Posts Tagged ‘joy’
Grateful, thankful, blessed: finding joy in the midst of pain
You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. ~ Psalm 16:11 This week, many of us are preparing for celebrations with family and friends, while others are feeling less than festive. Perhaps you fall into the latter category and…
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Thirty-six years and counting: a love story for the books
Today my husband, Bob and I celebrate 36 years of marriage. A part-time job at a retail catalog store in a Minneapolis suburb served as the setting for our “meet cute,” and 11 months later we said our “I do’s” at a Twin Cities courthouse on a blustery afternoon. The rest has unfolded into a…
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Improving the human condition: harness your superpower
What if I told you that everyone has at least one superpower? Does your mind automatically think of a popular masked comic book hero sporting colorful tights, an awesome skill and a flashy sidekick? Or do you liken a superpower to your God-given strengths and/or talents? Whichever camp you’re in, superpowers might be directly observable,…
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Thanksgiving series one of three: Always be joyful
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Welcome to the first of three Thanksgiving posts! Each installment will highlight one aspect of the key verse. Today, I’m talking about how to always be joyful. For…
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Pressing through: why we need stressors
One morning recently, a sense of joy—and even contentment—filled my spirit. Yet my circumstances hadn’t changed. My husband and I are still navigating #allthefeels accompanying a big move and transitioning to self-employment, working on a 20-year-old fixer-upper cabin and commuting an hour to the closest major services. The only difference I could pinpoint was regaining…
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Let in the light: combating darkness
Ever notice how—when darkness draws near—doubts creep in? Yet, in the light of day, with the sun streaming through the windows, worries and unfounded fears fade away. This has been my experience for years, so I purpose to wait until morning to make big decisions. Scripture says that sorrow may last for a night, but…
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Getaway of a lifetime: Day 2 (or identifying your sweet spot)
Think back to a moment in life when you felt 100% in your element, or your “sweet spot.” When #allthethings came into alignment: contentment, peace, joy. Perhaps you even wished time could stand still. During my recent getaway, which I first recount in “Rerouting course…,” I discovered my sweet spot centers on engaging with those…
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How to find joy in the journey: a ‘retirement mentality’
Finding joy in the journey. It’s a cliché, right? Because how can you find joy when you’re digging in the trenches, managing a household, caring for an aging parent, grieving a loss — not to mention coping with global, and even local, unrest? Self-help books and speakers tout the need to detach our focus from…
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