Lifestyle

A Seemingly Perfect Life

September 19, 2018September 1, 2018 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood3 Comments

I say it all the time, social media is only the very best snapshots of the life we want to show the world. Don’t wish for someone else’s seemingly perfect life. We all have fears and tears and struggles. Be an encouragement to someone today, you never know what might be happening behind the filter.

I read this post on Facebook by a page I follow called Encouragement from Women Who Have Been There.

I have been encouraged by several of the posts that I have read there. This one in particular from Becki Rogers founder of Not Quite SuperMoms was especially interesting to me.

Biblical Abigail in a Modern-Day Setting

“If you read 1 Samuel 25, you’ll meet a lady who seems like a superwoman.
Humor me while I describe Abigail in a modern setting: she’s got a college education. Her hair is perfectly styled and her roots never show. She’s fit, hitting the home gym every morning without fail. Her Bible is well-worn, and her prayer journal is opened daily. Her home is decorated like the pages of a magazine, and her weekly shopping trips include stops at all the best boutiques. Her personal cook and housekeeper adore her, and her Instagram account has 450k followers. You might know her. Or, you might follow her Instagram account. You might secretly wish you could be her. I can’t blame you. I would want to be her too! But beyond those pristine photo filters, her marriage is a mess. Her husband is a drunken, incorrigible man, and she silently wipes tears as she fixes his messes. She is a peacemaker on his behalf, carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders day after day.

I know, I know. The Bible doesn’t say all that about Abigail, but it DOES say that she was wise, and peacekeeping, and wealthy (at least, her husband was). It also mentions that she was pretty. In today’s world, she could have been everything described above.

However, her home life was miserable, to put it mildly. The Bible describes Nabal, her husband, as a cruel and brutal man in all his dealings. And yet, despite being married to such a man, she didn’t waver in her faithfulness to her loathsome husband.

The story takes an unexpected turn when the future king, David, came along. Her husband was rude to David and his men, and David planned retaliation. Abigail secretly defied her husband and humbly approached David with food and an offer of peace, taking the blame for her husband. Sadly, she’d probably had to do this many times before.

Instagram filters can hide a host of heartache. Don’t assume another mom isn’t struggling just because her social media looks good.

I love how Abigail wisely approaches David —first with food, and then with reason. There’s very little that a good meal can’t pacify! In addition to the food offering, she humbly suggested to David that to avenge himself by killing her husband (as well as their entire household—including Abigail herself) would not be in his best interests. She de-escalated the situation by appealing to his conscience: she reminded him of who he was—the Lord’s soldier, fighting His battles. She gently suggested that he would later regret having this bloodshed on his hands, and she prophesied that all of his enemies would be as cursed as her husband was. Talk about a crisis negotiator! I need some of that wisdom in refereeing my kids’ bickering!

***(Challenge)
The bottom line is, I don’t have a clue what struggles you’re facing based on your social media posts. I can imagine that those pretty filters hide a lot of tears. You don’t know what another mom is facing either. Don’t wish for her life, no matter how good it looks. Instead, we need to pray for each other. Call a friend today and ask if there’s anything you can pray about. It may look like she’s got it all together, but she may be silently begging God for a friend. Be that one. And if you’re the one struggling behind closed doors, reach out. Ask your Father to bring you a trusted confidant who may be able to give you wise, godly counsel.”

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Lifestyle

Lies, Misinformation, and Perception

September 9, 2018September 1, 2018 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood1 Comment

I recently read a quote “When truth is blurred by lies and misinformation, perception becomes reality and all is lost.”

I’ve been thinking about this for a little while. It’s absolutely true that what we perceive to be true is what becomes our personal reality. Whether or not it is true, due to the perception of the situation, it becomes real in our minds.

The Bible clearly states in Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8.

I constantly have to redirect my thoughts and prayers to the things that are true, honest, just, lovely, and pure. It’s all too easy to let my thoughts get the better of me. When I return to the things that are true my perception will line up with reality.

I don’t want all to be lost, I want to base my thoughts on the correct things!

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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.”

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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! 😉

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Lifestyle

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

January 17, 2018January 15, 2018 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!

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. Instead, 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.

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

We Need To Do Better!

January 13, 2018January 13, 2018 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!

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

What A Beautiful Name

December 15, 2017December 15, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

There are often times that I start thinking… and one thing leads to another… and my thoughts stray from what is honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report.**

It is during these times that I not only pray for help and encouragement and read scriptures to remind me of God’s goodness and grace, but I also surround myself with praise songs.

Today has been one of these days… A song that has been speaking to my heart this morning is What A Beautiful Name by Hillsong Worship.

What A Beautiful Name by Hillsong Worship

You were the Word at the beginning
One With God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You our Christ

What a beautiful Name it is
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

What a beautiful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

You didn’t want heaven without us
So Jesus, You brought heaven down
My sin was great, Your love was greater
What could separate us now

What a wonderful Name it is
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

What a wonderful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

How sweet is your name, Lord, how good You are
Love to sing in the name of the Lord, love to sing for you all?
Death could not hold You, the veil tore before You
You silenced the boast, of sin and grave
The heavens are roaring, the praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again

You have no rival, You have no equal
Now and forever, Our God reigns
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name, above all names

What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

What a powerful Name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

You have no rival, You have no equal
Now and forever, Our God reigns
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name, above all names

What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

What a powerful Name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

Philippians 4:8

⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

2 Corinthians 10:5

⁵Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

I hope that you can find some encouragement from this song today as well.

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

Embrace The Mundane

October 29, 2017October 27, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

The daily stuff, those responsibilities that seem more like a distraction, those things we want to rush and get through to get on with the better and bigger assignments of life, those things that are unnoticed places of service, they are the very experiences from which we unlock the riches of wisdom. We’ve got to practice in the everyday places of our lives.

Never despise the mundane. Embrace it. Unwrap it like a gift. And be one of the rare few who look deeper than just the surface.

See something more in the everyday.

-Lysa Terkeurst

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

Be the change you wish to see in the world

October 27, 2017October 26, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. … We need not wait to see what others do.”

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

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: thoughts

Lies, Misinformation, and Perception

“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.

Hope Through Disappointment

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