Obedience. That's sort of a prickly word for many of us. If our parents were strict disciplinarians we may have felt the price of disobedience. But, have you ever thought about the joy of obedience? Here are some verses from the Book of Hebrews, chapter 12, in the New Testament: 2 We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God.3 Think about Jesus, who endured opposition from sinners, so that you don’t … [Read more...]
Welcome to Day 27 of 31 Extraordinary Days to Be... Or...simply: Be... Together, we will learn to Be… to live fully and beautifully in our “skin” and in our homes and beyond. If you missed The Introduction or you'd like to follow the entire series, you can find each post listed here. In my reading early this week I came across this verse.... This image is available as a FREE 5x7 printable. Download it here. Light-seeds are planted in the souls of God’s people, Joy-seeds are planted in good heart-soil. Psalm 97:11 The Message I love the idea of God planting … [Read more...]
Welcome to Day 20 of 31 Extraordinary Days to Be... Or...simply: Be... Together, we will learn to Be… to live fully and beautifully in our “skin” and in our homes and beyond. If you missed The Introduction or you'd like to follow the entire series, you can find each post listed here. Last Sunday we took a drive with some friends to visit a local university's gardens in the country. On our way home we drove past a small lake and were totally blown away by the awesome color. Four excited adults exited the car and quietly shouted for joy, exclaiming the glories of the beautiful colors, and … [Read more...]
Welcome to Day 13 of 31 Extraordinary Days to Be... Or...simply: Be... Together, we will learn to Be… to live fully and beautifully in our “skin” and in our homes and beyond. If you missed The Introduction or you'd like to follow the entire series, you can find each post listed here. Do you live in a spot where you can view a sunrise or sunset? Right now we're living at the beginning of a private cul de sac. It's a half mile from beginning to end. This little road runs from east to west. Or west to east depending on your perspective. The beauty for me is that each morning I can sit in … [Read more...]
Welcome to Day 11 of 31 Extraordinary Days to Be... Or...simply: Be... Together, we will learn to Be… to live fully and beautifully in our “skin” and in our homes and beyond. If you missed The Introduction or you'd like to follow the entire series, you can find each post listed here. This morning as I sat down to write this post these lyrics to a song ran through my mind.... "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord." Earlier, I had been mulling over a few different directions I wanted to take our Friday topic: Be...Strong. But, after the song's lyrics kept playing over in my … [Read more...]
Welcome to Day 6 of 31 Extraordinary Days to Be... Or...simply: Be... Together, we will learn to Be… to live fully and beautifully in our “skin” and in our homes and beyond. If you missed The Introduction or you'd like to follow the entire series, you can find each post listed here. ...You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful life. As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending, and I know true joy and contentment. Psalm 16:11 The Voice Really? Is that even possible? When life throws a knuckle ball, followed by a curve ball, it sometimes feels like there will … [Read more...]
Welcome to Day 4 of 31 Extraordinary Days to Be... Or...simply: Be... Together, we will learn to Be… to live fully and beautifully in our “skin” and in our homes and beyond. If you missed The Introduction or you'd like to follow the entire series, you can find each post listed here. I'm tired of being strong. Have you ever said that? That's about how I feel right now. Sorta. At the moment either of us feel that way, it's time to dig in a little deeper. Yes? Have you ever planted a small tree? There are two schools of thought on the tree planting business. … [Read more...]
Raise your hand if you believe God provides everything we need. Now what if I were to say...God provides everything for our enjoyment. Where is your hand now? Up or down? Really. God has an interest in our enjoyment? Most of us "get" the idea that he provides everything we need. See Matthew 6:25-34 But this.... ....fix your hope on God, the One who richly provides everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17b ~The Voice This is a little more difficult for many of us to grasp. After all...many of us don't think of God as being in the enjoyment business. … [Read more...]
Ever have a day in which you need something, some word, to hang on to? "...I am God, your God. When you are in trouble, call for Me. I will come and rescue you, and you will honor Me.” Psalm 50:7b & 15 from The Voice Just in case we have any doubt. God settles who he is in this psalm. And then if that isn't enough...he let's us know that he cares and he's here for us. I don't know about you, but that's a great reminder to me. But, even more than just being here.... When we call for him...he comes. And not only does he come...he rescues … [Read more...]
The other day I got up late. I hadn't slept well, really much at all. My day began without my usual time alone with God. Do I need to tell you that I had a very bad, awful, no good day? You might have guessed. I couldn't believe the difference in where my mind went with negative thinking. That was an eye-opener. It was a huge realization that I cannot make it through a day on my own strength. The following day, I was back on track and read this verse: Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak … [Read more...]
The plan was to meet my friend at one of the botanical gardens at Michigan State University. I Googled for directions and then wrote them all down on a piece of paper, for easy reference as I drove there. The route seemed easy enough, and I had the TracFone so I could call my friend in case we missed each other. Perfect. The sun was shining and I felt so blessed to be able to get together with one of my dearest friends whom I rarely see as I have been moving from state to state the last too many years. Up ahead, I saw the sign with the name of the road for my first turn. As I … [Read more...]
How was your week? Some days or weeks everything seems to go well. Others....not so much. One thing I've been learning is....that regardless of my circumstance....God is always good to me. Here's the New Living Translation of Psalm 13:5&6: But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me. What a great verse to meditate on when you're in a difficult circumstance. I'm guessing you're wondering why I would say that. It's imperative that we speak truth into our minds and … [Read more...]
A song. A psalm of David. 1 My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul. 2 Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 3 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 4 For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. Psalm 108:1-5 NIV Speak these verses out loud. When I did.... God became bigger. I became smaller. He became mighty and glorious. My faith … [Read more...]
You've heard it... You've read it... God cares for you. But does he really? Have you heard a little voice in your head ask that question with an affected tone, "Does he really?" When you're in the mud of life, sometimes barely able to lift one foot up and move it forward, struggling to stand in the slipperiness of that greasy water-logged and endless swarm of clay, does God care? I think that when Peter penned this... Since God cares for you, let Him carry all your burdens and worries. 1 Peter 5:7 Voice He believed it. I do too. Do you know … [Read more...]
Just in case you're having one of those days.... You know....the kind filled with doubt, or worry, or fear. May these words encourage your heart: Jesus said, “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. John 14:1 ERV We all have days when we let our minds take us places we shouldn't go. Speak God's promises out loud. Start with this verse. We really can trust the ONE who says, Trust me. Hope these were just the encouraging words you needed.... If you like this photo, I created it in a 5x7 format so you can print and frame it. Click here for the image and save it … [Read more...]
Endurance Today my inbox contained an email that contained a graphic with the word, Endurance. I contemplated it for a minute and then was off to the next email. Later in the day a good friend left a comment on Facebook with a scripture verse. It's from a book in the Bible I memorized when I was a senior in high school. But, as I was uncertain with the direction for this Joy Day! post I decided to plug the 'address' into Bible Gateway and see how it reads in different translations. (I memorized it in the Living Bible.) It was there that the word endurance popped out at me, again. Do you believe in … [Read more...]
Today strangers walked through our house. If you have ever left your house for the real estate agent and her entourage to tromp through, you know how weird that feels. Before we left the house we had to secure our cats in their 'houses.' We have a large pet carrier that holds two cats easily and a second single carrier. Typically the carriers sit on shelves in our basement. It seemed like a place of safety for the cats during the showing; out of the way. So, before we left the house, we placed our furry friends in their 'houses.' I'm not sure why, but our cats like their carriers. … [Read more...]
