Joyfull Living

Today, I'm joining up with Five Minute Friday, a fun writing opportunity to connect and share a quick thought on this week's theme "Path". For many years, when coming across a Scripture about 'paths', it turned into a prayer and desire to be led down God's open paths. Through the years of life which included, marriage, keeping a home, job, raising children and as they began to explore their own paths, seeking God and His paths became a vital part of life and prayer.  As God's Word reveals God's goodness and His ways, I want to be walking - living a lifestyle on the paths that He leads.  Some of my favorite 'path' verses include: Proverbs 4:18 "But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day."   Psalm 25:4,  "Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths,"  Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your way...

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 ...

The month of June has come and is already on the way out! The months seem to fly by, but June is one month out of the year for me that holds an entire year worth of emotion. In the span of a few weeks in June some momentous anniversaries occur. First the anniversary of my father's death, then my wedding anniversary and then the holiday of Father's Day. Many posts have been written sharing our family story. They can be found under 'Crisis" and "Grief" labels on the sidebar.  Through the years, these dates that hold utmost significance in my life cause me to pause and be thankful for the fatherly influences that have come to a beautiful fruition.   My father - no words are needed to what a father means to a girl. Her hero, protector, friend, advisor and the one influence that can fill her heart with love and acceptance.  No father is perfect and mine made some choices that negatively affected our family, but I never doubted his love for a minute.  My wedding ...

Beginning a  committed time to pray may take some adjustments and sacrifice. But, once the habit is established we position ourselves to seek and hear from God much deeper. This will become a precious time to begin each day, but will also equip us to face any challenges through the day we may face. Prayer will become your immediate reflex rather than your last resort. Here are a few ideas in life that can become prompts to pray: Newness:  Take time to pray whenever you begin something new. Pray at the start of each day, dedicate it to God asking for His cleansing, protection and guidance. Begin each new year, job or relationship seeking God's wisdom, help and direction. Needs: God is able to meet any need. When we face physical, emotional or spiritual needs, may these prompt us to pray. Blessings:   What has God done for you today? Daily He loads us with benefits and blessings. He protects us, forgives us and guides us. May we be ready to thank Him for a...

There are many times in our life we are extremely motivated to pray. A crisis, hope, all consuming fear will drive us quickly to our knees. It is almost an instant reflex - a cry for help to the God who can. But prayer and God is much more than a relief system, it is about a relationship - and they take time and effort. As we grow in the area of prayer, a daily time set aside to pray is a valuable and powerful tool in our walk with the Lord.  I Thessalonians 5:17 encourages us to 'pray without ceasing'.  Although the constant action of prayer continually is not feasible, our attitudes can be in tune to talking or listening to God all through the day. It should become a natural part of our thinking, not only in our scheduled prayer time but through the chaos each day may bring.  God desires that prayer become an ongoing opportunity we engage in by quietly praising, thanking and leaning on Him at any moment. But along with this constant attitude of prayer, th...

Every morning in my home, a healthy devotional routine takes place before the day gets away from me. My little prayer system works well, but can always use heart adjustments. Rising before anyone in the house, I grab my coffee, blanket, sit in my favorite chair surrounded by the Bible and devotionals and begin with prayer. This prayer routine probably looks different than yours...and that is ok! A certain place, posture or words is not what makes prayer - prayer. In fact prayer is not about just prayer. Think about your cell phone, its primary purpose is not for itself but to serve as a conduit and connection we use for relationships and contact. If we held up the phone without engaging another person with it, we are not making it do what it was created to do. Likewise, even if our attempts at prayer look and feel like prayer, they are not truly prayer if God is not engaged.  Prayer at its heart, is communicating with God. Reverently and openly. Sincerely interacting w...

Prayer.   One simple word that can pack such a powerful meaning. What does it mean to pray? What is the right way to pray? What determines the correct method - place, time, words?  How can a simple act get so complicated?  The ladies at my church are engaging in a Bible Study - The Battle Plan for Prayer . We are beginning with a heart that is not anxious about 'the right way' to pray, but asking God to deepen our grasp of His love as we learn to boldly approach Him in a renewed devotion to prayer.  For several weeks, this blog will be our weekly place to come for a visit and be refreshed in the lessons we are learning. Quotes and notes that we can hold close in our hearts to deepen and enrich us will be shared. Please feel free to stop by and linger with an open heart on the subject of prayer. May your heart be stirred and drawn into a more intimate walk with our Lord. May prayer become as natural as breathing and may God work through our prayers to he...

I'm not trying to be a "Debbie Downer", but it is almost Monday!  It is true that the weekend is on the way out, but look - a new week is on the way in!   Let's learn to make friends with Monday. There is something so fresh and new about the beginning of the week. Last week is gone, lessons learned can be made right, mistakes made are in the past with a clean slate ahead. It's a do-over if we will embrace it. A good devotion, Scripture or promise from God can set the tone for the week. It can put in our heart an eternal perspective, an attitude that looks beyond our circumstances to trust and faith in God who loves us and has great plans for our life.  YOU MATTER - You make a difference!   This Sunday as I walked the halls of the church I've attended for 20+ years, there was such a familiarity, which although comfortable, often puts me in auto mode. Speak to this person, answer this question, sing the familiar song, hear the Scripture, so m...

One of the most important and powerful things a couple can do is to pray for one another.  When things are going well, what a blessing to thank the Lord for.  When challenges come, praying for one another keeps bitterness at bay and restores the love first in the heart, then loving actions flow out. When we want to change them, and nothing works(!), God can do a work in marriages and hearts. This is a powerful investment to pray for our spouse and a New Year is the perfect time to begin.  Here are some sample prayers.  A Prayer for My Husband Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for this wonderful gift of a husband, companion and friend. Remind me to celebrate his achievements, and to turn my focus away from his faults. Equip me to be the help meet you have called me to be, and the friend my husband needs me to be. Help me to recognize his efforts, his courage, his strength, and to sing his praises in a way that brings honor to him and to o...

This is Thanksgiving week and probably most of our plans will involve family and spending time with our family.  Our families can be our greatest blessings but may be accompanied by great stress.  The smallest tension with our families can quickly escalate into worry, distress and a host of other emotions.  Basically we love and cherish our families and desire their best.  When we see things that distract or derail them from that best, that tension begins.   Although we may try and will probably fail, we cannot 'fix' our family or solve their problems for them. But there is something stronger and more powerful we can do.   Love them unconditionally.  Even if there are areas we do not agree with, we can love them without endorsing or enabling.  Love is a strong bond that runs deep. Model the fruit of the Spirit.  Love, Joy, Peace Patience, Kindness, etc. when evident in our lives will always improve the atmosphere. As mu...

Have you heard of the fad – Planking? According to Wikipedia planking is an activity consisting of lying face down in an unusual or incongruous location. The hands must touch the sides of the body and having a photograph of the participant taken and posted on the Internet is an integral part of the game. A newer fad is Tebowing.  Patterned after the example of Christian athlete Tim Tebow, who falls into prayer position to thank God during his football games. “Tebowing” is to get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different. Yesterday, my 17 year old son and a few friends were practicing these fads at school. Planking: Tebowing – under a timely banner! Double Tebowing: These ''activities’ delayed their 30 minute commute home from college in a neighboring town.  On their usual route home, at the time they would have normally been traveling through, this happened: An accident between a semi and a car...

Every morning my youngest son calls out from his bed, "Mama".   After I answer he says the same thing every day, "I was just making sure you were there."   I always am.  If a rare occasion arises when I'm not, his daddy is - we would never leave him alone.  It blesses this mama's heart to know that  I can provide security and comfort.  I also know that he won't always wake with this as his first thought.  So for today, I put this blessing down on the August Gratitude List  to cherish and remember these moments. What if as Christian women, our first rising call would be to our Heavenly Father?  "I was just making sure You were there". Of course, we know He is, but for most women, their waking thoughts immediately give way to what needs to be done today and how little time we have to accomplish it. What a difference it would make in our day if our first thoughts were of the Lord and reminding and reassuring ourselves that He is in...

Can you believe we are in APRIL?  This year is flying by!!!  Although it is going way too quickly, spring months are some of my favorite months.  There is newness all around, new leaves, flowers and unfolding beauty everywhere!  Since the beginning of this year, I am attempting to be more intentional in my devotional times.  For me, instead of just reading things and relying on my memory to recall it, this means writing things down and keeping notes of interest to refer back to often.   This helps to reinforce truths that I need to grasp and in prayer time, keeps prayer needs and requests at the forefront of my mind.  Tools like lists, prayer cards and Scripture prayers along with personal prayer from the heart help my prayer time to be effective.  Just a few weeks ago I came across these prayer cards.  They offer 31 Days of Prayer For Your Husband along with ways to enhance your prayers for children and your ...

Today I am over At the Well answering a question about prayer!  Come over for a vist!

My middle son was doing (supposedly) some yard work and he made a creation of his name in the sand using a rake, it was so cool, I asked him to do me one: Then I made him get a picture! Finally, I let him get back to work! Here is the youngest sporting his sling, he is a little bit proud of his injury (cracked collarbone).

Well, Christmas is over at our home. The presents are put away, the leftovers are almost gone, parents have gone back to work, the candy is being finished off and most of the Christmas decorations are packed away. Christmas 2008 is a treasured memory. The gifts, although appreciated, and however nice they are, will fade in our interest in time. I have been reflecting on the past year and overall, it was a quiet year. You know, those peaceful years that sometimes slip in through the chaotic ones! 2007 was a very difficult year for our family. We lost my mother and my husband's grandmother. 2009 promises to be challenging as we will face the excitement of our oldest son graduating from high school and attending college and our middle son will begin driving. These will be major life changes, but are embraced with anticipation and covered with prayer. Yesterday was my first day back at work, we had been sheltered down in our home for several days over the Christmas break. Thro...

Week of October 24-30 Luke 12:54: Pray that God's man and our nation will be discerning and do what is right.

Prayer Guide for the Presidential Election It is critical that Christians pray for the coming presidential election. There is amazing power in united prayer. Pray with others whenever possible. The power of prayer can overcome any obstacle or ungodly influence and, indeed, do great things! 10/17- 10/23 – Acts 17:30 Pray for repentance for yourself and for our nation. "Truly these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent."

As part of my daily Bible reading, I read one chapter from Psalm or Proverbs. The current sequence is that I have finished Psalms and beginning Proverbs. The book of Proverbs is an easy reading book of the Bible, but it is chock full of good advice for daily living. Plus, it reminds the readers of the abundant blessings that go along with following that good advice. Chapter 3 of Proverbs is one of my favorite chapters. It highlights an action of mine with a blessing from God. Watch this: Advice: Let not mercy and truth forsake you ( remember to have compassion and mercy and truth always) Blessing: You will find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. Advice: Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and don't depend on your own understanding. Blessing: If we do this and acknowledge Him in all of our ways, He will direct our paths. Some other great advice from this chapter includes: Don't be wise in your own eyes, honor the Lord with your possessions, keep sou...