Sometimes I don’t feel like being thankful. Sometimes I’d rather sit in a puddle of complaints and worries than list out what I’m grateful for. Sometimes I focus on all that’s going wrong in my life, instead of fixing my eyes on Jesus and all the blessings He has given me. Being thankful is hard!! Can you relate? And it’s not that I don’t want to be thankful– I do– It’s just hard to conscientiously be thankful. Especially when it’s not the fourth… Read more »
I’m telling you, late night cry sessions with Jesus are now normal in the world of Kara. Sadness is terrible. It’s like a terrible dragon I need to be rescued from by my knight in shining armor (Note: That would be Jesus). I hate sadness. Most everyone does. Tonight Last night on Periscope, Chalene Johnson did a scope about ways to be happy when you’re feeling sad. And one of her tips was to change your focus. And as she was… Read more »
I grew up singing songs about joy. The classic children’s Sunday School songs: “I’ve got joy joy joy joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart!” “I’ve got joy like a fountain, I’ve got joy like a fountain, I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul!” “I’ve got joy down in my heart deep deep down in my heart. J-O-Y down in my heart deep deep down in my heart.” Singing about… Read more »
“Dad! Dad! You gotta get up! Come on, we gotta go home!” Simba nudges his head against his father’s face. It drops hard. He leaps up and tugs on his father’s ear. No response. Simba’s eyes widen and he frantically calls for help. Tears flood down his face. Out of the mist comes his Uncle Scar who scolds Simba. “Simba. What have you done?” Scar proceeds to feed Simba shame and doubts. “If it weren’t for you, he’d still be… Read more »
Late night cry sessions with Jesus are becoming common for me. And during those cry sessions, I’m learning to not only cry out to him, but also to read about his promises in his word. At the beginning of this month I had one of these cry/ Bible reading sessions and wrote down 22 verses for the brokenhearted. Wednesday night during my cry session, I turned to Lamentations, instead of the Psalms. “For the Lord will not cast off forever, but,… Read more »
As I’m writing this post, it’s 1:54 A.M. I can’t sleep. I’ve been sobbing for the last two hours. I have a broken heart right now (for reasons that aren’t mine to tell), and I need Jesus to pick up the pieces. So I’m searching for Bible verses that contain truths about how God is close to the hurting, and how he will never leave me. Because he is, and he won’t. And in my heart I truly believe that…. Read more »
As I sat down on the pew in church this morning, the thought struck me: I just lied to her. Kacie, the children’s minister, had just come up to me and gave me a hug, and asked: “How are you?” I automatically responded “Good, how are you?” and instantly there was a pang in my gut. I lied. I hadn’t meant to lie… it was like my brain went numb and the words had flown out of my mouth on… Read more »
It started out like any other day. Sure the weatherman had forecasted rain for most of the day, but he says that all the time. I only expected a few short showers here and there like we’ve been getting the last few weeks. So yesterday, my family and I ventured out into the rain to meet up with three other families at the mall’s movie theater to watch Tomorrowland. When the movie ended and we were leaving the theaters, we naturally… Read more »
It can be super easy to be thankful for the good in life. Food, water, family, shelter, Jesus, you know, the traditional answers to the “What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?” question. Being thankful for happy things, is fantastic. It is a great place to start when beginning a journey to be thankful in all things. However, we can’t stop there. Giving thanks isn’t a suggestion; it isn’t a nice thought, nor is it something we can just do… Read more »
