Sweet and Sour 365

Choose Joy today!

Happy National Coffee Day! "God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left." ~Lamentations 3:23 (MSG)

"Oh, thank God —he’s so good!      His love never runs out. All of you set free by God , tell the world!      Tell how he freed you from oppression, Then rounded you up from all over the place,      from the four winds, from the seven seas." ~Psalm 107:1-3

A lens for our today:  " Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor." ~James 3:17-18 (MSG)

"For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants." ~ Philippians 2:13 (TLB)

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,      who walk in the light of your presence, Lord .   They rejoice in your name all day long;      they celebrate your righteousness. ~Psalm 89:15-16

"Lord, unrush me. I don't want to miss one more moment." ~Lysa TerKeurst

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus..." ~Ephesians 2:6  

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him..." ~Psalm 37:7 (ESV)

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;      my hope comes from him. ~Psalm 62:5

“I believe God’s plans for me are good. Therefore, I commit today that I will never give up on my family, and I will never give up on God’s ability to move in our hearts. With His help, I will take the next step of faith even when I don’t feel like it, because He is the God of miracles.” ~Brooke McGlothlin

I've had this little purple treasure box for a few years now. In fact - my kids have one as well (each painted their favorite color). Mine sits on my desk. Unopened. I know it is there but I haven't opened it in a long time. When I've felt less than, lonely, or left out...I don't run to my treasure box for reassurance that I am still loved by God. I sit and let the enemy work me over. I don't run to my Bible - I run to my thoughts...because my feelings speak truth? The whole time He is saying, "There is a Bible to your left and an unopened box to your right. I'm surrounding you in love. My arms are wrapped around you and you are listening to the screams of the world. Listen to my loving whispers. Open my love letter to you." I opened it the other day and inside are gifts that speak to me. Do you have a treasure box?

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. We are impacted by what people say to us all day long. Whether positive or negative. Jesus gave us authority to speak to our mountain. What stands in front of you? Don't ignore it. Faith as small as a mustard seed- it's all you need. Speak to your mountain - don't let it speak to you! This weeks chalkboard message. 

Fix my eyes on Him

Too early? Fall will be here soon!!!

A few days ago I was in this crappy mood.   I’m not really sure what brought it on – but it sort of hovered over me everywhere I went. Like a dark cloud following me. Anyway – I walked into my closet to put some clothes away and clearly heard, “You know, if you spent half of the time in My Word that you spend on her- you’d be set free.” Now, I’d love to say that I heard a very loud voice tell me this. But it was loud enough to grab my attention and say, “What?” I repeated it in my head at least twice before I said, “Oh. Right.” What I thought was at His feet…I apparently went back and quickly grabbed that weight and carried it back down the hill with me.   And by doing so…that cloud hovered over my head producing the crappy mood. The enemy knows how to work me over and it’s up to me to either put weight on his lies or weight on God’s truth. Wherever I put my focus – that is what will grow. Whatever we water – grows. The words stung…but clearly words ...

Micah 6:8

James 1:21 The Message (MSG) Act on What You Hear 19-21  Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.

"People who care more about being right than ending right prove just how wrong they were all along." ~Lysa TerKeurst, Uninvited

"Living in dependence on ME is a glorious adventure. Most people scurry around busily, trying to accomplish things through their own strength and ability. Some succeed enormously; others fail miserably. But both groups miss what life is meant to be: living and working in collaboration with Me. When you depend on Me continually, your whole perspective changes. You see miracles happening all around, while others see only natural occurrences and 'coincidences.' You begin each da y with joyful expectation, watching to see what I will do. You accept weakness as a gift from Me, knowing that My Power plugs in most readily to consecrated weakness. You keep your plans tentative, knowing that My plans are superior. You consciously live, move, and have your being in Me, desiring that I live in you. I in you, and you in Me. This is the intimate adventure I offer you." ~Jesus Calling by Sarah Young