Forgetting About Ourselves

Paul said that he had been "crucified with Christ." In other words, he had to stop thinking about himself in order to live for God. And we are encouraged to do the same. 

At this point you may be thinking, "What about me? Who is going to take care of me?" This is usually what prevents us from living the way God wants us to live. It always comes back to me.

We are so...

accustomed to seeing our desires satisfied that the very thought of forgetting about ourselves even for one day can be frightening. But if we can muster up the courage to try it, we will be amazed at the freedom and joy we experience.

The secret to having joy is giving your life away rather than trying to keep it. When you get the focus off of you and onto God, God can show you how to live a truly meaningful life.

I encourage you to start your days by dedicating yourself to God. When you do, He will faithfully help you live a godly life.

Galatians 2:20 NLT

"My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Prayer Starter: Lord, I offer You my eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, heart, finances, gifts, talents, abilities, time, energy, all of me! It's not about me. It's all about You.

 

 

 

God Uses Broken Things

Recently one of my girls hit a road barrel in my car coming home from church. She wasn't hurt (other than her pride), but it damaged the passenger mirror.    I noticed today that the broken pieces are shaped like a heart - a perfect heart-shape that is broken into many pieces. This morning God spoke to me through that broken mirror!

 

 

 

Notice the bright light - His light, shining brightly from its center. See it? His message came through loud and clear.   Deep within my spirit, I heard God say,  "I am still at the center of the brokenhearted. I am still shining through. I have not left you and I am still magnified through the broken pieces."

 

I began to wonder why it had taken me six days to notice the broken mirror was shaped like a heart.  Curious because I have driven my car every day since the accident, and I have struggled to see out of that mirror a lot.  But I had not noticed this amazing heart shape before today. 

 

So I came back home after taking the grandchildren to school and I pondered it.  And, God brought to my remembrance that on the Sixth Day, He created people.  People in His image!  (image, broken mirror, people, GET IT?)  And He spoke again and said, "I do my best work through people.  My people, who are called by My name are called to shore up the brokenhearted.  I can't do it without you.  I need you to be my arms and legs, to go where the broken are, to BE ME.  How else will they know I love them through their broken heart?"

 

Oh my.  WOW!  Only God can use a broken mirror and speak so lovingly and strongly through its cracks.  I love how God uses broken things to speak to us His broken people, don't you?

 

Love to you this day and always,

 

 

 

 

Wrap Up of 7 Days of Gifts!

On day two, I wrote about a simple way you can share the joy of Giving with your children, grandchildren or any child.  Check it out here:  We All Live Off of His Generous Bounty...  This post is full of photos of how you can make an adorable "Kindness Calendar" for under $10 - something you can keep for many years.  Our grand-girls are enjoying taking down a little coat hanger and reading the little card each morning.  It is working - they are learning that it truly is more important and blessed to give than receive!

And then on day four, I wrote about an amazing experience I had with this beautiful, young girl name Maleka, who showed me the gift of really Seeing Jesus!  See it here  The Indescribable Gift.

May you learn how to give more than you receive this Holiday Season.

Another Day of Joy!

http://injoyandservice.blogspot.com/2012/11/day-8-joy-in-fall.html

Day 3: More Joy for Your Journey

I love what Rhonda wrote today.  She shares something a bit nasty, that quite honestly, we have all done.  And God, who is always faithful to expose those nasty dark areas of our heart, comes in - just like a window washer - exposing the streaks and allowing us to have them washed by THE ONLY ONE who can get them clean.  Hope you will take three minutes to read all about it HERE

Day 2: More Joy for your Journey!

Day 2: Memorizing Scripture - JOY!

Day 1: More Joy for Your Journey!

Click here for the first day of how to bring MORE JOY into your already very busy life.  More Joy For Your Journey!

Be sure to go over to our NEW blog site, where Rhonda and I will be posting, "17 Days of More Joy for Your Journey."

 

Be sure to go over to our NEW blog site, where Rhonda and I will be posting, "17 Days of More Joy for Your Journey." 

Recently a friend was excited to tell me she was making a few changes in her life. The thing that she was so thrilled to mention was how she was giving up sugar for 17 days. She proceeded to tell me that the experts are now saying you can form a new habit in seventeen days instead of twenty-one. Well I had not heard that, but if seventeen days sounds more attainable to make some positive adjustments in our lives, I'm personally all for it!

Tracy and I decided that in the crazy busy days that lie ahead, we could all use some more joy. And we thought the number seventeen is the perfect number of days to slip some joy and encouragement into your lives. Please join us!

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Join us on the new PAGE - In Joyful Service!

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