salad dressing

One of my favorite blogs is the Nourishing Gourmet - Kimi is having a giveaway for a free case of (really yummy looking) salad dressing - go here to enter!

find joy

I often remind myself of 2 words - "find joy". In whatever is happening, find joy. Whatever you are doing, find joy. We are not suppose to be living this life and going about frustrated, mad or just bored at our life, we are to have joy. Whether we are planning the meals to serve our families, compiling a grocery list, watching and playing with little kids, folding laundry, washing dishes...... we should have a joyful heart and attitude. I don't always, but I try. And I am trying to remind myself of this more often throughout the day.

I often find myself wanting to share a thought, a recipe, a good book with those around me, but often by the time I find the time I have forgotten about it. So, I am going to try and write some of that stuff down here and let you have that way. I have been focusing recently on concentrating on keeping good meal plans, planning the grocery trips and being more intentional about discipline and training the kids. I welcome your thoughts and feedback.

Below are some of the verses I enjoy that remind me about being faithful to find joy in my life.

"Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation"

~Habakkuk 3:18

"If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

~John 15:10-11

"So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy..."

~Colossians 1:10-11

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

~Hebrews 12:1-2

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

~1 Peter 1:3-9