- 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…
- Caregiving, Encouragement, Faith, Focusing on Truth, Life Battles, Matthew, Pursuing health and wholeness, sacrificial love
For the Caregiver: God Sees You, Strengthens You, & Helps You
For those who are weary today in their caregiving, no matter the battle or medical issue they are walking through, let me remind you— God sees you. God cares for you. He will give you renewed strength as you continue in the battle you are facing. Let me, now, share a truth the Lord gave to me as I considered all the caregiving I have done… Caregiving is not a reciprocal act. It is an act done in deep sacrificial love without expectation of return on the investment. To caregive is to be asked to love like Jesus did— love without return. Jesus does not expect anything back in return…
- Bible teaching, Encouragement, Faith, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, God’s Love, Hope in God, Life Battles, Prayer, Pursuing health and wholeness, Romans, Spiritual Transformation, spiritual warfare
Nothing Can Separate You From God’s Love. You Are Not Alone!
If you have been around the Bible for some time, you likely know that the Holy Spirit intercedes on your behalf and on my behalf. Romans 8:26 says “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness, We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” So— when we pray and don’t know even what to ask for, maybe due to the request being heavy or complicated or we are in anguish or feel in despair and, or maybe have given up some on our hope that the situation will change… If you don’t know how to put…
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Hope and Trust in God No Matter Your Life’s Storms
In what do you place your hope in friend? Is it something or someone that can shift and change, possibly letting you down. A close relationship with someone. Your money, your items, your own abilities or physical prowess, your ability to accomplish so much on your own? All of those things are blessings from the Lord— our abilities, our talents, our giftings, our finances. They could shift so quickly though. We are not in control of them fully. The only One who does not shift but instead stands firm is God. Read more to find out how!
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The Hard Things In Your Life
Don’t shy away from the hard realities of your life.Let me say that again— Don’t ignore, downplay, or dismiss the difficult realities of your life. By being honest with yourself and honest with trusted individuals in your life & with God, you take steps toward wholeness.It’s okay to not have the answers for your difficult circumstances when you do share. By sharing about those— painful and difficult things, the painful realities of your life— with trustworthy, empathetic, and kind people— You can take steps toward wholeness. You are not alone dealing with that reality. Your friend doesn’t have to have wise words or answers for your problems, but they do…
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Christ’s Power On Display In Our Weakness & In Our Struggles
What do you need God’s power for in your life right now—today? What struggles are you carrying? What are you trying to do on your own? 2 Corinthians 12:9 says: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Paul was honest about his humanity and weaknesses and also so attuned to God’s heart. The way of God is so different from the way of the world. The way of the world will tempt us to try to hide our failings, mistakes, and issues from other…
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A Metamorphosis: God’s Transformative Work As We Embrace His Plans For Our Life
What would life be like if we embraced rather than fought the transformative work the Lord wants to do in our life? What would your life be like if you truly, earnestly sought the Lord for what His desires and plans were for your one life— what His fully encompassing will for your life was? Well, we are going to dive into the beginning of Romans 12 today to try to understand more fully what this looks like and why it’s important. Romans 12:1–2 (NASB): “I urge you brethren…present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be…
- Encouragement, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, Mental Health, Prayer, Resting In Peace, spiritual warfare
RELINQUISH CONTROL
It doesn’t feel good to not be in control. In control of our life. Our choices. Our struggles. Our emotions. Our relationships. Our work. To not be on top of everything. Doing well in the many facets of life. It doesn’t feel good— It doesn’t feel comfortable. And yet, being in control is just an illusion. It is not reality. We are not actually in control or even have the actual ability to have control over all the things we interact with in our life on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly basis. So much is outside our control and we will expend so much energy trying to force things to…
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God’s got you: Stay focused solely on Him for true purpose & meaning!
The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? [Psalm 27: 1 NIV] I don’t know about you, but I needed these words of truth and encouragement to start my day off and lead me in the right way. I find this passage so comforting as I meditate on it. God is my light. He illuminates my path and helps me see what is around me and where I am going. He is my salvation. He is my lifeline, bringing me out of what was and into life and abundance. He saves me…