Winning the Battle

As I was falling asleep last night, or at least trying to, I was thinking through all of the difficult things that have kept me from writing. The hard things I've had to do, the injustices done to me, the hard days and events ahead, and I was thinking through how to write about them to start off this post! I wanted you all to read about my hard life and feel my pain with me. Not the spirit of this "Joy Dare" at all! It's because I've been focusing on the hard and not-fun things in my life that I haven't been able to see, much-less write down, the good things. I've been giving up on, and therefore loosing, the battle for joy! No more, no more, no more!

On that note, who wants to text me everyday and say, "Make sure you wrote down those 3 gifts today!" "Have you counted your blessings today?" "What are you dwelling on today?" I certainly can't win this fight alone!

Here's hoping this is my last catch-up post, at least for a long time!

Friday, March 22nd: "3 Gifts found in His Word"

I read an article on Friday that ministered to my heart, met me right where I was at, so thankful that God plants those blessings for me. The Article was by Jon Bloom on the "Desiring God" blog. It was entitled, "When Jesus Makes You Wait in Pain" referencing when Jesus made Mary and Martha wait for His miracle in Lazarus's life. My three gifts found in the Word that day came from this beautifully written article:

1. "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where He was." John 11:5-6

2. "When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. and he said, "Where have you laid Him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. John 11:33-35

3. "Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"
 John 11:40
How deep the Father's love for us!!

Saturday, March 23rd: "3 Gifts found in women today"

Friday night and Saturday I had the pleasure of spending time with Lauren Branks! So thankful that the Lord has brought her, and the rest of my new small group, into my life! It was a relaxing and refreshing time away!

1. Sweet Fellowship
2. Laughter
3. Understanding and friendship

Sunday, March 24th: "3 Gifts spoken"

1. Encouragement from, and laughter with, missed-friends!
2. Truth and conviction from the pulpit
3. "I will pray for you"

Monday, March 25th: "A gift sung, written, painted"

1. A song by MercyMe on the radio, "... then You spoke my name..." I am His!

2. Text from my boss, "We're just going to stay home - it is crazy out there. See you tomorrow!" Snow Day!

3. God's glory painted all over in the beautiful snow! I have been begging for spring, but God, in His grace, has given me a fresh perspective on the snow! He is our majestic creator, and all of it is beautiful!

Joy is sometimes a battle, a battle that I loose when I choose to focus on all that is or could be going wrong. But look at all that is going right in the midst of it! I have NO excuse to be unhappy, none at all!

Happy snow-day, friends! :)