Monday's Blessing
John 15:11

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

I remember, as a small child, the joy my parents would bring each time I laid eyes on
them.  It surfaced an innate bubbling of happiness that only unconditional love can
bring.  It didn't matter the day, or what was happening at the moment.  A simple
kiss could bring reprieve from a boo-boo that thwarted with throbbing pain.  A
brush of the hair brought relaxation along with the simple comfortableness of being
loved.  A favorite dinner of macaroni and cheese on a Friday night filled my belly with warmth and the knowledge all was well. How simple life was then when I was so young, so untarnished yet from life's unbearable handouts.  For at that time, I knew in my heart, no matter what tribulation would pass my way, all would be taken care of.

What happened to that joy we once experienced each day when life was so uncomplicated, yet so giving?  The answer is simple- as we transpired to young adults, and began to become accustomed to the emotion of "want" we became changed.  Changed because our wants weren't being met as we desired.  In turn, we fought harder to achieve these new found needs, only to find ourselves in perils from time to time trying to acquire what we felt was important.  How do we get this feeling of joy back into our lives this New Year?

John states, "my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." Simply stated, Christ promises joy.  Yes, that pleasant joy we felt as children when life seemed so uncomplicated.  But how do we get that joy?  How can that joy fill our souls completely as promised? As always, all we have to do is ask.  Ask Christ now to fill you with joy.  Become a beacon of this light.  This light will bathe everyone you meet and fill their lives with joy. 

The funny thing about being filled with Christ's joy is that nothing can penetrate it.  You can experience the blackness of night, yet a glimmer of light will brighten your path.  There is nothing that can touch or harm you when you are filled with the joy of Christ.  Life becomes bearable, and new avenues open up because we are no longer burdened with the need to want.  You see, when we are filled with joy our needs are already met.

Daily Guidance

1.  Take time this instance and ask Christ to fill you with his joy.  Sit quietly and feel the new connection you made.  Rely on this connection anytime your emotions waver.

2.  Realize you can weather any change, any peril life hands you with this new found joy.

3.  From this point forward, this New Year, bask in the joy of Christ each day.  It is yours as promised as long as you believe.

Monday's Blessing
Galatians 5:22

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, "

Give the gift of joy this holiday season.  A smile, a hug, a simply stated, "Merry Christmas" to all  you meet.  How lonely and horrendous this time of year can be for some individuals' paths we cross each day.  Sadly, we are unaware of these deep rooted pains as most regard these hindrances as skeletons in their closets.   After all, who can share with the world the pain from another time, another place that may affect his/her Christmas disposition?  But we as servants of Christ can reach out and offer solace if only for a moment in time.

No one is exempt from life's perils of trials and tribulations.  We are all on some dimension- some level of questioning, not understanding why we should have this affliction present in our life today.  Yet, isn't it the people we meet each day that offer a spark of joy if only for a moment, allowing us to lay cares to the wayside?  How unaware we are that we have this affect on others, and how unaware they are concerning the affect on us!

The Bible says to be the spirit of love, peace, kindness, patience, goodness, and faithfullness.  Who can you bring these emotions to this Holiday Season?  Who can you share your love and kindness with?  Bring joy to others today!  Each place you step, each smile you share, each hand you extend, may it be Christ guiding, you offering a glimpse of happiness to another's soul. 

Daily Guidance

1.  Lay down all your responsibilities today, they'll be there tomorrow, and concentrate serenely on the aspect of stewardship.

2.  Be on the look out for bringing JOY to all you meet.  A hug, a smile, or a hand will guide others to a place of serenity.

3.  Take time today to send a FREE card or call everyone who is special in your life.  Bring the JOY of happiness today to someone who may need it.

Monday's Blessing
Luke 2:10

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of
great joy that will be for all the people."

Some days are full of fear.  Fear our children or someone we love will be whisked away from our warm arms without a moment's notice.  Fear the possibility of Armageddon, the world's end, may be just around the corner.  Fear the Fiscal Cliff will take what few pennies we have to our name and place it in the hands of those we have no authority over.  Most of all, simple plain fear that our pearls of wisdom have failed us as grow older and life changes around us.

So, with all this mayhem, what do we have control over? We have control over what is here and now.  Not yesterday, not tomorrow, but the present moment we hold.  Each day, each minute is a precious gift from God to enjoy.  Not to ponder over, not to analyze, it is not for us to decipher -just pure bliss from God.  Sit back, in this moment as you read these words and feel God's arms around you.  Feel him cradle you, and caress your hair as you lovingly let go of all your fears.  Place them at his feet.  Let him take this box from you and renew your spirit.

Now is the time of preparation, my friends- the time of Advent.  For it is promised, good news will be full of great joy for all people.  Just for today, this week, live in the moment of here and now.  Forget all other toils that pull you at different ends.  Focus on the meaning of Christmas.  Focus on preparing your soul for God's greatest blessing - his every day love for you that waits in his open arms.  Take his love home with you each evening to your family.  Forget the obligations, and spend a few moments each night doing one of the following with those you love.  Feel their love expand your heart as the Christmas season draws near.

Daily Guidance

1.  Grab your Christmas Stories out!  Or get on the Internet and download Christmas Stories and share with your children.

2.  Share the Birth of Christ Video.

3.  Share Christmas Songs.

4.  Check out this video and be sure to watch it till the end.  If this doesn't uplift your spirits, not much will!

5.  On Christmas Eve track Santa at NORAD.

6.  Make Christmas Crafts.

7.  Make Christmas Cookies.

Enjoy who's around you right now - today - this minute.

Monday's Blessing
John 8:32

"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

How many times have you told yourself, "If I just could win the lottery my life would be simpler," or "If I had just a bit more money, all my obligations would be lighter"?  Sadly, we pin ourselves with these self-imposed inflictions by determining these external expectations we believe will quench our thirst for what we believe to be the true aspect of FREEDOM.

Yet a deeper look at freedom depicts a state of mind.  Freedom is defined "as the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint."  Freedom is the willingness to make conscious choices of our own free will and to live through the consequences of our choices without blame, shame, or guilt.  When you are aware of total freedom you realize it encompasses your mental, emotional, and physical well-being not your state of affairs.  We all have the tools to enable freedom in our lives, yet we often chose our own self enslavement at the blame of others.

I know you're thinking of all the things that keep you from being free: your children, money, laws, obligations, rules, taxes and such.  But the simple fact is what you believe, how you feel, what you do, and how you respond to any given circumstance is the true reflection of your freedom.  Unfortunately, the things we think will give us ultimate freedom actually keep us in bondage.  These things are usually demanded in prayer because we feel they will make us feel better about ourselves.  Take a look at your present life.  Do you have your immediate needs met?  Then you do have the freedom to live as you please and do as you wish.

Realize that God's pure grace is freedom.  Know that God's perfect plan for your life as already set you free.  Freedom is a state of mind.  You can choose to be free, or you can choose to remain in the bondage your own mind creates.  You are free now, what you perceive as confinement is a manifestation of your own reality - not God's.  Pray for a new outlook and peer into what God has given you with pleasure.

Daily Guidance

1.  Are you feeling suffocated by your life lately?  Ask God to lift those chains. 

2.  Pray that God gives you the keen insight to breathe in that sense of FREEDOM he allows all his followers.

3.  Share a prayer of thanks right now for everything God has graced you.  Realize that affirmations bring the pleasure of freedom.

4.  Ask yourself, "What must I do to experience freedom today?"

Monday's Blessing
Luke 10:38-42

"Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha
welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the
Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much
serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister
has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered
her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one
thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken
away from her.”

How many of us live our lives as Martha?  Rushing to and fro hoping to bestow our great generosity on all we meet?  Then, wondering why some take our hand outs with a grain of salt making us feel unappreciated and unworthy of instilling our great pearls of wisdom at their feet.  After all, who knows best for them? Because - we've "been there done that". 

Are you too busy?  Always offering to lend a helping hand? Filling your plate with too many activities that drain you? Truthfully, you can't be to blame.  Most of us have been instilled with the words of our parents that idleness is a sign of laziness and laziness is just short of a sin.  Before you knew it, you were flitting around like a busy bee doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that throughout your days finding yourself exhausted by night time.  These self-imposed duties ultimately lead to mental, physical, and spiritual exhaustion.

And we know that research states relaxation is the best way to conserve energy.  In fact, it can add years to your life.  This self-assessed conservation requires a willingness to be still and run the risk of being lazy.  I'm not stating to just be physically still, but you must extend it to your mental and emotional well-being as well.  After all, these extra handouts we extend to others often fall on deaf ears anyway.  Most people we encounter are resistant to hearing our wisdom deeming is a waste of their valuable resources.

Conservation begins with honoring yourself by spending time with you alone, away from everyone else.  You don't always have to have to be doing something.  It is ok to sit still, listen, and enjoy what is before you.  When you must engage in strenuous activities of the mind or body, move at a pace that is more comfortable to you.  Don't rush.  Don't compete.  Spend your time in a state of mental, emotional, and spiritual relaxation.  Let go, and let be.  Everything will be completed in the time that's needed.

Look at Martha in the above passage.  She was so inundated with what was expected, that she failed to perceive what was actually asked.  Jesus wanted her to sit, listen, and enjoy his company.  How often do we miss this boat in life?  Life wants you to be around for awhile, in good shape, to enjoy God's blessings.  You are in no shape to enjoy life when you are haggard or broken down.  Learning to relax conserves your natural energies and is the best gift you can offer yourself.

Daily Guidance

1.  Pray, "Be silent all flesh before the Lord" each waking minute of the day when anxiety hits.

2. Pray, "All I do is to give glory in your name."

3.  Pray, "Teach me to give in ways that give honor and glory in your name."

4.  Pray, "Teach me to CONSERVE my Self, my gifts, my resources, so that I am able to do your work only."

5.  Most importantly, attend social gatherings with friends to encourage self-happiness.  When we only attend to the needs of others, we cause depression, and unhappiness within ourselves.