Day 9 Intentionally

Smile often, and let kindness be a cloak you wear as an example to your children.

(from Motivation for Moms 12/21/12)

I was watching these sweet ones today, doing their usual boy antics, and I noticed the joy they had.  Laughter found in wrestling with a brother, a big genuine smile in a game of peek-a-boo, the excitement of inspecting a "real" fire truck, sweet pleasure of picking a candy cane to eat, simply a responding smile to a smile...

All of these things joy in the simple every day things.

And I reflected on my own attitude.  How I need to see this joy more often.  How 

I need to express this joy more often and truly rejoice in the everyday...

and how the LORD has blessed me beyond measure.  How it seems we lose this joy as we get older, letting the cares of this world burden our souls and hearts.  

casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.~1 Peter 5:7

Letting our energy go towards work, bills, everyday issues and missing the bigger picture...the relationships.  

but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.~Mark 4:19

The work, the plan, the purpose we were created for...for His glory, to glorify Him.

The fruit of the spirit.  It is sweet and pleasing, peaceful, joyful. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.~Galatians 5:22-23

Praying you see this too.  Love your sweet ones, forgive, find joy in the seemingly mundane, a content heart is priceless, have your priorities in the right order and have time with the LORD, the only one who can fill you with a complete and satisfying joy.

But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. ~Deuteronomy 4:29

day 8- intentionally

...coffee, devotional, light only from the Christmas tree, little one asleep on my lap...good morning :)

(prayer from here: http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/encouragement/)

Dear Lord, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Christmas, help me to pause and focus on what really matters. Help me to experience the joy of Christmas in my heart. Thank You for sending Your son. In His Precious Name, Amen. 

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5 ESV