Knowing who you are and being happy

Just recently I was in a situation that normally I would walk away from feeling inadequate, less than those who I was with, down, and lacking. For the first time, when I walked away, I felt good about myself. Things haven't necessarily changed. The people I was with were the same that they have always been, same social status, same financial status, same, same, same. So, why did I feel good about myself? For the first time I realized that I AM doing my best to hear God and to be the person God wants me to be. It no longer mattered what these other people thought, how they acted or how they treated me. This was a HUGE thing for me. Out of all the things we could be in this world and in our lives, what better call to heed than the call of God on our lives?!? This call is a good call, a true call, a call from our creator - this call could not be any more right for us! It is freeing really. Just awesome.

Well, it's a brief post, but I challenge you to ponder it and how you view yourself in light of how you think others view you.

Lots of love,

D. J.

Are your eyes open?

Thanksgiving is upon us. I am so excited. I love the holidays. As I am sure many of you are doing the same, I have been pondering my blessings. I am abundantly blessed. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty in my life that could be improved, but there is a lot more in my life that I honestly can't imagine having any better because it is so near perfect. As I have been thinking about my blessing I have become my mindful of my thoughts and attitudes towards my blessings. For example; My husband is off work right now due to an injury. I am frustrated that he hurts and so I tend to get mad - it's much easier for me to be mad than worried or hurt. That is some seriously wrong thinking. I have a two year old. A beautiful two year old. But, she is a two year old - terrible twos - but why am I allowing myself to get short with her when I do. Wrong thinking again. My house does not clean itself - I complain -I must have forgot how thankful I am to have a house to clean, how thankful and blessed I am to have a family to clean up after. So, I am having several self talks as I am counting my blessings and choosing my attitudes and responses. I encourage you to do the same. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

D. J.

Wow, there is just so much God is showing me right now. It's amazing. As I have mentioned, I have kinda been in a blah pattern for a while. Not really hearing from God, but knowing he is there. I had let my praying fall back substantially, I had not been reading His Word near often enough. I had been more dependent on my own abilities rather than leaning on God's. I think we all get to this point sometimes, it happens a little at a time, so little we hardly notice it until it has grown. So, I started blogging - sharing my experiences hoping to help others, then I got back into singing with our worship team, I made church attendance a must - not just Sunday Morning, but Wednesday, and for church functions. I have just been doing what I know to do, adding a bit more over time.

In doing these things, the walls blocking blessing have been falling all around me. Most recently I have been basking in and enjoying the peace that only God can give. Everything around me is far from "peachy", but I am trusting God to see me through, as I do what I know to do and follow Gods promptings. Last night my eyes were opened to be praying for someone I had no idea I needed to pray for, someone very near and dear to me, for things that I was shocked that needed to be prayed for. My eyes were opened to what has been "attacking" another dear person in my life. I was so prompted to pray and the prompts were VERY specific! This is a blessing to hear from MY God and to know that I know Him well enough to hear His voice. It's humbling knowing that God already knows the needs of these two individuals, yet wants me to pray. He could handle this all on His own, but He wants my prayers.

For the first time in my life, I have prepared a prayer closet. I am so excited. It was another one of those things I felt prompted to do and while it looks really silly, I already find peace there. I am so excited to get into a regular groove of reading His word and praying (journaling) daily. I am excited to meet one on one with my Heavenly Father.

Focusing on God's word for my life - day to day life, rather than on my own stinking thinking continues to be a priority for me. It's hard to be attentive to this at all times, but a must. If anybody has any helpful ideas please let me know.

I pray God's peace for you this week.

Lots of love,

D. J.

Say "NO" to Stinking Thinking

My goodness, our Wednesday night sermons are so awesome! We are covering spiritual warfare and our pastor is phenomenal at teaching this subject!

I have allowed myself to be consumed now, for quite sometime actually, with negative thinking regarding our finances, my time, my relationships, my personal job performance, my weight loss battle...you name it I was not thinking positive thoughts, I have been constantly worried, frustrated and hopeless. News Flash -- God does not want us to live in a constant state of worry and he certainly doesn't send us ill will. I realized I have been thinking more on the worldly things and have been spending less time in God's word. What a waste of time! That stinking thinking blocks God's blessings. What you think about you bring about! As a man thinks, so he is! What does God say about you! What does God promise His believers? I encourage you find scriptures that point you, your thoughts, your words and your actions to God. Ponder things that are pure, lovely, and true and let God handle the rest! You have to make a daily commitment to this, sometimes hourly, sometime even more frequent! Hold your thoughts captive, when you think a negative, wrong, or worrisome thought, capture it, cast it out and replace it with God's Word!!

By the way, while I have been consumed with this worry and stinking thinking you would never have known it to see me. I am a very happy person, even when I am full of doubt and worry, it takes a lot to get me down. I think it's important that we realize that some people don't "show" and "express" their needs, just because they are happy doesn't mean they don't need prayer, support, and encouragement. The scripture tells us to pray for one another -- it doesn't say only pray for those in need -- pray for one another!

On a final note - those of you who read this, please email your friends and invite them to follow my blog. I want my little personal lessons, experiences and ponderings to help others, the more who know the more can be helped.

Lots of love!!

D. J.

My plate is full yet my cup runneth over

The past few weeks have been jam packed with going here and there, then here and then there. I haven't "slept in" (you know, like past 8:00 am) in I don't know how long. I haven't been able to sit down and make a menu for the upcoming week in over a month - don't worry, nobody is starving, the housekeeping fairies are somehow overlooking my house and my holiday decorations are not out yet! My plate is full right now. While I may have my moments of frustration, I am in awe at how my cup is over flowing. My daughters are blessing too big to even begin to describe - it is a joy to cater to their needs, my job was hand picked for me by God - even when overwhelming I am comforted by His presence with me in my office, My husband - full of surprises and as a result rekindles the tiny sparks that remain of my dreams. I could go on and on, but the gist is this. My plate is full - yes, I am doing a lot right now, but, my cup runneth over not only with the blessings that cause my plate to be full but also with the blessings to maintain the full plate. I am so happy.

Proverbs 15:13

Counting my blessings -

D. J.

Basking in Joy

I love joy! It's odd that we don't even realize we have lost it until it reappears again. Joy came back when I was breaking down the walls blocking blessings. Joy enables us to see with new and different eyes. I have a large backlog at work right now, Joy has opened my eyes to the fact that if I will not only ask God for help but actually focus on God through my work day that he leads me, guides me and directs me through my to do list and to do pile. My hubby has been kinda cranky since he has been on some steroids...Joy allowed me to see him differently. Instead of being so defensive, I was reminded to pray for him...within a mere day his countenance shifted. Joy opened my eyes to those in need around me, specific needs, and I saw a specific prayer request and have lifted them up in prayer and encouraged them. I got my feelings hurt at church, Joy helped me to see that what I percieved as the intended motive had no truth to back it up and that I should not jump to conclusions. Joy reminded me life, while hard at time, is full of momments of fun and laughter, full of momments to be present in and to enjoy. Today, I pray JOY for you.

Don't Block Your Blessings!

For a while now, I have been feeling like God has more for me that I just haven't been getting. I had actually decided that I was just in a season of reflection. This was very wrong. I had been blocking my own blessings from God. This became evident to me a little over a month ago. I love to sing, I don't read music, I do it all by ear and did I say, I love to sing!! But, since I am not a "musician" it makes me nervous to participate in a group of singers/musicians or to sing for anyone other than my children. Like scared nervous! I had been prompted for a LONG TIME to participate in our Worship Team at church. I did not act on that prompt for various percieved reasons, really I was just scared. Finally, I asked if I could help out and botta bing botta boom I am on the worship team. Now, I kid you not, the first Sunday I sang with them, when I sat down it was like a flood of communication from God! I wrote notes and wrote and wrote - it was amazing! I needed to offer a sacrifice to God, and I was too scared. Once I gave in and obeyed God's desire for me - a door was opened.

Once the door was opened I was enlightened as to another type of block I had put up. INACTIVITY. Sure, I pray, I go to church, I seek God. But, I wasn't praying for people like I used to, my heart wasn't where it needed to be at all times, I wasn't working on growing closer to God - I was just maintaining the relationship. My inactivity has been blocking blessings as well.

The blessings have been numerous since I sang - Financial blessing, blessing of peace, blessings in relationships, blessings of love and new understanding for others and blessings of compassion. It's simply amazing!