The Joyful Life Magazine
The Joyful Life Magazine
A quarterly lifestyle print publication for Christian women seeking the JOY found by inviting JESUS into our everyday lives.
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  • My husband bought me a beautiful Japanese maple tree to commemorate my college graduation. We planted it in a perfect place right outside the large picture window in our living room. Its leaves transform into the most beautiful and vibrant colors- shades of mossy green, salmon pink, deep crimson red, and a rich plum. It’s like no tree I’ve ever seen. ⠀ ⠀ The tree serves as a reminder, to me, of God’s faithfulness in every season. I have been through seasons of having little and having abundance, and in each one--He has been my constant. ⠀ ⠀ When I went through my divorce and single motherhood, when I fell in love with my husband and his children, when my little brother passed away, and when my husband and I had our first child together (number 7 in our family). The highs and the lows have all been marked with His presence.⠀ ⠀ When spring came this year, there were no buds emerging from the dry limbs of my beautiful tree. Although I was anticipating the tree to be taller, fuller, and more radiant than ever, it actually looked the opposite: lifeless. ⠀ ⠀ Sometimes the effects of a winter season long outlast the winter. That’s when our roots become really important.⠀ Have you been in a season of drought? Has hope seemed far away, or have your prayers felt unanswered? ⠀ Even when we don’t see any visible life, the well-watered roots from a previous season of fruitfulness can carry us through our dormancy. ⠀ ⠀ By surprise, recently I noticed some shoots sprouting up, right under my sad dead tree. These little branches were small and thin, but alive. And in a short amount of time, the colorful leaves have emerged, boasting in a full array of splendor the new life they bring. ⠀ ⠀ In this season, what you need is within you. The answer you need, the joy, the hope, the breakthrough. His name is Jesus, and He is with you in the midst of it all. ⠀ Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6 ESV⠀ ⠀ Elizabeth Oschwald, @adding.joy⠀ ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ Tag #joyfullifecommunity to be featured in our feed. ❤️
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  • “My imaginings of carefree days faded into a reality check of whiny, frustrated kids who didn’t know what to expect on any given day. The lack of routine wasn’t creating memories -- it was creating stress and irritability."⠀ ⠀ "I was sowing disorder and reaping chaos. I knew things needed to change…”⠀ ⠀ When I first read Lauren’s words I immediately related. I have been a parent for nearly 24 years. I have 5 children at all different ages and stages of life - a son who will be 24 in August, living on his own out of state, another son who will be 21 next month living in NY while finishing his junior year in college, a 17 year old son living 2 hours north of me for the summer while working as a counselor at a Christian camp and readying himself for college next year, a 12 year old son ready to roll over into the teen years and entering junior high this fall, and a 6 year old daughter, full of lots of sugar and pinch of spice, who just finished kindergarten.⠀ ⠀ I’ve experienced 24 summers as a mom — and each has brought its own set of joys and challenges. Most summers it has taken me a few weeks to find a rhythm and set the pace for my children to truly enjoy their summer — and for me to enjoy it along with them. No matter how eagerly we look forward to the carefree days of summer — it’s so easy for the abrupt change of pace to throw us for a loop.⠀ ⠀ In today’s blog post — Lauren Alexander, @allthethingslauren has some great encouragement for moms who find themselves sowing disorder and reaping chaos and she offers some practical advice for making changes that will serve your family well.⠀ ⠀ ___⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ READ Lauren's post by clicking the link in our bio. ⠀⠀ ___⠀
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  • When you feel targeted, trampled, and tested you might be tempted to flee like Jonah. No one wants to stick around for the hard stuff. I know that when times get tough I want to throw in the towel and head for the hills. But things don’t really work out for runaways.⠀ ⠀ The Lord says we need to show up. ⠀ ⠀ That way He can lift us up with His right hand,⠀ ⠀ And set us on the rock.⠀ ⠀ He can do the fighting for us while we are still. ⠀ ⠀ And when the victory comes, we can celebrate.⠀ ⠀ Jonah received direction and fled. He disobeyed and hid. He was thrown overboard by his shipmates. In short, Jonah had to learn the hard way.⠀ ⠀ God wants us there, not in the belly of the whale. His promises follow perseverance. So when you are seeking to find an escape route, ditch the detours, and run into the safety of the His arms instead. You’ll like it much better there...guaranteed.⠀ ⠀ “He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me!” Jonah 2:2 NLT⠀ ⠀ Natalie Venegas, @milkandhoneyfaith⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ Tag #joyfullifecommunity to be featured in our feed. ❤️
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  • In the two minute drive from our home to the local beach, we drive past no less than five houses that over a six month period we missed out on for various reasons. At the time, each of them was a disappointment; they carried with them a sense of frustration and of questioning. Of God, what are you doing???⠀ ⠀ But now, in the light of hindsight, I can see that each of them was a stepping stone that prepared us for the house we now call home. ⠀ ⠀ By the time we signed the lease on our current property, God had already begun to connect our lives to families within the community; to establish a sense of belonging even before we arrived in this new location. And I cannot even begin to tell you the many ways that this house exceeded our expectations for this season. God hadn’t delayed us to frustrate or limit us, but to bless us.⠀ ⠀ In Psalm 145:13 & 15-16, David writes: The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving towards all He has made… The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.⠀ ⠀ Over the years, I’ve come to understand that not only does God have plans and purposes for our lives but that those plans also have a timetable. There are things that await the ‘proper’ or the ‘appointed’ time to be realized in our lives.⠀ ⠀ It can often be tempting to try and force God’s hand; to speed things up, but friend, can I encourage you today that if you are waiting on something God has promised you - on the realization of a dream that He has planted within you - to rest in His faithfulness and to trust that when He opens His hand that the 'proper time' will allow your desire to be fully and not partially satisfied.⠀ ⠀ Aimee Walker, @becomingesther⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ Tag #joyfullifecommunity to be featured in our feed. ❤️
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  • For as long as I can remember, I have been a worrier. My overactive mind has always been filled with “what-ifs” and imaginary catastrophes of every variety.⠀ ⠀ Yet, very few of my worry-laden thoughts have amounted to actual circumstances of note. I’ve let worry run my life, and for no good reason.⠀ ⠀ Worry is not meant to be a constant companion. It may be an honest and real emotion, but when left unchecked, it actively hinders my ability to celebrate the beauty and blessings that are right in front of me. It erodes my confidence and chips away at my trust in God.⠀ ⠀ Worry has robbed me of peace on many occasions, and I’ve grown weary of letting worry run the show. ⠀ ⠀ How does one keep worry in check?⠀ ⠀ It starts with our minds. What thoughts do we entertain? What ideas do we dwell on?⠀ ⠀ “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 ( NASB)⠀ ⠀ Taking thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ sounds like a complicated military operation or something, but in reality, it is a simple process.⠀ ⠀ To take a thought captive, first catch (or notice) it. ⠀ ⠀ Press pause. Concerning the specific worry you’ve caught, give it a little side-eye and take a closer look. ⠀ ⠀ Where did this thought stem from? ⠀ ⠀ Is it true? ⠀ ⠀ Is it robbing you of peace?⠀ ⠀ Can you do something about it? ⠀ ⠀ If yes, make a plan to take action. ⠀ ⠀ If no, make a plan to pray and let worry be the thing you give over to God. ⠀ ⠀ “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 ( NASB)⠀ ⠀ Emily Sue Allen, @emily_sue_allen @kindred_mom ⠀ ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Tag #joyfullifecommunity to be featured in our feed. ❤
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  • Just a short and sweet reminder to end your day:⠀ ⠀ The story of mercy is told through LOVE not law! Let your motivation be mercy NOT duty! You are not chained to your past. You are more. You are loved. You have been redeemed by a love that was GIVEN to you. Live your purpose and keep moving forward. ⠀ ⠀ "I have loved you with an everylasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." Jeremiah 31:3 ESV⠀ ⠀ Kaeli Compton, @kaehope⠀ ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ Tag #joyfullifecommunity to be featured in our feed. ❤
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The Joyful Life Magazine


for christian women seeking the authentic joy found in jesus

The Joyful Life Magazine
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