Joyfull Living

In every friendship or relationship, there is a common hope that they will grow and flourish. There is something inside of us that longs for a 'happy every after' story. We dream about it and work to make that happen. But in reality, relationships are a challenge. The bridging of values, lifestyles, interests and sacrificing for another are simply hard things to do! No matter how much we dream of the perfect fit, some relationships will not endure the stress.  When differences appear and tensions arise, prayer can change situations, attitudes and ourselves. For the Christian, we know God can transform, change, heal. We cannot change others, but prayer opens us the door for God to step in and answer. God desires transformation, but does not demand it. The gift of free will allows us to choose to say Yes or No to Him.  Romans 12:18 says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Take notice of the first two words: “If possible …” This implies that som...

What do you do when you hear a dear friend is sick or suffering?  Immediately, we want to help, to 'do' something. As we ponder ways we can offer help, perhaps our insecurity, feeling of being unprepared or ill equipped can paralyze us and we end up doing nothing.  We can make a difference in the lives of your loved ones when they need it most when you know how to help. But often, when we don’t know what to do, or what to say, we make the mistake of doing nothing at all. But it’s during those times that our presence or lack thereof is felt the most. When a friend is going through a challenging time, our acts of love and presence can bring healing and hope. Check out these 20 meaningful and practical ways to help a friend in need shared by Dr. Michelle Bengston:  Practical suggestions for helping a friend in need Ask your friend, “How can I most be of help to you today?” Pick up the phone and call to check in. Just leaving a cheerful voicemail letting her know you are thin...

 During my weekly Tabata class the sound of these words occur several times - 3,2,1 Begin.  Tabata is a fitness routine consisting of 20 second intervals of heart pumping cardio exercise, a 10 second rest and then 20 seconds of a strength exercise. Computer voices countdown to the beginning - 3,2,1 Begin and then count down the ascent -   3, 2,1 Rest. In between the counts, our bodies are pushed to the limit, but we eagerly await that countdown to rest.  Physical fitness is an investment and the purpose of each class is to become stronger. Going in and simply going through the motions will bring very little change or improvement.  Recently, one of the ladies in class encouraged us as we awaited the countdown - keep going till you hear 'rest'. Usually, we would end the specific exercise as the countdown began, but she encouraged us to continue the movement past 3, 2 and even 1, until we heard REST.   It probably amounted to 1 extra second, but the concep...

 "Overflow might look messy when gas is spewing out of a tank, but when God fills us to overflowing, it's beautiful, because we're no longer rationing our energy for ourselves and everyone who needs us. We have plenty to give when we are overflowing." This was from my devotion as I began a new week and the topic was refilling, trust and being still. God wants us to be beyond full, not hovering right above empty, but refilling our souls is a process that requires us to be still and trust.  What was significant about this new week is that I was on forced rest. A scratchy throat, slight cough and then a positive test result had me settled safely at home for the next few days. My first response was "I don't have time for this", but maturity has taught me, when you can't fight against something, lean in, listen and learn what God is trying to say.  So the week began, at home with a stretched out devotion time and words that filled my heart with a desire f...

 I was the first person to arrive at the early morning group fitness class. The trainer greeted me with a smile and comment "you smell good" and asked what I had on. She probably didn't realize that was one of the greatest compliments I could receive! Scent is my love language! Growing up, due to my mother's severe allergies, we lived truly unscented lives. We used unscented soap, shampoo, laundry soap etc. Anything with the slightest amount of fragrance gave her a severe headache.  When I got married and began keeping my own home, scent truly exploded! I deliberately look for the strongest scented personal and home products. There are scented plugs in the walls, candles, wax melts and diffusers always providing home fragrance. My laundry is clean and freshened with scent boosters.  What was funny about the comment from my trainer, was that I didn't have any scent on. The fragrance simply lingered from my clothes and self.  My scent fascination is biblical!!  I ...

 Today's word prompt for Five Minute Friday i s DESPERATE. This brought to mind an example from years ago. When our boys were younger, they were involved in 4H clubs and one of their projects was to raise a pig to show in the county fair. The purpose of this project was to learn responsibility in caring for the pig through meeting its daily needs such as food, water and shelter. One of our boys was doing some work on the pen which housed the pig and unhooked the automatic waterer. This water system was perfect, as the it connected to a source of continual flowing water and when thirsty, the pig went to the spigot and the pressure of its mouth opened the flow of water.  On this day, once the work was completed on the pen, my son forgot to reconnect the hose to the automatic waterer. Later in the day, my husband went to look at the pig. You could tell the signs of the pigs desire then desperation for water. It began to push much harder on the spigot, trying to get water, then ...

 Over at Five Minute Friday - which is a fun writing exercise, the weekly word to write about is ACCOUNTABILITY.  This is one of those words depending on your personality that you may view as either safe or intrusive. Accountability is an action that requires us to share, trust deeply and step into some action of transparency. It may mean exposing our weaknesses, confessing our faults and asking for help to become better. The end result, if we align ourselves wisely, brings us to a better place. I have always loved fitness and exercise. Evening walks were a source of relaxation when I was younger. Once pregnancy and babies arrived, exercise helped me lose the baby weight. But, I was always a 'fitness loner', staying home and exercising with videos or a routine. I thought my routine was great for so many years, but the routines were not challenging, done with the same intensity, simply being something to check off my daily schedule. They helped maintain a level of health, but ...

This weekend is Mother's Day and you have probably noticed an abundance of beautiful items that grace the entrance to the stores we visit. Cards, mugs, flowers, beautiful signs, all gifts that express to moms the special role they play in our lives.  Today's Five Minute Friday writing prompt is "She".   A very simple, yet appropriate topic for this Friday! Christians moms during this time of the year often reflect on the biblical passage of Proverbs 31. In its context, it is a mother writing to her son - a king - about the virtues of a wife that he should be seeking for. Every mother with sons has that same desire, for him to find a wife filled with virtue and honor.  As the Bible often does, it reflects a question or pondering that reflects back to ourselves. In the Proverbs 31 passage, we tend to examine our life based on these qualities and may find we come up lacking! This is not the description of an unattainable, perfect woman, but qualities that all women shou...

 This week, on my day off from work, the weather was picture perfect! Spring is in the air and as I did my errands, I made a stop at the Lowe's garden shop. They had beautiful flowers in abundance, so much time was spent soaking in all the beauty and deciding which ones were going home with me.  While checking out at the cash register with my cart full of flower buddies, a lady came behind me looking for a shopping cart. There was not one close by, so she decided to follow me out to my car and take my cart. (sounds kinda creepy, but that is just how fellow gardeners roll)!  As I checked out and walked with her in the parking lot, my mind was on the next stop and getting home to spend time planting the flowers. After a short distance, she exclaimed "Boy, those short legs move really fast!" . I naturally walk fast and with my mind racing ahead to the next thing on the agenda, I didn't pay attention to her trying to keep up.  After her comment, I slowed down and tried ...

 I could be called an avid walker. Walking to me is more than exercise, it is life! It is joining my heart with nature, moving my body, seeing the glory of God's creation all around me, clearing my mind and reducing stress. Mornings are my favorite time of the day to walk, besides the freshness and newness of the day, it is the window of free time before work and daily tasks.  My walking route and time are consistent each day and so is my neighbor "D". She rides her bicycle each morning faithfully. We pass each other on the road most mornings, regardless of weather, we see one another and know that faithfulness and love of our activity is what drives us.  'D' and I occasionally take time to stop and chat, but usually it's a smile and 'hello'. As she passes by she always says  'you have a blessed day, baby'.  And I smile every time!  Last year, our family took a long vacation. I told "D" we would be gone so she wouldn't...

  As much as I love New Year's Day and the exhilaration of a fresh new year, the month of January can also be pretty special. As the weeks go by this month, goals pop up in the mind and if we are serious about making a change, the goal goes to paper. But, if the goal or change is to stick, it must be practiced and developed.  As many shared the feeling of being happy to see 2020 leave, I've taken a pause to look at it from the other side. Through the year, a lesson was learned that there is really not much under our own control. The things I loved and faithfully practiced were simply wiped away. Church meetings, my job, relationships, hospitality, even the health I make a priority couldn't stand up to the challenges of the year.   Looking at several months of 2020, grief, sickness, loss, fear, chaos and politics were constantly in front of us. It was through faith that while our world seemed to be falling apart, we trusted that God was still in control. The circumsta...

 Early on New Year's Day, I was laying awake, wishing I could sleep in a little later, but pondered in my mind this was the first morning of 2021. The sound of a ping from the other room alerted me that a text had come in to my cell phone. If someone was reaching out this early in the morning, it needed some attention. Grabbing my coffee and my phone, the text was from a dear friend, sharing concern about a loved one who is struggling with illness in the hospital. The text conversation went from her sharing concern, to my giving an update. The loved one is in very serious condition and my friend shared the depth of her prayer of pleading with God for the miracle that is needed. But she also shared the alternative, if God didn't answer the prayer the way we would like, He was still in control. "Does that make sense?" she asked.  Wrapped in a cozy blanket, coffee and Bible in hand, our text conversation continued. Some hard thoughts were shared, thoughts of those criti...

This week - the days that fall right after Christmas and before New Year's Day have always been a special and unique time for me. It is almost like a pause in time mixed in with a dose of anticipation. There is just something special about a new year. It is a perfect time to wipe the slate clean, to get up and try again with the momentum of newness spurring us on. A New Year, a time to ponder things we would like to change, things we would like to do better and breath in the air of opportunity that is around us.   We’re in the practice of resolutions. These prayers for the New Year will move us toward spiritual renewal too. God clearly designed us for internal renewal. The Lord does a spiritual renovation in each person He indwells. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” As new creations, our hearts, minds, and desires begin to mimic Christ’s. Yet even our new hearts need ...

There was a phone call that needed to be made and I had been putting it off all day.  A church friend from many years ago had passed away. I was a young mother, she was older, more experienced and a gal who was full of life! She was bold, outspoken, passionate and lots of fun. We weren't exceptionally close, but she had a fierce love for anyone she knew. Our paths grew apart, but her family always held a special part in our life with fond memories of days gone by. The phone call was to be made to her son, one I had not seen in over 20 years. Would he remember who I was, he was just a young man when I last saw him. The call was placed and as I identified myself, he greeted me by name warmly. A beautiful conversation flowed filled with memories and sharing of his mother's influence on many.  He did remember our family and shared fond memories of families in the church who meant much to him.  While we caught up from the years, he shared that in his grief, he found his mother...

If we listen to our emotions, Monday mornings have a tendency to drag us down. We look back on the free time of the weekend and lament being forced into the structure of a work week. Instead of looking back, when we look ahead, our outlook changes.  For the Christian woman, we know the truth that God makes all things new and there are blessings all around us if we look for them.  This week's Monday Motivation is to "Let the Joy of Jesus Show In Your Life and On Your Face".  This week, we will each come in contact with a variety of people. As a Christian woman, we represent God to them. Negative attitudes can turn people away from God. If we purpose in our heart on a Monday, to commit to do everything with joy, our week will look differently.  May we practice a few things this week: speak words of joy - no complaining, look for something good to say serve others with joy - do something gracious, no strings attached face any changes with joyful hope - God has already g...

  Monday Motivations are snippets of practical encouragement for the Christian Woman.  Do you look at your circumstances, sphere of influence, church, home or work and wish you could make a difference? God can use your actions to bring new life and light everywhere you go.  For the next few weeks, we will be exploring ways you can make an impact. Even in troubled situations, we will be encouraged not to hide, run, fight or stand idle, but to ask God to give wisdom and make a difference.  This week, our motivation is to "Love Habitually".  A recent longtime church member was heard complaining about "all the new people moving into town".  It is a fact that no church guest would return to a church who detests outsiders. When we see others, especially people new to us, to our communities, churches or lives, may we practice being welcoming and loving. To Love Habitually, we should ask ourselves how Jesus would see others. If we love Jesus, we will have a love ...

These Monday Motivations are taken from an article "2020 and Beyond -  A Self Evaluation for the New Decade".  They are for the Christian Woman who is ready to renew her commitment to God's teachings, to make a decade long plan to love Jesus whole heatedly, live for Him enthusiastically, serve joyfully in the church and faithfully impact those around her for the Savior.  I felt I needed a disclaimer before broaching today's topic!  The quality we will look at this week is to " Exercise Self-Control" .  OOHH. Why do those words make us cringe? Usually they immediately bring to mind an area of our life that is not in self control! Beyond that, we know what it will take to bring in under control - discipline and sacrifice.  Self control is vital.  Without the ability to control ourselves, our knowledge of good, and the desire to do it, are both worthless. Self-control is the moment-by-moment restraint of our urges. This is the ability to make the right c...

Dads....their day is coming up this weekend. This special day comes just weeks after Mother's Day which is a day mothers enjoy a day of recognition and pampering.  Father's play an important role in our families, churches and communities. Their leadership affects generations to come as well as leaves a legacy to follow. A godly father is the foundation of the home and his influence can be unlimited.  While Mother's Day gifts seem to be easy, beautiful and full of meaning and sentiment, gift giving for the fathers in my life is hard. There is no emotion in a neck tie or sporting goods item. Most men are practical and would rather not have another item that is not functional and useful laying around (taking space on the dresser!).  A perfect gift for dad is the sentiment of appreciation and respect.  Instead of gifts, words are especially meaningful. I found a link that has encouraging messages from Scripture just for dad.  You can print them off, cut out, write a...

The current COVID 19 Crisis has often been described as 'unprecedented'. Whether at church, work, home or in our communities we see the reality that we have never navigated a situation like this.  Phrases that once were never heard of are unsettling familiar to us now - social distancing, flattening the curve, stay safe at home, 6 feet apart is the magic number. But as a country, it is encouraging to see the resilient spirit of Americans. Following the guidelines, protecting our selves, families and being courteous of others will help us as we navigate through this trying time.  Although currently we are in the midst of this crisis and each day brings heartbreaking news of loss,  now is a time to pray and support one another. But we can also lift our hearts and eyes to the future - and be assured this will pass. We will without a doubt suffer and be forever changed be changed by this time in our lives, but life will eventually move on. What will we be like when '...

You may could call me a 'fitness loner'. I'm a little different than most in my fitness journey in that I prefer to exercise alone. For years I have walked several times a week, later on, took up running, added at home workouts for strength and am blessed with discipline and endurance that is needed to keep up with a healthy lifestyle. Exercise for me is that 'me time' we all crave and try to squeeze in. Therefore it is not a drudgery, but something I love to do! The last few years, I have added an exercise class to my fitness routine. There is a sense of accountability and community  working out with others. For the last several months, my routine had a beautiful fitness balance between home and the gym. Until, the COVID 19 crisis. Gyms were closed first. Still needing that accountability, I found a small group class. Then, restrictions came and shut that down. Although I have never hired a personal trainer, I decided to give it a try.  My trainer is...