365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 130

The Holy Spirit has guided me to the topic of judging. In a negative office environment, with issues out of our control, it becomes very easy to judge individuals in the scheme of what’s happening. But the Lord is telling me to stop the judging and set the example of righteousness. I need to put on the rose-colored glasses of Christ each day that will help me view those that I work with in the way Christ viewed us. We are humans who make mistakes and we should forgive them. We are all uniquely designed by God and we must celebrate this uniqueness rather than put it down. And lastly, we all have a special place that God has designed for us that fits into his big plan for all of us. What is happening at my work or yours, in our homes and everywhere is being used by God for his big plan so we shouldn’t be judging but asking God to guide us in his special plan. So along with the armor of God, I will put on the rose-colored glasses of Jesus and view others without judgment but only with love.

James 4:11-12 Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 260

My husband's 40th birthday has been approaching and I have been working on making it a memorable birthday without breaking my bank account. He will get a gift from his wish list. He will get a gift that will be totally unexpected purely because of the price as I don't typically spend more than a certain amount. He will get something funny that I created. He will get a framed scrapbook page that will reflect the first 3 decades of his life. He will get a cake that will very very memorable! I have always been a birthday person. Birthdays are special. This is the day you came into the world and each of us should be celebrated for just being. I am praising God for this man who though like all of us isn't perfect but he has qualities, charateristics, values that are very admirable. I am proud of him as a husband, father, friend, employee and child of God. Thank you Lord for this man.

1 Corinthians 1:4 "I always thank God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus."

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 182

Today marks a half year of praise for the 365 Days of Praise Challenge! I am not only celebrating this but also celebrating an answer to prayer. My sister yesterday emailed me that she had finally heard from her son who has been out in the world without communication for many weeks. She got a phone call from him and found out he is in Kentucky, got a job and has been going to a church for a month. We were praying the Lord would help guide him back on a path that included Him. Praise God for hearing our hearts and helping lead this lost sheep back to his shepard. Do you have someone you know who has lost their way or has never been on the journey with the Lord? Keep praying and keep trying to be an example of what having Jesus in your life can be.
1John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God:  that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 123

Birthdays have always been very special to me so I like to do it right. But this year my daughter had her heart set on doing it a Build-a-Bear Workshop so I went with it. That was the easiest birthday party ever! The leader takes the girls through the motions of creating their stuffed animals, etc, takes a photo, has the girls sign an autograph bear for the birthday girl and we were off to dairy queen for our treats. Sometimes it's okay to break with traditions and just go with it. At bedtime we read from Alice and Wonderland and Faith commented about the unbirthdays part from the tea party in the story. It was her last day of being 8 so we celebrated her unbirthday. That's the attitude I think we need to have everyday. Celebrating who God created in us and celebrating that we have another day to share the Lord with those around us. Let's all celebrate each day!
Psalm 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 100

It's Pajama day! My daughter was so excited about this day that she got into her pajamas right after dinner last night. She had a tough decision to make. What stuffed animal was she going to bring to school? Faith's personality is exciting to be around. She is just over-the-top excited about things and it can be delicious to watch. We have our own kind of pajama day at work today. We can wear sweats and t-shirts and are having a special team-building lunch. So despite the wear and tear the last couple of weeks have been, I am going to celebrate that I have survived and will continue to do so because I know God is with me. Today marks 100 days of praise!!! It's a mile marker on journey of faith. Praising God each day in this way has been a great blessing to me and I am thankful to be able to share it with you. I hope today will be a Pajama day for you and you can see all that you can celebrate in your life.
Psalm 34:1 I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 17

So, yesterday was a Christmas shopping day for me with my daughter. The looming deadline to get packages mailed out is coming so I had to get out there and find stuff. I got caught by surprise at the register at Michael's when my total got cut in half. Wow, what, why? It's buy one get one free! Yeah, more money to buy more presents! So off we went to Family Christian Book store. I could have stayed in there a long time but shopping with Faith is always a rushed thing. Later, as I was reading a book by Rick Warren called The Purpose of Christmas, he talks about one of God's characteristics of always being present. There's another "P" word to focus on this month. God's presence in our lives is constent and never wavers. He's always there no matter if we see or feel it. But how can we become more conscious and aware of God's presence in our lives. Most of the time, we are aware when we are in desperate need but what about those times when we are just shopping with our daughter or relaxing in front of the TV or cooking up dinner for the family? This month we celebrate the present God gave us in his son Jesus Christ so let's give a present back to God and let him know how much we love him and know that he is with us.
Take this verse from Matthew 5:20 and insert your name in the spot for 'you'. And surely I am with Janine always, to the very end of the age. Type it up and post it in your home, write it up on a prayer card to keep with you in your purse, car or at work. Be reminded often of God's presence.