Tag Archives: trials

LOVE IS THANKFUL

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Thanksgiving is a two part word. Thanks and giving. They just go together. When we have a thankful heart, we give and do good to others.

We give God thanks first because He IS good. All good comes from Him and we are made to give Him praise fir it. Any good that you do, that you receive, that you think about, that you GET to experience….it all comes from His hands because He IS GOOD!!!

Even in our trials He is still working for our what?!….OUR GOOD!!!

When we take notice to the good, instead of the bad, we create a thankful attitude.

This attitude reveals our trust in Him and says we are thankful for the good He’s already given us instead of refusing to be thankful “when” or “if.”

We give thanks NOW….because no matter what, He is still good.

Our God is a good God. Set your focus on His goodness, instead of the one bad thing screaming for your attention!! No matter what kind of trial your facing, void or loneliness you may feel, tired and worn out place you always seem to remain in, I want to encourage you today to THANK HIM ANYWAY!!

When we thank Him in our mess, in our brokenness, in our heartache, our praise brings His power to overcome ANY situation. His goodness fills us with a thankful heart that overflows…even IN your trial!! It gives us energy and excitement as His goodness flows through our bodies! Look around you and simply see His goodness. Let it fill you. Allow it to make you smile and laugh again.

When we take notice to the abundance of good, we then become the fruit of His goodness to others and our attitudes and actions represent a life of Thanksgiving!!!

Thank Him today. Every little time you see His goodness. Silently smile and give Him praise!! Thank Him…for what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do…Thank Him for HE IS GOOD!!

1 Chronicles 16:34~Give thanks to the Lord, for HE IS GOOD.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

 

 

 

Smile A LOT!!

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Job-29:24~When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them.

Did you know it takes only 17 muscles to smile, but 43 to frown?

In other words, it takes a lot more energy to frown than to smile.

As busy working moms, we need all the energy we have to work inside the home AND outside the home!

I’ve found when I’m in a good mood and I have a smile on my face, my energy levels up.

When I’ve had a hard day and am frowning, I’M EXHAUSTED!!!

So I started smiling.

A LOT!!!

I smiled when I felt like it and when I didn’t .

I smiled through trials, even if it felt like I was forcing my face to cooperate!

This became a habit, and I noticed I actually felt better when I smiled.

It wasn’t that I was faking it, I was choosing it!!!

I was choosing triumph over defeat!

I was choosing to be encouraging, not discouraging!

Not only was my smile encouraging and energizing to me, but it made others around me feel the same.

I noticed when I would greet my husband with a smile, he felt welcomed and loved. This caused him to smile and his attitude toward me became more kind and affectionate.

When I greeted my daughter with a smile, she knew I was happy to see her. She in return, would smile and give me a big hug!

When I would greet my customers with a smile, they felt appreciated and became regular customers.

When I passed by a stranger, especially the ones who had a frown on their face, if I gave them a great big smile, they usually smiled back!

I saw not only my attitude change, but the people who received my smile~smile with me!!

We all have trials were going through that we could allow to control our smiles, but what if we began choosing to smile anyway?

The more trouble we experienced, the more we’d smile.

Sure, everyones entitled to a bad day, just not every day!

If you’ve formed a habit of frowning, your going to have to be purposeful; with changing it.

Even if it hurts.

Lets start today smiling….

When you begin to smile again, it may be an effort. But the more you exercise your smile, the more powerful it will become!

We are called to be a light in a dark world, so lets LET OUR SMILES SHINE!!

The more your smile shines, the bigger it will grow. Before you know it, you will not only smile, YOU WILL SMILE A LOT!!!

Father, thank you for my smile. You made it especially for me, so that I could bring encouragement to myself and others, IF I choose to use it. Help me to focus my mind on becoming a light in the middle of my darkness. I can’t do this without your help, so today I’m relinquishing all rights to my smile. Let others wonder “Why I always smile.” Let them get a glimpse of your encouragement and love. Help me to Smile…. A Lot!!

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be glad “IN IT!”

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Psalm 118:24~This is the day the Lord has made: we will rejoice and be glad in it.

There are days when the last thing we want to do is rejoice.

We must be honest with God.

I’ve found that when I take my concerns, my problems, my realities to Him, that He starts to work!

When I try to fix my situation, I worry and work. This produces anxiety and exhaustion.

When I take my situation to Him to fix it, I leave His presence feeling peaceful and hopeful.

Does it remove or change my problems immediately?

No.

But it does allow me to be glad IN IT, knowing He is working ALL THINGS together for my good, because I love Him!

IN todays problems and chaos.

IN todays heartaches and pain.

IN todays battles….

The Lord has made this day.

He is IN IT!

You are IN IT!

But most importantly, you are IN IT….TOGETHER!!!

Today, lets make the choice to be glad IN IT, SO THAT our Lord will get the glory when we are THROUGH IT!!

Father, thank you for being in this day with me. Your presence alone offers peace in the storm, and hope for my future! You know the situations we are all IN. Each of our circumstances are different, but we all have the same answer. You. You are the author and finisher of everything, and we know your presence will be with us until “this” is finished. We love you and want to represent you well. “This” is paralyzing and we are incapable of doing it GLADLY without you. We come to you asking for your Spirit to rise up in us so we can do what the world finds impossible…. be glad IN IT!!

Amen.