Struggle

When you see the title of my blog this week it makes you think that I have been struggling with something to be joyful in this week. That's not the case I have plenty of things to write about but just don't think that is what I am suppose to write about. What has been my stuggle is how to write what is on my heart that I know that I should right and hoping it comes out the way in which I mean it to come out. Tuesday is my normal writting day and it just so happens to be that on Tuesday both a blog I read and my devotional had this verse that I felt that I was called to write about.

Philippians 4:4-9

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Roman’s 5: 3-5

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to

I am not sure if this was directed at me or close friends and family that I have going through some rough times right now but then I came upon this verse and knew I had to share. The question was how...I dont want to be a debbie downer or upset anyone going through things right now and seriously talking about rejoicing in our sufferings, really that totally stinks! How do you approach that topic?

As I look back, the month of January has not been a good month for us in the last couple of years and there have been various reason that have caused some suffering and guess what that is part of life and will always be part of life. I know that I want to be angry and mad and ask why, but is that really what God has called us to do?  In church Sunday our pastor talked about how couple dont always feel as though they have anything to show for all the struggles and suffering they have gone through in their marriage but guess what the fact that you loved each other through those times is what you have to show and it is what has made your love so much stronger. The same goes for your relationship with Christ.

So this week, my joy is in my suffering, that I am able to look back on it and during it and know that it is/was my faith and the prayers from myself and those that surround me that got me through it. And that the suffering is what made me who I am and made my relationships stronger. Hopefully I can continue to be there and pray for others as they are going through theirs and they will be able to take joy in their suffering as well, even though it is incredible hard, there is a reason for it, it is stated in Romans 5.

I hope this is how I was suppose to share this, I just kinda started writing and hoped for the best...til next week

aj

Weeks 1-4

As I said in my last post I started a little bit behind so I am going to try to catch up real fast on what my JOY has been the last four weeks.  The joy that I found out of these situations didn't necessarily happen in the order that I am going to list them but I still found Joy in them all the same.

Joy 1:
So I was running errands for work at the end of my work day on Friday and crossed over a bridge where I could see this amazing sunset.

 

Sunsets are one of my favorite things in the world. If I could watch the sunset every night I would love it! Every time I see one I am just amazed at God's creation. The pure beauty of it brings me great Joy. So even though by the time I got to the post office they had closed 2 minute before I got their (the blinds were still swinging) and I was frustrated that I missed them, I still made myself find a place to park and get out of my car and take a picture of this beautiful sky because it brought me Joy and awe at how he could create something so perfect. #nofilter

 

Joy 2:

So my next joy is something that if you know me well you probably aren't surprised. For those of you don't I will start off by introducing my husband. Hi Chris!

 

So for those of you that don't know, I HATE cooking, I can do it but I don't enjoy it, if I am going to cook it is going to be fast and easy...if it takes longer that 15-20 prep I am out. I won't do it, Chris on the other hand is the type of cook that can spend hours preparing one meal, he can look into the refrig or pantry and say hey I am going to use this, this and this and it turns into a masterpiece. He can have something one time and recreate it. But the things he takes the most pride in are the recipes that have been pasted down to him, especially from his grandmother. So even though I am not a fan of the kitchen, I take joy out of watching him work in there, which is more often than not. I often say that we wouldn't eat if it wasn't for him. Here are a couple of picture of his handiwork



My Mom's Texas Trash (Chris makes, I just help stir, but I always make a mess)

 

Making Breakfast, yep see that pancake dispenser, that was my Christmas present, guess who used it first...but that goes back to a joke with his family about me not knowing how to make pancakes this summer, it's not that I can't do it, but I never learned, and it's not cause my mom wouldn't teach me, she taught my sister's I just didn't care enough to learn how. So for now and probably always I will continue to take Joy out of watching him work in the kitchen and try to remember to tell him how appreciative I am. And don't worry I do the dishes :)

Joy 3:
My family. Being that I am so far away I have gotten to the point of really taking joy out of when I see my family, mainly cause it has to last sometime 6 months or more. They can always make me smile and I love to talk to them as much as I can since I don't see them that much. There is something about talking to them that always makes my day, here is the last pic I have of us all. We didn't take a pic when we saw them at Thanksgiving but it shows us where we spent so many memories growing up and when I think of family bonding it goes hand in hand with BU sporting events

 

 

Joy 4:

So joy 3 kinda flows into Joy 4. As most of you know my love for Baylor goes generations deep as my grandparents use to rent out hotel rooms in the Alico for Homecoming way back when and it was only proper that my parents pass their love of Baylor and sports on to us 3 girls. Going to Baylor sporting events was/is my family's way of spending time together and bonding. So even though I couldn't be there with the rest of my family I started 2014 out cheering on my dear old Baylor Bears in their first ever BCS bowl game as Big 12 Champs for the first time! Wait, what!!! Did I say that right??? Am I losing my mind?? Nope it really happened and it happened in my lifetime!! Even though we lost our BCS game I can honestly say that I had more joy watching Baylor Football this year then I think humanly possible! The fact that I got to share this joy with my entire family was awesome, it was the highlight of conversations with us for months! No matter what happens from here on out this year was incredible and I am so glad that I got to experience it with my family. It's like years and years of hurt and heartache have been washed away. I am so grateful that I was able to experience that Joy I don't even have words for it, I don't even think I am making sense with it right now but the Joy that this season brought for me and my family will forever be a great memory for me and I am so glad I started 2014 that way!

Well that is all for now, I will see you next week with my next Joy.

aj

One Year Five Months...ONE LITTLE WORD!

So turns out I am an awful blogger...yes it has been exactly 1 year 5 months since I have blogged...YIKES! Am I surprised? No not at all, I HATE writing, ask my sister I think she rewrote every paper I ever had in college...and half of grad school until Chris took over :)

So why the sudden urge to blog again...well I have been really thinking this year of doing a one little word...I read so many people's explanation of their one little word and was completely blown away by their explanations and was like, I will NEVER compete with that. And in that instant I was like hold up Amber...Life is not about competing, not against people that you say you care about, not against those you hardly know, not against your facebook friends that you barely keep in touch with, not against anyone because God has a completely different path for you so just slow down and think about what your one little word would be.

As most know 2013 brought changes for Chris and I and we moved due to Chris job, not something either of us expected and the beginning of the year was hard, there was anger, disappointment, confusion, hurt, any negative emotion you name it and I think that Chris and I felt it. But I think for both of us it was a time that we completely turned to God and put our fate in his hands, as it turns out it what happened was the best for both of us and God's plan for us was a million times better than the plan we had set out for ourselves. It was hard and we went through a lot, looking back it is so much easier to say we are in a better place now than when we were going through it. But no matter what was going on in the last year we were so blessed and I think sometimes we forgot that. We have AMAZING families that supported us, helped us sell our house, packed us, moved us, unpacked us, listened to us, visited us you name the role a family is suppose to have and we had all of that plus some. WOW we were so blessed and loved.

So when it came to picking my one little word I really stewed on it, and went back and forth of do I want to do one, if I do what would it be, what would it mean, I cant find a word that means that much to me that would cover all aspects of my life...so basically trying to talk myself out of it because I missed the deadline of Jan 1, it's too much of a commitment, maybe I shouldn't, I'll do it next year. Well, the last 2 weeks on my devotional has also been about picking one little word...SERIOUSLY God are you trying to tell me to do it or what, I know I can be stubborn and try not to listen, but I think you got my attention. So Friday in my devotional they were talking about this verse...

Galatians 5:22-25

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

they talked about picking one of the fruits of the Spirit and it really hit home, like slap on the face, BAM...HELLO...GOTCHA...So here I am blogging for the first time in almost a year and a half to share with you my one little word. Why am I doing this oh so you can help keep me accountable. So without further ado I give to you my ONE LITTLE WORD,

(p.s. Vanessa I totally stole your picture from your blog because guess what, you were one of the ones who influenced my decision to do it so I hope you dont mind that I borrowed your picture) Anyways back on topic...JOY, my word, why you ask because I think that in everything that we have been through the last year I dont think I always stopped to enjoy the moment, in fact I think I did the exact opposite, I didnt enjoy what was around us, what we had, so this year I am going to start to stop and actually enjoy life more so much that I want those around me to see the Joy that I have and want it, I want Christ's Joy to shine through me so that others can see it. Is it going to be hard, heck yes! Is is going to be challenging AH Yeah! But will it help me grown in my relationship with Christ? Chris? My Family? BINGO...then I think I have my answer...My goal is to blog once a week, mainly for myself so that I can keep myself accountable and to make sure I am finding something to be Joyful for...so look for my next blog, hopefully soon, I have a couple of weeks to catch up on...

LOVE,
AJ