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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, Encouragement, Faith, Fighting for Joy, Focusing on Truth, Life Storms, New Life, positive self-talk
New Life into the Dead & Broken Parts
God can breathe new life into what was dead, past hope, broken, & done for. God has been at work slowly doing this in my own life.It’s not over yet. It is a process. There are ups and downs as I move forward in it.I have to keep trusting that God is doing a good thing in my life— creating it. Forming it. Reforming the clay, me, as He desires. There is a submission and surrender.My role is to obey. To surrender. To persevere. To yield to what He desires.Hebrews 12: 1a–2 (ESV) says “…let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us…
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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…
- 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…
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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…
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Running after Truth- Through God & Therapy; Becoming a Healthier Self
Truth. God’s truth. Seeking after the truth of something is an integral part of who I am. Writing down the truth, listening to the truth through songs and sound preaching, not taking someone else’s word for it just because I look up to them or they are important in my life. Verifying that what they are saying is truth by studying God’s word for myself. Seeking truth. Reading truth from the Bible and reading books from trusted Biblical scholars. Seeking truth. Friend, are you also seeking God’s truth out for yourself and studying God’s word on your own? Are you having truth-filled inputs throughout your day with songs based in…
