I Choose Joy

As Christmas comes draws to an end, I have always seemed to think of it as one of the saddest times of the year. I have been so busy shopping, cooking, visiting and remembering and now it’s over, just like that. It is time for me to clean the kitchen and find a place to put all of my new treasures, each one holds a special place in my heart so it needs a special place in my home. It is time to put the memories of this Christmas and the Christmases past that I have hanging on my tree in the form of ornaments back in the box. My lights must come down, so that they will have a chance to twinkle again. The tree must go and I know I will have a million pine needles to clean up. I will remember all of those that I missed this Christmas because they were called home. I know this sounds depressing but I promise I do have a point. What if this year I don’t think of it that way? What if I remember the real meaning of Christmas, you know, Jesus? What if I remember to have Christmas every day in my heart because I have the greatest gift of all, that never forgets me, always shines bright and never fades way. What is this wonderful gift? Jesus of course. Christmas is not in the gifts, ornaments, decorations, baking and giving. It is truly a gift that stays with us all year and I choose to see that way.

I must remember to smile when I meet a stranger on the streets because I don’t know what they are going through and maybe that smile will light up their day. I have to remember that when I am packing up the Christmas displays not to pack up my joy for the season. I have Jesus in my heart so I will carry this joy all year-long not just between November 1st and December 25th. So this year between Christmas and Christmas I think I will choose to be happy not because of anything I did but because what Jesus has done for me.  Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Living it Daily: When the Morning Comes

Living it Daily: When the Morning Comes:                  When I wake up every morning it is hard to get the day started I just really want to stay in bed a while longer because ...

When the Morning Comes

              When I wake up every morning it is hard to get the day started I just really want to stay in bed a while longer because I know that are many task I  must complete before I can crawl back into my bed. I left a whole list of  unfinished projects yesterday because there did not seem to be enough time to get it all done. I say I can do them tomorrow but when tomorrow get here, you guessed it not enough time. When I finally talk my self into getting up, everything seems to start to happening really fast. I must make a choice on what to eat. I can eat food that is good for me or the kind I like, which is hardly ever  good for me. Once I have established what I am going to eat then I have to decide what I need to wear. I live in North Alabama, who knows what season it is going to be today. I find my self going to the front door and looking out to decide if it will be a spring, summer, winter or fall  kinda day. I get ready to leave for work then this happens I have now just discovered  I can't find my car keys, the phone is ringing, I answer it, on the other end of the line it is someone wanting me to take a survey. Now, I am running late for work, and I just spilled my unsweetened tea all over me because when I checked to see how late it was, I was not think about the cup in my hand. Of course, now it's to the bedroom to change, I am even later and every red light in town stops me.

         I am sure most of you have had at least one day like this as well. When I look back on the days that seem to go all wrong I realize that I did not choose to put God first. If I would have only taken the time to stop and pray before I ever got out of the bed my day would have started off much better. I am not saying that all of the craziness would not have happened. What I am saying is that if I would have chosen to put God first I would have had the strength to get through it without letting it set the tone for he whole day to be a "Bad Day" because  of the Holy Spirit in me would have given me the ability to conquer the day and He would have turned it into a "Great Day!"

In 1 Peter 5:7  it say "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." then in

Isaiah 41:10 it states, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” 


        I was not choosing to talk with the Father before I even got out of bed. I  had chosen not to think of Him or thank Him for waking me up in a warm bed, for the  food in my frig, nice clothes to wear, a phone, a car, and a job. I did not give him thanks for my family or my health.  My whole day would have been totally different if I would have just talked with the Father  before my feet ever hit the floor and rejoiced in who He is and what He has done for me. I should have been praising Him.

     We must all seek out  for our selves what we are going to choose today. Are we going to choose to go to God and give it all to him or are we going to choose to do life in our own  power?
      Be encouraged to know that we all sometimes try to do life in our own power but we should do well to remember that We as" heroines of faith" have the Holy Spirit living in us. We do NOT have to rely on our own strength we can and should  turn everyday over to our heavenly Father.  He loves us and wants to take care of us if we will just give it all to him. There is nothing to big for our God  to handle!  Have a Blessed Day in the Lord!
#womenwarriors #battleshoes