CREATE JOY

Picking your battles wisely is a life quality that everyone should adopt. Ask your self:      why does this bother me      what will happen if I don't respond      will my opinion change the outcome      can I find a positive way to express the way this makes me I feel       When serious things do happen (and they will) over the top responses will only serve to hurt you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and  you will alienate people after time........... Discipline your thought life!   Don't allow every minor irritation make you irrational! Try focusing on  the positive and meditating on the blessings of God and watch the small problems fade from sight......... Philipians 4:8 Finally, brethren.....whatsoever things that are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Today, I try again to look for and create JOY....... I love the way my kids attack life with fervor.  Wide awake most mornings (especially if there is no school).  Happy and ready to get the day started...... They haven't yet had the hard disappointments life can bring.  They love God!  They have high goals for the future and believe in their hearts they can and will attain them. I hope for them.  I hope they don't get distracted by some short term lust.  I hope they have what it takes to keep doing right even when it seems like forever........ with no rewards....... I hope for them to sleep hard at night and enjoy every breath during the day.  I love them so much, they inspire me to look for good in people and not look down my nose. So, here's to trying again, thank you God, your mercies are truly new every morning! love~jackie

It only takes one criticism or disapproval to shatter my confidence.  I don't know what happened, when I was young I felt very confident.  Maybe after years of being shown my inadequacies the disapproval sank into my spirit. This sounds like it might be a sad evaluation of a life, but in truth it was the awakening I had needed to come to fully trust Jesus to be my Lord and overseer of my life.  No longer putting trust in myself.... Jesus speaks love and peace into my spirit, unlike all of those other voices.  He calms me with His soothing words and gives me confidence.  He helps me learn and whispers life giving words  in my ear. In fellowship with Him, I stand tall and have a mission and a  purpose.  I know He has it all worked out for me as I walk with Him....... He has a plan just for you too!  I don't know what it is, but I do know that it is awesome and you can have confidence in it, in Him.........trust Him! "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me

Nine o'clock in the evening and our boys and the dog are wound UP^  So, so far we are off to a loud energetic start.......you could set your watch by this nightly activity. Wouldn't change a thing! Sometimes when I am tired I am tempted to scream and tell them to stop, but I know what they want is for us to watch them wrestle and laugh at their antics.  It is time to spend together and how I receive it is all up to me.  Tired or not, these are precious moments....... There are so many "things" in our lives that do not seem ideal to us.  They aren't exactly the way we would have scripted our lives,  but our ability to enjoy the moment and be at peace can change us and everyone around us.  A new year......new attitudes about what a "precious moment" looks like...... Chillin in the middle of upheaval takes practice, but we can do this.........:-)) Psalms 16:9  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;  my flesh also shall rest in hope