100 DAYS OF PRAISE & POSTIVITY {GIVEAWAY}

Over the last couple of years I have faced anxiety and depression in ways I never thought I could. My beautiful and joyful life was changing in so many ways. Some really good changes, some necessary changes, and some not so good changes. (I will be sharing more about this journey in the weeks to come!)

I also lost loved ones and faced deep grief. After the loss of my grandfather I struggled to find anything good in life. Then one day, I read one of my favorite quotes ever. It says, "Every day may not be good, but there is good in every day." I determined to find something good in every day. Even on the really hard days there is something I can grab ahold of and give thanks for.

In her new devotional journal 100 Days of Praise & Positivity, Maghon Taylor helps us to see that no matter what our current circumstance is, we can look for hope and a reason to praise, and when we look for good things, we find more good things.

100 Days of Praise & Positivity is a bright and beautiful devotional journal! The bright colors and cute design will bring a smile to your face before you even read the words. Each of the 100 days includes a Bible verse, uplifting devotion, hand-lettering exercise, and reflection space to praise God for something good.

Maghon brings inspiration, encouragement, and joy through each devotion. She helps you to really see Jesus and find hope for the hard days.

Maghon says, "Just because I'm happy now doesn't mean I'm immune to suffering. I'm not; I just don't do it alone. The joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10), so every time I'm down, I actively choose to get back up, dust myself off, and praise God in the storm. I'm on a mission to spread happiness, to lift you up and help you find joy. It's not always easy to have a positive outlook, but it's absolutely worth fighting for. By looking for good things, you'll find more good things. Your eyes will be opened to the blessings that surround you and your soul and mind will be refreshed. If you're hopeful for some hope, you've come to the right place. Let's get this party started!"

I am loving 100 Days of Praise & Positivity! I haven't written inside yet, I have been practicing the handlettering words on paper as I go through the devotions. But I plan to go back through the devotional a little slower and, as Maghon says, aim for joy not perfection!

I am excited to partner with Dayspring and offer five readers a chance to win 100 Days of Praise & Positivity! To enter to win, complete each task in the rafflecopter below.

Don't want to wait for the giveaway? You can order 100 Days of Praise & Positivity today! Just click the image below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shift Your Focus to Praise

Let me set the scene.

You wake up and have a passionate quiet time with God. You read your Bible. You pray. You give thanks. You listen for God's voice. You sing worship. Maybe you even journal a bit. You walk away feeling like you have just been with the Father.

Then you get up and begin your day.

Work. Kids. Bills. Errands. Chores. Life. Things begin to happen in your day and you don't feel that connection with God anymore. It may not even be that anything bad has happened. You're just so busy. Or maybe something bad did happen, like the kids are misbehaving, you are arguing with your husband, you're stuck in traffic or your boss just gave you an extra project and the deadline is closing in on you.

You wonder what happened. Just this morning you felt so connected to God, so aware of His presence. Yet, now it feels like that was moons ago.

Have you ever felt this way? Wondered why you could feel God just hours ago and now He feels so far away? Wondered why He was so present at church on Sunday and you felt Him so strongly and now He feels just out of reach?

It's time to shift your focus.

I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 34:1

We should continually have praise on our lips. We should feel Him and be aware of Him at all times. It's time to shift our focus to praise.

How can we do this?

In the middle of those everyday, mundane tasks, intentionally shift your focus to God. Take a little break to purposely praise Him. It could be as simple as slowing your pace as you walk into your office and thanking Him for the day and for your work. It could be pausing as you put the laundry away to thank Him for your family and for the provisions you have. It could be turning off the radio in the car and just telling Him how much you love Him.

Other ways to shift your focus to praise is by placing Scripture in your home and in your car. As you walk by, read the Scripture aloud. Recently I took several Scripture cards I've collected from She Reads Truth and Illustrated Faith and I placed them in my car and one in my wallet. Now every time I open my wallet and as I drive, I see God's Word.

Another way is to continually play Christian music in your home, office and car. We have a radio in our kitchen that is always on. Christian music fills my home 24/7. Since our family loves music so much and the music is filling our home, any one of us can often be found singing praises throughout the day.

The more we take these little praise pauses throughout the day, the closer we will feel to God. We don't have to be sitting down, Bible in hand, eyes closed and we don't have to be in a church building. We can praise Him at any time and in any place. Become intentional about taking praise pauses throughout your day. Set alarms on your phone if you need the reminder. Whatever it takes. Let His praise continually be in your mouth.




Linking with:
Woman to Woman's Word Filled Wednesday

Praise Challenge {Giveaway}

I love my kids more than life itself.

Let's just get that out of the way.

But can I be real? Parenting is hard. Some days I serious feel like I am losing it. Whatever it is. And some nights I lay in bed and wonder if I've just completely messed up my kids for life. Will they sit in a therapists office one day blaming me, the mom, for everything wrong in their life? Have I just completely done them in?

Many, many days I've cried to the Father for help. Some days my pleas come in the form of honest cries and some days they are desperately asking God to fix these kids fast.

In Becky Harling's new book, The 30 Day Praise Challenge for Parents, I felt as though Becky was sharing my story. Even from page 1. She talks of loving motherhood, but honestly sharing that some days she felt like she'd lose her mind, or worse yet, mess up their little minds. Has anyone else been there? Is it just Becky and me?

While going through a difficult season that included cancer, Becky was challenged by a friend to spend 20 minutes a day in pure praise. Here is what she learned:

I learned that praising God isn't just some glib hallelujah when finances are prospering, your health is flourishing and your family is thriving. Praising God is an intentional declaration by faith that exalts God above your life circumstances.

I know. I know. Among the chaos of daily life with little ones and diapers or teenagers and sass, or maybe for you it's both, spending time praising God for them doesn't always seem appealing. Like, not at all. But when we think of pulling our hair out, which seems better: hair loss or praise?

Becky shares:

As I praised God intentionally, my children's faith began to grow deeper and Satan's tactics to destroy our family were defeated.

For 30 days, Becky challenges you to spend time in praise. Each day has a Scripture, a time to listen, a time to pray and a journaling prompt. I love the new outlook I am getting through this challenge.

The 30 Day Praise Challenge for Parents is a must-read for all parents.

To enter to win a copy of The 30 Day Praise Challenge for Parents, complete each task in the rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking with:
Woman to Woman's Word Filled Wednesday

Waiting...

Sometimes I wish I could see what the future holds.  I wish I could see what will happen tomorrow, in eight months, in five years.  It would just be nice to be able to see what will happen, where life would lead.  But I can't.

I am facing a situation right now and I desperately want to know the outcome.  I don't want to wait.  I want to exactly what is going to happen for everyone involved.  And, of course, I don't know God's plan for this situation but I know my plan.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans for a hope and a future.'"  Jeremiah 29:11

Though I don't know what will happen tomorrow, in eight months from now or in five years, I do know that God has a plan.  He has a plan for my life, my family's life and my friends' lives.  His plans are great.  His plans are to prosper us.  All we have to do is trust Him.

"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not unto your own understand but in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your path straight."  Proverbs 3:5-6

So, I will wait.  I will trust.  I will praise.

While I wait on God to see what the outcome is, I will praise Him.  While I wait to see what the future holds, I will praise Him.

Whatever you are waiting on God for, praise Him while you wait.  Don't take your eyes off of Him.  Just worship Him for He is worthy to be praised.



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Sweet Blessings~

Linking with:

Thought Provoking Thursday  

Grace Café 

Proverbs 31 Thursday