Peace Challenge Outcome and April's Challenge

Jenna, from Feminine Farmgirl, challenged everyone, in March, to have Peace. Something funny that happens to me every time I comment on her blog, to tell her that I am going to join the challenge, is that I get challenged! What I mean is that when the challenge was to be joyful I found it hard to be joyful! I found it hard last month to be have peace but with God all things are possible (Philippians 4:13) and here I am in April! My allergies have been acting up all year and it has affected my stomach! Sometimes my stomach feels like it wants to be sick but I haven't been yet (Praise the Lord). It was hard to feel peaceful when my stomach was acting up!

Here are some verses that I read at the beginning of the month about peace:

Romans 5:1-2

¹Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,²through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Romans 15:13

¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

I hope everyone had a wonderful and peaceful month! April's Challenge is on self-control! If you want to join just visit Jenna's blog and leave her a comment that you want to join the challenge.

In Christ,

~Mac

Joy Challenge Outcome

Joy was sometimes hard to for me to find in the month of February! But, "With God all things are possible.'' (Philipians 4:13) I have had a messed up immune system all year so it has been hard being joyful through that! Sadly enough, joy has always been a struggle of mine, so it was hard for me to be joyful at times. I loved being challenged, though, because it made me stop and take every thought captive. It was so wonderful having the Joy of the Lord flow threw me! There are things that bothered me on specific days and I would start to get frustrated! But in February, I would remind myself to be patient, wait for a second and calm down, then speak. I often found joy in the hardest moments, since the Lord was gracious to me and helped me be joyful . I found the strength to press on even when I didn't feel like it! Thank you Lord! It is a lot of work being joyful, even more so in all circumstances! I forgot to do a lot of the little things Jenna wanted us to do! But I will write several of the verses that I liked pertaining to joy!

Psalms 30:10-12

¹⁰ Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me;
O LORD, be my help."

¹¹ You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

¹² that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Psalms 51:11-12

¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Romans 12:11-13

¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Galatians 5:22-23

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Philippians 4:4

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

1 Thessalonians 5:16

¹⁶Be joyful always

James 1:2

²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.

1 Peter 1:8

⁸Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

Here are some of the things that brought me joy last month were:

1. Playing in the snow at my friends' house! I don't get the chance to do that often!

2. Hearing my little "adopted nephew" tell me that he loved me and was glad that I got to visit his house!

3. Spending time at my grandparents' house!

4. Driving home and taking a long much needed nap! LOL

I hope everyone had a wonderful month!

In Christ,

~Mac