Positive People and Blessing Counters Linkup

Are you a positive person? On social media?

That’s been this week’s goal . . . going against the current and choosing words that are loving and hopeful.

Monday, I had a little rant through How to Love Better and Be Happier.

Tuesday, I posted 17 quotes about the Power of Words.

Wednesday, Philippians 4 provided a detailed plan for curbing our words and actions by controlling our thoughts.

And yesterday, quotes and prayer pushed us to Become Passionately Positive.

People have told me I look at life through rose-colored glasses. My mother used to tell me I was a “nut.” It’s not easy to be consistently cheerful, although I do love laughing. Like you, I have days when I don’t feel good and difficult personalities make me want to scream. I have difficult anniversaries with sad memories, and a list of things that annoy me.

But…

I refuse to settle in and embrace unhappiness. I believe God is greater than my messy memories and annoyances. He loves me even when I’m frustrated and want to scream. He’s strong enough to calm the waves and capable of calming my agitation.

He wants to take our ugly messes, and forgive, comfort, and heal. He wants us to focus on His grace and goodness. He wants us to count our blessings…

Remember His promises.

Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness.
The Lord is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
Psalm 145:6–8

Trust His love.

Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him.
Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
Ephesians 3:17

Give Him glory.

With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to Your name forever,
for Your love for me is very great.
Psalm 86:12–13

Let’s count our blessings and share His love.

Around the Blog

Positive People

Christa Sterken shared a beautiful post about working together with
and through our differences. Please go over and read
We Are Beautiful, Scattered Puzzles.
Don’t forget to say “hello” while you’re there.

Inspiration

Lauren at Only From Scratch has a smile and a story that will bless your heart.
Her post – How my skinny jeans, boots, & a black sweater taught me to bless God
You know you want to go over and read it with that title . . . and you won’t be disappointed.

Motivation

Hard-Days

It’s hard to stay positive when we’re beating ourselves up.
Keri writes Living in This Season – inspiring you to live fully in every moment.
Her post When Being Intentional is Hard will move you
to stop and look at things a different way.

top pic

helping-each-other

Photo Credit

A little inspiration to help each other.

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Sharing Our Strengths and Blessing Counters Linkup

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Let’s play “Would You Rather…”

1. Would you rather be popular or respected?

2. Would you rather live in a world with no rules or one where everyone obeys the rules?

3. Would you rather know absolute truth or make up your own truth?

Consciously or not, you and I live out our answers to these questions and others like them every day. We live our “rathers” in the way we share things online, act with our friends and family, treat strangers, and spend our time.

This week we’ve talked about character, maximizing our strengths, and allowing God to change us where we’re weak. Thank you for telling me this conversation is important to you and for sharing it with your friends and family.

Life is funny sometimes. While this has been an encouraging week on the blog . . . it’s been an emotional week for me. The enemy vigorously poked at me with memories of past failures and losses. Tears flowed. Still I’m trying to count each blessing and remember how thankful I am that…

[Tweet “God keeps track of all our sorrows. He collects all our tears in a bottle recording each one as He speaks words of hope and love. (Psalm 56:8)”]

It’s hard to show our vulnerable side isn’t it? It’s easier to make our public persona the envy of others. We post pictures of our dinners out, vacations, and new purchases. We shout our successes and hide our failures. Maybe we hide behind the pretty because we’re afraid. Afraid others will judge and criticize.

Friends, we need each other. We need to model strong character traits like . . . kindness, patience, forgiveness, mercy, grace, and hope. Because those are our Father’s character traits. They are the parts of Himself He breathed into Adam; the very things we long for in the depth of our souls.

May we set our hearts and minds on knowing His character. May we ask Him to show us where we need to become more like Him. And with His strength may we lay every weakness at the foot of the cross . . . that He might forgive us, restore us, and use us for His glory.

Sharing Our Strengths

My friend, Susan, lives close to Sandy Hook Elementary School. She often inspires me
with stories of the ways her neighbors have come together to encourage and uplift each other.
This week at Your Home Only Better – she told A Sweet Bedtime Story.

It’s guaranteed to touch your heart and inspire you with beauty.

Lisa Burgess at Lisa Notes… will inspire you with
Don’t take my word for it. Find out how an afternoon playing Uno with
some new friends taught the importance of simple presence.
Samantha at Godly Womanhood – Discovering the Romance wrote a
terrific post titled – What I Learned from Building a Home.
Rev and I have built two homes, one where we served as General Contractor.
Samantha and her husband guilt this home in their first year of marriage.

Now that is a test of character!

Are you a pumpkin lover? Me too.
Check out my new designHappy HomeGoods Post – Pumpkin: It’s Not Just for Pie.
I think my favorite recipe is Pumpkin Biscuits.
Which recipe do you want to try?

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Pettiness, Trash, and Weighing in on the Osteens

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Have you weighed in on Joel and Victoria Osteen yet?

No! Me either. And I’m not going to now.

Yesterday, I challenged you to stop complaining.

I’ve seen so many posts ridiculing, making fun of, and complaining about the Osteens. Do we really believe that trashing them is going to make their followers say, “I didn’t know. Thank you for telling me. I’m no longer going to listen to or read anything by them?”

Of course not.

The only thing we do is team up with like-minded people and alienate everyone else.

So, I’m adding to yesterday’s challenge to stop complaining.

If you’re a follower of Jesus (if you’re not you can ignore this but if you are) . . . start speaking up for what you believe, what you are for not what you’re against.

[Tweet “Be salt and light and forget the vinegar and thunder. “]

I know, you’re thinking . . . Jesus confronted and called out the Pharisees. And you’re right, He did. But He also had perfect wisdom, discernment, and did not sin.

Before you think I’m writing this because I’m a fan of the Osteens. I’m not. This is not to defend them. This because when Christians rip others apart we make ourselves look bad. We sound petty and jealous, and we don’t do a very good job of representing Jesus.

What if we determined to talk about what we’re for not what we’re against? What if we shared His truth with joy and enthusiasm? What if we looked like we were having more fun than anyone else on the planet?

Maybe non-believers would be more interested in what we have to say.

So, one more challenge to trade enthusiasm for complaining. What do you think?

Blessing Counters Around the Blogosphere

If you need a reminder of God’s love and a word of hope, visit Beth Willis Miller.
Her post A Butterfly Flapping Its Wings is a beautiful message of God’s promises.

Aly Chase writes words to inspire the broken, weighed down, and hurting
at One Day Lighter. If you need inspiration to let go of something you have
gripped in a tightly closed fist, read her post Sorry God, This One is Off Limits.
It will bless you.

How about some “real-life encouragement from an imperfect Mama?”
Visit “Mommy Sue” at Chaotic Simplicity. Her posts The Gift of Gab –
Part 1 and Part 2 have made many “talkers” (like me) think about their words.

As we approach the end of summer, I thought you might enjoy this sweet
photo titled – Nature Lover by “TalkingPlant”
You can enjoy more beautiful photography at Best Photos World

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Blessings, Moments, and Love Around the Blogosphere

8 / 22 / 142 / 14 / 16

The weekend is almost here.

Are you ready?

Before we stop to enjoy time with family and friends before we join others in community praise and worship, let’s stop to look back on the week by asking ourselves a few questions:

1. What were my greatest blessings last week? Take a moment to thank God specifically for the ways you felt Him touch your life this past week.

Great blessings belong to those who depend on You for strength! Psalm 84:5

Lord, great blessings belong to those who trust in You! Psalm 84:12

2. What moments do I want to remember? Wouldn’t it be fun to have a journal filled with moments that give us joy.

You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. Psalm 92:4

3. What will I do this weekend to express my love to the important people in my life? Let’s love each other intentionally. May we give our time, our encouragement, and our enthusiasm. Let’s give our best, not our left-overs.

Love from the center of who you are. Romans 12:9

Blessings, Moments, and Love Around the Blogosphere

Are you a lover of blue? It’s our little mister’s favorite color.
For a touch of All Thing Blue, and I would add – beautiful, go over and
scroll the photos at Wholesome Joy Photography.

Kathy Cheek is one of our newest writers at 5 Minutes for Faith.
She also writes beautiful devotions, stories, and poems at In Quiet Places.
Her post Nothing Too Broken will inspire to take your brokenness to the One
who loves you and takes joy in putting the pieces back together.

August is The Month of Compliments at Empowerwoman.
Here is a short and sweet reminder to compliment the women God created in you.
You are valuable – get motivated to say so here.

This sweet fawn is pictured on my Cute Critters Pinterest Page.
It’s original home is And You Whisper You Love Me on Tumblr.