Looking Beyond, Living Beyond

God's doing that thing again.  You know, where He hooks a bunch of stuff together...readings, songs, sermons, thoughts and meditations.  Yup, He's at it again.  And I really do love this!

The theme this time seems to be looking beyond what we see.  Our Pastor taught on this subject from the book of James Sunday.  James 1:9-11 Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them.  And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away.  In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.  

Nothing of this world is lasting.  Not achievements, or riches, not needs, or problems....no circumstance, good or bad.  It's only God's love and our place in Jesus that never fails.  That alone is eternal and everlasting.

As I have chronicled here over the past month or so, I have really been struggling with my faith. Faith in God, faith in me, faith in general...LOL  Every time I turned around something else seemed to be going wrong and life just feels like an uphill battle.  God has been so faithful throughout my crisis of belief, and I am so grateful for that.  And now He has a new message for me, for us....Look beyond the current circumstances.  From "Be Still and Know: by Julie Rayburn, "  When our attention is focused on God rather than our circumstances, we can have confidence that He is maturing our faith." Ugh, a true statement, but it sure doesn't feel good at the time it's happening!!  But when we take our eyes off the difficulty and place them on the Lord, trusting His love, then we can experience the peace of His presence and care.  That is my goal.

Believing is a choice.  I've had difficulty making that choice lately.  But the Lord doesn't leave us in our mess.  He keeps reaching, keeps teaching, keeps loving.  I am so grateful He never forsakes His child.

From music, to readings, to teachings--this has been God's message to me, and through me to you as well...look beyond present troubles to the fact that Heaven awaits, God is at work and His love never fails.  If we look beyond, we can live beyond.

John 16:33  I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.  

John 20:29  You believe because you have seen Me.  Blessed are those who believe without seeing Me.

1 John 4:4  But you belong to God, my dear children.  You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives inn the world.  

Lord, thank You for Your never ending care and patience for and with Your children.  I can' imagine what it would be like if you gave up on me.  Sometimes I feel like I must be Your most difficult child. Lord, help me, help each of us to take our eyes of earthly things and put them firmly on You and the love You have for us.  Give us all a greater faith, a greater desire for You, and a closer walk with You. I want to stay in Your will all day, every day.  HELP!!!  Thank You.

Pick a verse today for meditation and to focus on that will encourage you to look and live beyond.

Habits, From Mom

Ok, so I guess today is the day for a Mom Journal entry.  I thought Tuesday, but God had other plans. Here goes Mom's take on habits.

2 Corinthians 5:14-17  Either way, Christ's love controls us.   Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.  He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will not longer live for themselves.  Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.  So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view.  At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view.  How differently we know Him now!  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.  The old life is gone; a new life has begun!.  

Can't get rid of it(whatever that habit may be) - then it has a mastery over you.  In a very real sense you are it's slave.  Recognize the problem in order to recover, identify, and understand your true position in Christ as a redeemed one.   With His blood you were literally redeemed or paid for, and the ownership of your life was transferred from sin and self to Almighty God.  Take hold of this powerful liberating statement.   It is unnecessary to live in bondage.

From me:

A very short, right on the money take on being enslaved to bad habits from Mom.  And a very real solution.  It starts in the mind. Knowing our position in Christ and knowing Who we belong to. Whatever we obey becomes our master.  For me, it's junk food and complaining.  I often feel like I will never break the chains of these taskmasters....yet I know in Christ there is release.  The problem is that I don't let go of my chains.  Even though I want to be free in my heart, my fleshly nature holds the chains in clenched fingers....hanging onto them as if I control them, as if I am the one in command.    And this could not be further from the truth.

Lord, I pray to live as Your Word tells me....a new person, my old life gone and Your life living in me.  Often it's easier to give into the old, comfortable habits and sins instead of taking a stand against them and walking in freedom.  The flesh is strong Lord.  But You give us victory.  Lord, I want the desire to run and chase after that victory, to walk in the redemption You give.

Identify and take a stand against a bad habit today.  Replace it with something healthy and new!!

Plans Change

I had a plan for this blog this morning.  I was going to share an entry from Mom's journal.  That was my intention.  God had a different idea.

Over the weekend, I felt God "speaking" to me about my thinking.  Just a little check in my spirit, or a knowing in my heart that God's still, small voice was whispering in my ear, "everything for Me." Feeling underappreciated, feeling less than, feeling small and unimportant, or taken advantage of....pride hurting, anyone of those things going through our heads?  God says, "Everything for Me."

So my new manta has become, "Every thought, every word, every action, for You Lord."  I am trying to keep that in mind at all times.  It's my hope to make it a practice and a habit.  In this way, I can do all things for God, keep a heavenly perspective, and stay in touch constantly with my Savior, aware of His presence.  In doing this, I believe I will find more joy and peace and the image of Jesus will start to shine forth from my life in a greater way.

So today's reading in "Be Still and Know" addressed this perfectly.  I always love how God lines all these things up!  It never ceases to amaze me.  "Realize that ultimately we are working for the Lord, not man.....As Christians, regardless of where we are or what we are doing, we are to serve Christ." These lines fit my new mental mantra perfectly!  

Colossians 3:23-24  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 

Nothing new to us, I'm sure.  But our minds are forever to be renewed by the Word of God.  I need that.  And just the thought of doing all things for Him, not for people, not for myself, not for recognition, or to make myself worthwhile to the world, brings me peace.  I can do things without worry if it's good enough, if I am good enough.  I can bring every thought, every word, every action, to God, just seeking that whatever it is I am thinking, saying or doing is pleasing Him.  

Lord, help me to keep this fresh in my mind.  Constant in my mind.  I love You and want to please only You.  I need the reminders.  Thank You.

Focus on working, doing, being for Jesus today.

Even the Hairs on Your Head

It is said that God works in mysterious ways.  But sometimes He just works through the everyday, the average stuff that would mean nothing to anyone but the person He is reaching out to at that moment. Yesterday, I was getting in some much needed, much neglected exercise and I was listening to a Joyce Meyer podcast as is my habit.  It was finally a warm day with sunshine, the proverbial blue skies, fluffy white cloud type of day, perfect for spring.  Yaaay.

The teaching was on "Who is God?"  Joyce was saying how God sometimes reaches out to us on an extremely personal level, giving a small blessing only that person would understand or appreciate. And guess what?!?  God confirmed this to me as I was driving to work, and again this morning.

Driving to work yesterday I was saddened by the tragedy some dear friends were facing.  I thought to myself that handling the bigger problems in life, the hard times was easier for me (faith-wise, and trust-wise) than dealing with the every day little  menaces that pop up and pile up.  Even though I was hurting for my friends I knew in my heart of hearts that God would carry them through the death of a beautiful unborn little girl.  I knew that He would be their healer and their strength in the upcoming days, as He has been in the past for all of us.

As I was talking all this through with the Lord, I asked Him, "Why can't I handle the little foxes that spoil my day?  Why do I so easily get derailed when small problems and annoyances build up, one upon the other?  I told Him it is then that I question His love for me, His care and His plans for me. Right now I am in a season of extreme overwhelmed-ness (if there is such a word, if not there should be!).  And this is where He brought Joyce's teaching to life.  Our Father is so good and so funny.

Most people who know me know that in my younger days (and even now) Guns and Roses was my favorite band.  And so, God used, even this worldly band to show His love for me.  As I was going through all those thoughts and question in my mind, He put a "work force block" of Guns and Roses on the radio.  Three songs in a row of my favorite band!!  How personal can it get!  How, "I love you and I am listening?"  No one but God Himself could have planned this any better!

And now for this morning.  Today is another crazy day in the life of....  There's daily chores, both mine and Vinny's.  Dr's appts, laundry, grocery shopping, pool stuff, making meals and setting up my out of commission husband with his care package for the night while I am working.....top that off with trying to find someone to do work around the house and going to work.  Then squeeze in God time, blog time, grabbing a quick meal at some point...I just don't know  how it will all get done.  Or if it will.  All are important, all need to be accomplished. And so I took a quick minute to read "One-Minute Inspirations for Women" by Elizabeth George.  Yet another little gift for Mother's Day from my church.  I'm going to quote directly here, because in all honestly I can't say it any better, nor do I want to try.  ""First pray over your priorities....Ask the Lord to give you directions for your day: 'Lord, I only have a limited time left in my day.  What do I need to focus on?"  The whole reading was along these lines.  What a gem!  What a small treasure, speaking to just where I was at just this moment.  The Lord is personal, present and working in each of our days!

Joyce said to keep our eyes open for the little things He does.  And that lines up with the purpose of this blog for me, and for all who read and live it with me.  That we see God in our lives.  What an awesome God we serve.

Thank You Lord for Your touch and intimacy.  I love when You do these things.  Please let my readers, my family, my friends see Your hand on their day.  In Jesus Name, amen.

Be on the look out!!

Luke 12:6-7 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Still Working

I am still working on my relationship with the Lord.  Trying to bridge the chasm that seemed to stretch between us.  And I know God is still working on it too....the songs and Bible verses keep coming at me.  He is good, even when I don't understand His ways.  I know that.  Deep down I know that.

This past Sunday was Mother's Day.  It's a tradition in my church to hand out little gifts to the women who attend services there.  This year, a little devotional book of hope and encouragement was included with a book mark.  The book was entitled "Be Still and Know,"  the bookmark had the verse, "Be still and know that I am God..."    That is such a difficult position to take.  The position of stillness. The picture forms of  a location of waiting and trust, a setting of peacefulness while standing by, watchfully waiting on the Lord.

More often than not I fuss, fidget and fret over the small things that occur to disrupt the well planned flow of my day.  When those little things start piling up, melt down follows and mistrust in God grows.  And I believe this whole walk through the last couple of weeks, God is showing me the root of my frustration, failures and dare I name it, rage at small nothings is based in my inability to believe God is for me.  That He wants to do me good.  I, like Eve, think God is holding back. There is a deep root of unbelief in my life that holds me back from being the person both I and God want me to be.  I don't know where it came from.  I am not sure that it matters where....if God wants me to know He will reveal it.  Perhaps my deep seated insecurities about myself disables my ability to trust anyone would want love or favor me.  That "second class" mentality that I've carried all my life because I felt like I was never really good at anything.

This is been quite the learning process.  And I have a long way to go.  My heart is still raw in all this. I have serious doubts about everything.  And I know it's time to lay down this unbelief and mistrust for good.  Time to "be still and know."   God is so good and patient with us.  I am so grateful for that. Most people would have walked away from me by now, given up on me.  Heck, I want to give up on me and walk away.  LOL  Yet my heavenly Father continues to gently correct, lovingly encourage, and sweetly care for me throughout it all.  And hopefully, prayerfully He is doing the same for someone reading this---my trials will be a blessing to another, encouraging others to stay the course.

Psalm 46:10  Be still, and know that I am God!  I will be honored by every nation.  I will be honored throughout the world.   And He will be honored in my life.

Praying for victory.  Praying for growth.  Praying for God to be glorified.  Thankful for His patience, thankful for forgiveness, thankful for His love.  Prayers for all of us to be believers!

Be still today.

I have a prayer request.  A dear friend and sister in the Lord is going through an extremely difficult time.  Please lift up this unspoken request to the Lord for me.  Thank you.

God Still Speaks

As my post from Tuesday explained, I am kind of in a dark limbo right now.  My heart feels frozen and my faith is extremely weak.  Yet through all of this, sadness, anger, doubt, stubbornness, God still reaches out to me...proving more and more that it really is about Him, not me, that He really is faithful, even when I am at my worst and my faith is all but non-existent.  I know in my heart of hearts that He is good, although my emotions are not catching up with that fact.  I am not in a place of getting past this right now, but He is not giving up.  And so it is my prayer that this clouded part of my pathway through life brings hope to my readers who may be in a similar place---feeling lost and hurting.  Don't give up.  And I won't either.

God had more to say today, more to let me (an you) know about what's in His heart.  Bible verses and some good teaching have brought some soothing to my spirit.  A little bit of comfort and peace to a weary heart.  "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.  "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."  Jeremiah 29:11  This verse was atop the page of my prayer journal.  And though I find it hard to believe for a future or see any hope, I know God sees it and that will have to be enough for now.  Psalm 19:7-8 came up in a study I am doing and it felt like I was being covered in healing aloe, like cool, refreshing water flowing over my soul.  The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul.  The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.  The commandments of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.  I don't know why that verse feels so good, but it does.  I guess it's a "God hug."  LOL

And teaching--I'm doing a study called  "Redeemed" by Angela Thomas Pharr.  A couple of things she said really reached out to me.  One, "God's love for you is not broken."  I know she mean this to mean that it doesn't stop, there is no break in His love for us when we fail or flounder.  But I also got the feeling it could mean His love is not broken in that it works perfectly.  There is never a time in my life when His love isn't working correctly, even when I don't understand why things are the way they are or why life hurts and seems so hard.  His love does not need to be fixed!   She also said "Deserving God's love is not a prerequisite for receiving His love."  It's really that simple.

God continues to reassure me and hopefully through me, you, that His love is forever.  He is not giving up on us.  He has plans, He has us covered.  He is patient and He is kind.

Thank You again Lord.  I am still struggling with receiving all this.  Still in a wary, doubtful place. But I know You healing will come.  I pray for those of us who struggle so often, that You will carry us through and that we will trust more.

Shall we try to believe today?  I know it's scary.  I am scared too.  Maybe it's about believing who God is rather than what He should do.

Priceless by For King and Country Lyrics

I ask that you read "I Hate This" first.

Casting Crowns ~ Who Am I - Official Video + lyrics

I ask that you read "I Hate This" first.

I Hate This

I hate these times.  And lately it's been one of the worst couple of weeks I've experienced in a long time.  There have been no major problems.  No huge crises of earthshaking (my little corner of it anyway) magnitude or life altering events.  The battle has been emotional, mental and spiritual.  With my husband out of commission due to foot surgery, my responsibilities have multiplied while my time of course seems to have dwindled.  And so, when the little things start going wrong, they throw me off completely, and meltdown ensues.  And then another meltdown, and another.  Like I said, it's been a rough week or so.

The biggest thing is I felt like I was making progress in my walk with the Lord.  I felt like I was getting closer to God, and I was loving it.  And then.....things just piled up, I was exhausted, frustrated and overwhelmed--and all this added up to completely derailing my faith and any progress I made.  I refused to believe God for anything.  My heart felt and to some degree still does feel like a stone--hardened and unmoving---this all leads me to feel like a fraud and a failure.  I was heartbroken.  I love God.  But I felt so very lost from Him.  I went down the spiraling rabbit hole of whys.  Why should He do anything for me?  I don't deserve anything good from Him anyway.  Why doesn't He love me?  Well, look at the way I act and treat Him.  Why can't I seem to make progress, to grow as a Christian?  Because you are never good enough and God won't help someone like you. Why doesn't He care enough to help me?  Because He is not good or kind.  On and on and on it went. Of course the devil was there to supply all the negative and sarcastic answers that I needed to prolong this "split" between me and my heavenly Father.

And so my heart remains today, wary and unsure.  I'm not sure how to pick up the pieces of my relationship with the Lord.  But all through this, all during the storm in my heart, Jesus reaches out to me.  I see it, I hear it, and I even feel it.  I'm just so afraid to choose to believe.  Believing hurts when we don't see the answers or help we want.  It brings disappointment and disillusionment and pain.  I know I am to leave the answers and ways up to God.  My head knows it anyway.  He is so much smarter and wiser than I am.  But my heart cries for relief.  My soul begs for peace and release.

I am going to make a list here of all the ways the Lord reached out to me through all of this.  I talk of God visits, and looking for the ways, both small and large that our Savior reaches out to us and I saw His hand of love and care through this....to be honest I really don't think I was looking, I just wanted to stay mad.  Maybe this list will help me more than anyone...but I do hope that something in it will speak to someone else's heart as well.  I know I am not the only one struggling today.

1)   As soon as I turned the radio on in the car, a speaker for Proverbs 31 ministry said, "I see you, I know you, I care."

2)  For I am about to do a brand-new thing.  See, I have already begun!  Do you not see it?  I will make a pathway through the wilderness for My people to come home.  I will create rivers for them in the desert!  Isaiah 43:19

3)  Song:  Casting Crowns, "Who Am I"

4)  I will be your God throughout your lifetime--until you hair i white with age.  I made you, I will care for you.  I will carry you along and save you.  Isaiah 46:4  These two verses came from a prayer book I am writing in right now.

5)  After another round of "I'm not worthy of God's love or help.  I'm so unrighteous and sinful (I had just finished reading Psalm 18 where David calls God His strength, rock, rescuer....all those good things, and then goes on to say things like "He led me to a place of safety because He delights in me. The Lord rewarded me for doing right; He restored my because of my innocence."  (verses19-20)  So this led to all the thoughts of  "well of course God doesn't help you, you are not delightful to Him.  And you certainly don't do what's right."  LOL  Oh my the mind and the devil played overtime with this one.  So I walked out of my house, heavy-hearted and guilt laden only to turn on the radio and hear the last few stanzas of King and Country's "Priceless"  The words go, "  We can start again. I see you dressed in white, every wrong made right.  I see a rose in bloom, at the sight of you...Oh so priceless."   I guess God was trying to tell me He sees me in a whole different way than I do or than I deserve.  Because of Jesus of course!!

6)  At the top of my notes from Sunday service I wrote "bad week.  melt down.  fraud.  hopeless. Why am I here?  Unbelieving.   Not able.  Tired.  Hopeless Hopeless Hopeless.  I really did not want to be in church.  I didn't see the point.  Nothing changes, right?  But I went, more on auto pilot than anything else.  And what was the sermon on??  Repentance. Repent.   Humble myself.  Seek God. Pray.   I needed and still do need to repent of my unbelief.

7)  Over the last week, I have felt, ever so lightly, like arms were wrapping around me.  A great comfort came from those arms.  I can only attribute this the Jesus.

I'm still struggling.  And I know this was all a test which I failed miserably.  I hope my failure can help someone else.  After blogging on believing and all, it was only natural that I should be tested.   I wish I could have come back here with a more positive testimony.  But I have a feeling this was the right testimony.  It's the one people need to hear.  Even through the wretchedness, the stubborn, stiff-necked heartedness (I know those aren't real words !  LOL), my Father loved on me.  He ministered to me and reached out to me.  And He does to all of you as well.   It is such a comfort to know and see this.

My only prayer today is to say Thank You.  And please help others during their struggles as well.

I will include the songs in separate entries.  Take the time to listen today and let them minister to you.  

Guidance, From Mom

Mom penned a short entry on guidance in her journal.  Mostly, she took her cue from Psalm 119.  I am amazed at the way God continues to put the pieces together for me, for all of us...Back into Psalms (and Mom's journal) I go.

129 Your laws are wonderful.

    No wonder I obey them!

130 The teaching of your word gives light,

    so even the simple can understand.

131 I pant with expectation,

    longing for your commands.

132 Come and show me your mercy,

    as you do for all who love your name.

133 Guide my steps by your word,

    so I will not be overcome by evil.

134 Ransom me from the oppression of evil people;

    then I can obey your commandments.

135 Look upon me with love;

    teach me your decrees.

136 Rivers of tears gush from my eyes

    because people disobey your instructions.

The desires of my heart to be in God's will, to draw closer to Him, to have Him draw closer to me, for intimacy with Him.  Therefore, remember to delight in the Lord, take pleasure from time spent with Him, in communing with Him.  Commit to His plans, reform my heart to His desires, know Him and His ways more and more.  

Psalm 25:4-5  Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.  Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me.  All day long I put my hope in You.  

Psalm 143:8  Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You.  Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You....10  Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.  May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.  

From me.

The prayers of the Psalms are prayers God answers.  Oh, that our hearts would lean toward Him and be filled with a desire to be led by the Spirit!  So often we go off each day without a thought to who is in charge, just plunging ahead and plowing through.  I know I need these precious morning moments to center my attention on the Lord, commit my day to Him, my heart to Him.  Do I always stay there? No...but that's a work in progress!  These Psalms teach us where our hearts should be.  It is God who guides us on the correct path, maybe not always the easiest, but always the best.  

Lord, let my desires be for You.  To be conformed to Your will, led by Your Spirit and displaying Your character.  I want to be closer to You.  I pray that if there are any areas in our hearts and lives that we are withholding, please help us release control to You.  Have Your way in our day!!  Lord, so often I go stumbling down my own ill conceived road and lose my way--I get hurt, frustrated and usually in trouble.  Help us all to stay on the paths that You fix before us.  Even when following You is the absolute hardest thing to do, it's so much safer, and so much more fruitful, more peaceful and beneficial, both for ourselves and others.   Lord look upon me with love and teach me Your decrees, guide my steps so that I will not be overcome by evil.  Your laws are wonderful!

Pray one, all or part of the Psalms given in this entry each morning!  

MercyMe - Even If (Official Lyric Video)

Back to this song again.  It's really touching my heart and is stirring my soul.  Again as I was driving, this song played on the radio.  And again, it made me connect with the Lord.  I thought to myself how very far I am from this trust, this peace that comes from believing God can change circumstances, but sometimes chooses not to because  it is far better for me when the answer is "no."

And so I prayed.  Lord, help me to get to that place.  1 Thessalonians 5:18  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.  James 1:2-4  Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:  12   God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.  Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promises to those who love Him.  Search through the Psalms. Time and time again we see the authors lamenting their circumstances, yet staying in faith and praising the Lord for His goodness, mercy and deliverance.  Oh Lord, help me get there!!

And so it continues.  God's breadcrumbs leading me down the path to maturity.  First I had the Redemption series leading me to pray through the Psalms. Praying through the Psalms is whetting my appetite for living in the valley of peace that the Lord promises for all who will trust Him.  Next was hearing this song on the radio yesterday and now thirdly was Joyce Meyer teaching on resting in God.  As I was contemplating being in His rest, the Holy Spirit brought to mind the words from Hebrews 3 and 4.  You certainly should read the whole chapters (book....) but I just want to share a few of the verses.  Chapter 3:7-8 That is why the Holy Spirit says, "Today when you hear His voice, don't harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness.  And 4:3a  For only we who believe can enter His rest...

Learning to say, "It is well with my soul."  I trust You Lord.  I praise You Lord"  through all the ups and downs, disappointments, hurts, and hard places of life is not easy.  But it is the only way to the abundant life Jesus died to give us.  We must believe.  We must trust.  Not relying on feelings but on faith.  And so we can sing "even if You don't, my hope is You alone."   This is the way to joy, to peace and remaining rested in the Lord even in the eye of the storm.

 Isaiah 26:3  You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!  Lord, lead me to this place.


Lord, You know I, like so many struggle to stay positive and praising when things don't go my way. When my prayers to get answered the way I want, when You say no.  But I so want to trust, so want to be a good witness, especially when I hurt, when I don't like the way things are.  Lord, help me to be this person---help me to worship when I am hurting, to speak thanks when I want to complain. Help me to see You have a better plan, that Your love never fails even when i don't like the things I have to go through, when circumstances don't change and I have to walk through the hard, desolate wilderness.  keep my eyes focused on You and my heart focused on Your loving goodness.  I pray this not just for me, but for all who read these words.  Your joy is our strength.

Today, try to praise and give thanks when things aren't as you want them to be.