Joyful Bad Times: Yes it is possible!

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4

How is it that we can experience joy in times of pain?

That's because joy and happiness are not synonymous. Joy does not depend on our circumstances — happiness does. We can go through the ups and downs of life, the good times and bad, continuing to remain joyful.

Where can we find joy when we want our life circumstances fixed or healed – yesterday?

When we are in the midst of a painful circumstance it is very hard to see hope. The light at the end of the tunnel. But, there’s good news! God promises us that if we stay obedient to Him, the product of suffering is perseverance and character. These attributes produce hope.

There is purpose in your pain… your trial… those hard times. I know. I hate those times too! But, “our sufferings” do change us (Rom. 5:3-4). It shapes the heart.

So, pray for joy in the midst of the suffering. After all, He “poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Rom. 5:5b). Because this promise is sealed with the Holy Spirit, you do not have to be discouraged by your sufferings. There is hope!

Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, my hope giver. In times of suffering and difficulty in this life show me your joy, your light, your hope. Give me renewed courage to face my circumstances as I stay focused on your love and your dream for my life. Amen.










Thanks for viewing my blog. Please visit again.

Thought for today: To keep your life simple, Run to Jesus.


Thanks for viewing my blog. Please visit again.

Saving You Money Blog with Diana Watson from FOX Carolina WHNS-TV

Saving You Money Blog with Diana Watson from FOX Carolina WHNS-TV

Thanks for viewing my blog. Please visit again.

Freshen up your closets or drawers in just 5 minutes!

***Make your own sweet smelling sachets for drawers and closets by slipping scented bars of soap into drawstring cheese cloth bags or (you could use old stockings, or any thin cloth or bag you have.) Tuck a few in your underwear, sweater drawer. Toss over a hanger in the closet to add a nice fragrance to it. Tip: buy your scented soaps at a Dollar store to save money. When the aroma starts to fade, remove the soap from the bag and use it in your bathroom. This is alot cheaper than buying sachets from a store.


Thanks for viewing my blog. Please visit again.

Merry Christmas to everyone!
Luv u

Do you have the Holiday Blues?

Do you suffer from the Blues during the Christmas holidays? I usually do.
Read this and remember that God loves you and he can give you peace and restore your joy.

Read this devotion and give your burdens to the Lord.

JOY DOWN IN MY HEART

Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.” Habakkuk 3:17-19 njkv

“I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart... down in my heart to stay!” Remember how much fun it was to sing this song as a kid? Or, to hear your own children sing it? Whenever I hear it, I just can't help but smiling and forgetting about my present situation.

Today, I am reminded that the joy of the Lord is attainable even in the midst of trial or hopelessness. What we need to understand is that joy and happiness are not synonymous. Joy does not depend on our life circumstances, happiness does. We can go through the ups and downs of life experiencing the good times and the bad all the while remaining joyful. Why? Because it is not based on what happens!

No matter what is going on in your life, you can always “rejoice in the Lord.” The wonderful paradox of faith is the insurmountable joy you can experience when circumstances seem to be at their worst. Just as Habakkuk decided to surrender his fears to the Lord and wait, you too should place your confidence and faith in God no matter the circumstance. His joy is yours. Let it fill your heart today!

Prayer
Dear Lord, I give my burdens to You. Help me to wait, and while I wait, let me rejoice in who You are and what You will do in my life. Amen.



MERRY CHRISTMAS
Thanks for viewing my blog. Please visit again.

The True Spirit of Christmas

Key verse for today: Matthew 7:12

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
*************************************

Edwin Markham wrote a poem based on a story by Tolsoy that beautifully illustrates how we may demonstrate the true Christmas spirit.
***
One night Conrad, a cobbler of shoes, dreamed that Christ would come to his shop on the following day. Early the next morning Conrad went to the woods to gather greens and flowers to decorate his simple shop for the Lord's coming.

All morning he waited, but the only visitor was an old man who asked if he might sit down to rest. Conrad saw that his shoes were worn. Before sending the stranger on his way Conrad put the best pair of shoes in the shop on the old man's feet.

Throughout the afternoon Conrad waited for the Lord's coming, but the only person he saw was an old woman struggling under a heavy load. Out of compassion he brought her in and gave her some of the food he had prepared for Christ. She went on her way refreshed.

Just as evening was falling, a lost child entered Conrad's shop. Conrad carried the child home, and then hurried back, lest he miss the coming of Christ.

Though Conrad waited long and patiently, Christ did not come. Finally, in disappointment, the old cobbler cried:

"Why is, Lord, that your feet delay?
Did you forget that this was the day?"
Then soft in the silence a voice he heard:
"Lift up your heart, for I kept my word.
Three times I came to your friendly door;
Three times my shadow was on your floor.
I was the beggar with the bruised feet;
I was the woman you gave to eat;
I was the child on the homeless street!".

God is all around us and in us. He is in our actions, our words, and our hearts. Everything we do for others, we do for God.
*******************************************************************
Merry Christmas everyone!

Thanks for viewing my blog. Please visit again.

Free Advice for Tiger Woods in 2010

Click the title above for:

for the 10 Resolutions I think Tiger Woods should adopt in 2010!
Feel free to add your own in the comment section.

Thanks for viewing my blog. Please visit again.

Getting Back to the Basics of Christmas by Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey has a great article I would like to share here. Please read this.

GETTING BACK TO THE BASICS OF CHRISTMAS: BY DAVE RAMSEY

No matter what your budget is this Christmas, remember to be thankful. Take a deep breath in the middle of all this craziness.

You might have a lot. You might have a little. If you are driving a beater, be thankful for that beater. You would rather drive that than walk, wouldn't you? There is always something to be thankful for.

That's what contentment is all about. When you understand and really grasp contentment, it becomes easier to save money and invest. Stress slowly disappears. Budgeting is easier. Relationships improve.

Be happy with what you have. More than three billion people, almost half the world, live on $2.50 a day. Sometimes we need a little perspective to become content with our current situation.

Without contentment, it's easy to be bitter and apathetic. Happiness is sold to us, especially during this time of year. We think if we can just get one more piece of stuff that "true" happiness will be right around the corner.

We say things like, "I'll be happy when I get that house!" or "I'll be happy when I get that new car!" But happiness cannot be bought. Sure fun—in the form of a house, a car, a new LCD television—can be bought, but fun is temporary. True happiness, or contentment, is lasting.

You can get out of debt, save money, and get on a budget, but until you realize that stuff doesn’t bring contentment, you will always feel stressed and unhappy. Contentment brings peace. And isn’t this time of year about bringing "peace on earth and good will toward men"?

Remember what this deal is all about. It's not about trees, lights, gifts, baked hams, and shopping malls. It’s about a little child who was born in a manger and grew up to die on a cross. It’s about peace on earth and good will toward men.

So if the Christmas frenzy is wearing you out, you've missed the point of Christmas. Make a plan with your money, and make a plan to get back in touch with the true meaning of this special day.

You are invited to Dave's Give Like No One Else Christmas at DaveRamsey.com. Daily giveaways and great articles will make you want to check back every day to see what's new.


********************************************************************


But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:5-7 (in Context) 1 Timothy 6 (Whole Chapter)

Well, Thanksgiving is over. It's on to Christmas! Hope you saved lots of $$ on Black Friday. I did! Had a great time shopping. I got a Down comforter for $29.99, was $129.99. Thought that was a good deal! Feel free to comment on what you saved on during your shopping spree.
Until later............


Thanks for viewing my blog. Please visit again.

I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have all of your family around and that all of you are happy and healthy. God has been good to all of us and let us all remember to tell him how much we love and thank him for all of his Blessings!

Tom Turkey, food, family, and fun, it's all good!

A Christmas Eve Snowfall

An original poem by: Freida Thomas

It’s Christmas Eve tonight,
The tree is all aglow with its white bright lights.
Songs of Christmas are playing on the radio real low,
the wood has been chopped, the fire has been stoked.
Alone, I sit sipping on hot cocoa and snuggled in my robe,
my friend is in my lap purring, I feel as if I’m the only one on the globe.
I’m here, yet my thoughts are straying to days gone by,
days when my true love was here by my side.
He loved snow on Christmas Eve, and always told me so,
He’d say, “Honey I love you so much, and I’d love it to snow!”
“It’s beautiful and flawless like just like you, perfect in every way,”
How wonderful it was to know he loved me and made me feel special every day.
Life’s not fair, why was he taken so soon?
From a wife who adored him and thought he had hung the moon.
I feel his love for me now, though I know he’s gone.
If it would just snow tonight, I would feel as though he had come home, you see
to enjoy the snowfall and to share another Christmas Eve with me.
I got up and checked the door, then walked to the window to see,
and sure enough it was snowing, it was hard for me to believe.
Small white snowflakes were falling, delicate and beautiful it had dressed the trees,
My love had come home again this Christmas Eve, just to see me!
As I went to bed, my heart was lighter, my tears had dried,
my true love was here with me, once more by my side.











Thanks for viewing my blog. Please visit again.

Visit link for Slide Show of Fall Foliage

A friend of mine from Associated Content posted a slide show of Fall Foliage made on their recent travels. Visit the link and meditate on God's Beautiful Creations as you view it.
Have a great day!

Thanks for viewing my blog. Please visit again.

10 minute, no-equipment workout

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009
The 10-minute, no-equipment workout
By MEGAN K. SCOTT - The Associated Press


It's November 10. Thanksgiving is in two weeks, followed by holiday parties, shopping and stress. Who has time for a workout?

No need to spend 30 minutes slogging away on the elliptical or making the rounds on the weight machines.

Here's a 10-minute no-equipment program that works the entire body from Peter Park, fitness expert for livestrong.com and Lance Armstrong's strength and conditioning coach.
Bridge
Reverse crunch
Plank
Negative push up
Lunge
Chair

CLICK link at the top of page for photos!

Note: Park recommends doing the workout twice a day for better posture, a stronger core and a balanced body.

THE WORKOUT

1. Chair pose (This works the lower back, hamstrings): Stand with your feet 6 inches apart. Bend your knees slightly and push your hips back. Lift your arms up above your head as high as possible while looking straight ahead. Keep your weight on your heels. Hold the pose for 30 seconds.

2. Glute bridge: Lie on your back with your arms at your side, palms down by your hips, knees bent at 90 degrees. Your feet should be 6 inches apart and flat on the floor. Push up through your heels to lift your hips as high as possible while squeezing the glute muscles. Hold for 15 seconds. Then lower. Repeat four times.

3. Plank (for your abs, core): Lie flat on your stomach with your toes touching the floor. Place your elbows directly under your shoulders with your forearms flat on the ground. Using your abs, lift your hips in the air until your body is parallel to the floor in a push-up position. Squeeze your glutes and brace your abdominals while holding a rigid plank position. Hold for 30 seconds. Then lower. Repeat.

4. Back extension (for the lower back): Lie flat on your stomach, your arms at your sides, with your legs extended straight behind you, heels touching and toes on the floor. Squeeze legs together. Press your elbows into your ribcage. Lift your hands off the floor. Raise your chest into the air while keeping your feet on the ground. Then lower. Do 2 sets of 15 repetitions. On the last rep of each set, hold the highest position possible for an additional 15 seconds.

5. Hip flexor stretch (for the hip flexors, quads): Step into a long lunge. Lift arms straight above your head and extend them back slightly. Bend your torso back and away from the rear leg to stretch the side of the body. Hold for 30 seconds. Do the same on the other side.

6. Wall squat (legs): Press your back flat against a wall, legs shoulder width apart. Slide down until knees are bent about 90 degrees. Keep your upper back against the wall and raise your arms completely above your head. Keep your head, back and arms firmly against the wall. Hold for 45 seconds.

7. Negative push up (arms): Move into the plank position, and slowly lower body evenly to the ground, holding strong through the core. The negative push up should take 15 seconds from top to bottom, in a constant slow motion.

Hospitality

Does the word Hospitality scare you? It does me. To be hospitable to me has always conjured up images of having to be "perfect", meaning having to have a nice, clean house, using the best china, and being the best cook. I know this comes from insecurity and a general lack of self esteem. Feeling that I'm never "good enough". But I've been thinking about what God considered hospitable in the Bible. Do you remember the story of the woman at the well, who simply gave Jesus a "sip of water". This wasn't much, but I'm sure it meant alot to Jesus who was thirsty. A simply kind gesture is hospitality.

What about when Jesus was at the home of Martha and Mary? True, Martha opened up her home to him, but it was Mary who sat at Jesus feet and listened to him and spent time with him. Martha was too busy working and preparing the meal. Jesus considered what Mary did, as the most hospitable gesture. For the complete story read, Luke Chapter 10.

While these are just 2 of the many instances in the Bible where hospitality is practiced, it makes me rethink my old definition of hospitality.

Maybe I just need to be "me" and not worry about appearances when someone visits my home. All I need to do is spend time with them and not apologize for how the house looks, or how the meal tastes. Hospitality should be only about making people feel comfortable around you and in your home. All the other "stuff" doesn't matter.

I'm going to make a true effort to me more hospitable in the coming new year. Think about this and ask yourself, are you truly practicing hospitality or are you worrying about what other people think about how you measure up?

*************************************************************
Until later........... Have a blessed day!

Save $$ on Dining Out!

From: Real Simple Magazine

Surf for steals. Search restaurant.com by ZIP code to purchase discounted certificates for thousands of places. (A typical offer: You can buy a gift certificate worth $25 for just $10.) Or click on the “Cheap Eats” link at urbanspoon.com to find user-generated recommendations for 70 U.S. cities

***********************************************
Think on this:Posted by Giap on December 29, 2007
Daily Inspirations:
Do more than exist – Live!
Do more than touch – Feel!
Do more than look – Observe!
Do more than read – Absorb!
Do more than hear – Listen!
Do more than listen – Understand!
Do more than think – Reflect!
Do more than just talk – Say Something!

Go One Step Further… Live! Feel! Observe! Absorb! Listen! Understand! Reflect! Say Something!

Deborah Micek is a co-founder of the international business coaching company RPM Success Group ® Inc. She and her partner John Paul are authors of the hit book Secrets Of Online Persuasion. They are creators of the ONLY Web site system to put New Media to work marketing FOR you — BLOG i360™. You can reach Deborah at [MotivationMD@gmail.com]




Thanks for viewing my blog. Please visit again.

Katie Brown - Where's Katie

Katie Brown - Where's Katie

Click on this to get instructions from Katie's website on how to make a beautiful edible centerpiece that everyone will love. Very simple to put together.



Thanks for viewing my blog. Please visit again.

Hello Everyone! Hope you are having a fun and safe Halloween. Don't eat too much candy...

Don't forget to move your clocks back 1 hour before you turn in for the night.

Thanks for viewing my blog. Please visit again.

Check out these Freebies!

Free Sears Halloween Portrait Collage
Not content with giving away free toys on Halloween (more on that soon!), Sears is also giving away a free Halloween-themed portrait collage worth $44! You’ve got until Saturday, October 31 to use the coupon and the fine print says nothing about making an additional purchase.* So if your kid looks especially cute in their costume this year (and come on, how can they not?), you might want to take advantage of this.
*****************************************************
CVS currently has Campbell’s soup on sale for 2/$1. Coupons.com is hosting a free $1/2 coupon (IE link) (FF link), meaning you can get free Campbell’s soup! CVS has a limit of 6 cans, so if you have access to multiple computers, print out a few extra coupons.

I don’t know about you, but it’s gray, dreary, and rainy where I live and soup sounds fantastic for lunch. Now if I can just find a store giving away free grilled cheese sandwiches, I’d be in business.












Thanks for viewing my blog. Please visit again.

Clothing Trends for Fall

Fall Style Watch;
a. Get ruffles. Romantic ruffled tops that you can wear through the fall. (just add a blazer and go)
b. Wear ruffled tops with fitted bottoms; slim pants, skinny jeans, or pencil skirts
c. keep the jewelry simple; choose small studs or a bangle; more is too much
d. Avoid buy patterns or very heavy fabrics
e. Top with a fitted blazer or sweater to transition into Fall
***********************************************************************
Bible verse: Psalm 45:11 NIV • Read this chapter
The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.










Thanks for viewing my blog. Please visit again.