Joyfull Living

Please bear with me!! Working on a new blog design! Happy New Year!

One recent afternoon, I stepped outside and saw my son and our neighbor playing with her dog. It brought joy to my heart watching them romp with, pet and hug this gentle dog! They also had a little joy in their hearts!!

The ocean has always been a source of fascination to me. I love to stand at the shoreline and gaze with wonder at the vastness of the ocean. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 As we stand on the threshold of a New Year, the vastness and uncertainties of a new year can cause apprehension. We don't know what changes the New Year holds for us. We do know that there will be joys along with trials. We know that life is precious and fragile. In our current times, we have seen that jobs and finances can fail. But we can also be sure that God is for us. He sees and knows what is ahead for us and He alone can make every detail work out for our good. As we embrace a New Year, we can go forward in confidence and strength knowing our hope and future is secure in the Lord. Happy New Year!

As the New Year approaches, many people make a resolution to get in better physical shape. They resolve to eat better, excercise more and tone up. Most of these resolutions begin with going on a diet and establishing an extreme exercise plan. Less food + more exercise activity is a formula for weight loss. But, drastically curbing our eating and spending lots of time the gym can occupy most of our free time and pleasure - the idea is to live and enjoy our lives! Bob Greene, a certified personal trainer offers some great advice to lose weight for good. 1. Add 2 minutes to your work out. You can do 2 minutes more of any physial activity easy! Add 2 minutes on each week and it is a painless, realistic way to increase daily activity. 2. Cut three unhealthy foods from your diet. Choose three foods that are not good for you and replace them with a nutrious choice. Some suggestions are to replace soda for water or tea, replace fried foods with oven baked or grilled foods. Reduce the fat in ...

Now that Christmas has passed, how would you like to receive a gift just for you? Often we carefully choose and purchase gifts for the children, the family, friends and others and when the Christmas festivities are over, find ourselves spent out - financially, physically and emotionally. Here are a couple of ideas of a special gift - just for you! But these gifts are not just extravagant gift to lavish on yourself, they can be used to bless and equip you to bless others. Best Deal Magazines has magazine subscriptions as low as $4.69. Some popular magazines available for this price are: Family Circle Woman's Day Family Fun Taste of Home Weight Watchers Shape and many others! By treating yourself, you can also equip yourself with creative ideas for the home and family, expand your cooking skills and learn how to take better care of your body. They earlier had a coupon code you could enter at checkout for an additional 15% off: MPS 16 Another beautiful gift for yourself is f...

Christmas 2009 is now only a cherished memory in our hearts! The gifts have been opened, the food has been eaten, special times have been shared with families and these things will forever be etched in our minds. Now the Christmas is "over", it is tempting to want to put everything away and get back to "normal"! But, while the Christmas state of mind is still here, if we take a few minutes for a Christmas Wrap Up, this can get next Christmas off to a great start! Reflect on the last few weeks: Was there anything you needed to make a last minute run to the store for? Did you forget to send someone a Christmas card or gift? Was there a special dish that you prepared that the family especially enjoyed? *Reuse, Recycle and Save Your Sanity! As crazy as it sounds, this year I am going to save my gift boxes and bags. I (as usual) had to make several trips to the store this year to buy bags and boxes. In a storage box, I am placing all the unused gift wrap, packaging...

Today's discussion At the Well encourages us to be transparent in sharing about discontentment and how we can be satisfied in Christ alone. Discontentment: What an appropriate season to call attention to discontentment. During the year, I am an avid bargain shopper. I love consignment shops, yard sales and clearance racks! During the Christmas season there is always a trip or two to the mall. While browsing through all the things that catch the eye with their beauty and the lure of convenience and luxury, my mind quickly races to see "what I need". By the time I leave the mall, I can sense a spirit of discontentment begin to brew in my heart as I do an evaluation of what I have at home and all these things that I just found out that I may need to keep my life running smoothly! Contentment: A sure cure for discontentment is to learn to be content. Contentment begins in the mind as we train ourselves to think with thankfulness about our many blessings and learn to li...

Don't Try This at Home ! Pastor Tony is walking down the street on Christmas eve when he notices a Larry, a small boy, trying to press the doorbell of a house across the street. However, Larry is very small and the doorbell is too high for him to reach. After watching the boy's efforts for some time, Pastor Tony moves closer to Larry's position. He steps smartly across the street, walks up behind the little fellow and, placing his hand kindly on the child's shoulder, leans over and gives the doorbell a solid ring. Crouching down to Larry's level, Pastor Tony smiles benevolently and asks, 'And now what, my little man?' To which Larry replies with a beaming grin, 'Now we run!'

Even though this day is almost over, I wanted to let you know that I was over At the Well today talking about how one comment sparked a building project! Come over HERE and be encouraged to be a marriage builder!

Most mothers are aware of the vast changes that come into your life once the children arrive! I consider myself in a category of learning something different most every day! Being the only female in a home full of rowdy males, I've learned to appreciate and even enjoy the differences of interests and activities of my boys. Through the years I've learned about and become a part of various sports and other activities the boys have been involved in. For several years the boys have purchased show hogs. The procedure of this venture is to buy a quality small pig, feed and care for it, document it's growth, keep track of the expenses of food and care and in the spring show it at the county fair in a competition with many others. Following the show, the hog is sold and hopefully a profit is made along with a lesson in responsibility and care of the animal. This is usually a daddy/son venture and I tend to stay way away from this until show time! But, our youngest son is o...

As the Christmas season is in full swing around us, this verse blessed and encouraged me: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation. Isaiah 52:7 As we as Christians rejoice in the gift of our Savior - Jesus, may we gladly share His good news, peace and salvation to those we come in contact with.

One of the biggest challenges for me in my home through the years has been cooking. Growing up, my family ate in restaurants A LOT! My mother did not like to cook and my father enjoyed eating out, so this made the perfect combination for our family...until I got married. I was a new wife, with a hungry husband and no cooking skills! Through the years and through much trial and error, my cooking skills have greatly improved and I feel confident in serving delicious, nutritious meals at home. But the "potluck dinner" strikes fear in the pit of my stomach. What will I cook for a big crowd? What do people like to eat? How do I cook for so many people? At our church we regularly eat potluck meals together and it is a challenge to find a recipe that is easy to cook with delicious results. I was able to review the book Potluck Survival Guide by Cherie Kimmons, published by Five Star Publications, and I was of course attracted by the thought of some hope and creative ideas f...

The discussion At the Well centers around Carefree Living - Is It For Me? There are abundant blessings to the Christian life. It is a life filled with peace, joy and hope. But it is also a journey or a daily walk where each of us as individuals freely make our own choices. Often times we choose how far we want to follow and trust the Lord. Do we surrender all or hold some back? Giving up to Him the parts we choose to give over is easy, loving Him with all of heart, mind, soul and strength is a greater challenge. Consider these questions for today: What do you do to live a more challenging life in Christ? What areas in life are you tempted to take the easy way out? How can you overcome those thoughts and desires? What Scriptures have you found to help develop your character in your God-given role in life? The Challenges: The Bible defines Faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1. In a world where we like to see, experience a...

A friend recently sent this to me in a email and I loved it! It is called Christ's Bell and is a powerful reminder of who we are in Christ. THE BELL I KNOW WHO I AM I am God's child (John 1:12) I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 ) I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17) I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20) I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1) I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8) I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14) I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27) I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2) I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3 :20) I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34) I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21) I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18) I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6) I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39) I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 ) I am assured all things work to...

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." Philippians 4:8 I thought this verse was appropriate as we embrace the most joyous season of all - Christmas. May our minds and hearts be consumed with God's greatest gift - Jesus and may we meditate on His birth and the gift of salvation, grace, mercy and hope. Many times the rush and busyness of the season tries to crowd out the joy of the season. "I want" attitudes, impatience, crowds and stress clamor for our attention. May our minds be set to "meditate on these things" and as the things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, full of virtue and praise become fixed in our hearts, we can spread true Christmas joy to those we come in contact with!

I'm linking up with Mama Buzz for the Show Us Your Christmas Tree contest and give away! Christmas is my favorite time of the year and the joyous season begins with putting up the Christmas tree. The last couple of years my sister in law have developed a wonderful tradition of putting up my tree together after the Thanksgiving holiday. Here is my sister in law Kathy and I: I am blessed with three great sister in laws, but Kathy and I have been "family" the longest. We are also the most opposite! I am quite shy, while she is friendly and outgoing, I am quiet and timid, she is confident and bold She has a great flair for decorating, I lack creativity! But we balance each other out and have formed a wonderful bond! This is our tree this year: Since I am the only female in my home of a husband and three sons, Christmas decoraring is not something the boys look forward to doing. My method of decorating was to just put the ornaments on without much thought of placement etc. Ka...

Today At the Well - the topic is " Holy is His Name". This topic offers the opportunity to look within our hearts and ask ourselves "are we a reflection of the Holy God that we serve?" This is the perfect time of the year to do a deep soul searching and cleansing. God sent His only begotten Son into this world to redeem, sanctify and cleanse us. Each of us are born with a sinful nature. God is a holy God and while He longs for a relationship with us, there is no way we can become holy on o ur own with our sinful nature. God sent His Son to earth to redeem us from the curse of sin and give us a new heart, cleansed and forgiven. He makes all things new and calls us to holiness. We are commanded to " be holy in our conduct for He has called us to be holy as He is holy." I Peter 1:15. Holiness is not something we wear like a garment, but it may consist of putting some things off and on: "If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by ...

I saw this and thought it was too cute!! Every now and again we have all felt like that! Have a great weekend!

I was raised with only one sibling which was a brother. It wasn't until I got married that I understood any kind of sisterhood! Now that the bonds of sister-in-law hood, are strong and for today's Just For the Joy Of It, I want you to meet my sister in laws: Here we all are at Thanksgiving: (Left to right) Danell, Me, Kathy and Sonya Although we are all married to brothers, we greatly vary in personality, gifts, talents and strengths and of course we all do things in our homes and families in different ways. We accept and love each other as we are and are united in our hearts that we are thankful to be a part of such a wonderful family. With the day to day business of life, we don't get together often, but when those times come, we do enjoy them! Especially things like a recent vacation! We all got to spend the day together at Thanksgiving and enjoyed a day full of joy and have some great memories to cherish.