The year is still brand new, and in this season my mind hums with thoughts. Always, I want to be better at whatever I do. It's in my DNA. I'm wired to strive towards excellence. These days I'm reading more, spending time fine tuning the behind-the-scenes parts of the blog, learning, and dreaming. I've also taken a back seat to my online social activities, which I sort of miss. It's all part of this internal drum in my heart and head to thrive. I know all that sounds like I've got a map and charted my next steps, knowing where I want to go. I wish. Lately I've been chewing on the idea of … [Read more...]
Imagine yourself standing in a large atrium in which there are many doors spaced along its walls and no other hallways in which to exit. In my mind, my life is like that atrium. It's filled with beautiful plants, some flowers, and beautiful daylight streaming down from the upper story windows. For too long, invitations to exit into a new world have appeared on countless doors in the atrium. However, the doors are locked and access to the new world is prohibited through those doors. Remember when you were in high school, standing in the hallway at your locker on the first day of … [Read more...]
As we enter this New Year there is no doubt, we will face unexpected challenges, disappointments, and heartaches. I wish it weren't so, but the Bible tells us to expect it. That doesn't mean that we need to live in fear, looking around every corner, or expecting the "other shoe to drop." We need to look forward with great expectation. God has great things planned for us. He knows where we'll be going, what we'll be facing, and even our opposition. He will provide us with every ounce of strength we need. He wants us to walk victoriously, without stumbling or wavering. The Lord God is my … [Read more...]
Did you make a New Year's resolution? I am certain that there are many people who not only made New Year's resolutions for 2015... but have broken one or more already. Fear of failure is one of the chief reasons that so many people don't make resolutions at the start of the New Year. As the year came to a close, I decided I needed to do something for the New Year that did not include the typical Word for the Year or resolutions. I ruminated on this for some time, feeling resistant to set anything down in pen or type. My resistance was undoubtedly mixed with fear of failure and living in limbo and … [Read more...]
The clock is ticking down on 2014... and what a year it was! For the most part... I don't share what's going on in my personal life. But, if you're a faithful reader, you are aware that this year has been filled with challenges. One thing I have been so grateful for, is this blog. And considering my year, I pushed forward through it all. The reward has been new relationships with other bloggers, considerable growth, the blessing of working with brands, and YOU. Thank you so much for your faithfulness! I love reading your comments, your emails, and chatting with you on Facebook. You have … [Read more...]
Can you believe this is the last Joy Day! for 2014? Weekly we've been gathering together and counting the good and not-so-good things from the year. Often, I feel like I have nothing to give other than just being here and trusting God with you. Kind of like friends who go for a walk together, not saying much, just being together for the journey. Always I ask God to give me something. Something that will encourage your heart and mine. This year has been a trying year. As the hands of the clock turned synchronously with the calendar's pages to the new year, I believed this … [Read more...]
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 Praying you have a JOYous and Blessed Christmas! Love, Diane … [Read more...]
Perfect love. Is there really such a thing? This is the fourth Sunday in Advent. If you follow the tradition of lighting a candle each Sunday in Advent, you will be lighting the candle of love. Love. What can I say about love that hasn't already been said? Nothing. So, this morning as I was lying in bed, quiet, I asked God to speak the verse into my heart that he wanted me to consider here with you. After some silence... it came: "perfect love casts out fear" I did not expect this verse for Christmas time. But, as I reflect and consider it with you, let's look at the whole verse in its … [Read more...]
Quiet. Can you hear it? Right now the house is quiet, except that I can hear the fan of the furnace forcing warmth into the air. Sometimes I crave quiet. There's something peaceful and holy in those quiet moments. My body relaxes. My thoughts become like a child in a meadow... running free, arms in the air, twirling, and finally flopping down on the soft grasses and noticing a single blade, a tiny ant, and the scents of soil and wildflowers. In the quiet my senses come alive. My imagination awakes. My creative cells gather energy. In the quiet, the Holy Spirit speaks life and … [Read more...]
Do you clean your house for Christmas? I usually do a whole house cleaning in early November. Generally I will have already done some cleaning in early fall, but in November I whip through the whole house, dusting the walls and ceilings, washing the windows, making my house sparkle in anticipation of Christmas. One thing I always did in my old house was to put candles in my windows... and my windows had to be perfectly shined for the lights of Christmas. This week I had a little bit of an "ah ha" moment. You know that I'm all about observing Advent... doing Advent readings, … [Read more...]
Today is the first day of Advent. It seems impossible for Christmas to be upon us, doesn't it? The year has gone way too fast. Do you observe Advent? I know many with younger children click off the days' march towards Christmas with candies or gifts. Others may light candles each night and read verses. And still others decorate a Jesse Tree. Advent is a time of preparation. A time when we prepare our hearts for our Savior. A time when we await his second coming. And a time when we rejoice in his first coming Typically I don't follow … [Read more...]
I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30 NIV Grateful... for you for God's grace expressed in our lives for the beauty of our Creator's creation for peace, joy, life, and liberty and most of all for the Hope that lives in us. May you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving! Diane To receive FREE bits of inspiration like this in your inbox or reader, subscribe now. Let’s connect! Facebook :: Pinterest :: Google + :: Twitter :: Shop-Longaberger Lifestyle … [Read more...]
I cannot believe Thanksgiving is just about here! Did someone push the accelerator button? Because time seems to be whizzing by at warp speed. All the more reason to take a few minutes to slow down... breathe... and acknowledge our blessings. I love this quote and printable from the archives... “When it comes to life the critical thing is, whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” Gilbert Chesterton I know you'll want to download my free gratitude printable, to post at your work station, on the fridge, or even frame and place in a vignette for a constant … [Read more...]
Whatever happens. Keep thanking God. Seriously? Yesterday I received an email from a sweet friend asking me to pray for her. She works from home and the company she works for had not sent any work all week. So, she emailed them to find out why. Their cold response was, "You are no longer working for us." What would be your response? To go back to bed, pull the covers over your head, and sob? That's a natural response. And it is perfectly okay. When jobs and people and homes are taken from us... it's natural to grieve. Whatever happens, keep thanking God … [Read more...]
Manger Scene Memories I am happy to join Diane for Creating Christmas Memories with Vignettes. She asked if I would create a vignette and tell a story and the first thing that came to me was to share this manger scene. This was the manger scene of my childhood. I happened to inherit it last Christmas. The thing I remember most about this was how crazy I was about Baby Jesus. I used to sit and look at this manger and stare and play with Baby Jesus; I was maybe four, it is one of my earliest memories. I have always been enamored with babies. I went … [Read more...]
We're in the season of gratitude. Don't you feel it all around you? Okay...I've exaggerated a little bit. When we're out in the marketplace we often get the opposite sense of that don't we? Like the person at the car wash who is just coming in behind you and sees that you're in a broken bay, and as you are backing up to switch bays, whips around you to be next in line at another bay, before you. Or what about the child who has a tantrum in every aisle because he isn't getting something he wants. Or, ________ you fill in the blank. We see selfish behavior in … [Read more...]
"Is anything too hard for the Lord? No!" Genesis 18:14 Can you imagine sitting on your porch, resting at the heat of the day, and having the God of the universe stepping towards you on your walkway with two men? Seriously, that is mind-blowing. That was a day in the life of Abraham. If that wasn't enough, God and his two companions sat down and ate a meal with him. During their conversation, God remarked, that a year from then Abraham and his wife Sara would have a son. Now Sara was way, way past child-bearing years, so when she heard this remark, she laughed. Out loud. Of course she … [Read more...]
