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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  • Creating a print magazine has been one of the most challenging things I have ever attempted in my life. I feel like I've been on a wildly swinging pendulum for several months now -- vacillating rapidly through an extreme of emotions on a daily basis.⠀ ⠀ There is, of course, fear. It's hard to escape that one. Yet, without fail, God has met me in my weakest and most fear laden moments, hours, and days -- in ways that have rejuvenated my faith and reminded me of my purpose in pressing forward. So often this has come through the words of faithful women being obedient to speak encouragement -- unaware of just how badly I needed it at that particular time. Most of these women were strangers just months ago and are now treasured friends. God is an incredible community builder.⠀ ⠀ There has also been tremendous stress and anxiety -- much of which has not come as a surprise -- but has often left me asking myself, 'What were you thinking?! You are NOT capable of this!!' In those moments God has gently and patiently confirmed that I am, in fact, not. I knew that the first issue of The Joyful Life would be called ABIDE very early on -- because I am NOT capable -- PRAISE GOD!! If I were -- if any of us were -- we would be existing in a constant state of mediocrity. Instead -- we have the glorious privilege of submitting our incapable selves to God to be used for His purposes. And by His grace alone we have the tremendous honor of being a part of that which only He is capable of -- which is FAR more than we can ask or imagine!⠀ ⠀ Through all the fear, stress, and anxiety -- there has also been a steady thread of pure joy. It's inexplicable to me that God would use sinful, flawed, broken me -- to create something that would remind women of the JOY found in Jesus. I have needed this same message that I long, with ALL my heart, to bring to women everywhere -- that Jesus is our only source of never-ending joy and that it's through Him alone that our hearts and homes will be made whole.⠀ ⠀ What a privilege it is to do this work -- and with all my heart -- I am grateful for every single one of you. Thank you for being a part of The Joyful Life!
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  • “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29: 11 (NIV)⠀ ⠀ As summer shadows stretch long and lean, we feel the anticipation of September—along with its vivid reminder of the mountaintops and trenches of life! Still wonderfully warm during the day, it holds the hope of organized routine after a blissfully unorganized summer.⠀ ⠀ But September also brings a jolt of reality. Our perfectly laid out plans are scribed in shiny new agendas with lavish lists of goals to accomplish—until REAL LIFE happens and you realize it’s messy in the trenches of the everyday with everyone.⠀ ⠀ Reminds me of Moses.⠀ ⠀ He had the ultimate mountaintop experience with the Living God, literally basking in holy glory. He must have floated down the mountain on cloud nine clutching those ten commandments as he prepared for the next phase with God’s chosen people.⠀ ⠀ Imagine his devastation when he reached the trenches, the everyday with everyone. They didn’t care that Moses had a plan and was in “September mode” complete with commandments—they were merrily dancing around a golden calf and had distractions like you wouldn’t believe. REAL LIFE.⠀ ⠀ Do you ever get like Moses? Super frustrated when others can’t be on the same page as you, seeing the vision as you see it? We would all love our Septembers to kick off perfectly, but that’s not how we experience grace and growth.⠀ ⠀ Love, hope, mess, stress, disappointment, disagreement… the colorful stuff of the beautiful trenches. In our REAL LIFE, we get to experience it all with some who disappoint us, and others who cheer us on relentlessly. It’s awesome in its messiness.⠀ ⠀ Friend, when September gets messy in the trenches (and it probably will), don’t despair. Embrace it and see if God is showing you something fresh buried beneath your agenda. Commit it all to the Master Planner.⠀ ⠀ Here’s to much grace and growth!⠀ ⠀ Laura Thomas, @lauracthomas⠀
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  • A few days ago we experienced a significant power outage during a thunderstorm. It was an inconvenience to say the least. Plans were shelved, dinner was derailed and stress levels were high. When the power finally came back on, several hours later, signaling life could return to normal, everyone in the house cheered. We were delighted, relieved, and so very thankful. ⠀ ⠀ The whole experience was quite the wake up call. How often do we take the time to say thank you for our electricity? For our hot water, the food in the refrigerator. For the countless other things we take for granted each and every day. We may try hard to instill a spirit of gratitude in our children, yet often forget to model one ourselves.⠀ ⠀ In today’s culture, the spirit of entitlement is hard to ignore. “You deserve to have it all”, it whispers in our ear, “everything you want and more.” It's a dangerous mindset that forsakes gratitude for discontentment. That causes us to focus not on the abundant blessings right in front of us, but the things we might be missing out on. That takes the focus away from God and His will for us, and puts it instead squarely on ourselves.⠀ ⠀ As Christians we are instead called to cultivate a heart of gratitude. To be “overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:7). Does that describe you today? ⠀ ⠀ When we start to lose perspective, when discontentment and dissatisfaction rear their ugly heads, and we start to take our blessings for granted, Psalm 107:1 encourages us to look to Him. ⠀ ⠀ “...because He is good and His faithful love endures forever.”⠀ ⠀ When we look to Him, there is always something to be thankful for. His goodness, His faithfulness. His love. The cross. There is not enough gratitude in this world that could ever suffice. There is always a reason we can find to lift our hands, and say, “thank you.”⠀ ⠀ Vicki Bentley, @purposeful_joy⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ Tag a friend who needs to be encouraged by this today! ❤⠀ ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #gritandvirtue #shetheroar #givemejesus #lampandlight #christianlife #itiswell #christianliving #christianmagazine #christianwoman #faithinspired
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  • AMEN. This is one of the most powerful and profound statements I have read in many months. Let's be mothers who pray -- diligently, faithfully, relentlessly -- for the precious children God has gifted to us.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ If you missed today's blog post by Megan White, 'THE BITTERSWEET STORM OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION', click through the link in our bio to read her journey from grief to victory and how God met her in the midst of her storm.⠀ ___⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ READ Megan's post by clicking the link in our bio. @jasemegrenae⠀ ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #joyfulmamas #shetheroar #christianblogger #gracegirls #christianwoman ⠀ #christianliving #christianmoms #propelwomen #givemejesus #faithinspired #theeverygirl #gritandvirtue #pursuitcommunity #womenintheword #hopewriters #seekhimfirst #shereadstruth #coffeeandjesus #gracerunsdeep #proverbs31woman #weareunveiled #postpartumanxiety #proverbs31ministries #gracegirls #jesuscalling #postpartumdepression #boldbraveyou #itssimplytuesday #ppd #joyfullifecommunity
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  • God brings about sweetness through the storms of life. He promises to use our trials for good. Not always the ‘good’ we would choose — but the good that’s best — the good that brings us to our knees. In today’s blog post, Megan shares with us how God used the raging storm of postpartum depression to bring her to her knees and right into the beauty of what God has for her in this season.
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  • I have a fiercely independent 4-year-old. She's smart and capable, but it doesn't change the fact that, like it or not, she's little. And being little comes with limitations. She can't always do what she's set her mind to—and this infuriates her. ⠀ ⠀ When she was a toddler, she would ball her little hands into fists, grit her teeth, and shake. I kept waiting for her to turn green and rip her clothes off, Hulk-style. ⠀ ⠀ I nudge her gently, over and over, with the question: "Do you need to ask for help?" ⠀ ⠀ My 10-year-old, though taller, is not much different. When a math problem doesn't make sense to her, or the craft she's working on isn't turning out the way she envisioned it, tears of frustration overflow.⠀ ⠀ Again I prompt, tenderly, "Do you need to ask for help?" ⠀ ⠀ When the zipper won't zip and the numbers don't add up right, why not just call out for backup? After all, Mom is right here, ready and waiting, with experienced, agile fingers and years of math classes lodged somewhere in her brain. ⠀ ⠀ But they don't want to ask for help. They seem to prefer struggling over admitting they can't do it alone. ⠀ ⠀ Parenthood is like looking in a mirror, isn't it?⠀ ⠀ I know the psalmist's words are true: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). Yet too often, just like my little girls, I choose to struggle through life's challenges and disappointments, tears of frustration streaming down my face—insistent that no, I do not need help. I can handle this myself. ⠀ ⠀ Except I can't. ⠀ ⠀ And my Father is right there, lovingly waiting with infinite grace and patience for me to confess what He already knows:⠀ ⠀ I need help. Will You help me? ⠀ ⠀ The answer is always yes.⠀ ⠀ Rebekah Crosby, @writetheroughdraft⠀ ⠀ ___⠀ Tag #joyfullifecommunity to be featured in our feed. ❤
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The Joyful Life Magazine
  • Home
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