Lifestyle

When Measuring Up Leaves Me Falling Behind

July 17, 2018July 13, 2018 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

I have recently finished reading (for the second time) a book called Why Her? 6 Truths We Need to Hear When Measuring Up Leaves Us Falling Behind by Nicki Koziarz. This book has really opened my eyes and made me think about comparison in a different light. From the lives of two sisters/wives from the Bible, Rachel and Leah, Nicki brings up a lot of great points about the pitfalls of comparison .

Here is a little overview of the contents of the book:

“If success is defined in the eye of the beholder,
who are you letting behold your success?

Nicki Koziarz is confronting the comparison question: Why her?

Through two striving sisters in the Bible, Nicki uncovered six truths’ we need to hear when trying to measure up leaves you falling behind.

These six truths will help you:

· Stop staring at her success and find satisfaction in yours.

· Find contentment with your life without being complacent in who you are becoming.

· Gain godly wisdom to answer the Why Her silent question of your soul.

Someone will always be ahead. But that doesn’t mean you’re behind. Because Truth, like always, will set us free. And free women don’t have to measure up to anybody. Not even her.”

Here is an exerpt from Truth three: You Don’t Always Have to be Okay:

“Yes, it’s okay not to always be okay. But it’s not okay to NEVER be okay. That’s not what God wants for us. He needs us to know he’s a good God who has good things for our lives. In fact, He wants us to be more than just okay. His word is filled with so much power and authority, with so many examples and clear statements of His goodness. It is good to say, “God is good”, but it is better to know God’s goodness.

When we’re in a position of not feeling okay, there’s a time to climb out from under the bed covers. I know it’s where we feel like staying sometimes, but if we want the breakdown to lead to the Breakthrough, we need to get up and actually go through it.”
~Nicki Koziarz

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Hebrews 10:23

If you are like me, and for that fact most women, you have probably found yourself at one time or another stuck in the trap that comparison sets. I highly recommend you read this book by Nicki Koziarz.

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

Lifestyle

The Very Best Snapshots of Life

July 15, 2018July 13, 2018 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

Why is it that we compare our very worst to the very best of the snapshots of life that others post? 🤔 I don’t know about you, but I’ve been guilty of doing it!

Lord, help me today to be grateful for all that I have and not let comparison steal my joy!

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

Lifestyle

Feeling Overwhelmed?

July 13, 2018July 13, 2018 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

I wanted to share something with you that I read in my devotions the other morning….

“When you feel overwhelmed, ask yourself, “Am I sacrificing my sanity or family to make this happen?”

Pray about how God wants you to spend your time. What is best for you? Your marriage? Your family? Creating healthy boundaries removes control’s talons and anchors them in freeing permission. Along with God’s prompting, only you are in charge of your calendar. Fill yourself with Him first before pouring yourself out.”

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28‭-‬30

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

Lifestyle

“What About The Things You Can’t Change?” A Devotional by Anna Light

May 27, 2018May 27, 2018 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

I really enjoyed this devotional by Anna Light entitled “What about the things you can’t change?” It spoke to my heart and I wanted to share it with all of you!

Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

“We can’t change another person’s heart. We can’t change the past. We might not be able to change or control our circumstances. But do you believe, in His divine understanding, that God has placed you in this life with your issues, relationships, and station, for a specific reason? Could He be using those things that are out of our control, to teach us absolute trust in His perfect plan for our lives? God doesn’t waste anything. He doesn’t waste a hardened heart, tough circumstances, or things outside our control. What might He be showing you through the things in your life that you don’t like, but cannot change?”

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

“Another question to ask ourselves: are we enduring the things we can’t change or embracing them?

There’s a big difference between enduring and embracing and the difference is in our attitude. Enduring means we do just enough to get by while embracing elevates us from survival to thriving, even in the midst of our hardship.

When we choose to embrace instead of enduring, nothing might change in our circumstances, but the change will be in our heart. He can use those unmoving circumstances to soften our heart, which might not have changed otherwise.

Psalm 37:4 can help us understand this idea a little better. “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Growing up I always thought that meant if I did all the right things I would get what I wanted… only later did I learn the true meaning of the word “delight.” The Hebrew word translated “delight” literally means to be delicate. It carries the idea of being pliable and soft. So when God says to delight ourselves in Him, He’s saying, “Let Me mold and shape your desires. As you delight in Me, your desires will become My desires. What I want will be what you want.”

Is He asking you to dive into what He’s given you so that through the things that cannot be changed become the things that change you?

Mark 11:23-24 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Lord, there are some things in my life that I do not like, but I have no power to change. Show me what it is I can do to change my attitude and mindset. I want a heart of flesh, molded and shaped by your loving hands. Help me trust You even when I don’t understand what I’m going through. I place this difficult, unchanging situation in Your hands and ask that Your will be done.”

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

Lifestyle · Love and Life

Happy Mother’s Day, 2018!

May 13, 2018 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood4 Comments

I have been blessed with two wonderful, sweet, loving, healthy children. I have also been blessed with a wonderful, loving, and healthy mother!

I never knew just how much I was loved by my mom until I became a mother myself! Being a mother is the best and most important job in the world. It is also the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done.

I appreciate all that my mom has done for me throughout my life. Happy Mother’s Day, I love you, Mom!

Happy Mother’s day to all you moms and if you are not a mom make sure you call your mother to tell her that you love and appreciate her!

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

Lifestyle

Hope Through Disappointment

April 18, 2018April 18, 2018 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood3 Comments

Have you ever set a goal for yourself then worked incredibly hard doing everything right to make it happen, only to be disappointed with a slip-up? Yup, that was me the other day.

I got upset at my failure and started to feel disappointed in my myself. I found myself at that juncture of two choices…. I could either let the disappointment derail me, ignore all the previous progress that I had made and forget about the whole thing, or realize that I made a mistake, learn from it, and move forward.

To be honest, I wanted to give up and slip back into old habits. Change is so hard! Making the right choice is not usually easy!

I woke up this morning with these verses from Lamentations 3:18-25 on my mind…

18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord:

19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood, and the gall.

20 My soul hath them still in remembrance and is humbled in me.

21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

Today is a new day. Each morning is a new start.

I had to realize I had been putting my hope in something that disappoints…myself. God has a better plan for me than I could ever imagine for myself. I had to repent of my pride and remind myself that God is my portion and hope.

Are you like me? Are you also having a hard time struggling with a disappointment? Maybe like me even a bit of pride too? (Ouch!) Life is hard and change is inevitable. So let’s encourage each other and help one another out!

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.

Lifestyle

6 Ways To Ensure Unhappiness

March 23, 2018March 9, 2018 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

We all want to be happy, but yet often we are our own worst enemies! I know that quite often the only reason that I am unhappy is that I choose to be. Here are 6 quick way to ensure that you are unhappy!

1.Have Unrealistic Expectations

Unmet expectations will almost always be the cause of your unhappiness in life.

Unmet expectations are usually what causes anger as well. It is not always easy to admit that the true source of your anger and unhappiness is from not getting what you wanted!

Minimize your expectations, maximize your joy.

2. Have Uncommunicated Expectations

Guess what? No one is a mind reader! Can you believe it?! It is true.

If you want someone in your life to do something, first they need to know what you want from them. Don’t get upset when you expect something from someone that they have no clue about.

Give the people in your life the opportunity to choose whether or not they want to meet your expectations.

3. Don’t Be Honest With Yourself

Sometimes, I have to stop and ask myself “Why am I doing what I am doing?” Sometimes I know exactly why. Sometimes the answer is clear and positive. Sometimes I don’t really know what my motivation is.

Sometimes I have to really take a step back and be honest with myself, “What do I want out of this situation?” I don’t always like the answer that I have to give myself.

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
Proverbs 11:3

4. Don’t Be Honest With Others

So many ugly situations in life could be avoided if we were to live by the simple truth of “Say what you mean and mean what you say!”

Do you want to host Easter dinner? Nope.

Then when you are asked to host, be honest about it and say “No.” Don’t say you will host and then make it clear to everyone around you that you don’t want to have them at your house.

Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.
Proverbs 15:17

Are you upset because someone hurt your feelings? YES!

Tell them the truth about the way you feel, don’t say “Nothing” when asked what is wrong. If it is important enough to you to make you upset, it should be important enough for you to share.

Be respectful of the relationship and give them the chance to correct the situation.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18

1 John 3:18 | lookingjoligood.blog — photo credit: Bible app

5. Assign Intent To Others

On a daily basis, we can find a something to get offended about.

What happened?

Your friend didn’t like your IG photo.
Your co-workers went to lunch without you.
Your sisters got together for a playdate with their kids and you weren’t included.
Two people you know were having a serious conversation and didn’t acknowledge you.
Your friends had a girl’s night out and you couldn’t go.

Don’t take things personally! Almost always, people are not against you, they are just for themselves.

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:13

Colossians 3:13 | lookingjoligood.blog — Photo credit: Bible app

If you want to be unhappy give intent to the unintentional things that other people do!

6. Compare your life to others.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”-Theodore Roosevelt

In this world of social media, it is so hard not to get sucked into comparing ourselves with others. Due to social media, we see so much more of people’s “private” lives.

The problem is that we are usually comparing all of our flaws with the snapshots of an edited filtered picture perfect life. Their reality is that they also have flaws that we do not see.

Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, ⁵for each one should carry their own load.
Galatians 6:4-5

Stop it! Be grateful for what you do have!

Follow these simple steps to have a completely unhappy life! 😉

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.

Lifestyle

The Devil Made Me Do It

March 9, 2018March 9, 2018 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

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

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!

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.

Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

Ditch the Diet: I’ll Have What She’s Having…

February 16, 2018February 10, 2018 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

~Ditch The Diet~

Here is another great devotional from the book Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst

ade to crave Lysa Terkeurst | lookingjoligood.blog

I’ll Have What She’s Having

James 1:3-4

3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

“One problem with trying to eat healthily is when you sit down next to a skinny girl who wolfs down everything on her plate. It makes me want to say, “I’ll have what she’s having.” A similar frustration pops up when Ms. Petite picks up her kids in a cute tennis outfit that I could never wear.

The paradox of comparing ourselves to other people is that we become blind to what we already have in the face of what we don’t have. Our hearts are drawn into a place of assumption. We assume that everything is great for those who possess what we lack.

But here’s the kicker. Everyone has not-so-great aspects their lives, things that they will have to learn to surrender or sacrifice. Sure, my size-two friend could eat all the snacks she wanted, but she’s got other struggles for which she has to depend on God.

For instance, consider that skinny girl in your life who eats whatever she wants and makes you think, “How unfair.” Yet listen to what she might say in return, as someone once shared with me: “I am one of the skinny girls, but don’t mistake skinny for healthy. I battle depression, self-esteem issues, and verbal abuse. The list seems endless. Being little doesn’t make a person any more happy or faithful or joyful. The struggles are similar, just in a different size package.”

Life as a Christ follower will always be a learning process of depending less on our own strength and more on God’s power. James 1:3-4 says,

The testing of your faith develops perseverance, and perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature, complete, not lacking anything.

Why not make this a daily prayer, first thing in the morning: “God, I recognize that I am made for more than the vicious cycle of being ruled by food, body image, and comparing myself to others. I am thankful that You made my body unique in ways that I can serve You and in ways that turn my reliance upon You. I need to eat to live, not live to eat. So I keep asking for Your wisdom to know what to eat and Your indwelling power to walk away from things and thoughts that are not beneficial for me.”

Oh, sweet sisters, this truth should be the cry of our souls and drown out Satan’s lie that “she has it easier.” Our taste buds crave many things to satisfy, but only persevering with God will make us truly full.”

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.

Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

Ditch the Diet: But I Never Feel Full…

February 9, 2018February 9, 2018 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

~Ditch The Diet~

It has been a while since I have written a ditch the diet post!

Despite the fact that I constantly preach that “ditching the diet” consists of a lifestyle of making healthy choices, I had not been following my own healthy living advice. I got to a point where I needed to give myself a chance to rest and mentally reset. Basically what that means is…I wasn’t exercising and was eating a diet of mostly cookies.

While I used that time to give myself a break, I knew fully well that there was a definite end to the cookie eating spree. I’m now back on track and making healthy choices… with an occasional cookie or two thrown into the mix.

To help myself stay focused (and stave off those tempting cookie cravings), I have been reading daily devotional excerpts from the book Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst I really enjoyed this one and I wanted to share it since I found to be really helpful:

But I Never Feel Full

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:19

For years, I walked around with a little heart-shaped cup in my soul, holding it out to people or things trying to find fulfillment. Some of us hold out our heart-shaped cup and expect a husband to love us in ways that rights our wrongs and fills up our insecurities. Sometimes, we expect our kids to be successful so that we look good and feel validated by their accomplishments. Or, we hope that a successful career will confirm that we are a valuable human being.

At times, I have asked the impossible of all of these. But my consistent “friend” of choice over the years has been food. Imagine my little heart-shaped cup as a candy dish, using sweets and snacks to soothe my emotions.

However, if we are going to replace destructive cycles with lasting changes in our lives, then we have to empty ourselves of the lie that other people or things can ever fill our hearts. Instead, we have to deliberately fill up on God’s truths and stand secure in His love. Here are some examples of how we can do that:

Old lie: “I am such a failure when it comes to my diet.”
New truth: “I am not a failure. I am a lavishly loved child of God. Part of my right as a child of God is to operate in a power beyond myself. The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to me. So it is possible for me to use the self-control I’ve been given.”

Old lie: “I need these Oreos!”
New truth: “The thought that these Oreos will fill me is a lie. They will taste good for just the few minutes it will take to eat them. Then that hollow feeling of guilt will rush in as soon as the chocolate high dissipates. If I truly need a snack right now, I am capable of choosing a healthier option.”

Old lie: “God seems far away and French fries are right around the corner at the drive-thru.”
New truth: “French fries don’t love me. And the only lasting thing I get from them is the cholesterol and cellulite they inevitably leave behind, which will just compound my frustration. God’s love is here in this moment and in many more to come. His love is true and carries with it only positive residual effects.”

Examine how you can replace the lies and rationalizations in your mind with the truth of God’s love. Experience the power of renewing your mind and learning that food was never meant to fulfill the deepest places of your heart. And, as Ephesians 3:19 reminds, may you understand that the only way to true satisfaction is to be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

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.

Looking Joli Good

Kindness is beautiful!

Tag: faith

When Measuring Up Leaves Me Falling Behind

The Very Best Snapshots of Life

Feeling Overwhelmed?

“What About The Things You Can’t Change?” A Devotional by Anna Light

Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Mark 11:23-24 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Happy Mother’s Day, 2018!

Hope Through Disappointment

Today is a new day. Each morning is a new start.