What is the first thought that crosses your mind when you wake up every day? As the fog starts lifting from your brain, do you think grumpy thoughts or grateful thoughts? Typically I start my day wondering how everything can possibly get done in the next 18 hours. It seems like most things have to be accomplished in the first hour! I have been working at changing my mindset as I start each day. You might still be worn and weary. The problems in your life will probably still be there but shifting to a grateful heart can make all the difference in the world! O God, You are my … [Read more...]
Up-Rooting Moodiness and How to Choose Gratitude
Marriage has a way of exposing our moodiness as women and unless you are an exception, I hope my experience will resonate with you and give you some solutions. How to choose gratitude wasn't exactly on my radar when I was struggling the most with my irritability. I know that there are a lot of reasons for moodiness. I know for myself that for years I dealt with imbalance because of issues related to my menstrual cycle and the pregnancies that God blessed me with. Pre-menstrual and post-partum issues are real. They are mood influencers. Each month I had migraines and often they lasted the … [Read more...]
7 Powerful Quotes to Unlock Gratitude from Your Heart
That is why you see so many graphics floating through your Facebook or Pinterest feeds with Bible verses and thoughtful or hilarious quotes! Who Doesn't Love Quotes?! A picture with a quote creates an emotional response that imprints the verse into your heart. A serious quote might resonate and stay with you longer because the picture creates a mental image. You might identify with an element of truth in that quote that cracked you up! There is always something truthful in a funny quote. I have seen many books about gratitude on Amazon but they are not all created equal. Often … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Be Thankful to God
Any time of the year it is good to be thankful to God. We tend to rush around too much, not slowing our pace long enough to be thankful to God for all that He has done. When we do, we find our stress melting away. How often we ask God for something without ever stopping to thank Him. We pray, asking God to heal people (which is good) but do we stop and pray our praise for something concerning that person? We pray, asking God to work in an impossible situation (again this is good) but how often do we stop to thank Him for something about that situation? Today I am giving you a challenge. I … [Read more...]
Being Thankful was a Game-Changer
I would have never thought that being thankful could be a game changer for me. Culturing a thankful heart can change you too!! I was at a crossroad where two choices lay before me. One was to go on being melancholy until it grew into bitterness and the other was the road to thankfulness. Are you struggling with depression or that heavy melancholy feeling? I woke up with that every. single. morning for quite a few years. It is almost impossible to shake. It is not possible to give you a five-point plan that will automatically kick depression to the curb and shoot thankfulness into your … [Read more...]
Free Bible Journaling Template: Using the Tracing Technique
Have you been seeing the beautiful Bible journaling art all through your Pinterest feed but are clueless on where to start? Using this Free Bible Journaling Template you will learn how to use the tracing technique. I want this to be easy for you and tracing with this template will help you draw an amazing picture! I want to encourage you that, "Yes! You can do this too!" I only started coloring in my Bible just two years ago. You really can learn to draw too! That is why I chose a very simple picture to share with you of a cup, flowers, and easy-peasy lettering. I want you to … [Read more...]
How to Choose Gratitude When Your Marriage Hurts
When your marriage hurts, the last thing to cross your mind is to choose gratitude. Emotionally you are at a low and your thoughts are consumed with the issues that are causing your emotional pain. When God brought you and your husband together you were in love and somewhere along your journey, life happened and maybe you are NOT feeling in love anymore. When I was in the first years of our marriage, I honestly thought that I was the only woman in the world who sometimes experienced marital bliss ;-). I felt so alone! I didn't have an older woman who could set me straight or … [Read more...]
Shake Your Attitude Up with 12 Verses on Gratitude
How's your attitude? It's hard to have gratitude when your attitude is suffering! That's why I'm going to shake up your attitude with these 12 gratitude verses! Did you read what I have been sharing about Living Fearlessly? I made printables for 12 Scripture Memory Cards on worry (who doesn't worry from time to time?) Did you know that there is a difference between being thankful and being grateful? I think most of us really don't see much difference between the two words. Never fear! I am here to encourage you to learn the difference between the two words but that's for another … [Read more...]
3 Creative Bible Journaling Tips When You Have No Artistic Ability
✍️ Are you almost totally new to Bible journaling and you 'think' you have NO artistic ability? Maybe you're NOT artistic! No matter, because we will be sharing a tip or two. This will be for beginners but even if you are more advanced you might get an idea or two! ✍️ Today I am sharing some of my favorite Bible journaling hacks for the art-challenged artist. Are you that artist? ✍️ These amazing tips and techniques will compensate in your Bible journaling journey for your lack of artistic ability. ✍️ There are a LOT of FUN options for you to consider! ✍️ After all, the craft store … [Read more...]
How Do We Carry On When Life Seems Pointless?
How do we carry on when life seems pointless? Do we just quit and throw in the towel or do we keep trudging on with life? I have a friend who we'll call, Tria. If you knew her you would see how she has everything going against her. She struggles with unimaginable health issues that have given her a handicap and altered her lifestyle. There are times when it is impossible to see her in church as she just doesn't make it out. Often when I ask her how she's doing, her answer is filled with thankfulness for all that God had done for her! Why didn't she say that her life was … [Read more...]
Has God Begun a Good Work IN You?
Do you have confidence that God has begun a good work IN you? If you are saved, you are a new creation and have put aside the old things and everything has become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17) Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Philippians 1:6 I am praying that you have the confidence to believe that God is doing a good work in you. When the old habits and lifestyle seem to be constantly cropping up, it can be hard to believe that God is working on you. This verse is not saying that you can continue in … [Read more...]
How to Use Free Printables from the Living Fearlessly Series
Wouldn't you love to learn the art of Living Fearlessly in Jesus? This is what I have been sharing here on my blog during the last few weeks. God laid this topic on my heart and as I wrote about it, I experienced it in my life like never before! Have you ever dug deeper into Scripture and seen it come alive in your life? That is why I put together these Free Printables that are included in this series because they will help you do just that. Have you been living with fears, worries, and anxiety? These verses will unlock the door that holds you captive. You will be encouraged to … [Read more...]
How David Demonstrates Faith in Living Fearlessly + Video
The story of David and Goliath so perfectly demonstrates how to have faith in living fearlessly. It is a great way to end this series! It is amazing to me how getting into God's Word allows the Holy Spirit to speak to my heart. THIS week, THIS particular story of David was EXACTLY what I needed. God knew that someone else's armor someone else's armor wouldn't have fit me for what I was up against. If David had worn King Saul's armor into battle, it would have been like relying on his own strength. Instead, David said that Saul's armor wasn't 'tried' and that he couldn't walk in … [Read more...]
Live Fearlessly with the Armor of God
Are you ready to live fearlessly? Are you really ready like David was when he fought against Goliath? David's brothers had not prepared to fight against the Goliaths in their lives. They were complacent and unwilling to take on the enemy and fight. They had not put on the armor of God and did not have the faith to take up their weapons and become the warriors in battle against the foe! But . . . how about you? Do you feel ready to fight against your enemy, the devil? What we forget or don't even realize is that the enemy the Bible talks about is surrounding us. He … [Read more...]
3 Things To Do When Your Armor Doesn’t Fit
Can you imagine actually going around with a 'suit' of armor that is too big and dragging down past your knees? When your armor doesn't fit, that is a good thing because you can learn 3 lessons from young David just before he fought Goliath. So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off. 1 Samuel 17:38-39 Does this verse paint a … [Read more...]