The next writing prompt from the book “God Is My Happy Place” is:
“What is the best quality that you feel you exemplify. ”
This has been a hard one to think about. It has taken me some time to write this. Every time I typed something, I deleted it. I would think I’m pretty good at this or I’m this way, yet I could look at myself and think of all the times I didn’t exemplify those things. My own worst critic I suppose.
I am dependable and reliable. Or so I’ve been told by employers.
My husband considers me to be optimistic.
But to come up with it on my own is hard.
My best answer is, if I have any good qualities, it is because of God. He made me, so I know there must be good qualities. I usually have to ask others what they are though. I don’t see them myself.
The next writing prompt from the book “God is My Happy Place” is:
“You are God’s greatest work of art, created for a wonderful purpose.”
For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above–spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].
EPHESIANS 2:10 AMP https://bible.com/bible/1588/eph.2.10.AMP
Today’s prompt reminded me of the above verse, which has two parts.
The first is that we are masterfully created. He has done such an outstanding job creating us. According to Genesis, we are made in His image.
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/gen.1.27.NIV
He took care to create each part of us.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:13-14 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.139.13-14.NIV
The second part is that we have a purpose. God made plans for us. He didn’t just create us to be creating. He had a purpose for us.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/jer.29.11.NIV
Most people don’t create/design/make anything that doesn’t have a purpose. Even if that purpose is entertainment. So why would God not have a purpose for us, His creation, which He took such great care in creating?
On a side note, when I think about what God says about me, it helps me deal with depressive thinking. It helps me renew my mind.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.12.2.NIV
I just watched a video where a mom was ranting about her kids always telling her she’s going the wrong way or always wanting to tell her what she should be doing and how to do it. The mom is frustrated because she knows what she is doing and is wiser than they, but they won’t listen or just enjoy the ride.
Does that sound anything like the way we treat God sometimes? We want to tell Him how we think things should be. We want to let Him know how He is messing up as if we are wiser than He is.
It should be the other way around. We should be praying to God asking what He thinks the best move is. He is all knowing. He knows exactly how things should go.
We can sit back and enjoy the ride and not worry about the destination, if we would let God be God and follow His lead. Just like the kids in the video. They could sit back and enjoy, if they weren’t telling mom how to drive and where to go.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
Romans 11:33 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.11.33.NIV
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Proverbs 3:7-8 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/pro.3.7-8.NIV
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.10.10.NIV
The first prompt from the book “God Is My Happy Place” is:
“When do you feel the happiest?”
The first things that pop into my mind are:
When I don’t have to perform for people to like me.
When I’m being myself and that’s ok.
When I’m with my husband.
When I’m alone with God and experiencing His peace.
When I’m not worried.
When im doing things I enjoy, such as cooking, coloring, reading, etc.
When I am cognizant of who I am in Christ.
These are just a few things that I could think of, but ultimately happiness is a choice. I choose to be happy. I can choose to be happy even when doing something I don’t enjoy. Maybe I decide to do something with my husband of his choosing, but I’m not really fond of doing that. I can still choose to be happy and allow him to enjoy himself.
The opposite is also true. I choose to be miserable by dwelling on the negative. Dwelling on the negative can also cause me not to enjoy things that I normally enjoy doing.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/php.4.8.NIV
I’m so excited to start journaling from the writing prompts in this book that I found. So I decided I would start tonight. I was going to start with the first writing prompt in the book, but i kept coming back to the intro page, every time i started to write. So i backed up a bit and i am starting off with the short intro.
The book starts off with this introduction page.
What I focus on determines where I will go. If I focus on all the negative or the “what ifs,” then I will stay stuck in my fears. But if I choose to focus on what God is doing in my life and the positive possibilities, then I will begin to get unstuck. I will continue until I am completely unstuck.
I know I am blessed. God has blessed me greatly in this life. Some who know my past may wonder how I can say that, but my past doesn’t own me. God does. I am His and I no longer dwell in my past. He defines who I am. What He says matters.
He tells me that He has a plan for me. Jeremiah 29:11
He created me in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13
I am God’s child. Galatians 4:7
Jesus died for me. John 3:16
He is preparing a place for me in heaven. John 14:2
And these are only a few. I choose to focus on what God says about me.
Thank you, Lord for all the blessings you have brought into my life. You have blessed me so abundantly. There are always blessings around every corner. Thank you for your presence in my life. You give my life meaning. Amen.
This past week I had a birthday. I turned 43. Yes 43. I know most people don’t like to divulge their age, but to me it shows how many years God has brought me through. Thank you, Lord for all you have done!
These past few days have been a great celebration. Thank you everyone who took part, whether it was a birthday wish, a gift, or spending time with me. I appreciate it all.
Starting on the day of my birthday. I arrived at work to find that my coworkers had decorated my cubicle. They brought me muffins and lemonade. Some had gifts. Two of them even sang to me.
Many birthday greetings on Facebook, as well.
Then I started off the weekend with Awaken, our women’s brunch and Bible study at church. I enjoyed it so much. All the ladies are so kind and loving.
After that, I came home and I went shopping with my husband and had Chick-fil-A for dinner.
This morning we went to church. We had such a great time in God’s house.
Then went to lunch at St. Francis restaurant in Phoenix, AZ. It is our 25th restaurant from Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. Yummy food & live music.
Then a little more shopping. I found a book, with writing prompts that I plan on using throughout the year on my blog. I look forward to writing about each one.
Then relaxation at home. Tomorrow is Monday. So rest is needed in order to be productive.
A friend of mine bought me a coloring calendar. A new page to color for every month. Coloring is one of my hobbies. I even went out and bought gel pens for this one, since it was glossy paper. I usually use colored pencils, but those don’t really show up on glossy paper.
Anyway, as I was coloring, I felt like God was showing me something.
When I color, I start in one spot and work out from there. In this one I started in the middle and am working my way out. As I was doing that, I felt like God was saying that He works on me that way. He starts on the inside and works His way out.
Sometimes He is working on small things & sometimes big things, but they are all important to my growth. Sometimes one thing must be dealt with before something else can be dealt with. God knows how to work on me. He made me.
Sometimes things take longer than I think it should. In the picture I’m coloring, I’m only getting a little done at a time. I was thinking it would go quicker. The gel pens seem to take a little longer than colored pencils. But it’s also a big picture to tackle.
When God works on my life, which He is always doing, it’s not something that gets fixed over night. A lot of issues that I deal with, at least, took a while to become that way and they will take a while to recover or heal from.
I don’t usually show my work before it is finished, but i believe it is a good illustration of a work in progress.
I am not a finished product & won’t be until I reach heaven. He is working in me to perfect me. As you see in the picture, there are lots of places to color in. Some spaces are bigger/smaller than others. It will take some time. When I am finished it will be ready to display on the wall. But until then it is one step, color, or box at a time.
Much like my life. I must take one step, day, hour, or minute at a time.
I am God’s masterpiece. When I am finished, I will be ready to be in God’s physical presence.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.2.10.NIV
Also, the following song came to mind. I pray it is a blessing to someone.
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
1 Peter 2:23 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/1pe.2.23.NIV
This verse really stuck out to me and it has stayed with me the past few days. It’s talking about how Jesus, with all that was happening to Him, through all the beating sand the crucifixion, didn’t take revenge or threaten anyone. He put Himself in God’s hands.
If I am to be Christlike, then I need to trust God with my life & put my life in His hands. The battle is His anyway.
Even when things look like a mess, trusting God is the key.
It’s not easy. When I’m in the middle of a mess, all I can see sometimes is the disaster instead of the One who is bigger than the disaster. I start relying on myself instead of Him.
Each and every time that I realize I’m trying to rely on myself, I need to entrust myself and my issues to Him and allow Him to work, even if it seems scary to give up control. He knows what He is doing.
