Fight Back with Joy!

I can’t believe it’s been 6 weeks already! God has opened my eyes to so much and I have loved hearing the testimonies of how He is working in your lives too!

I don’t want to forget what I have learned these last few weeks, so I’ve placed some reminders in my home:

I purchased a copy of the Velveteen Rabbit and after reading it, placed it under my Christmas tree. I plan (Lord willing!) to pack it away with my decorations, so just in case the intensity of my desire to “be real” has faded, it will be a reminder in 2019 to shake off any falseness.

I also have… The red joy Scripture verses that I’ve torn out of the back of my study book and carefully placed in different areas of my home, a joy ornament hanging on my tree from a dear friend, and a little ceramic jar with the word joy on it sitting in my kitchen window where I wash dishes. I also decided to keep a piece of furniture as a reminder to be real – to look at the worn and imperfect places with joy, love, and thankfulness because it means that I am blessed with family and friends that use it often! And most recently , this sweet surprise from a friend that I will use this morning, for the first time, to drink my morning coffee!

What about you? Is there anything new or old in your home that will be a reminder to you of what God has taught you during this time?

We learned to keep track of the joy bombs in our lives and through this past week, Margaret challenged us a step further, to become joy bombers! What is that? A joy bomber is “someone who has received the joy of God and gives it to others.”

If you haven’t already, take some time to read Luke 10:30-37. Who would you compare yourself to? The priest? The Levite? Or the joy bomber Samaritan?

In verse 37, Jesus tells us to be like the Samaritan. To have mercy on others, just as Jesus has done for us.

Christmastime is the perfect opportunity to start being an intentional joy bomber! Margaret offers some practical and Biblical insight on how to go about this. If you haven’t listened to the audio for session 6, you may still desire to check it out. Although, if it’s not something you are able to purchase and you desire to, please message me!

Lets ask God to help us be joy bombers! To help us identify needs of those around us and ask for the ability to meet those needs! Just like the Samaritan did for the beaten man on the side of the road.

I’ve enjoyed our time together! Please share your thoughts on what God has shown you through this 6 weeks, and I do hope you’ll stick around as we continue to share “real life” together at youandmebygrace.com!

Merry Christmas!

By His Grace,

+Linda