Joyfull Living

 Happy Monday!  Today's Monday Motivation is a jolting subject, but by following today's principle, will bring something beautiful to our character. "Never Slander Others" . I Timothy 3:11 in the NIV translation encourages women not to be 'malicious talkers' and leaves no room for error. Every word we speak matters. If we criticize or gossip we have damaged not only that person's reputation, but our own as well. Trust is broken, peace is destroyed. We must train ourselves to always think before speaking. Since it takes two to gossip, avoid participating as the listener.   This one will probably take lots of practice and self control! But if we put into our heart that our words reflect God, how can we commit our spoken words to honor God?

 Live a Life That Is Respected.  Mondays are a perfect day to reset and realign our priorities, plans and vision. The cares of the week haven't disrupted or derailed our plans yet and with a positive outlook, we can view Mondays as a clean slate, ready and open to be filled with good plans.  For a few weeks, I am planning to share a Monday Motivation - a topic with practical application for women who love the Lord and those who are looking to walk genuinely in a way that pleases Him.  These motivations will share some great characteristics, with a practical application we can use all week long. Today we begin with Living a life that is respected. Your influence is only as good as your respectability. Respect is earned daily. It's not a title on your name tag. Live in such a way that there's no room for anyone to think negatively of you. Walk consistently with Jesus, serve Him with great joy, treat others with gentleness and kindness and diligently seek wisdom from God's

 Nothing brings out fall like a baked pumpkin treat and an October Saturday is the perfect time to give this recipe a try!  Pumpkin bars are easy and delicious and a treat for family and friends.  Pumpkin Bars 4 large eggs, room temperature 1-2/3 cups sugar 1 cup canola oil * 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt ICING: 6 ounces cream cheese, softened 2 cups confectioners' sugar 1/4 cup butter, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 to 2 tablespoons whole milk Directions In a bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until well blended. Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Pour into an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until set. Cool completely. For icing, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, butter and vanilla in a small bo

 Most Monday mornings find me headed to the gym for a fitness class. It is a great way to begin the week  and sets the tone for healthy habits. This Monday, I went through the regular routine and as I pulled into the gym parking lot, noticed it was a bit empty. I knew this was a Columbus Day Holiday, but didn't think to check beforehand if gym class was cancelled to celebrate...but alas, it was. There are a few stores I had planned to make stops at following gym class, but one wouldn't open for over an hour....what to do during that time? There is a sportsplex in our town that has a walking path and was close to my shopping area. I pulled in and began walking down the path which circles baseball fields.  Every part of the circle path took me back in my mind to days gone by way too fast. With three sons, we spent many a day at this park playing almost every sport they offer. My memories went to the baseball game in July being pregnant and hot and just two days later I delivered

Nothing says cozy like a home filled with the presence of fall. There is just something about fall that makes our homes more inviting, warm and welcoming. In my opinion, fall makes everything feel and look better!  I LOVE the season of fall and one of the highlights in my home is decorating for the season. I've been accused of putting fall decor out too early (never!), but I love what it brings to the home. Granted, this love for fall decor can take one down a trail of excess. For years, I would browse the fall section of every store and grab whatever looked good to me and find a place to put it. Sometimes, you can have too much fall! Through the years, my decorating has changed from buying it all and trying to find a place for it, to pausing and allowing fall to be a beautiful balance. Our fall homes can be experienced through each of our senses. Sight, Sound, Smell, Taste and Touch. Simply filling the home with fall decor may be pretty, but day in and out can become clutter and u

Prayer - such a vast and deep subject that can scale from the heights of desperation to a whisper of thanksgiving. In our minds we tend to make prayer complicated, but it is truly a conversation with God. Prayer is a method of communication with God. It is not an item to check off our Christian to-do list, but a wonderful priviledge to call upon the Lord and have the assurance that He hears and answers our prayers.  There are many kinds of prayers from panic to provision, crisis to contentment, asking God to move as only He can in situations. Prayer is personal, although there are times to pray with others and in a community setting, the most precious times are when we set aside the cares of the day, still our hearts and pray.  Of course in prayer we cover our selves, our families, friends and situations we are concerned about.  But a quick look at the news shows our country facing extreme challenges such as: Political division Economic hardship Medical crisis Personal and corporate de