When Joy is Hard to Find

New Normals ~ Adapting

On the days when life hits hard and we struggle...

In the times when, our circumstances are so overwhelming it  diverts our focus to every detail of the issue. 

It can seem as if joy is avoiding us and it takes everything we have to even whisper His name.

That's all we need. To whisper, "Jesus" until we are so overwhelmed by the grace of knowing He is with us and loves us. Even when we feel ugly-messy and crazy-chaos. He loves us. 

May we stay there and bathe in the sweetness of His love until grace showers us to an eased mind and soothed soul. There is no rush there. We have permission to stay, breathe, and be refreshed while joy finds us.

Isaiah 35:3-4 ~ Tell fearful souls, "Courage! Take heart!

God is here, right here,

on His way to put things right

And redress all wrongs.

He's on His way! He'll save you!"

Hugs from Hawaii,

Jeri

Joys Find Me ~ On a head clearing walk

Craziest Week Still Brings New Joys

Jeremiah 30:18 


...Thanksgivings will pour out of the windows;
   laughter will spill through the doors.
Things will get better and better.
   Depression days are over.


Unbelievable! Some of the things that have been happening since last Friday are totally unbelievable. We’re unable to share the details of the incidences. 


In all of this, we are lovingly surrounded by uplifting and encouraging friends and family.

How is it possible to find joy in all of this? Then, kick it up a notch and find new joys in the chaos and craziness?We acknowledge the craziness in prayer, seek support from those each other, and those we trust.

God has been so faithful to me and our family in times even tougher than this. 

As we’ve been praying, we see that this is a little dot in comparison to the amazing colors of the recent celebrations, joys, and bonding...

-A son being restored, newly married, bringing us the joyous gift a wonderful new daughter. She brings us the joy embracing her family. Watching him rediscover golf and music.

-Another son, looking at his life and seeing with new eyes. Taking on new experiences and finding out more of who he is. What more can a mother ask for? 

-An amazing husband willing to grow and change with me as I feel my way around this gift of life. Year after year, new challenges that bring new joys. Happy Birthday today, honey. 

-Friends and family that listen, celebrate and cheer me. That includes you all too. Just in case you didn’t realize it :D


-Shadow's, my constant companion. His kooky personality can't help but make me laugh, smile, sometimes shake my head too.

-New found interests that fill me, heal me and reveal God’s wonders to me - writing, photography, being an encouragement to others and receiving it as well.

My biggest new joy, is all the time we’re spending together as a family. The 6 of us. Soon we’ll be 7!

I’m unwrapping my days one moment at a time and that’s how I find new joys. It's too much to keep to myself so I share it here at the playground, over at Facebook playground (LiveOutLoud, life-words, encouraging stories), Dave and Jeri Facebook (fam photos), and at my photo blog (few words, photos instead).

If you share your joys somewhere, be sure to include your link in the comments so we and others can visit you too. 

Words, photos, art, music, silence, and may more ways to find and share joys.

Today’s Topic 4/7: 

Share how you experience JOY in your current chapter of life?

Thank You for keeping our Faith Fresh Bonnie!

She Can Laugh Now

Question: Where does your confidence come from? How do you define confidence?

Years ago the whole “gang” was just hangin’ out and talking story. One of the teens brought up a question that had us talking and laughing for hours. 

“If you could have any superpower in the world what would it be?” she asked. I knew what I wanted mine to be. I wanted a SONIC BOOM LAUGH...MUAHAHAHA :D It was so fun because everybody chimed in and started helping me perfect that laugh.

I wanted to be full of joy and help others be joyful too. It was during an overwhelmingly trying time in my life. A few days later David brought home a cereal box from the market.   On it was a “superpower” card cut out. I still have it in my wallet.

Proverbs 31:25
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. (NIV)

True joy comes with growing where I’m planted and being willing to “grow through” rather than avoid life’s challenges. Strength and diginity grows as I embrace all my imperfections and my imperfectly beautiful life. 

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (NLT)

I am unique. I have unique gifts, skills, abilities and limitations. I’m willing to grow in them all. So I’m going to live out loud. Dive in, take risks, Do it afraid! I’ll never know how it’ll turn out until I do.

Proverbs 10:9
Honesty lives confident and carefree, but shifty is sure to be exposed. (MSG)

The mistakes I’ve made so far have only served to take me through a process of finding I’m much more than I thought I was. God has used those times to show me that I can dust myself off, get back up and keep on living the amazing things I’ve learned in it all. It’s so very cool that mistakes are vital to truly confident living.

Galatians 2:19

...my ego is no longer central. (MSG)

I can boldly step out in faith in the areas where Jesus lights a fire in me. As I trust Him, I am carefree to be who I am right now, today and embrace the mistakes and messes I’ve made, am making, and will make in the future. In turn, I’m learning to trust myself.

1 Peter 5:6
So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. (MSG)

Who I am right now and how I embrace me determines who I will become. I’m free to be me - Transparent, real, and honest about who I truly am at this time.

The messes have always been turned into messages of examples and help to people who go through what I’ve come through. Just as someone else's messes have helped me live. The beautiful wonder is that it’s a continuous fulfilling life cycle. 

We’re never alone on our journey, though it may seem so at times. I have confidence in that truth.

My lasting confidence is in true joy. 

My whole being is refreshed and filled beyond what I could ever explain. 

I am beautifully imperfect, growing, loved and accepted unconditionally. 

Now, I really don’t mind taking myself with me wherever I go...LOL.

You are so much more than you think. Yes, you are!

This weeks faith topic: How is God calling you to be more confident or bold?
January series: Soul Resolutions
Join in anytime, link up your relevant post, and just be you.