my mind, is "yes", of course I show love! The questions for today encourage us to dig a little deeper: Are you showing love to your family, or are you finding yourself more and more often entertaining selfishness and self pity? If you are entertaining your flesh, what can you do today to change that and make your home a place of love and contentment? As women, we are usually responsible for most of the duties done in the home. The daily meeting of the needs of our families falls mainly to the wife/mother. After all, we cook most of the meals, clean up after the family, keep the house clean, do the laundry etc., etc., etc. If that doesn't show love, what does???!!! Many times I do find myself entertaining selfish thoughts and self pity. Times like when a deli...

It has been said that two of the greatest qualities in life are: Patience and Wisdom:

Today is Word Filled Wednesday where God's Word is shared through verse and picture. "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me." Matthew 25:40 So many times it is easy to feel insignificant. In our vast world often those who are seen and heard are the ones who are recognized and can seem important. God's Word gives us the assurance that if we share His love, even in the smallest action, even to the person of the least esteem, we have done it for Jesus. There is no one above or beneath the reach of God's grace and love and yet, He chooses us to show His love to them. What an awesome encouragement that our great God notices the smallest deed that is done. Also what an inspiration to be alert to ways to show God's grace to others and to be diligent to be kind and gracious in every situation. Who greater can these things be done for?