Faithful Fridays ~ Just Keep Chuggin' Along.

Hi, everyone! :)

So, I got my laptop back today....and part of my keyboard was still messed up, so I'm having to wait again until they can order a new one.  I'm still using my mama's laptop, which is why I'm not posting as much.  :)

Faithful Fridays is a weekly linky party hosted on my blog.  I made it so that Christians could have one special day out of the week (Friday) to share something from their Christian walk on their blog.  If you'd like to participate, write your post, grab the button from the Faithful Fridays page on my blog (so that it will link back here), and come link up at the bottom of this post!  :)

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Sometimes, things just get crazy.

It may be just little things, but somehow they just get to you.  They get under your skin and cause a ton of frustration and make you just want to scream.  And they can end up affecting your walk with God.  Negativity makes us lose connection with God.  We unknowingly step away from Him and turn our heads to our problems.  And that's tough because we want God's guidance and we want to feel His presence in those moments, but we don't.  

First of all, we can't depend on feelings.  We can't be dominated my the seen and felt.  Feelings are real, but they're not always true.  A lot of our "feelings" are just emotions that are part of our body.  It's not always "spiritual" and I think that's important to remember.  So, you may feel like God is far away from you, or that you are far away from God, but that isn't so.  He's right there with you, and you can turn to Him at any time, even if it doesn't feel like He's there.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

-John 14:27

Second of all, thank God.  I think we really underestimate the power of thankfulness.  Because it may sound cliche and like something a "super Christian" would do...but it's impossible to worry and be negative about your problem when you're thanking God for whatever it is--a frustration, a trial, or someone that's there to teach you a life lesson.  You may not feel like doing it, but do it, anyway.  It can change things.

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."

-James 1:19-20

And just remember to keep chuggin'.  Even if you feel like you're just failing, and like this is never going to end.  Keep on chuggin' along, even if you feel scared and frustrated.  Don't let a situation or person or circumstance bring out the worst in you.  You control you, and with God's help, you can handle it. 

Remember: this too shall pass.  :)

Because who are you putting your trust in?  God.  The maker of the universe, the mighty God who holds the world in his hands as a child holds a toy.  And yet he stoops down to us, picks us up, and loves us.  Unconditionally.  

Who do you put your trust in?

"The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.  To him be glory for ever and ever.  Amen."

-2 Timothy 4:18

God bless you guys and have a great day!  :)

Joy :)

Faithful Fridays ~ How Do We Do Humility?

Hi, everyone!  :)  I'm sorry I haven't been around the blogging world lately....my computer broke down and it turns out the hard drive is just....fried.  :(  Luke accidentally spilled water on it the other day, and we didn't realize how bad it was.  I lost all my documents and pictures (including all my stories....*cringe*), but they said that the computer itself can be saved if I get a new a hard drive.  So anyway, my computer's been out for the past few days.  Hopefully I'll get it back soon...I'm thankful that it's not completely gone!  :)

Faithful Fridays is a weekly linky party hosted on my blog.  I made it so that Christians could have one special day out of the week (Friday) to share something from their Christian walk on their blog.  If you'd like to participate, write your post, grab the button from the Faithful Fridays page on my blog (so that it will link back here), and come link up at the bottom of this post!  :)

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So, what is humility and how do we do it?

Maybe you've pretty much mastered it, maybe you've spent time doing a special Bible study on it, but it's something that I guess I've either never really struggled with or never really thought about.

I mean, I know that we're not supposed to be proud or arrogant, and I do my best not to be (I despise arrogance, it's one of the most annoying things ever to me).  But I guess the whole concept of humility and exactly how we're supposed to do it hasn't ever completely sunk in.

I think sometimes when we think of humility, we think of someone on their knees with their nose to the ground, letting other people walk all over them.  And that's not what it is.  Yes, humility has to do with turning the other cheek.  It has to do with putting others above yourself (which weaves itself in with love and compassion and selflessness).

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."

-Proverbs 15:33

"Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor."

-Proverbs 18:12

Humility is honorable.  

Humility isn't about putting ourselves down and acting like we're nothing.  God loves us and values us and we shouldn't forget that.  

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.

-C.S. Lewis

Humility is about putting others before yourself.  It's about being selfless.  It's about not being self-centered or selfish.  It's not about treating yourself like dirt or having low self-esteem.  

Humility is honorable.  It builds people up (including yourself, but not in a conceited way).  

You can still be confident enough in yourself--or rather, who you are in the Lord--and be humble and selfless.  I think it's important to remember that before Jesus saved us, we were nothing.  And without Him, we still would be.  But we're not.  And we can know that in Him we have value and we can be confident that we are loved and we are somebody, because we are God's children.  And since God reached down and saved us, shouldn't we extend some of his love to other people and stop being so self-centered?

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God bless you guys and have a great day!

Joy :)

Faithful Fridays ~ Always Be Ready.

Hi, everyone!  :)  It's time for Faithful Friday!

Faithful Fridays is a weekly linky party hosted on my blog.  I made it so that Christians could have one special day out of the week (Friday) to share something from their Christian walk on their blog.  If you'd like to participate, write your post, grab the button from the Faithful Fridays page on my blog (so that it will link back here), and come link up at the bottom of this post!  :)

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Lately I've realized how important it is to always remember that as Christians, people are watching us.  

They're watching to see whether we're different from other people as we claim to be.  They're watching to see if we're joyful, if we really have that hope we're always talking about.  They're watching to see if we walk what we talk, if we practice what we preach.  They're watching to see if we're really doing everything for the Lord like we say we do.

"And whatever you do, whatever in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

-Colossians 3:17

Someone recently told me that they loved how I was so happy and optimistic on something I had written on the internet.

And that got me to thinking.  What if we all were unusually joyful?  What if we actually showed happiness for the hope God has given us of eternal life with Him?  Would people start to wonder if what we had really was that great?  Would they ask about it?  Would they dig into the Bible for themselves to investigate?

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

-1 Peter 3:15-16

Your lifestyle and your attitude reflect what's in your heart.  If you're grumpy, irritable, cynical, rudely sarcastic, or just plain blue, people aren't going to be impressed with the message of Jesus that we're proclaiming.  

But if we show that we're joyful about this life that we have in Christ, if we truly live out a life of following Jesus, people will start to wonder and ask questions, and that's how we become walking witnesses of Christ.

In the same way, I feel like we need to distinguish ourselves.  We say that we obey the Bible, and the Bible says:

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."

-Romans 12:2

We claim to be doing this, but are we acting differently?  Are we doing different things, saying different words, listening to different music, watching different movies?  I'm not saying that we have to reject everything that the majority of the world likes, but let's be honest--most of what's popular in the world is not moral.  

When other people see us Christians going to church and claiming to be set apart, then leaving and being just like them throughout the week, we turn them off to God's word.  

So be careful of how you act and what you do, because the world is watching.  We are representatives of the message of Jesus--let's act like it!

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God bless you guys and have a great day!  :)

Joy :)

Faithful Fridays ~ Sometimes It's Scary to Follow.

Hey, everyone!  :)  I'm back again for Faithful Friday.  :)

Faithful Fridays is a weekly linky party hosted on my blog.  I made it so that Christians could have one special day out of the week (Friday) to share something from their Christian walk on their blog.  If you'd like to participate, write your post, grab the button from the Faithful Fridays page on my blog (so that it will link back here), and come link up at the bottom of this post!  :)

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I have a little analogy in store for you guys today.  ;)

So as I mentioned in my last post, I had my first swing dance class on Wednesday.  And when we were on our way home, I was discussing the differences between the styles of dance I'm used to--like tap, jazz, and ballet--and swing dancing.  Because in any of those other types of dance, you're usually dancing a choreographed routine.  You know the moves that are coming next.  You just have to execute them correctly.  It all depends on your ability and skill in dancing.

However, in swing dancing, there is the leader (the guy) and the follower (the girl).  You may know the general style of the swing dancing you're doing--Charleston, Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, or whatever, but you as a follower have to depend on the leader to guide you and show you what he wants you to do next. 

And that's a lot harder than you would think!  I think it's especially hard for me because I get really embarrassed if I don't do what the "leader" was leading me to do, and I'm always afraid I'm going to mess something up (especially since I'm new to this and don't know a lot).  You have to relax and not worry because swing dancing is a fun dance.

Sometimes it's scary to follow.  It seems easier to dance to my own routine, independent of anyone else.  

Just like often it seems easier to depend on ourselves and on what we can see and do in our own ability, instead of entrusting ourselves and our futures into the hands of God, whom we cannot physically see, or who may seem far away to us.

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

-2 Corinthians 4:18

I think we set a big lot by our feelings.  Feelings are real, but they aren't always true.  You may very well feel like you're ugly, but that doesn't mean that you are.  You may very well feel that you're alone, but that doesn't mean that you are.  

You may feel like it's easier and safer to do your own thing and lead yourself, but that isn't true.  We have no idea how big this world is, and just how much trouble can be poured into one life from the world.  If we take all of this on our own shoulders, it only results in worry, fear, anxiety, and unrest for our whole lives.  

I read this in my devotional, Jesus Calling (by Sarah Young), today, and I really liked it.

Who is in charge of your life?  If it is you, then you have good reason to worry.  But if it is Me, then worry is both unnecessary and counterproductive.  When you start to feel anxious about something, relinquish the situation to Me.  Back off a bit, redirecting your focus to Me.  I will either take care of the problem myself or show you how to handle it.  In this world you will have problems, but you need not lose sight of Me.

In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, for I have overcome the world.  

John 16:33

Sometimes it seems harder to relinquish everything to God--to surrender it all to Him and just let Him take care of it.  It may seem safer to take it upon ourselves and try to get our own little ducks all in a row of our own.  But in reality, we have absolutely no idea how much trouble this sin-stained world is capable of giving us.  But God is the maker of that world, though it has been damaged by the sin humans initiated, and He is so high above all and any trouble!  It may seem like we're taking a step off into thin air when we hand our problems over to God without holding anything back, but sometimes that's just part of faith.  

Once you do that, and you hand your problems to God and let Him lead you, you can rise above all of the worry and the trouble and the anxiety and dance through your life with God leading you.

Sometimes it's scary to follow, but it's oh so worth it.

All images via Pinterest

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God bless you guys and have a great day!  :)

Joy :)

Swing Dancin'.

I've been meaning to post about this for a while, and I'm just now getting to it.  But I wanted to share it. :)

I went to my first swing dance that was hosted by a local homeschool group back in April and learned basic steps there.  After that, a family friend did a swing lesson/dance for his graduation party!

So.
Much.
Fun.  :)

Swing dancing, in case you don't know, was popular during the 20's, 30's, and 40's.  It's just a really fun style of dance because the music is so upbeat and you're swinging around.  The energy's high and it's sort of carefree and keeps you moving.  :)

Enough talking.  On with the pictures (most taken by my mama).  :)

That's Trent, the graduate, in the middle with his mom, dad, and brother.  

Okay, Pinterest has given me this "thing" for white Christmas lights used in decorating.  And the dance room had them strung across the ceiling!  So pretty.  Loved it.  I enjoyed getting some bokeh shots.  ;)  By the way, this picture was the only one taken by me.  The rest were taken by my mama because I was in all the action.  :)

The whole crew, with Trent (the graduate) at the top of the line.

Dancing with the instructor--he was so good!  It was hard to keep up with him.  :)

And we couldn't leave the party without some party dances....the Macarena, YMCA, Cha Cha Slide, and Cupid Shuffle.  :)

See the guy in the orange shirt?  That's Matthew.  He was the life of the party!  :)

Luke was doing some sliding action.  ;)

Talking with friends

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And so I'm hooked on swing dancing.  I'm starting a five-week progressive class tomorrow night with the same instructors that taught at this event.  I'm excited.  :D

Oh, and guys, I'm almost to 200 followers!  Thank you all so much for being faithful to me and my blog!  :)  I hope to have a giveaway once I reach the 200 mark.  :)

God bless you and have a great day!  :)

God bless,

Joy :)