Category: Gratitude

  • Will You Say YES?

    Are you ready to embark on a transformative journey of faith, reflection, and community? Join our upcoming online book study, Choose Joy: Finding Your Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts.

    This free study will be hosted on Facebook. Together we will dive deep into the pages of a powerful book that challenges us to embrace God’s plan with courage and conviction.

    The book is titled: Choose Joy: Finding Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts. The study is titled: Choose Joy: Finding YOUR Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts.

    This is a 6-week study, so we will be working on 2 chapters each week. The study is more than just reading—it’s an opportunity to connect with others, share insights, and grow spiritually. Each week, we’ll explore key themes, and discuss thought-provoking questions. We will also encourage one another to say “yes” to God’s purpose for our lives.

    Whether you’re new to faith-based studies or a seasoned participant, this group welcomes everyone with open hearts.

    Why Join?

    • Engaging Discussions: Share your thoughts and hear diverse perspectives in a supportive online community.
    • Flexible Participation: Join discussions daily or catch up at your own pace through our Facebook group.
    • Spiritual Growth: Discover how saying “yes” to God can transform your life and deepen your faith.

    How It Works:

    How to Join

    1. Get your copy of the book and study guide with the links above.
    2. Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChooseJoyStudy
    3. Show up ready to connect, reflect, and grow!

    Don’t miss this chance to explore what it means to say “yes” to God’s plan for you. Will you take the leap? Join us on Facebook and let’s journey together!

    Will you say YES and join us in this Choose Joy Adventure?

    With blessings and joy,

    Laura

  • Embracing Hope in the Midst of Suffering

    Have you ever found yourself wrestling with the question, “Why does God allow suffering?” It’s a question that echoes in the hearts of many, especially in moments of pain or doubt.

    Recently, I attended a sermon centered on Psalm 73, a profound scripture that speaks directly to this struggle. This psalm is a beacon of hope, reminding us that even when the world seems unjust, God’s goodness and justice prevail.

    Psalm 73 invites us to reflect on the fleeting nature of worldly success and the enduring faithfulness of God. It challenges us to look beyond the surface, where sin and suffering often cloud our vision, and to anchor our hearts in the truth of God’s love.

    During the sermon, I had the privilege of praying with individuals who courageously came forward, sharing their burdens and struggles. Their stories reminded me how fiercely the world tests our faith, whispering lies that we are unworthy of God’s love.

    Yet, in those sacred moments of prayer, I witnessed the transformative power of God’s grace.

    Romans 12:2 calls us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” urging us to reject the world’s distortions and embrace God’s truth.

    You are not defined by the lies of the world or the judgments of others. You are a child of God—beautiful, chosen, and deeply loved. God sees you as worth dying for, and that truth is unshakable.

    Friends, I invite you to step boldly into the freedom God offers. Release the weight of guilt or shame you may carry. Seek God’s strength to forgive those who have hurt you, and let His grace heal your heart.

    Suffering does not have the final word—God does. He is a good God, walking beside you through every trial, never leaving your side.

    Choose to live in the freedom of His love, not in the shadow of suffering. Trust in His perfect will, and let His presence renew your hope. You are never alone, and your story is one of redemption and victory.

    With boundless love and unwavering hope,

    Laura

  • Here to be Changed

    An excerpt from the book Choose Joy: Finding Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts. ~ Sara Frankl

    We are not put on earth merely to satisfy our desires, to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. We are here to be changed, to be made more like God in order to prepare us for a lifetime with Him. – Philip Yancey

    “Any time I got hurt when I was a little girl, I would go to my dad crying about my ailment and he would always do the same thing. He would take my pinched finger or other such hurt and say, “You know what the good thing about this is, don’t you? It’s a long way from your heart.”

    Then he’d laugh while trying to get me to laugh and think about anything else buy my hurt. Being a kid, I would always take my finder, hold it to my chest, and say, “No! See? It’s right here by my heart!” But the conversation and the laughter usually distracted me enough, making whatever had been hurting suddenly not so bad.

    I eventually understood his lesson behind the distraction, that no physical ailment could change my heart. That every hurt would pass and I would still be the same on the inside regardless of the outside.

    I’ve had many opportunities to put that saying to the test in my adult life, and I’ve realized something about Dad’s theory. Some hurts aren’t actually a long way from my heart. Some hurts reside there. But they don’t change who I am inside. They don’t change my faith. Every lesson I learned before remains the same after. Nothing is different. God is the same. Love is the same. No matter how much my heart hurts.”

    My friends, choose to nurture who you are and who God intended you to be. His child, made in His image. His beloved.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • We are the Lemonade!

    Did you ever have a lemonade stand when you were little? I never did at home. We lived on an acreage, and there isn’t a lot of traffic on country blacktop roads. The traffic that did go by were farmers who didn’t believe in speed limits. So, a folding table at the end of our driveway wouldn’t have been the safest place for a kid.

    I did have cousins that lived in town, though. Every once in a while, I was lucky enough to stay with them. I got to experience the entrepreneurship of a lemonade stand. We made our fancy signs and whipped up some sugar-filled concoctions for the cars that passed by. And then we waited. And waited. And waited.

    Every once in awhile people came by with their 50 cents to buy a glass. A few times they’d hand us a dollar and told us to keep the change. We were crazy excited. We were thrilled that our hard work was paying off. People seemed to be pleased with our little venture.

    And then HE stopped by. This random man pulled his car to the side. He asked for two glasses of lemonade, drank them, and handed us a $20 bill. Then he got back in his car. Talk about being INSANE with excitement. It was a good day to be in the lemonade business.

    I’m guessing you have heard the old adage, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And, have you ever felt like you just can’t get those lemons to turn to lemonade?

    I sure have! I am typically a Pollyanna type of person. So, I do try to take the lemons and find a new way to mix them up. I keep trying until something sweet comes from them.

    I have wondered though, what if it’s more than that? What if all the lemons we’re handed in life. What if we have to take the sour things, squeeze, stir, and add bits of ourselves to in-order-to make them digestible. What if that’s just the first step?

    What if WE are the lemonade?

    I think we should examine our lives. We should consider the gifts and burdens we’re handed, and be open to the ways we can add sweetness. We can intentionally help someone else. We can continually improve ourselves. Try to do our best in any given situation. Turn our lemons into lemonade.

    I also know I couldn’t do any of those things on my own. There is no way I would have the perspective. I wouldn’t have the strength. I wouldn’t have the fortitude.

    I need to ask God for help in those everyday areas of my life. My lemons turn to lemonade because He’s given me the gifts to make that happen.

    But have you ever thought about it from God’s perspective?

    He sees all of the challenges we have in our lives. He lets us walk through them for a reason. He could easily make every obstacle we face easy. He could smooth out the rough road ahead of us and make every day simple.

    But, He’s watching us as we work through the sour patches. He is watching us take the lemons in our lives and squeeze all the juice from them. We add in the sweetness of our faith, trust, and acceptance. Then, we press onward.

    I believe while we are going through the rough patches with as much grace as we can muster, He is smiling. He is seeing the big picture.

    Smiling because He knows we will sometimes break even with our 50 cents. Sometimes exceed our own expectations with a dollar tip. And, have those magical times when we are graced with a windfall of $20 just because we persevered.

    He is smiling, and pleased with the sweet concoction He’s created in each and every one of us.

    Maybe we don’t just take our lemons and make lemonade.

    Maybe to Him we are the lemonade.

    Just a thought.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • When Seasons Change

    As Christians, we know that life is full of seasons. There are times of growth and times of rest. We also experience times of abundance and times of scarcity.

    Seasons of change also happen in all stages of life. We grow up under the wings of our parents. We graduate and begin our own independent life journey. Our journey will take each of us in different directions as we answer God’s call for our lives. No matter what directions God takes us, the one constant we will all experience is change.

    But no matter what season we’re in, God remains constant and faithful.

    I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately as I have been walking a season of change with my mom. This past month, we moved her to an independent living apartment. A place that provides for the whole continuum of care as individuals age.

    15 years ago, I lost my dad. Mom lost her husband. In an instant at the age of 67 she was a widow. Dad was stung by a bee, went into anaphylactic shock and died.

    14 years ago, I lost my sister. She lost her daughter. At the age of 38 years old she passed away after a long struggle with a disease that confined her to the four walls of her home.

    Each of these moments thrust her into change. None of them were changes she anticipated.

    We have choices when it comes to facing change. We can embrace the change or we can fight the change. We can ask why me or we can trust God to direct our path through the journey.

    As human beings, we prefer to control our circumstances. Often wanting to stay with what we know. We hold on to what we know like the security of a blanket. We are warm and comfortable. We know what to anticipate.

    Embracing change is the opposite. We are stepping out in faith. We are trusting God with our circumstances as he walks us through the unknown of the journey we face.

    I am so proud of my mom! Her life changes were hard and filled with tears. There was a lot of unknown about what her future was going to hold. Despite this, she chose to trust God. She faced her life uncertainty with grace and bravery.

    She chose to move forward instead of digging in her heels. She remained open and didn’t let the circumstances in her life change the core of who she is. A woman of faith, strength, love, confidence, and optimism.

    My mom has been a witness of God’s goodness to all those she meets. She has met new lifelong friends. She has experienced the love and support of community. This happened as she opened her heart to others.

    My mom has been a true role model for me. A role model of how to embrace change in life. She embraces life’s adventure and goodness. She does this with trust and faith in the one who never lets us fall.

    So, how do we know when a new season is approaching? Here are some signs to look out for:

    • Doors Opening and Closing: When new opportunities arise, and old ones come to a close, it may be a sign that God is directing you down a new path.
    • Desires and Dreams Changing: When your heart’s desires start to shift, and you begin dreaming about new goals and directions, pay attention! This could be God realigning your hopes and dreams to match the new season He has for you.
    • Divine Encounters and Revelations: Strategic people, conversations, resources, and ideas that come across your path can be a sign of a new season.
    • Life Happens: Sometimes things just happen. Accidents happen. Health changes.

    Embracing the Change

    When we recognize that a new season is approaching, it’s essential to embrace the change. Here are some ways to do that:

    • Let Go of Control: Recognize that you can’t control everything, and trust that God is in control.
    • Focus on Growth: View the new season as an opportunity for growth, and ask yourself how you can become a wiser, more mature, and more faithful person.
    • Pursue Community: Surround yourself with people who can support and encourage you as you navigate the new season.

    In the midst of change, it’s comforting to remember that God remains constant. As the Bible says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

    No matter what season you’re in, remember that God is always with you, guiding and directing you. Trust in His goodness, and have faith that He will lead you through the ups and downs of life.

    Embrace the change. EnJOY the journey. You will be amazed at the new beginnings you experience with each of life’s new seasons.

    With love and joy,

    Laura