Category Archives: Love

All Things are Possible

Posted in Faith, Gratitude, Hope, Love by

Yes, it’s true. The Lord works in mysterious ways. Where I haven’t seen how my goals would come to pass, He’s made the impossible materialize.

I’ve always thought God has a sense of humor. When I think of the ways He’s chosen to make my dreams a reality, both past and present, the subtleties are amusing. We’ve all experienced it and chalked it up to coincidence. Not so. It’s prayer. It’s faith. It’s God working masterfully behind the scenes.

I know the power of faith. I know I can turn to him in gratitude, in despair, in love. I ask for what I think I want. And while I wait in expectation, I thank Him for blessing me with what He knows I need.

Sharon – Embracing my Joy

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26

 

Reflection and Renewal

Posted in Faith, Gratitude, Joy, Love by

I’ve lost count of how many of my disappointments have transitioned themselves into blessings. I find I often move forward from a setback and, if I’m lucky, upward. Somehow, I think this is the plan for all of us; not ours, but His.

The new year is well underway and though many of us take advantage of the first of the year as a new beginning, my fresh start begins on Easter Sunday. It’s an opportunity to reinvent myself after all the sacrifice has been made.

Whether I’ve given up tortilla chips, lengthy Facebook sessions, or have gone through some kind of emotional turmoil during the last season, I can now reflect on my ordeal and begin again. I can allow myself a rebirth, a renewal, leaving behind all the discord that has, hopefully, made me a better person while I’ve deepened my relationship with God.

As we progress into the coming seasons, I anticipate more triumphs and less regrets, more joy and less worry, more love and less fear. Each morning I’ll wake with a fresh outlook and a deeper appreciation for just how precious each day is.

And each new day is yet another chance to embrace my joy.

Sharon – Embracing my Joy

“…just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life.” Romans 6:4

Blessed

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Every day I walk in optimal health, love, joy, and prosperity.

Sharon – Embracing My Joy

“When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance.” – Joel Osteen

An Open Heart

Posted in Faith, Gratitude, Joy, Love by

I’ve come to appreciate the importance of having an open heart on the bumpy roads and the smooth. An open heart brings us joy and peace. A closed or hardened heart brings burden, prevents us from caring or feeling all the good life has to offer, and pushes love away. It creates a gap between us and God and distances us from all the good we deserve.

Being open-hearted is like a double-edged sword for the good. The benefits are both self-serving and for others. During a recent challenging time, I prayed for an open heart. Everyday I thanked God for blessing me with His love and strength, with patience and forgiveness, and to be compassionate in a situation that brought nothing but destructive emotions. I asked for others to be open and receptive to the good in the situation rather than dwelling on the negative aspects and to let God in, always trusting they would obtain all I was praying for myself. Thankfully, all turned out for the best.

The bonus of having a pure and open heart: we get to feel love in all ways. After all, who doesn’t want or need to love or be loved?

Sharon – Embracing My Joy

“Gratefulness leads to a widely opened heart. You cannot receive anything great in life with a closed heart. Be grateful and reap the benefits!” ― Assegid Habtewold, The 9 Cardinal Building Blocks: For Continued Success in Leadership