Joy - getting practical

Do you ever have a “duh” moment? When you think, “Wow . . . yeah . . . of course . . . I can’t believe I didn’t see that before . . . it was right there in front of me!”? Well that happened to me this week.

Thanks to Linda, I’ve found Holley’s Joy Challenge. On Thursday, Holley wrote, “I've learned when the practical part of my life gets out of line it makes it so much harder to keep a strong relationship with God and live in joy.”

As I read her list of practical things like eating well, rest, exercise, etc., I had the “duh” moment. I realized that even though I have purposefully been looking for and seeing the sacred in the “ordinary” for some time, until I read and reread her post I had not really been making the connection between the “practical,” as she put it, and the sacred.

It really made me stop and think when she then asked, “What’s your favorite practical tip or trick for keeping your joy?”

As I reread her essentials list, I saw how important those things are and how they do effect my spiritual life. So, in addition to the things that Holley listed, some of my favorite practical tips or tricks for keeping my joy are:
~keeping things simple
~keeping first things first
~routine
~a peaceful, restful home
~stopping to really listen and engage when someone is talking to me
~keeping in touch with extended family
~getting outside
~opening the windows, letting fresh air in
~reading
~listening to hymns and worship music
~a clean home
~walking

I’m so grateful for Linda and Holley and for this new way of looking at and seeing the spiritual side of the practical.

Consider joining the Gratitude Community!

Hope and Trust

On this Multitude Monday, I am grateful for His most gracious gifts of:
Hope~
Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from Him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.
In God is my safety and my glory.

and Trust~
I will trust in Him at all times,
Pour out my heart before him;
God is my refuge!
from Psalm 62:6-9

Consider joining the Gratitude Community.

Multitude Monday

41. quiet time with my family
42. movies I feel safe letting my children watch
43. books on cd
44. sales on desired books
45. free wonderful old books and audio books online
46. movies I feel safe letting my children watch
47. wonderful thought provoking conversations with my 12 year old
48. new “family favorite” recipes from friends
49. scented candles
50. water
51. cool clothing for hot weather
52. delicious, nutritious, salads
53. wonderful, trustworthy book reviews
54. ointments and salves that sooth
55. plants and herbs that relieve and heal
56. watching enjoyment and laughter
57. watching little ones’ “firsts”
58. remembering some of my own “firsts”
59. healthy days
60. folks to share with and be loved by on the healthy and not so healthy days

Multitude Monday

1 (again)~ New beginnings~ Beginning afresh~

As I thought about rejoining the Gratitude Community, trying to find my previous list and picking up the numbering from there, the words ~his mercies begin afresh each morning. *~ kept running through my mind, so I decided to begin afresh this truly, wonderfully endless gift list.

1. the Lord’s great love and mercy
2. His word and the many and varied ways He brings it to me
3. my family
4. the shelter of my home
5. the surprising ways He provides
6. the ways He creates beauty from ashes
7. old friends
8. new friends
9. nature
10. fresh fruits & vegetables from a neighbor
11. a gift of wonderful smelling cleaning supplies
12. the beautiful peace lily in my kitchen
13. music~ especially hymns
14. books, books, and more books
15. folks to share the books & music with
16. electricity & the appliances it powers
17. summer jobs for a 12 year old boy
18. telephones, cellphones, internet, mail~ staying connected to family & friends
19. opportunities (and the ability) to help
20. discernment


*Lamentations 3:23 (NLT)