dolce vita. everyday is a sweet day.
Stop for a moment and ponder the blessings the Lord has given you this year. Surely, there were changes and challenges too, but let’s focus on the blessings.
Sometimes God changes things to bring greater blessings. Is there something that was challenging in your life this year that has brought blessings?
“Your big picture will never be a masterpiece if you ignore the tiny brushstrokes.” – Andy Andrews
I love my devotional this morning because I always tend to worry a lot. Here’s a good reminder for me and so I reposted it here.
Thanksgiving Encouragement for Moms
by Carmen Brown
I love autumn! The crispness in the air, the falling leaves, and the pumpkins arriving in stores all leave me in excited anticipation for the entire holiday season! I enjoy the simplicity of the good food and fellowship that Thanksgiving brings. But in all of this, there are a lot of expectations that can leave a Mama feeling tired, overwhelmed, and even anxious. That is why I love our verse for today! It says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).
“Do not be anxious about anything,” does that feel impossible to you? Without the fullness of Christ in you, it is impossible. But as Matthew 19:26 NIV says,” with God all things are possible.” This verse does not simply tell you not to be anxious. Instead of stewing in anxiety, it tells you to pray with Thanksgiving about every situation. Are you facing seemingly impossible situations with family coming into town, or are you struggling financially and anxiously wondering how you are going to make the holidays special this year? Remember to focus on thanking the Lord for the blessings of family and the things that you do have. Ask Him to help you with those things that are causing anxiety. He will give you a new perspective! If you can’t find any thanksgiving in your heart, ask Him for that too! He will answer you! When you are feeling anxious, pray with Thanksgiving!
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV) says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Giving thanks in all circumstances is another seemingly impossible task without God. But, this verse says that it is God’s will for you, in Christ Jesus! In Christ, we can face all of the holiday preparations and life expectations with Thanksgiving. But we can’t set Jesus aside. We need to take time to sit quietly at Jesus’ feet, both in solitude and in the middle of our tasks, to focus on Him and seek Him for strength and for a thankful heart. Jesus told Martha when she was getting flustered and upset about all that she had to get done, “Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken from her” (Luke 10:42 NIV). Your heart can be in a place of rest and gratitude as you fill up with His love and care for you. Then you can go forth in Thanksgiving, doing all that is required of you!
That heart of thankfulness will come as you pray without ceasing. Pray over your preparations. Pray while you bake, cook, and clean for the upcoming festivities. Put Jesus at the central focus of all that you are doing, and you will find peace. But also make sure that you are not taking on more than is required of you. Seek the Lord for what He wants you to do. Let go of any traditions and expectations that are stealing your joy. And as you practice more constant prayer and Thanksgiving, Philippians 4:7 (ESV) promises that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
My prayer for you this Thanksgiving and as you head into the holiday season comes from a quote by Charles Spurgeon, “Let gratitude be awakened; let humility be deepened; let love be quickened.”
“When joy and prayer are married, their firstborn child is gratitude.” ~ Charles Spurgeon
Excerpt from Youversion
All of our lives are spent on something.
Most people spend their days focused on growing a family, building a career, or amassing possessions. While none of those things are necessarily wrong, they can become distractions from our ultimate goal in life.
In the book of Acts, we see Paul’s transformation in Christ. As a result of meeting Jesus and being changed by His grace, Paul spends the rest of his life preaching the good news of Jesus.
For Paul, God’s grace and salvation were so great that nothing on this earth could compare to doing His work.
Paul said that nothing in his life mattered as much as telling others about God’s grace. His goal in life was to finish his own race well by faithfully accomplishing as much of the mission of God as possible:
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
Acts 20:24 NIV
The mission of God is not opposed to growing families or building careers. In fact, God desires for us to use those opportunities to faithfully accomplish the mission of God. We can raise families in the way of God, and we can tell our coworkers about God’s grace. Any place we find ourselves in can be an opportunity to accomplish the mission of God.
Take a moment to consider your own life and how you spend your time. Are you using every opportunity you have to spread the good news of Jesus? Does your life, like Paul’s, point toward God?
Consider a few ways that you can begin to change your perspective and live your life on mission for God.
That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum.
Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat.
They were terrified, but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!”
Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination! (Be willing to welcome Jesus in my life, get him onboard. God will redeem even the lost time, it’not too late. Include Jesus in my plans and decisions.)
John 6:16-21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.6.16-21.NLT
Fear reacts, but FAITH responds.
As a couple, even if physically only my wife can conceive it should be considered that both of you are going in the pregnancy season of life because you are considered one body, one flesh in God.
(excerpt from Prayers & Promises for Supernatural Childbirth by Jackie Mize)
‘This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord , who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord . ‘ Jeremiah 9:23-24
https://my.bible.com/bible/111/JER.9.23-24
This is a very timely reminder for me. God knows what to tell me talaga 💕 Been anxious for the past few days, and yet God’s Word is more powerful than anything.
God is promising me in Psalms 89:34 that His promises and His Word will never be taken back. I can hold unto it all the days of my life. ❤
#affirmation
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord . “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
My pregnancy is not because of anything what we did. It is ALL by and through God’s GRACE. It is GOD’s PLAN for me and our family.
This truth makes my heart just overflow with gratefulness and awe to my Father God 🙌 I love you. ❤
#15weeks now by God’s Grace
