When life gets busy and I get stressed often, joy is not evident in my life. It isn’t because I don’t have access to joy, it’s because I’m not focused on the Lord.

Over the last two weeks I’ve focused on having peace and gentleness in myself, my family and my home. This week as part of the “Making Your Home a Haven” challenge, I’m praying for joy in my life, my family and my home.

Cultivating Joy in Myself

I want my life to be filled with joy, and when I focus on the Lord, His joy will be my strength! My joy will then spill out and inspire my family and home to be filled with joy too!

• Slow down and enjoy each moment
• Smile, hug and kids my hubby and kids
• Play Christian praise music at lease once a day
• Pray for Joy when I see the candle
• Choose joy when faced with frustrating circumstances

Cultivating Joy in My Family

Joy needs to be spilling out of my family’s hearts and mouths, I want joy to create a sparkle in my kids’ eyes.

• Let the kids be kids (encourage laughter and silly time
• Say yes more often than no
• Play games with kids daily
• Lessen our schedule
• Memorize Psalm 35:9 together

Cultivating Joy in My Home

I’d like my home’s atmosphere to speak joy and anyone who enters my home will feel welcome and laughter would fill the rooms!

• Have natural light in each room
• Remove items that upset or depress any family member
• Clean home by following my cleaning checklist
• Keep Scentsy© warming and replace as needed
• Make bed daily and wash sheets weekly

 

I want my legacy to be that I taught my children to love the Lord and that I taught them to have joy in Him. In order to leave this legacy I need to teach them by example. My circumstances may not make me happy, but I can be full of joy because I am a princess of The King!

I made a printable to use in my home this week, to help us memorize Psalm 35:9. I’ve included it in the link below as a free printable for your home should you like to use it.

Get Your FREE Psalm 35:9 Printable For the Home Here

 

I’m thrilled to be teaming up with some of my favorite girls online as a new co-host to a Monday link up here at Beautiful Ashes.

 

More specifically, how are we as blogging mommies, wives, and women, being salt and light towards others online?

Here is your chance to generously sprinkle some salt and shine a light: a link up where you share a post that you enjoyed recently from someone else’s blog or website.

 

Be the Salt & the Light to the world this week and share:

• Marriage – What touched your heart for your spouse

• Singleness – What has inspired you to reach out to God

• Mothering – What encouraged you to be the best mom you can be this week

• Health –  A new recipe that you hope to bless your family with, or health tip that will benefit your family

• Service –  A story of service that touched you

• Finances – A tip that will serve your family well 

• Homemaking – Inspiration to make your home a haven for your husband, kids, and guests

• Time – Share a story that opened your eyes to the use of time in our life

• Beauty – A reminder of what beauty really is in a world that tries so hard to 

 

Your Chance to be Salt & Light

More specifically, how are we as blogging mommies, wives, women, being salt & light towards others online?

Here is your chance to generously sprinkle some salt and shine a light: a link up where you share a post that you enjoyed recently from someone else’s blog or website. 

Make sure to follow Marissa, Bridget, Misty and Mandy so you don’t miss future opportunities to be Salt & Light to others! Oh and check out Salt & Light’s pinterest board… your post might just show up there!

 

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The fine print: Please understand that by linking up with the Salt & Light, you are agreeing to allow Rays of Grace & Joy, Beautiful Ashes, Women of Worship or Becoming a Godly Wife to feature you in a future post.  That includes a link to your post, and a picture you’ve used on that post.  You are also allowing Rays of Grace & Joy, Beautiful Ashes, Women of Worship or Becoming a Godly Wife to share any post you link up with pinterest, facebook, twitter and/or google+.  Also, by posting in this hop, you are allowing your email address to be used for a weekly reminder of the hop – your email will not be used for any other purpose, period.