Choosing Gratitude {and a GIVEAWAY}

It's been a busy day here, but I want to quickly share about something that you may wish to hop on board with.

I have been reading through the Psalms, along with the lovely Candace Crabtree,  from His Mercy is New. We read a Psalm a day and find ways we can pray those words for ourselves. It's a wonderful exercise in making God's Word our own, and making it applicable to the situation we are in right now. The relevancy of so many of the Psalms is staggering!  It's been such a blessing to go through the Psalms in this way, and find the truths that are contained in them.

Well, Candace is starting a 30 days of Gratitude challenge. She will be posting videos on her FB page and sharing about it on her IG account +Candace Crabtree  It's all about cultivating an attitude of thankfulness and gratitude -  and which one of us doesn't need that in our lives? We don't just need it in an accidental sort of way, we need to be intentional about CHOOSING to be grateful, no matter our circumstances.

Candace will be using Nancy Leigh DeMoss's book, "Choosing Gratitude". It's not essential to have it, but I am sure it will be a book that you will be glad you purchased. It's available in print and on Kindle, as well as an Audiobook! There are other books she will be referring to, but she shares about them on her videos. Hop over to her post today for more information.

I have some new journals all ready to start recording the things I am grateful for.  I plan to also use Ann Voskamp's "Joy Dare" resources to journal my gratitude journey. She has OODLES of beautiful printables, which you can have free access to by subscribing. (Details on the post here) I've always intended to take part in her "Joy Dare", so this seems like the perfect time to jump in. She gives three prompts for each day, to help you think of things to give thanks for. Some will come to mind quickly, others may require some thought, but all will result in gratitude.

We all have SO much to be thankful for. SO much. As we have been learning about so many countries around the world where they face persecution, poverty and illness on a regular basis, I have reminded the children JUST how blessed we are, and we take it for granted.

Also, I am going to be starting back with Heidi St John's scripture writing challenge. She shares a few verses every day for you to read, meditate upon, then write out. The act of writing something out will aid you in remembering it, and we can all benefit from having scripture engraved on our hearts in any way we can. You can find out more about that on Heidi's IG account, her FB page, or on her website.

Whatever you do, make sure you try and get into God's Word when you can!

I can't wait to get started on my "Choosing Gratitude", and also hope to have my 13 year old daughter, Beth, joining me on this journey. I may get her to do a guest post on the way through, to share about what she is learning.

I will share what I have been journaling, as I go along - on IG, FB and on here. I can tell this is going to be just wonderful, and my heart if filled with joy just thinking about it.

We have our Harvest Supper at Church tonight, so I hope to spend some time this evening on these challenges. I can't wait!

BUUUUUUUUTTTT....


To kick start this season of gratitude, what better way than to give someone another reason to BE grateful?? I haven't had a give-away for ages, so I would love to share some joy with others!

I am going to give-away a couple of things! There are two items, and you can enter to win either of them.

Firstly, I have a large Moleskine Journal that I have hand lettered and painted. These journals are ruled, with 80 pages (16 detachable), so just a nice size for a month of journaling gratitude. I have hand lettered it with silver sharpie, and used shimmering paints for the flowers. It's really pretty, and it was going to be for myself, but I thought it would be much nicer to give it away (and fits right in with studying the trait of "generosity" with my children this week). I can always decorate another for myself, which would be such a chore... aherm.

 I am also going to give away a copy of the book that we are using during the challenge - Choosing Gratitude, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

You can enter to win either of these below. This is open to anyone, as I am happy to send the journal abroad. I'm all for sharing the love as far and wide as need be.

The give-away is only until Monday evening, so if this is a book you would like to have to join in with the challenge, you can get it as soon as possible! So, you have until midnight GMT on the third of October to enter (remember that is FIVE hours ahead of EST, and 8 ahead of Pacific). Share, share, share so people know, and maybe you will be the winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"My soul doth magnify the Lord" {magnifying in the mysteries}

Mary, the mother of Jesus.

A title so known by those who know Christ, that we may hardly think of the deeper sense of this title.

Mary.

The mother of JESUS.

I was thinking about Mary, as I travelled last night.  I was bemoaning, internally, the horrible driving conditions - rain and spray, in a dark, road-works scattered motorway.

Yet, I was in the comfort of a minibus, surrounded by my children.

I got to thinking about Mary, travelling to Bethlehem, thousands of years ago. We think of her, often, on the donkey, of which there is actually no mention of in the Bible. Heavily pregnant, heading to the town in which her betrothed one was born.

Heavily pregnant.

Not married.

Going to get taxed.

Not three of the most ideal scenarios.

And yet...

She was living the life which God had planned for her.

God.

GOD!

HE had planned.

In His infinite wisdom, and according to His eternal purposes, He designed that a woman - sinful, ordinary, nothing saintly or divinely superior about her - would bear His son.  She would carry Him around within her body, feeling his every move and wiggle, just like any other mother with any other child.  Not only that, but she would do it with the shame and ignominy of a child borne out of wedlock.  She had an angel announce the mystifying news, of the child she would carry - no such privilege was extended to every other person she came across. Can you imagine seeing a woman, carrying a child under such circumstances, and her trying to explain it to you in terms of an angel's message from GOD? She would have been laughed to scorn.

Can you imagine how YOU would feel, given this news?

I would think it to be confusing, in the extreme.

And yet...

"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."

She accepted her lot in life - she took on board God's great plan, that would lead to the bearing of sin upon the body of the One she would carry - she humbly accepted the "cup" that she was given.  She knew God's plan, and accepted it.  No questions. No doubts. No arguments.

"Whatever you have planned, I humbly accept it to be perfect"

THAT'S how she took the news.

She had faith -  she believed that God's plan would be fulfilled in her.

After receiving the news, she rushed off to her cousin, Elizabeth, who was carrying her own gift from God. The words Mary speaks, in response to Elizabeth, are the words of worship that should come from our lips, no matter what God allows in our life.

It's often called "The Magnificat".

Why?

Because of the words that come from her lips, before any other.

"My soul doth magnify the Lord"

Her situation, humanly speaking, was a difficult one, yet she chose to magnify, praise, and glorify God, before anything else.  Lifting HIM high, above her circumstances, as the one who does "all things well".

How far from that the refrains of MY heart often are.  Trying situations do not automatically spring to magnifying God - rather, we so often jump to despair and doubt.  That is not the way God wants us to live! He wants us to see HIM in everything - His perfect, leading, guiding, and sustaining presence, no matter the circumstance.

She turns her focus away from the frailty of her own flesh, and the opinions and criticism of those around her, and onto the Lord God, and His blessings abundant.

"my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 

He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever."

Nothing of self - all of God.

That is how God wants us to live our lives.  We need to keep our focus upon Him.  Taking the circumstances which He has allowed, in His infinite wisdom, and bringing praise and glory to Him through it all.   Although God's ways seem mysterious, rejoicing.

Turning our back on the dissenters, and keeping our eyes firmly upon the one who  planned it all.

His glory.  Our good.

Mary's life didn't get EASIER, humanly speaking.  The bitter sorrow of seeing your son - GOD'S Son - nailed to a cruel cross, is unfathomable.  Yet her faith and trust carried on - she KNEW He was the Saviour.  She knew it was why she had carried Him, and cared for Him.  It was hard, but it was necessary.

Our life is filled with hard, but necessary, things.  God's perfect way is filled with things often NOT of our choosing.  They are mysterious to us, and past finding out, so, so often.

The underpinning principle is the same as that of Mary.

God's ways lead us closer to HIM.

Mary was as physically close to Jesus, as anyone could be.

She carried Him in her womb - she birthed him amongst the filth - she nourished and tenderly cared for Him, as a babe - she provided for His physical needs as He grew from babe, to child, to adult - she followed after Him right to the cross - she formed part of the early Church, as they met together to pray and learn.

Our trials should bring glory to God, and draw us close to His side.

Our soul, no matter how mysterious His ways, ever magnifying God.

Tots on a Tuesday {stopping, to enjoy the moment}

A few weeks ago, we had a lovely walk together, picking blackberries and enjoying the swiftly retreating warm days.

As always, I picked up my iPod.

It's become my "thing" - rushing about, making sure I pick up my iPod, to take pictures of whichever moments I want to capture.

Madly storing images of my tots, as they rapidly grow up, almost before my very eyes.

That day, as we were returning home, we stopped in a little "park", and there were ga-ZILLIONS of ladybirds all over a bench. The children had them crawling all over their arms, and the older ones were teaching the younger ones all about them.

I scrabbled about in the top of the pram for my iPod, only to get the spinning circle of doom.

My battery was dead.

WAH!

In that moment, I had a realisation.

All these moments I am trying to take pictures, I am MISSING the moment.

I know these moments are precious, and it's nice to think we can look back at them.  At the same time, we don't even know if we HAVE a future.  We only have the RIGHT NOW.

Having thought about this, I have been reaching for my iPod far less.  Instead, I look at my tots (because, let's face it, these little ones are the ones who have more of those endearing moments!!), and savour the moment. The very moment that God has given, right here, right now.

I'm not dismissing taking photographs. I still LOVE taking pictures.  And, if anything happened to my precious family, I would treasure any photos I had....

I am dismissing the mad, crazy, obsession with taking pictures, over savouring the special moments that God has GIFTED me with.

Stopping what I am doing.

Finding joy in the every day kind of things.

New things they do.

Funny things they say.

Cute faces they make.

Capturing, yes.

Forgetting to stop and savour, no.

I am taking the time to thank God for the moment I find myself in.

Loving it.

Living it.

Rejoicing in it.

Put your photographic device down, and find joy in the moment.

Blogging Through the Alphabet {Quickened, Redeemed, Saved... }

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"

Ephesians 2:5

"redeemed.... with the precious blood of Christ"

1Peter 1:18&19  

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"

Titus 3:5

I don't think there has been any other post that has given me as much joy, as this one has.

Having to catch up on three weeks of Blogging through the alphabet, just LENDS itself to something splendid.

Something so special, it needs multiple words to describe it, yet it won't do it justice.

This week is the week that my eldest daughter, Bethany, came to us and told us that she has trusted the Lord for salvation, and has asked to be baptised.

It was funny how it came about, that she told us. I had been chatting with some online friends about believers baptism versus infant baptism.  I proceeded to further discuss it with Robert, when he got home.  As the children were gathering for family worship, we had concluded our discussion, so Robert took the opportunity to explain what Paedo-baptism is, and why we believed in baptism of believers, by full immersion. 

After family worship, I went off to make dinner for Robert and I, and when I came back through, a teary-eyed Bethany was talking to Robert. He told her to tell me what she had told him.

When Beth was 7, she knelt by her bed and asked God to save her.  The only motivation was fear of punishment in hell.  Earlier this year, I took Josh and Beth to the baptism of a friend's daughter.  By listening to all that was said that night, Beth realised that her prayer, aged 7, was not one of true repentance for sin, only a desire not to be sent to hell.  She realised that salvation only comes from true repentance, and an acknowledgement that only Christ, through His shed blood, can save from that punishment for sin.  She cried out to God, that night, and asked him to save her. In her words "my tears of sadness turned to tears of joy, as I realised that God had saved me from my sin". 

What utter, and sheer joy.  My heart was full, and my own eyes filled with tears.  

To hear your precious child claim Christ as her Saviour, is a very, very precious thing.  Not only is she my daughter, she is my sister in Christ - we are joint heirs with Jesus! 

In the coming weeks, we will arrange a baptismal service for her.  Then, she will be able to publicly profess her faith in Christ.  Baptism will not save her, or sanctify her - it is simply her profession that she is Christ's, and He is her's. 

Our prayer is that others will come to a saving faith, through her profession, as the profession of faith of ANOTHER Bethany, earlier this year, brought her to an understanding of her own sinful state before God.

Interestingly, Robert had prayed, with a deacon on Monday, that they would see souls saved in the Church, and that especially the baptistery would be opened and baptisms would take place!  How quickly God answered prayer!

If you are reading this post, and you call yourself a Christian, look at the three verses I shared at the beginning, with my Q, R and S. They pretty much sum up the way of salvation.

We are all sinners.  Dead, in trespasses and sins.  Not dead in body - we are very much alive.  Dead in our souls. The Bible says "the wages of sin is death".  Our sin has a price.  We deserve death.  Bethany was right to fear such, because it is what happens, not just to our bodies, but to our souls, if we die in our sin.  We will be eternally punished, in hell.

Praise God, that's not the end to it.

We CAN be saved!

The verses make one thing VERY clear, though.

We CAN NOT SAVE OURSELVES.

No-one else can save us, either.

I couldn't save Bethany.  I desire that ALL my children will be saved, but I cannot save them.

"What can wash away my sin?"

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

Because God loves us, He sent His one and only, precious Son, who died on a cruel cross, shedding His blood, to save us - quicken - to make alive. Spiritual death, to spiritual life. Redeeming us - paying for our sins, so we belong to Him. Saved - from death, unto life.

It's by grace - that special love which God loves us with - His riches, at Christ's expense - that we are saved. 

Washed clean from sin - into new life.  Not walking in our old ways, and the ways of the world, but in God's ways, by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life. When we are saved, we are regenerated, by the presence of the Holy Spirit within.  

THAT is what has happened in the heart of my precious daughter, and it thrills mine beyond words.

I can only imagine how emotional it will be, the day she is baptised! 

I love how the Lord used so many things to shape that moment on Monday.  Working over many different occasions, to bring her to Himself.  

I think, when we have been saved for a while, we can too quickly forget that immense joy that new life in Christ brings.  My heart is full, as I see it afresh, and rejoice, once again, for my own salvation - that Christ has drawn me unto Himself, also.

As the angels in heaven rejoice, over one sinner that has repented, will you not join me, too, and rejoice also? Pray with me, too, that we will see many more souls saved - especially our own family and friends - to the glory of God.

I pray that the Lord will help me to guide her in her new-found faith, and help her to grow closer to Jesus, and that the Lord would use her mightily in the extension of His kingdom.

Blogging through the Alphabet {Mess, management, mornings, music and merriment}

(this post contains affiliate links)

Today, I have a lot to do.  I have to tidy my messy house.  We have a busy Sunday, with family visiting for dinner, and then next week is Holiday Bible Club (VBS), and we have friends staying for the whole week.  With all the chickenpox time, madly trying to catch up with school afterwards, and then my dryer going on the blink, jobs got somewhat behind.

Everywhere I look, there seems to be MESS!

I know I must not be alone when I say my children seem to trail their things EVERYWHERE! Toys, pencils, hairbands, clothes - all in places they shouldn't be.

I am pretty sure my issue is two-fold - having too MUCH, and not MANAGING them properly.  I think, over the summer, those two things need to be taken into hand. A massive, and major de-cluttering needs to happen.  Ruthless.  That needs to be the order of the day.

Then, I need to train and manage the situation better.  I need to be a more effective parent, and sort out the issue of training children not to LEAVE the mess everywhere.  I think having less stuff will probably help.  A bit.

I think there is also "lazy tidying" going on.  What I call "Moving the mess".  I am forever telling them off for doing it! I tell them to tidy one thing up, and I find it somewhere else, where it doesn't belong!! I tell them "That's not tidying, that's moving mess"!!!

IT NEEDS TO STOP!!

(Yes, I'm kind of shouting that...)

I also think I still haven't properly found homes for everything.  I always maintain that if something has a place it belongs, it's far easier to tidy.  So, having a hard look at what the mess tends to be, and why it ends up not being put away, would be a plan.

I need to also have a bit more management of our time and chores.

Currently, we have a nice little morning routine going on.  I think I have mentioned before that the oldest 3 have a "Post-breakfast job". One empties the dishwasher, one clears up the breakfast things, and the other sweeps the floor.  They all have to make their beds, as well.  Those things all happen, pretty much like clockwork.  I think my younger ones need more regular jobs, though - and MUMMY needs to make it happen! If I don't train them, and help them to remember what to do, then it's more my fault than theirs!

I plan to try out a new chore system, and will review it later in the summer.  It's called Easy Peasy Chores, and is picture based, ideal for the little ones to learn what their duties are!  (It's currently available as part of the Build Your Bundle sale, in the "Mom's Bundle", which is only $10!!! That chore system alone retails for $15.99, so by buying that particular bundle, you get loads of other things, as well as Easy Peasy Chores, for less than you'd normally pay for it!  If you are interested in the system, this is the way to buy it!).  I am hoping that this system may help us on the road to managing our chores better.

I can't have an "M" post, without mentioning my wake up call this morning.  7am, the phone rings. I had a late night last night, working on various things, so I wasn't up yet. Rude awakening a phone ringing by your ear! It was the delivery man, who was to deliver my new dishwasher - telling me he'd be there in 20 minutes!!! YIKES!!! How to make a woman jump out her bed in a hurry! Due to my busy, and late, night that I had, I hadn't emptied the load from the outgoing dishwasher.  I hadn't finished tidying the hall they would need to walk through.  I hadn't swept the floor.  We hadn't taken out the old dishwasher from its spot.  I wasn't dressed.  It's AMAZING what you can do in a short space of time, given a "shove"!!! We were all ready for them arriving with the new dishwasher, and Robert then quickly got it plumbed in.  I'm rather excited about it! We have been struggling with a dying dishwasher for a while, so this should make life easier - especially with a houseful next week!

Music.

It's a subject that has been much lacking in this household, and I have finally gained some inspiration to do more with the children!  I bought the Middle School bundle, from the Build Your Bundle sale. Part of the draw, for me, was the fact that it contained not one, but TWO music related products! The first is "Beethoven who?"  This is a product which teaches your children all about music - from reading music, to identifying music styles, to learning about composers. It also includes fun hands-on activities you can do, as you learn about music.  I also found a programme to teach your children to play the recorder.  Some of mine are showing an interest in music, so I figured they could learn to play the recorder, together, and those with further interest could then start learning the piano, once they could already read music.

I learnt to play the piano, and went all the way up to passing Grade 7 with the Associated Board of Music. I went to Uni after that, so didn't have time to do Grade 8, as I had no time to practice!  I really ought to get my children learning to play SOMETHING!

I am really looking forward to doing more music when we start back in September, and great thanks to the Build Your Bundle team, for helping me out!

Finally...

MERRIMENT!!!

IT'S THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS FROM SCHOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL!!!!

Can you tell I am happy???

Honestly, in the home-edding community, the summer break is more for the mother's sanity than for the children's benefit! *grin*

As I mentioned before, I have jobs lined up for myself, but things I will enjoy working with, knowing I can do them at a relaxed pace.  I am also really looking forward to sorting and clearing - it's always very satisfying!

Further merriment comes in the form of Holiday Bible Club, this coming week.  It's a busy, busy week, but we love being able to share the gospel with boys and girls.  Our theme is "Jesus, our Saviour and Friend".  I am particularly looking forward to teaching the "missionary lesson", about Corrie Ten Boom.  I find her an incredibly inspiring woman, and I have learnt so much from her life. Please pray for me as I share her story - there are elements which are sensitive, and I want to deal with them in the right way. I am praying the the Holy Spirit will guide me in my thoughts and words, and the children will be challenged by the life of this great woman.

As I look forward to the summer, I am thankful that God has a plan for me, and for my life.  I pray that I will calmly follow after whatever God has for me, with great joy.

Blogging through the Alphabet {Joy - when we need to chase it down with a big stick}

I am not a miserable person, by nature. I am much more the optimist than the pessimist.

I'm a glass half full, not a glass half empty, kind of gal.

I try to be an encourager, and remain cheerful and upbeat.

This week, it's been a challenge. Children with the chickenpox has been VERY challenging. I had great visions of having opportunity to do oodles of jobs, whilst the children watched more DVDs than normal, or maybe even slept.

Errrrrr, no.

Well, sort of.  In between giving out extra cuddles, smearing on multiple varieties of soothing cream, and running oat baths, I have also had to cram in normal "everyday" kinda stuff.  You know, cooking, washing clothes, going to the loo...?

Add to that a daughter, covered in chickenpox, wakening me at unearthly hours, and starting her day at insane times (think 4.30 am, 6am, and 5.45am today - on top of disturbed nights.. Yes, great...)

Feeling tired normally makes me feel rather sensitive, and easily wound up - especially when you add to the mix a very spotty, very itchy, very sore, four year old boy, who doesn't deal well with the "out of the ordinary", and spent most of his waking hours crying and saying "ow, ow , ow".

*And breathe*

I didn't have to just choose joy, this week.  I had to chase after it, and hunt it down like, well, a hunter!

You see, joy is not something that hangs upon circumstances being rosy and bright. It's not dependent upon things all working out in the hunky dory category. It's not something that just drops in your lap as a natural occurring phenomena.  You have to intentionally choose to be joyful, and it especially applies in the tough, trying moments. Times like this week, it was certainly not in plain sight - it was a hidden thing, that required a soul-searching, and a crying out to the Lord to answer prayers.

Praise His name alone, I found it.  Every day, I have been able to find joy, in troubled moments.

How did I chase it down?  How did I find it?

First, I have been asking the Lord to help me, more than anything else.  I don't have the strength to have joy on my own. I am a weak woman, and have no ability to do so in my own strength.

Do you know what?  God answers prayer!

Next, I keep being extremely thankful.  Thankful, amidst all these poorly children?  How can I be *THANKFUL*? I am SO thankful that chickenpox is a one off.  This will not happen again.  This is it - done and dusted.  Do you know what else I am thankful for?  I am thankful for my children - the children that God has given me, whom I love dearly.  Had I not been given them, sure, I wouldn't have this trial - I WOULD miss out on daily joy of numerous sorts, simply by having them in my life.  Even Elijah saying funny little things, amidst his struggles, makes me smile! "Mummy, this is just so ANNOYING!"

I hear ya, son - I hear ya!

I am exceedingly thankful that they are not in pain ALL the time.  Some people have children who suffer pain and discomfort EVERY day of their lives.  Children with long-term illness and terminal illness.  People with children who have disabilities.  My children will be better in a short space of time, relatively speaking.

I am thankful that I am accustomed to them being at home, and that I am here, available, to care for them.  If your children normally attend school, it must be somewhat of a palaver to arrange to be off work, or to have them in the house when you're not used to it.  That was just "the norm" for me, so less of an adjustment.

I am thankful for the one-to-one time I have had with the children. Whether it's been showing compassion, spreading lotions over itchy skin, or cuddling up with younger children - it's all been special!

I am thankful for the time to unwind a little.  This has forced me to sit down, and rest, which isn't something I normally do.  It's been quite a treat.  Sure, I am dog-tired, with Tabitha waking more at night, so the rest is appreciated - but, besides that, it's still a treat!

I am thankful that I have managed to get some jobs done that have been bugging me for AGES! I will share more about that in another post, but I got some sorting, clearing and organising done, in the odd moment where the younger ones were asleep, and I had other jobs caught up on.

I am thankful for the opportunity to see some friends.  It's ALWAYS a joy to see people who we rarely see.  Both families came to try and catch the pox, so we'll see if that part works.  Chickenpox-catching aside, it was so lovely to catch up with them, and spend sweet fellowship chatting and encouraging one another. I felt bad that I couldn't be the hostess I like to be, but my main aim was to look after my family, and theirs' was to try and catch the pox! *grin* Standing on ceremony was less important.

I am also thankful that I got some tidying up done today, because some friends, over on furlough from missions work, were coming for lunch.  Tabitha was awake before 6am, so I was able to get some home baking done for them coming, which I wasn't sure I would have got to do otherwise! Having people come over is ALWAYS a good incentive to do a power clean! Amazing what you can do in about 30 minutes, whilst your small people follow you around asking "When can I sit on your lamp?" (Elijah STILL calls my lap my LAMP - quite what he thinks we sing about, when we sing "Give me oil in my lamp", I am NOT sure....)

I am even thankful, right now, in my foggy brained state, that although I feel like I am getting some kind of viral ailment (think, sore throat, fuzzy head, and achy joints starting..) that it is coming on at a time when everyone is starting to be "On the mend".

Being thankful REALLY helps with the chasing of joy - and the CATCHING of it!

I rejoice that I can be thankful - I rejoice that I can see friends - I rejoice that I have these precious children who HAVE the chickenpox, to shower my love and attention upon.

In all that joy, the best part has happened.  We are told "The joy of the Lord is your strength".  That is how I have survived. That is how I have kept going, in relative calm and peace. Having joy, from the Lord, has given me HIS strength, to be what I need to be.  It's nothing of myself. When I am weak, then I am strong - IN HIS MIGHT.

Joy is not dependent upon circumstances.  It's something we are TOLD to do - ALWAYS. There is always something to rejoice about, even if it's as simple as having joy in God, who He is, and what He has done for us.

"Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, REJOICE". 

Philippians 4:4

I apologise if this post is lacking coherency, because my brain is rather foggy, but I still wanted to share with you about how the Lord has given me joy this week, in my trials.

Making life beautiful {accepting things you cannot change}

In my garden, there is a corner I have tried to ignore since we moved into the house. For a start, it's at the front, where we spend less time, so easy to neglect. Secondly, it contains something that I considered ugly and an eye sore. 

Laurel roots.

Big, ugly laurel roots.

Robert has been painstakingly trying to kill them off, drilling holes in them, and putting in treatment to kill them off. It's not a quick fix, and they are still there. Without heavy, expensive to hire, equipment, they are not going anywhere in a hurry. This year was the worst. There were thick patches of nettles and dandelions all around them, making it so much worse.

Instead of griping and being frustrated about the "ugly" patch, I realised there was something I COULD do. I couldn't get rid of the roots, but I could clear the weeds, and make a FEATURE of the roots!! I could make it something beautiful, by working around, and with, it.

Those weeds were hard work. The nettle roots were like an underground network, and the dandelions had roots like a tree. It was no easy fix, but it looked so much better with them gone.

I popped off to the garden centre, picking up some pretty, flowering plants. I wanted plants that would not just try and cover up the roots, but to make them look like part of my garden. As if they were supposed to be there, rather than me just making do. 

The day I attacked my garden, I happened to be struggling with a situation in my life, which was irking me. A situation that was not likely to change in a hurry, but I was allowing it to bother me, and rob me of my joy and peace. It was a circumstance that wasn't in my power to change, yet I was letting it fester away and irritate me. My heart and my attitude weren't at ALL beautiful, as I chewed over my frustrations. 

It hit me. 

My life is like those roots in my garden. There are some things in all our lives, that we simply cannot change. It's not in our power, or perhaps not our responsibility, to change. Allowing it to bother us is simply showing lack of contentment in God's plan for us, or lack of patience whilst we pray for a change, which may happen in the future. If we allow it to negatively affect us, it's not very beautiful, at ALL. 

We can, however, be responsible for how we accept, and deal with, our circumstances. If we remember exhortations in the scriptures to "rejoice evermore", "in everything give thanks", "pray without ceasing", "be content with such things as ye have", and put them into practice, we will have much more joy and peace in our life.

It would be so easy to sit, frustrated and irritated, madly praying for the Lord to change our situation, when we could, instead, be living joyfully, and contentedly, in the situation we are in. 

In time, the Lord may answer your prayers, and changes may come.... Or, they may not. 

We can choose to live with joy, or we can choose to be miserable. 

Don't fight the situation that the Lord is allowing you to walk through. Embrace it, and live it with joy. 

Go ahead, and plant some "flowers" in your life, and choose to make your situation beautiful, instead of being frustrated with a wasteland.