Category Archives: My Thought Closet

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How to Keep Our Treasures Front and Center

If you came into my bedroom and opened my closet door, the first things you would see (if you ignored the dirty clothes on the floor) would be the red Coach bag my sister-in-law gave me for my fortieth birthday alongside the backpack my friend, Karen, brought me from her trip to Paris. I love these bags – they are the nicest ones I own since I usually buy cheapies!  (I can’t spend too much on a bag because I buy way too many — they always fit!)

Not only are they lovely bags, they mean a lot to me because of who gave them to me. Every time I open the door of the closet, my treasured bags are right there.

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3 Surefire Ways to Gain Wisdom

One of the things that drives me crazy about getting older is I know there is a lot that I don’t know. Unfortunately, I don’t know what I don’t know! Can you relate? But one of the things that makes me really really happy about getting older is realizing that knowledge is not nearly as important as wisdom. And sisters, wisdom has nothing to do with what we know or don’t know, and everything to do with Who we do know!

God is not greedy with His wisdom. If you need it, He’ll give it. Here are three surefire ways to make wisdom your BFF.

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Are You Stealing From Yourself?

I think I lived as a thief for many years. Not because I stole an occasional candy bar from the grocery store or lifted jewelry from my friends home when she wasn’t looking! No, I stole from myself. Every time I aided and abetted anxiety I robbed myself of peace, security and contentment.

Do you steal from yourself?

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How to Make the Best of It So You Don’t Experience the Worst of It

Sometimes when hard things come into our lives, they take the best from us. Long lasting trials can drain us and wear us out. Our initial energy and faith gets slowly depleted until we find ourselves flat, hopeless and defeated. All that I can! attitude gets replaced with I can’t and I don’t want to apathy.

When a parent is ill for a long time, it can take the best from us. When a teenager is in full blown rebellion, it can take the best from us. When we lose a job, or our spouse does; when we deal with a chronic illness or are stuck in what feels like a dead end job or relationship – all of that can take the best from us.

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The Not Fair Prayer

Hi there, dear ones. Jennifer here. The post I’m sharing with you this week is one I wrote a few years ago, but felt the need to share with you again. Given the messages and comments I’ve received lately, it seemed relevant to what so many of you are dealing with. My prayer is that if you’re newer to our community of sisters and reading it for the first time that it will encourage your heart. If this isn’t your first time to read it, I pray the Lord will use it in a fresh way to minister to you. So thankful for each of you.

 Sometimes the things life throws at us can make us feel like God isn’t being fair. She got the job, and I didn’t. Her health is fine, and I have a chronic illness. The list could go on and on forever… we’ve all be there!

You’re frustrated, confused, sad, or discouraged, but you desperately want to keep trusting God and His Word. What do you do?

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When God Doesn’t Change Your Circumstances

Have you asked and asked and asked (and begged) God to change your circumstance? I sure have. When we carry a heavy burden for a long time, we get weary and worn down. An extended hospital stay. A hard marriage. An unfair project at work. A health issue. A chronic or even terminal diagnosis. 

 

There are so many things in this life we wish God would change. We ask. He doesn’t always do what we ask when we ask, right?