Category: Lifestyle

James 4:7 | lookingjoligood.blog The Devil Made Me Do It
Lifestyle

The Devil Made Me Do It

LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

While recently away in Florida on a family vacation, we did A LOT of driving. During these times in the car, we passed the time listening to old episodes of Adventures in Odyssey. My kids LOVE them, as both my husband and I did as children.

Adventures in Odyssey | lookingjoligood.blog
photo credit: daystar.com

Something about the episode we listened to the one night caught my ear and really made me think. The episode is called “The Devil Made Me Do It” It has three separate stories done in a “variety show” style each with the similar theme of resisting temptation.

While Adventures in Odyssey is made for children and done in an entertaining way, the concepts have such deeper meanings.

The Bible tells us the enemy is roaming the earth seeking people to destroy; it is also true that as Christians we have the power of God living inside of us. We already have the power to resist.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7

James 4:7 | lookingjoligood.blog

Is it wrong to be tempted? Of course not, even Jesus was tempted by Satan.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

We all have different hang-ups and different things that tempt us. Maybe you’re trying to get healthier and you are tempted by the bread basket or having second helpings of dinner. (My weakness is chocolate chip cookies!🍪)

Maybe you are tempted to compare yourself to others which in turn can lead to unkindness and gossiping.

Maybe you are a procrastinator always tempted to put things off until the last minute.

Whatever you’re tempted by God has given us the power to overcome it!

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Romans 6:12‭-‬13

Romans6:12 | lookingjoligood.blog

When it comes to temptation does the “Devil make me do it”? No, but he’s definitely going to be ready to tempt you to sin. Put up a good fight and resist that temptation!

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Blessed be the name of the Lord | lookingjoligood.blog Focusing on Gratitude
Lifestyle

Focusing on Gratitude

LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

 

At the beginning of 2018 I mentioned in a previous post that in lieu of a New Year’s resolution, I have claimed the word “gratitude” for the year.

I was recently reading a devotional focusing on Job’s gratitude despite having seemingly lost everything important to him. Having what seemed like nothing left, he still said: “the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!” Job 1:20-21
Blessed be the name of the Lord | lookingjoligood.blog
 
Having lost everything, Job still thanked and blessed God! I was so convicted by this! How do I personally react when simple things don’t go my way… Never mind losing everything important to me?! Do I still have a grateful heart?!  It’s easy to be thankful when the sun is shining…but what about when the sky is gray, there’s icy snow on the roads, the kids are up during the night coughing with fevers, the car won’t start, and the pipes burst?
 
The difficult circumstances of life can make it hard to be grateful!  It is not easy to say “Thank you, Lord.” when it is a terrible horrible no good very bad day! Whether or not we see God’s purpose, we can be thankful to our Heavenly Father? In every situation, God sees an opportunity for us to trust Him and glorify Him.
Both in trials and blessings, a grateful heart returns praise to God.  I have been praying for God to give me a grateful heart, not just for the people I love, the things I have, and good times, but also for the hard experiences and people that aren’t always pleasant to be around. 
Whether in trials or blessings God is good! With God’s help I need to set my mind and heart towards gratitude during the summery sunshine or wintery gloom.

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Gratitude: warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful

Job 1:21

And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

 

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gratitude

The smallest thing Frances | lookingjoligood.blog The Power Of A Smile
Lifestyle

The Power Of A Smile

LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

Looking someone in the eyes and giving a simple smile and saying hello can do great things for a person!   You never know if they may feel invisible. Acknowledging someone might be a small act, but there is great power in a simple smile.

Take time today to think about those around you and share a smile.

I love the message in this song The Smallest Thing by Frances

I didn’t notice the crying man, too busy with me
I didn’t stop for a moment to help the woman on her knees
I didn’t hear the cry for help behind her polite “hello”
I only saw the gentle smile that hid the scars below

It’s easy when for you the sun is shining

How could I have been so blind?
How could I miss so much?
Just a word from me
The smallest thing
Could have been enough
Why didn’t I give some time?
Why didn’t I spare some love?
Just a smile from me
The smallest thing
Could pick the pieces up
The smallest thing

I didn’t take the time to ask if everything’s okay
When everyone else walked on by, I just did the same
I’ve been counting problems but the truth is I was fine
The people I’ve ignored each day feel pain much worse than mine

It’s easy when for you the sun is shining

How could I have been so blind?
How could I miss so much?
Just a word from me
The smallest thing
Could have been enough
Why didn’t I give some time?
Why didn’t I spare some love?
Just a smile from me
The smallest thing
Could pick the pieces up

Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh

It’s easy when for you the sun is shining

How could I have been so blind?
How could I miss so much?
Just a word from me
The smallest thing
Could have been enough
Why didn’t I give some time?
Why didn’t I spare some love?
Just a smile from me
The smallest thing
Could pick the pieces up

The Smallest Thing…

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram,  Pinterest, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all four.

The Harsh Reality of Love
Lifestyle

The Harsh Reality of Love

LauraJoli LookingJoliGood12 Comments
My best friend has been sick recently… 
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She’ll be 12 soon… Despite my deepest wishes and blatant denial of reality, I do know that she isn’t going to live forever.
I know the reality of the situation, yet still, the thought of losing her makes my heart hurt, real physical pain, the type of pain that grabs your throat and makes it hard to take a breath. The type of pain from wanting to fix something so badly, yet being powerless to change anything.
Some might say “She’s just a dog.” But that is where they are wrong. She is not just a dog. She is my constant companion, my biggest fan, and most loyal friend. She has been by my side for the majority of my adult life.  She greets me as if I am the most important person alive and listen to me talk as if everything I say is the most interesting thing she has ever heard.
Yes, she is a dog, but that doesn’t make her any less important to me, she is my best friend, and I love her!
So, while no, I cannot prevent the inevitable, I can enjoy every moment that I still have with her.

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Be Still Ps 46:10 | lookingjoligood.blog Do You Have A Cluttered Mind? Are You A Hoarder of Information?
Lifestyle

Do You Have A Cluttered Mind? Are You A Hoarder of Information?

LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

Have you ever watched the show on TLC called Hoarding: Buried Alive? So. Much. Stuff.  Just watching that show makes me feel anxious!

Hoarding: Buried Alive | lookingjoligood.blog

I love organization, I love when everything has a place to go!  I hate clutter! Clutter actually gives me major angst!  Usually, if my house and surroundings are cluttered it is a sure sign that my mind and soul feel cluttered as well.

Quite often, when things in my life get hectic, and I have a lot on my to-do list or there are important decisions to be made, I tend to be a hoarder of information.  I  look for more and more input and advice, rather than less.

During these times, I often put the cart before the horse and start thinking about the “what ifs” and “but maybes” of potential situations… I basically become filled with clutter in my mind. Be Still Ps 46:10 | lookingjoligood.blogInstead, I need to take a minimalist approach to my daily decisions and plans for the future! I need to clean out the clutter in my mind.

While I am in no way a minimalist, I love the idea of minimalism. I recently heard minimalism defined as “not owning nothing, but instead that nothing should own you.”  What a simple way to put it!

The Bible says in Ps 46:10 says Be still and know that I am God.

Stillness is to the soul as de-cluttering is to the home. By taking some quiet time for reflection with God’s word, I am making space to quiet my mind, to clean out the clutter, to be still, and hear God’s voice.

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martin-luther-king-jr | lookingjoligood.blog Light in the Darkness
Lifestyle

Light in the Darkness

LauraJoli LookingJoliGood1 Comment

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward. -MLK jr

martin-luther-king-jr | lookingjoligood.blog

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do better! Be better! | lookingjoligod.blog We Need To Do Better!
Lifestyle

We Need To Do Better!

LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment
do better! Be better! | lookingjoligod.blog
I am not a political person, I am not looking for a fight, argument, or a big discussion. I am just so tired of unkindness being the normal thing.
 
Evil prevails when good men stand by and do nothing! I don’t know what to do personally, but something needs to be done!

Just because someone has a different point of view, perspective, or culture does not give us the right to disregard, look down on, or ignore their presence.

Just because we disagree with what someone else believes doesn’t mean we have a right to treat them insensitively or with anything other than love and kindness.

There’s so much anxiety, unrest, and strife in our world! We have made things all about which side we’re on, you against me, us against them.  I’m right, so you are automatically wrong.

When it comes right down to it, we are all people, we are all imperfectly flawed.  We all make mistakes.

We are all different.  These differences are what make us special.  These differences are not what makes us weaker or less than.

It often seems hopeless, as if bad people are getting rewarded, and it seems that hate will win.  In the end, doing the right thing is still the best thing to do and being kind is still worthwhile.

So while I cannot change a lot of things about the world, I can be kind to those I interact with.  I can smile at, and acknowledge those around me.  I don’t want to stand by and do nothing!

What can we all do?

Be a friend.

Smile.

Be kind.

Get over your self, get out of your own way!

Choose happiness, choose joy!

We need to do better! Be better! Be kinder!

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WHATS THE WORD | lookingjoligood.blog What’s the Word for 2018?
Lifestyle

What’s the Word for 2018?

LauraJoli LookingJoliGood7 Comments

Happy New Year, 2018!

Happy New Year | lookingjoligood.blog

I’m not really one for New Year’s Resolutions, what about you? 

I am more of a resolve to make a change when it is needed whether it is January 1st, April 18th, or November 24th. That being said, this year I am going to try something a little different. This is something that has been on my mind for a few weeks now…

I have been thinking about claiming a word for the year.

I feel as if claiming a word has a much more positive spin to it than a new years resolution.  Most New Year’s Resolutions are tossed aside or forgotten by the end of February… Whereas, a word of the year is something that can be focused on, and meditated on, in little spurts rather than an everyday task or one big thing.

Here are a few of my potential words:

  • Contentment: satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else. ease of mind.
  • Joy: the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation:
  • Health: the general condition of the body or mind with reference to soundness and vigor
  • Kindness: of a good or benevolent nature or disposition, sympathetic attitude toward others, and a willingness to do good or give pleasure.
  • Organization: to form as a whole consisting of interdependent or coordinated parts, especially for united action:

One of the words in the top running for this year is actually something that I have already been trying to focus on: Gratitude!

Gratitude: warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful
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During the month of November, I blogged daily about what I am thankful for. I really enjoyed intentionally focusing on being grateful. After taking the time every day to list out all the things I have to be thankful for I realized just how true it is that gratitude turns what we have into enough!

 

The best is yet to come | lookingjoligood.blog

What about you?  Do you make resolutions or do you claim a word to focus on for the year?  I’d love to hear what you are looking forward to in 2018!

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I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram,  Pinterest, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all four.