Open my mind...

As we search His word we are able to experience His presence, His peace, and His power. As we open our minds and become more aware of His grace, mercy, and love we find more reasons to praise Him. We realize that happiness is situational but joy, true joy, is eternal. Praise God for breathing out His word for us in order that we might grow and mature and find true joy in Him!

Dig out the roots...

A poor self-image is a cancerous root that corrupts our thought life, our attitudes, and our behavior. It can leave us feeling hopeless.

Learning to look to Him for hope and to praise our way through our circumstances can help us dig out those roots that cause our spirits to feel downcast.

It lifts my spirit to say, "hallelujah anyhow". My prayer is that it will help you as well! 

I know this full well!

As I work on my notes to speak at a young women's retreat on Saturday this verse hit me in a new way. It caused me to ask myself, "Does how I feel about myself cause me to praise God or to be frustrated with Him?" The psalmist looked deeply into how God formed and shaped his life and it led him to praise. Take a look at what He's done in you and through you and the potential He's planted in you. I trust that you'll find reasons to praise Him. His works include you and you are fearfully and wonderfully made. I know this full well!