Hello, my friend, and happy June!
I wrote last week that I was taking care of my sick four-year-old…. Well, this weekend, it’s me who’s sick! I slept the entire day yesterday, getting up only to pump breastmilk and, of course, go to the toilet. I’m feeling much better today, but am still quite weak with very little appetite, so prayers are definitely appreciated! It’s times like these that make me especially excited about the glorified, sin- and sickness-proof bodies we’ll be given at the Lord’s return! (Phil. 3:20-21)
I hope your weekend is a healthy one thus far and that you and your family are enjoying the summertime!
Without further ado, here are this week’s Top 6 Tips!
Pursue Joy
I’m currently studying the book of Philippians, and one of its major themes is joy in all circumstances; the words “joy” or “rejoice” are mentioned 16 times in the four-chapter book!
What’s remarkable to me is that Paul, the author of Philippians, wrote this joy-filled letter while under house arrest in Rome. I don’t know about you, but I get very grumpy when the weather prevents me from getting out of the house for more than two days. I feel “imprisoned” if I’m not able to attend play dates with my kids, enjoy walks through the neighborhood, work out in the driveway, or go to the park several times a week. That Paul possessed such an inner peace and joy while chained to the guard on duty is convicting, to say the least. I’m convicted of my own all-too-often dependence on external circumstances to give me happiness, foolishly forgetting that happiness is a fleeting, fickle feeling, while joy is a transcendent, steadfast fruit of the spirit.
Happiness happens to us, often by happenstance. The root word “hap” means “chance, luck, fortune, fate,” none of which are biblical concepts.
Joy, conversely, is by choice, not chance. It’s an attitude of the soul and spirit that comes upon us when we follow Christ and walk with Him every moment of every day.
Pursue Lasting Wins
Listen Well for Opportunities
Find the Good… for Your Own Good
Embrace Hard Things
Check out My “Anti-Comparison Declaration”
Click HERE to read my latest Proverbs Thirty What post!
Thank you, as always, for your support of my writing! Feel free to reach out at any time. I love hearing from you!
Fiction:
NEW!: Medusa’s Wish
Moonbow: Prequel to The Petros Chronicles
Age of the Ashers
War of the Ashers
Fate of the Ashers
The Petros Chronicles Boxset
Armor for Orchids (Christian Women’s Contemporary)
Orchid Unshaken (Christian Women’s Contemporary)
Orchid Unbound (Christian Women’s Contemporary)
NEW!: Orchid Unfading (Christian Women’s Contemporary)
Non-Fiction:
Fit for Faith: A Christian Woman’s Guide to Total Fitness
Perfect Fit Couples Edition: Workouts and Reflections for a Rock-Solid Relationship
Perfect Fit: Weekly Wisdom and Workouts for Women of Faith and Fitness
Perfect Fit No Excuses: 15-Minute Workouts for Life’s Busiest Days
Immeasurable Fitness Challenge: 18 Days of Total Health for Spirit, Soul, and Body
Immeasurable: Diving in the Depths of God’s Love (a memoir)
Pour Me Out: 30 Days to a More Selfless Life