Joyful Friday - Vol. 2 O Praise Him

Joyful Friday is here again!  Today I get to share an amazing blessing for our family that has filled us with joy and excitement! This is the one I mentioned earlier in the week in my Tune-In Tuesday post.

First I would like to give God all the glory and share a verse and a song to sing the praises of our Awesome God to!  So much joy can be had just in the act of praising God.

Psalm 63:4-5 NIV*
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

O Praise Him by David Crowder Band



I am going to share a little background so you can get an understanding of just how much this means to us.  And of the amazing work God has been doing in our lives.  5 years ago, my husband was a man that wanted to be so much more as a husband, father and provider.  However, after years of many let downs he had come to the conclusion that he would be a "grunt" for the rest of his life.  Then he found a man and a company that saw the same potential I saw in him.  They gave him a chance and he proved that what I had been telling him and trying to get him to believe of himself was true.  In the years since, he has progressed quickly in his field.  The same company went through many changes with the economy.  My husband has felt for a while that, even though he is so grateful for the opportunity they gave him, he is no longer supposed to be there.  The job hunt was going slow and we were starting to doubt the decision to make a change.

A couple of Sundays ago our Pastor spoke about clarifying your vision and being specific in prayer.  The next day he found a job that was a perfect fit for him and our family.  He laid it at God's feet that this was the one he wanted.  He came to me and told be that he had clarified his vision for his new job and that this was the one.  Thursday he got a call from them and this past Monday had another phone interview with 3 of the higher ups in the company.  They liked him so much that they flew him up to Tennessee "all expenses paid" to "meet him and give him a tour of the plant."  To some that may sound like a normal thing.  For us this is something that we would see on TV not in our real lives.  I was so overwhelmed with joy and gratitude that it took me about an hour to stop crying.  (yeah, I can be mushy and emotional at times)  :)

Today he is there, and I am here...waiting "patiently" for a call or text or anything from him.  I was planning on waiting until I got the definite answer to post this.  But I feel that just like in prayer, we give thanks and praise before the answer, in complete faith that He has heard and is faithful to answer.  So this is my joy, my song, my gratefulness, my faith and my heart singing praises to my Amazing, Loving and Faithful God!

We are moving to Tennessee!  I believe it and so it shall be!

What are you joyful for this week?  I would love to share your joy with you!



*THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Joyful Fridays Vol. 1

I am starting something new!  Joyful Fridays!  Every Friday I am going to post on Joy and how we can have more of it in our lives.  I would love to make this a Link Party or Blog Hop but I am not sure I have the following for that just yet.  If this is something you would be interested in, please let me know in comments or email!

This is one of my favorite songs by Casting Crowns off of their Until the Whole World Hears album and it going 'round and 'round in my head last night inspired me!



There are so many scriptures in the bible on Joy and Joyful that I am sure that this is something that God wants us to have lots of in our lives.  In John 10:10, Jesus tells us that he came so that we can have an abundant life and to enjoy it!  Each Friday I am going to give a verse on Joy and share a little of my own insight and how I apply it in my life.

Psalm 95:1-3

Amplified Bible (AMP)

    ¹O COME, let us sing to the Lord; 

         let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation!    
      ²Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
         let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!

    ³For the Lord is a great God, 
         and a great King above all gods. 

I would like to say that I am consistent each day but I am not.  That is something I am working on.  However, on the days that I make the time to spend time with God and to sing and make a joyful noise to Him, I can feel and see the difference.  He is our Rock, our King; the Alpha and Omega.  We live in a chaotic and ever changing world.  We can rejoice in the fact that our God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow!

Maybe you aren't comfortable singing out loud.  Maybe you were not gifted with a singing voice.  Well, I fit both categories and am here to tell you that you should forget yourself and just try it.  Yes, some of us even have to step out in faith just to sing out loud!  Once I got over my own insecurities and reminded myself that this was not for me but for God; that it is not a contest but a way for me to bring joy and praise to my King; I let go and let loose!  It felt great!  Once we ask Jesus into our hearts, we are filled with Him, His Holy Spirit.  When I focus on praising and worshiping God with my less than lovely voice, Holy Spirit steps in and helps.  That is why He is here, to be our helper, counselor, comforter.  To step in and fill in where we are weak, broken, unable.

So turn on your favorite worship song or just click play above and SING, SING, SING!  Make a JOYFUL NOISE and start (or finish) your day with the peace and joy of the Lord!

I would love to hear from you.  What songs do you enjoy singing out?  What things bring you joy each day?

Daily Struggle

I have some days that I am just not on my game.  So far, this week as been full of them.  I tend to beat myself up for these days, telling myself that I am doing something wrong or not having enough faith.  Most times, when I can pull my head out of the funk I realize that I am putting words in Gods' mouth.  I have to continually remind myself that I have become the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ.  For someone that has been anything but righteous in life and is very aware of the bad choices made, this is a very hard concept to accept.  It is easy to say, write on an index card, memorize and repeat; but truly believing it, acting accordingly, not condemning myself at every turn, is another thing completely.  

2 Corinthians 5:21

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²¹For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [^[a]endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].

In comparison to many I know, I am a fairly young Christian.  It was only 4 years ago that I began to truly understand the truth, love, mercy and grace of our God.  I knew of Him, knew the bible pretty well, but I never knew Him.  I had prayed the "sinners prayer" in the past but was just going through the motions.  I really had no idea what I was saying or what it truly meant. Being so young in my faith, I wonder, how long before I start to find stability in my standing with Christ?  How long is it going to take me to get it through my head that He loves me and forgives me, sees me approved, acceptable, righteous?  Not through my eyes or my works, but through the blood and Resurrection of Jesus.  


See, I know these things, yet still I sit here feeling like a mess.  Then I am reminded of Philippians.  

Philippians 4:6-7

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁶Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (^[a]definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
    ⁷And God's peace [shall be yours, that ^[b]tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall^[c]garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.


So now, I will run into His arms and remember that the riches of His love will always be enough.  Today I will sing and dance to my Lord.  Starting with Forever Reign that I posted about yesterday.  Loud and often.  The best time to sing and dance to God is the time that you feel the least like doing it.

Psalm 149:3-4

Amplified Bible (AMP)

³Let them praise His name in chorus and choir and with the [single or group] dance; let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and lyre!
    ⁴For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation and adorn the wretched with victory.


Just typing this out and reading over these verses has already started to mend my soul.  It is going to be a good day after all. 


I would love to hear your thoughts.  Do you struggle with these feelings?  If so, how do you deal with them?  Did this post and these scriptures help you?  

What to do now

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night with a tornado of "to-do's" going round and round in your head?  I do... often.  Sometimes it is just the daily stuff around the house or a looming bill and then other times I feel plagued that I am not doing enough for God or to further his kingdom.  


After reading John 6:28-29 I took a deep breath, calmly thought about it and then let out a huge sigh of relief along with a song of praise!  


John 6:28-29 in the Amplified Bible reads "²⁸They then said, What are we to do, that we may [habitually] be working the works of God? [What are we to do to carry out what God requires?]

    ²⁹Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger]."

I don't take it to mean that I am not supposed to preach the good news or clean my kitchen.  However, it is such a relief to know that the act of believing in Jesus, cleaving to him, relying on him is a service to God in itself.  I can do that!  I do that!  So, now I go from self condemnation to peace and relief.  I count that as a good day!

The next time you wake up in the wee hours and feel that boulder on your chest and the buzz in your mind... remember to cleave to, trust, rely on and have faith in the One Whom He has sent... our beautiful, powerful and victorious Jesus Christ!  

Selah. (Pause, and calmly think about that.)

First Post - Abundant Mercies

Lamentations 3:22-23

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²²It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassion's fail not.
    ²³They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness.


I don't know about you, but if the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness were not fresh everyday, I would be in a lot of trouble!  I am grateful to know that when I fail, His compassion does not.  He knows me and understands me and He loves me anyway!  Once I wrapped my head around that, I was brought to my knees.  Each day I have to be reminded and each day He is faithful to remind me that He is Love.  


My intention with this blog is to give voice to my journey - My physical, spiritual, creative and mental journeys.  At 35, I have already passed much of the journey and will add those flashbacks as I feel inspired.  For now, I am going to start with the present - because it is a gift!


The reason for this intention is the hope that even one person may read this blog and feel encouraged. No matter where you are in life, there is always hope for today and tomorrow.  If you are beat down, broken, jaded or just plain tired, then stick with me.  I have faith you will see "light" closer than the end of the tunnel!


In sharing this Truth and Love I will also share myself.  Not a "church face" but the real me, with real struggles, joys, lessons and tons of laughs and love.  Being a homeschooling mom, stay at home wife, artist at heart if not in skill and a lover of all things beautiful, I venture to say that this should be a pretty interesting mix of information!  


I am fumbling my way through "this blog thing" and hope to have more for you soon!


Peace and Love to all!


Jamie