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God Brings Beauty From Trouble
What do you think? Do you believe it? Well, friend, I do. I believe for I’ve seen it with my own eyes. “God is the One who brings beauty from trouble and redemption from brokenness.” -Amber Jeann Parker It can be a painful process, this bringing forth beauty out of what was jagged, sharp, painful, & hurting. It isn’t done yet. Or did you see that— God is slowly at work, working out the roughness, the broken, the angsty bits of our heart & life… He is forming it into this new and other creation— forming our lives, our circumstances, our very selves— into something new. I turn in gratitude,…
- Bible teaching, Choose Joy, Choose Joy In the Midst, Faith, Fear, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, Hope in God
A Spirit of Fear- Getting Free From its’ Bondage
If you are wondering why there’s such a jolting color contrast of the words to the background, it is to show the desired change in our hearts and our lives. It is to emphasize the strong reminder that we are not to live in fear. A spirit of fear is not from God. If it doesn’t come from God, then it is from the enemy of your soul, from Satan. From God comes light— To live and walk with God is to walk in light and truth… To have power, love, and a sound mind as 2 Timothy 1:7 says. Are you walking with God or are you allowing the…
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Spiritual Battle- No Weapon Will Prosper.
Spiritual battle is real. Over this last week our family has been hit with spiritual battles— multiple ones. It is not new for us to be hit with spiritual attacks. Satan has the same playbook- and keeps hitting hard to back us down from what God is calling us to, but those who are God’s people have a promise found in Isaiah 54:17a. No weapon formed against you shall prosper. No weapon formed against me will prosper. God fights my battles. He is sovereign over all. The verse leading up to this one shows that God is the creator over the one who comes at you to attack you as…
- Declare, Declare Proclaim Boldly, Encouragement, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, God’s mighty power, Hope in God, Life Battles, Life Storms, Mental Health, Proclaim, Pursuing health and wholeness, Word of the Year, WOTY, WOTY 2024
2024 Word(s) Of the Year: Declare/Proclaim…Boldly
My 2024 Word(s) of the year are: Declare/Proclaim …Boldly. This comes out of Psalm 118:17 & Ephesians 6:19-20. The Lord brought these verses to me in late November and early December, and I began to notice the words- Declare. Proclaim. As Psalm 118:17 states, “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.” This deeply resonates with me. There has been so much that has felt like death in the last 8 years. And there has been actual death (2 angel babies) and also the caregiving and navigating 3 very different life-threatening illnesses/diagnoses for my husband and 2 of my children and close calls with…
- Bible teaching, Christmas, Encouragement, God’s Love, Hope in God, Life Battles, Life Storms, Overcome anxiety & worry, Peace
Peace In & Through Jesus
Peace. In Jesus, we may have peace. Jesus is the One who brings peace, hope, & joy into a troubled world. He came down to earth to overcome the world and bring a way for True Hope & True Peace, through Himself. In this verse, Jesus was preparing His disciples for when He would not be present anymore. He told them they would have trouble. He didn’t say if or you might have trouble. He said— you will. We will have trouble in this world. When trouble comes, though, we can take heart in the knowledge that Jesus has overcome the world. We can be encouraged in the midst of…
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May We Be Joyful, Hopeful, Patient, Persevering, Faithful, & Prayerful.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. [Rom. 12:12] Let’s focus our mind on this truth, asking God for His help and strength to do so. I’ve been sitting with this verse and considering its’ truth over this last week. The words and encouragement are empowering, and they resonate with my heart. I want to be joyful as I wait hopefully and in hope for what God will do and continue to do in my story, in my life, in my circumstances, in any unanswered prayers I am waiting on, waiting in hope. Let me be joyful as I wait, as I hope. Let me keep focused…
- Bible teaching, Christmas, Darkness, Encouragement, Faith, faith and psychology, Fighting for Joy, God’s Love, God’s mighty power, Life Battles, Mental Health, Peace, Prayer, Resting In Peace, spiritual warfare, therapy
Peace Over Darkness & Mental Health Battles This Christmas
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” [John 14:27] “Peace, bringing it all to peace. The storm surrounding me. Let it break at your name…. …Jesus. Jesus. You make the darkness tremble. Jesus. Jesus. You silence fear…” I have sung the words to that song, Tremble, many a time when going through the darkest battles for the life of my husband. Walking through the mental health battle for his life. Praying and asking the Lord for strength, for discernment, for wisdom. For peace. For breakthrough…
- Bible teaching, Daniel, Encouragement, Faith, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, God’s mighty power, Hope in God, Life Battles, Life Storms, Mental Health, miracles, Overcome anxiety & worry, Pursuing health and wholeness, spiritual warfare
God Is In the Room & He Still Does Miracles.
Friend— You are Not alone. No matter what you are going through. No matter if anyone knows the battle you are facing, the struggles that are pressing in, the pressures you face. God is right there with you. The song “In the Room” by Maverick City Music is one of my current favorites because it testifies to how God has always been the same, back when Daniel was in the lion’s den and wasn’t devoured after going against the command to only pray to the king. He continued to pray to God and was sentenced to death by the lion’s den as a result. But God protected him. (Read about…
- Both. And, Christmas, Encouragement, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, God’s Love, Grief & Loss, Hope in God, Life Battles, Life Storms, Love, Prayer, Pursuing health and wholeness, Resting In Peace, Romans
Loss, Joy, Love, & Grief Co-mingled This Christmas
You don’t have to sugarcoat your life. This Christmas allow yourself to miss and grieve the hard things in your life, the people you have lost, the circumstances and relationships that haven’t gone how you hoped. Make room for joy and loss. The excitement of Christmas and the pain of grief. Be kind to yourself and determine ways to honor any grief or loss you have this Christmas. Honor that loved person who you miss so much. How? Put a special ornament on the tree in honor of them. Put a small stocking up somewhere or a little angel or other meaningful item that signifies importance to you. This is…
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Who Needs Help with Their Problems & Struggles in Life- God is an Ever-Present Help.
Lord you are mighty & good. Move in the midst of so many who need to hear your voice— & feel your presence— in the midst of their battle right now. Today. Be their ever-present help in times of trouble, as you already are. Help them to know you are near & care and are working everything for their ultimate good. Increase their trust in you, God. 🙏❤️ Friend— Share this prayer with whoever needs encouragement in their life battles and difficulties they are facing today. Tag me on social media @choosejoyinthemidst Christmas doesn’t put a pause on life difficulties. We all need encouragement and strength to face the storms…
