Joy of Reflection

Oh the things I have learned this week!! For the past week I have been visiting my dear friends Liz and David, and of course the source of my baby fever little ...
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Oh the things I have learned this week!! For the past week I have been visiting my dear friends Liz and David, and of course the source of my baby fever little Miss Squish, lol. So while this post might seem like a rant it is anything but. The week started out with me being late, and for those who really know me, totally know that I HATE to be late to anything. The day we were supposed to leave was full of tons of setbacks, and then I forgot a lot of stuff while I was loading up the car in my hurry to hit the road. The drive was super foggy and nasty. Finally get to their house and I am tired and cranky, so cold, and just over all spent. I get sick as soon as we got here, I have had migraines while here, and been sad missing people. I thought I wasn't going to be able to go to this huge antique place here and I was so bummed. (Side note: Liz took me and got me the awesome vintage dress and umbrella pictured below) Today was my God daughters dedication. Last night I got zero sleep, Oscar acted super out of character, and it just seemed overall that today was going to be crap no matter what I did or that it was such a joyous day.

This morning at 6 am, after only one hour of sleep and being so mad I was crying, I did something that I hadn't done before. In the midst of being angry, I stopped and prayed. I prayed that my pain would go away, that the anger filling my mind would flee and that all that wasn't joyful would flee, and it did. John 16:24 says, "Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full..." All to often I think we tend to let the enemy steal our joy. He doesn't care what all you have going on, in fact the enemy likes when we are so busy because its easier for us to turn our eyes from God. However, God is our never ending source of joy! Galatians 5:22 tells us that "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,..." It goes on to tell us in Proverbs 17:22 that "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones..."

So I want to challenge you to look into your life and see where your joy stealers are. It can be something as small as feeling rushed to something as big as a toxic friendship. I challenge you to look inward and reflect on those things that steal your joy then take your joy back.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4

Titled: Joy of Reflection
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