Where is Your Joy?

December 6, 2018 by

Where is your joy?

Admittedly, it is tempting to base joy on our circumstances.

But (even though I don’t get it right every time) I’ve learned to find joy in the best AND hardest moments.

Joy is…

The smell of bacon wafting through the entire house.

How the cool morning breeze nips gently at your nose.

The anticipation of Christmas.

The anticipation of Christ’s return.

The O’Dark Thirty quiet time with God before the rest of the house wakes.

The comforting hug from your Beloved Spouse when you get heartbreaking information when he is stateside.

 The comforting hug from a good friend when your husband is deployed.

A really good cup of coffee.

Returning from home after a long trip.

Finding victory when the day doesn’t go as planned.

Family in town to provide a break from the seriousness of life.

Standing on the precipice of a new life season.

Successfully building a fire in the fireplace all by yourself.

When the stockings really are hung by the chimney with care.

White elephant gifts that make your friends literally laugh out loud.

A freshly mopped floor.

The rhythmic ticking of an old-school analog clock.

Joy is… everywhere.

Because joy is Jesus.

Friends, where is YOUR joy today? I would love to hear the things that make your heart sing. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below.

“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” ~Psalm 16:11

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The Struggle is Real (But So Is God)

July 30, 2018 by

Ah yes. Mondays.

I’ve written on numerous occasions about all things Mondays. Fortunately, in the almost seven (WHAT?!?) years that I’ve blogging and engaging in online ministry, I’ve come to loathe Mondays a whole lot less.

Aw. I think I’m growing up.  [Read more…]

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Why we need “Those” Days

July 25, 2018 by

Some days turn into “those days.”

Last week, a “some day” turned into one of “those” days for me.

Our dear (rambunctious and fearless) son had his first trip to the emergency room due to falling and hitting his head on the stone fence in the backyard. I knew it was only a matter of time, but still… you can’t really prepare for something like that.

I would love to tell you that I dealt with it peacefully and gracefully, that I was kind and gracious to the kindergartener who was also in tow (and decided that particular day was “National Day of Disobedience and Backtalk.”)

But last I checked, being a Jesus follower who lies is not encouraged.

I was stressed and I was frazzled (especially after the urgent care doc wigged out, said it was “severe” and needed a referral to ER, legit sutures and sedation(?!?)) My tongue was a lot sharper than I wanted it to be.

And honestly, I was really frustrated that MY plans for the day were all thrown out of whack, especially when the ER referral address had a typo in it and send me driving 20 minutes one way in the wrong direction.

Yes, I know that parenting is my greatest calling in this current life season, and of course the health and wellness of my kids are a priority, but it doesn’t make “those days” any easier.

But do you know what? Malick is fine (thank you Jesus… he only needed glue and steri-strips, no sutures or sedation), and we made it through.

God’s mercies really ARE new every morning. His grace really DOES cover us. His power IS made perfect in our weakness. And sometimes, we just need on of “those days” to remind us of His eternal truths.

 

 

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.'” ~Lamentations 3:22-24

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PCSing, Marriage and Microwave Placement (Army Wife Network)

July 23, 2018 by

A while back, I stood in our scantly-equipped kitchen. Plastic silverware and paper plates sat on the counter next to the loaf of bread (and the espresso machine named Juan Valdez #BecausePriorities).

Our little family was finishing up our latest PCS. We had arrived at our final destination, found a wonderful house that met our needs, and now we were just waiting on the delivery of our household goods.

So yes, there I stood, looking around our bare kitchen, dreaming, planning, thinking… all of which are fave hobbies of mine with any PCS. [Read more…]

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Paul Didn’t Go Shoe Shopping

July 18, 2018 by

If you ask a random person to quote a Bible verse, chances are we can guess which verse it could be. In fact, if I was a betting woman (which I’m not– I only gamble with Jesus dollars because after 7 years of ministry, I’ve got lots of those) I would put money on that the quoted verse would like be one of the following:  [Read more…]

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Hold On to Your Joy! #WilcoWednesday

February 24, 2016 by
7 Days Time

Welcome to Wilco Wednesday! If you are a new around these parts, “Wilco” is Army-speak for “Will Comply.” Think of it as saying “Roger, God. Got it. Will do.”  So that is what Wednesday here at 7 Days Time is all about– exploring his decrees and seeking guidance for what complying with Him looks like in everyday life. The best part? He loves us for who we are, not what we do.  Remember: He doesn’t want perfection, just obedience. Share. Enjoy. Interact. Welcome a very Godly, loving woman, my friend Bobbie. 
***

“Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!”               ~Psalm 32:11

It is quite natural for us to be moved and influenced by what goes on around us.  When someone is sad, we want to be sensitive, compassionate and supportive.  We might naturally suppress our exuberance over something great going on in one’s own life.  If we learn that a friend’s lost item (wallet, phone, keys, military ID) is recovered, even if we are struggling with hard things, we freely enter into the joy of that person.  Paul says in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.” [Read more…]

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The (Real) Rich Life

February 22, 2016 by

Confession:

Some days I daydream about money.

It’s nothing TOO serious, just me imagining what I would spend the dinero on if it suddenly showed up in excess. Silly things, really. Fitness gadgets. Inky pens. Journals. A fancy, customized new Bible. Buying all of my friends their favorite lunch/flowers/gift just because it’s Thursday.

I recently saw a comic floating around on Facebook that had a person in a church praying. The speech bubble said, “Please Lord, let me prove to you that winning the lottery won’t ruin my life.” #UmYesPlease [Read more…]

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When God Moves #WilcoWednesday

January 20, 2016 by

Welcome to Wilco Wednesday! If you are a new around these parts, “Wilco” is Army-speak for “Will Comply.” Think of it as saying “Roger, God. Got it. Will do.”  So that is what Wednesday here at 7 Days Time is all about– exploring his decrees and seeking guidance for what complying with Him looks like in everyday life. The best part? He loves us for who we are, not what we do.  Remember: He doesn’t want perfection, just obedience. Share. Enjoy. Interact. And let’s respond to God’s call with  a hearty “Wilco, Lord!” Today let’s welcome my friend Shamberly as she shares her testimony about how God moved in her life– literally.

***

“We’re moving WHERE??” The words stumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them, almost immediately followed by the tears I was fighting with everything in me to hold back.

My husband had walked in the door and in the time it would have taken him to say, “Hi Baby, I’m home,” and tell me about his day, he announced that he had received orders to PCS. For those who aren’t part of the military community, PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station. In other words: *home* is no longer *here* and we’d better start packing.

I’d known it was coming. We’d been at his current duty station for over 4 years, and it was definitely time. Truth be told, it wasn’t the moving that bothered me. It was where. We had been told so many possibilities in the months leading up to this moment, all of which I had thoroughly researched and mentally prepared for, but then, in true Army fashion, he came home with the news that we were going somewhere completely unforeseen. Honestly,  I was a little shell-shocked. I had done plenty of planning for all the known possibilities. I wasn’t prepared for the unexpected. [Read more…]

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The Christian Paradox

January 18, 2016 by

I really enjoy using semi-random words to describe semi-normal things.

“How was your day?” Just ducky.

“How was supper?” Legit. 

“How was your weekend?” Fantastical! (Which is a real word, BTW.)

But sometimes, fancy words get the best of me.

So in order to win this wordy battle, I want to use them more. Work them down, learn them into submission. [Read more…]

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The Same Power #WilcoWednesday

January 13, 2016 by

Welcome to Wilco Wednesday! If you are a new around these parts, “Wilco” is Army-speak for “Will Comply.” Think of it as saying “Roger, God. Got it. Will do.”  So that is what Wednesday here at 7 Days Time is all about– exploring his decrees and seeking guidance for what complying with Him looks like in everyday life. The best part? He loves us for who we are, not what we do.  Remember: He doesn’t want perfection, just obedience. Share. Enjoy. Interact. And let’s respond to God’s call with  a hearty “Wilco, Lord!” Welcome my new friend and PWOC sister Lisa  as she gives us a perspective we ALL need. 

***

We have been here at Joint Base Lewis McChord for almost 2 months now. And we still don’t have our household goods.

I know our situation is not necessarily unique among Army families, but it is new to me. The temptation to whine and complain is quite strong and there are moments when I give in to that temptation. However, there are also shining moments of lessons learned, encouragement, and humility. [Read more…]

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