This week I have been wondering, how I can blog about joy when bedridden from Lyme Disease....


Actually, it's a grace.  We are not to worry about tomorrow.  I simply don't have the cognitive strength to think about things I can't do anything about for long.  And lately, I haven't been able to do much about anything!  I think it has given me some further experience in these two verses:


 Isaiah 26:3
 You will keep him in perfect peace, 
 Whose mind is stayed on You,
  Because he trusts in You. 

And Matthew 6: 34

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble

I can say experiential that there is peace when you can rest in Him.  This enforced rest and peace is necessary for joy.  Trusting Him is necessary for joy

Looking for the praiseworthy

I read this blog that came through my email this morning. How does this relate to joy?

It gets us looking for those things that are true, right, and praiseworthy, which are the things we are commanded to be "thinking on".

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever thingsare noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

And as we look for ways to praise our children (and spouse?) how can our hearts not be lifted in gratitude to the Lord for His work in them, and the gifts they are from Him?
To my shame, I have one really good story on this. When daughter number two was quite little, her older sister and I taught her how to make her bed. The both of us encouraged her greatly on the job she had done as well as how hard she worked. That little girl, who I'm sure wasn't more than 4 at the time, but I know she made her bed without being told for two weeks!

May God grant that this is a weekend of praise.
Off to go find something to praise! What did you find?

The Boyer Blog: Part 1: The Importance of Teaching Character to Yo...: "Praising Character Why is it we so often forget to praise our children? As parents we are responsible to steer them in the right direction..."