And then I waited, and I waited. It seemed like I waited for weeks when in reality it was only hours that had lead to days.

Three Surprising Tips to Master Patience

1. Grow in Grace
2. Faith in His ability is more than trusting the process; it’s trusting our Creator.
3. Cultivate Gratitude

Learn to rest on your hoe while growing in grace

In my impatience, I took my hand shovel, went outside, and started digging up each seed I had planted. Yes, you read that right. I dug my seeds up before they sprouted. I observed that some of the seeds had “long stringy things” so I discarded them as rotten. There were other times when I tiled the rows from weeds when in reality I was removing my brand new seedlings. My mother in law would later tell me, “Jeanette, you need to learn to rest on your hoe.” She continued her conversation, over tea, explaining the importance of waiting while gardening. Over the years, I learned to enjoy this waiting process. The lessons from my garden have been numerous.

It’s not only gardening that requires patience, is it?

Today, I am reminded of 2 Peter 3:18

“Grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Have you ever been impatient with growth in your life? Growth can look messy like those sprouting seeds. There are times when we are tempted to discard the process of growth. Times when we are impatient with the growth and blind to our progress. I’m sure that is why we were given this reminder from Philippians.

Faith in His ability is more than trusting the process; it’s trusting our Creator.

Whenever I hear someone tell me, “trust the process” it makes me cringe. I don’t normally trust processes. Consider the DMV, do you trust their process? I know I don’t. or what about the court system do you trust their process? We’d like to right? But the reality is I don’t. However, when I put my faith in God’s ability then the process is nothing more than the journey I must travel. If there’s anything I’ve learned in my 50 years of life, it’s that I can be confident in Him, His abilities, and His plan for my life- even when it’s difficult.

Philippians 1:6

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Php 1:6). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Cultivate Gratitude

To allow grace to grow in our lives we must cultivate gratitude. Removing weeds of complacency, doubt, fear, and entitlement and instead cultivate gratitude, remembering His faithfulness and goodness toward us.

Psalm 107:1 

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: For his mercy endureth forever.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ps 107:1). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

I need to remember my mother in laws words and apply them to my spiritual life. Resting on my “hoe” is essential. Resting allows the grace that God has planted to grow at His pace and not my own.  With grateful hearts, let us be confident that He alone will complete the good work He has begun. If you’re on a journey of growing in grace don’t miss my post, “Grace in the Wilderness.” 

Until our next chat.

Mrs. Joseph Wood

P.S. Totally random, but If you’re a garden lover (or maybe you’re just like me and enjoy playing in the dirt) go to my friend’s site and purchase your heirloom garden seeds. You’ll find a beautiful assortment, high-quality seed and be supporting a lovely family in the process!

The post Growing in Grace appeared first on Mrs. Joseph Wood.

Don’t take it personally.  Are you serious?

Friends, it may not be what we want to hear, but it’s what we need to hear. (Yes, I ducked as I typed those words.)

We should hear, “Don’t take it personally” in both good and hard times. It’s vital that we hear these words when we’re living in our highest moments too. When all our work finally pays off, and we’re enjoying the benefits. We need to have someone who’s brave enough to say, “Don’t take it personally.”

This past summer, John Maxwell was reminding me that we’re never as good as our success and never as bad as our failures. He challenged me to not take life personally. I decided to accept the challenge and use the quiet moments of reflection to ponder the importance of not taking things personally.  To help me, I’ve posted a note saying “Good, bad, high or low don’t take it personally” on my bathroom mirror.

Let’s cultivate this type of authenticity in our lives and relationships.

I’m not suggesting that we disengage or stop living purpose-driven lives. What I am suggesting is that we live invested lives instead of “taking things personally” lives!

You may be asking, How is this even possible? Great question! Let’s talk about this more.

Invested People vs. Taking it Personally People

For this conversation investing is the practice of giving. Invested people pour into another person or the project at hand. A person who is taking things personally is putting on the opinions of others. They allow circumstances or people to determine their worth or lack of worth.

Ponder that for a moment.

When we invest in the people God’s put before us or the tasks He’s given us, we become invested people. We bounce back in disappointment and overcome obstacles. We stand tall in moments of rejection, or when someone has spoken ill of us. Invested people are giving people.

Individuals who are “taking it personally” people are “taking” people. People who take the moments of success or failure and wear them just like they would wear their favorite dress. They take credit for the results and become the opinions of others. They are result focused instead of duty focused.

One of my favorite quotes is from John Quincy Adams. “Duty is ours. Results are God’s.”

“Don’t take it personally” just may be the most powerful four words we could apply to our lives. What could we accomplish if we focused on our duty and not on the results? How could grace be seen in our lives if we didn’t take things personally?

Until our next chat,

Mrs. Joseph Wood

You might also enjoy:

Is that you Lord, or my hormones again?

5 Tips to Successfully Implement New Daily Habits 

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Hormones and exhaustion can often leave me feeling like a jumbled up mess. It’s important for me to recognize my limitations and biases as I go to the Lord in prayer. This lesson was painful for me to learn. There have been times when I wanted something so desperately it distorted my ability to listen. To be honest, I don’t think I wanted to hear His voice. I wanted Him to hear mine. I wanted Him to agree with me instead of me aligning myself with him.

There have been other times when I couldn’t hear anything at all. No matter how much I cried out to Him for answers, He remained quiet. Have you ever needed to hear from the Lord?

Were you uncertain you could hear His voice, even if he used a megaphone to speak to you? Yes! I’ve been in that place too. There are times when I only want to say, “Speak up Lord, I’m hormonal,” but the reality is, He already knows that.

Praying through our Emotions.

So, how do we hear the Lord’s voice in the midst of our emotions? Or how do we make sense of His silence? Well, I don’t have all those answers, but here are a few things that I’ve learned over the years.

Spend time in the Word- There are no shortcuts here. We must spend time with the Lord through the reading of His Word if we expect to hear His voice. Don’t think I am promoting the idea that we begin hopping around the Bible, grabbing at any verse to make it apply. Instead, let’s spend time with the Lord to understand the context of what’s written. Let’s read to learn God’s character, God’s desires, and God’s plan for us.

Spend time in Prayer- This goes without saying, but I’ll just say it to make sure we’re all on the same page. Friends, if we want to hear from God, then we must position ourselves so we can hear from God. It’s important to find time to pray on a regular basis. Joe, my husband, and I spend time each morning praying. I spent the evenings in private prayer for people and issues important to me. Those are both quiet times set aside for nothing but prayer. Yet, during the day, I am often thinking of someone or a situation that I will talk to the Lord about. Prayer is simply a conversation with God. Like all relationships, the more I listen (by reading the Word) and talk to God (through prayer) the more my relationship grows.

Give it time-  I have learned that waiting is an active task. God is at work even when it feels all is at a standstill. God is changing me. If only I could remember in the midst of waiting all the times past when waiting had its perfect work in my life.

Okay, now what?

You might be saying, “Okay, I know those things, and I do them for the most part, but I still don’t know when it’s God’s voice or when it’s my own.” Hold tight. I’ve got a few more suggestions you will find helpful.

If you’re like me, you can be in prayer, be in the Word, be waiting, and still not know if God’s leading you to go this way or to go that way. In those times, I am encouraged by the testimony of Moses, Gideon, or Thomas (just to list a few) who needed God to reveal Himself through events. I ask God to open doors no man can open and shut doors no man can shut. God has been so gracious to me over the years to give me hope in tangible ways and provide direction when I wasn’t sure which way to go. I know He’ll do the same for you. He’s no respecter of persons.

A final note, Let’s keep our emotions in their proper place! When my little girls were growing up, I would remind them that emotions should act as a thermometer to show us our current situation. Emotions are not a compass that takes us off in this direction or that direction. It’s important to govern our emotions if we want to be emotionally and spiritually healthy! When our emotions or hormones do get the best of us… let’s just remember that the God of the universe loves us even in the midst of our hormonal mess.

Until our next chat…

Mrs. Joseph Wood

P.S. You won’t want to miss my note, “Don’t take it personally.” 

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Are you comparing yourself, your marriage, your children, or even your trials to others? It’s easy to look around us for approval and reassurance, but the truth is that it often leads to disappointment, feelings of inadequacies, and discontentment. Comparing robs us of our joy!

A young momma come to me a few weeks back. She was in tears with how hard life is. She felt like everyone else can figure it out, but her. It was an excellent opportunity for me to share transparently with her. Our chat ended with me sharing my best tip to overcome the pit of comparison.

Dear reader, perhaps you are feeling discouraged. Maybe you’re just like the young woman who sat with me last week. I encourage you to cultivate a spirit of gratitude. Most importantly don’t look around you- look up!!

Psalm 121 (KJV)

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.”

When we look to God for our help, approval, and reassurance, we can confidently say, like the psalmist, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”

Let’s stop comparing ourselves and our lives to those around us. Instead, let’s turn our eyes to Jesus it’s there that we’ll find our help!

Until our next chat,

Your friend,

Mrs. Joseph Wood

You might also enjoy reading:

The post Comparison- The Thief of Joy appeared first on Mrs. Joseph Wood.

1 Peter 1:3-7

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Pe 1:3–6). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Two Powerful Reminders When Guarding Our Joy:

Step One: Focus our attention on our Living Hope and not the moment. Because of His great mercy, we now possess a hope that was meant for our good while we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. We don’t have to wait until a trial is over to have this Hope. We can have Hope in the midst of the heartbreak. Not an ordinary hope, rather a Living Hope that produces Joy. Isn’t it wonderful that God is guarding all the blessings He has stored for us? Isn’t it a joyful reminder to consider that He will never leave us or forsake us. His blessings and His promises are not dependent on our abilities or strength, but His alone. Walking in joy is possible when we set our attention on our Hope instead of our heartbreaks.

Step Two: Set our attention on praise. Living a Joy-filled life will spill over in our actions. We will smile more, say kind words, and think joy building thoughts. Research confirms what the Scriptures tell us. When we smile, listen to joyful music, or surround ourselves with others who are joy-filled we too are more joyful.

There are so many verses and testimonies in the Scriptures that encourage me to hold fast to my joy, however, one of my favorite verses that I often remind the family of is in Philippians. I can’t emphasize enough, the importance of taking our thoughts captive. We must set our attention on giving praise to the One who can do exceedingly, abundantly, more in our lives than we could have ever imagined.

Three Of My Favorite Scriptures For Guarding Joy

Philippians 4:8-9

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

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Php 4:8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ga 5:22–23). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Philippians 4: 4-7

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Php 4:4–7). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

I hope you’ll join me today as I make the decision to cut off any and all excuses that would keep me from guarding my joy!

Until our next chat,

Your friend,

Mrs. Joseph Wood

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5 Tips To Successfully Implement New Daily Habits

1. Implement a few changes at a time. I prefer no more than three at a time yet; I know some who are ambitious and prove to be successful even with more.
2. Simplify your goals- If your goals have several components, make each element a goal of its own.
3. Keep your goal before you. Writing your goal out so that it remains as a visible reminder is helpful. Sharing with others who will encourage you to achieve your goal is also useful.
4. Track your progress. This is where my simple chart will come in hand.
5. Keep Growing! Becoming stagnant is dangerous. We must always work to make our tomorrows better than our today’s.

Remember, there will always be something or someone that can derail us. Consistency is something we must embrace. I hope you’ll find my journal pages helpful for this task. Journaling is something I have considered valuable throughout the years. I have also used this with my children.

I’d love to hear your feedback so make sure you write me a note with the comment feature!

Track your success with our 5 steps to success PDF. Free to download ~ Habit Tracker Printable

HabitBull is an app you might enjoy to help you stay on track with new habits. I’ve used this tool in the past and found it helpful, especially when I have several new things I am adding to my day.

Until our next chat,

Your friend,

Mrs. Joseph Wood

The post 5 Tips To Successfully Implement New Daily Habits (FREE DOWNLOAD) appeared first on Mrs. Joseph Wood.

Last Wednesday was no different. I started talking about my boys and their genuine gratitude for the simplest things. She filed my nails and asked, “Your boys have always been so grateful, what about your child with mental illness, is she grateful too?” “No,” I replied. It was sobering to think about the truth of my response.

Romans 1:21

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ro 1:21). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Ungratefulness leads to futile thinking and foolish hearts. Where gratefulness overcomes pride, entitlement, and self-pity. Research indicates that individuals who practice gratitude live healthier, happier, and less stressful lives. Does this mean that gratefulness cures mental illness? Of course not. What I am suggesting is that gratefulness will make our lives better no matter who we are or what we’re suffering from.

How do we experience the power of gratitude in our lives?

• Surround yourself with people who encourage you to live abundantly grateful.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Add a dose of sunshine to your day.
• Exercise regularly, even if it’s just a few moments each day.
• Cultivate gratitude for the small things in life.
• Jot down 5-10 things that you are grateful for each day.
• Do a word study on gratefulness in your personal devotions.
• Look for opportunities to serve others.
• Replace negative thoughts with a positive affirmation instead.

Do you have anything to add to the list? I would love to hear your suggestions too. Don’t forget the importance of practicing gratefulness each day. Make sure you invite a friend to join you on this journey. Gratefulness between friends is contagious.

Until our next chat

Your friend,

Mrs. Joseph Wood

You might also enjoy reading:

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Over a cup of coffee, my sons sat with me in the morning discussing this topic. We asked the question, “Why is it so easy to swing the pendulum?” We decided that Balance must be a character of the Lord, something we must develop by grace. If you think about it, our flesh is always at war with the nature that Christ would have us embrace.

“Just as your car runs more smoothly when the wheels are in perfect alignment. You perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance.” ~ Brian Tracy

Just like we need exercise physically, we need to apply Balance in our lives.

To confirm or deny our “theory” we had to go to the Scriptures. We discovered that we could only find two instances where God is extreme. He is extreme in His love for us and extreme in His hatred for sin.

Last week I shared about the importance of self-discipline. Discipline is critical in attaining balance. One definition of Balance is the act of putting something in a secure position, so it does not fail. It’s easy for any of us to get our priorities mixed up and lose our balance. We are wise to remember that having balance doesn’t mean we aren’t engaged or fully invested in a successful outcome. Balance means we are creating a secure place so that we don’t fail.

As I start this next week, I am working on attaining balance in several areas of my life. Knowing when to act, when to remain still. Here’s an article by Huffington Post that I found helpful. It’s all about baIance.

I hope you’re able to find balance as well! We bring glory to God as we display the character of Balance in our lives.

Psalm 46:1

Be still, and know that I am God:

I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ps 46:10). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Until our next chat…

Your friend,

Mrs. Joseph Wood

You may also be interested in reading:

Solving life’s problems means we must start with what we know.

The post Balance In An Unbalanced World appeared first on Mrs. Joseph Wood.

I was still warm in bed when I heard one of my teen children come to the bedroom door and whisper, “Momma, are you awake?”  “Yes, come on in,” I replied. At the end of my bed stood a troubled teen. This wasn’t the first time a child couldn’t sleep and needed to talk. After listening for quite some time, I finally heard the question I’ve heard before. “I just don’t know where to start. How do I fix this?”

“Start with what you know,” I responded. “So many times we can get caught up in the size or pain of our problem that we fail to see the first step.”

Solving life’s problems means we must start with what we know.

I remember teaching my children algebra. They would often get stuck looking at a new equation, fearing they couldn’t solve the problem. I would always give them the same words, “Start with what you know.” Before you know it, you’ll know the next step or God will provide someone to direct you once you get to that place. We must only be willing to take that first step and do what we know.

So let’s look at a few of life’s problems and see if we can’t find that first step to doing what we know to do.

Relationship related issues- Let go of what you can’t change, focus on your personal growth, support others, etc

Financial related issues- avoiding unnecessary spending, looking for another source of income, tithing, etc.

Weight-related issues- drinking more water, eating nutrient-rich food, exercising, avoiding processed food, etc

As women, wives, and mothers, we need to face our problems the same way. Soon, what we thought was unsolvable will be behind us. Anchored as a memory that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Php 4:13). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Until our next chat,

Your friend,

Mrs. Joseph Wood

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I had not thought about discipline recently, nor had I read any books or articles on the topic. Still, the voice repeated in my mind, “Discipline.” Now, I’m not one to “hear voices.” Yet, every so often, out of the blue, timely and necessary reminders come to mind. I am impressed with how God will bring people across my path to confirm something he’s speaking of with me. This morning was no exception.

Later that day, I attended a writers workshop. When the speaker said, “Discipline is the act of making yourself do what you don’t want to do so that you can achieve the results you want.” I thought it was interesting to hear that word again, Discipline. I mulled it over for a few more days before looking up the definition of self-discipline for myself.

Self-Discipline

Merriam-Webster defines self-discipline as the “correction or regulation of oneself for the sake of improvement.”

I know I shouldn’t get stuck on a word, but that’s what was happening. I wanted to dissect this concept of self-discipline so that I could grasp it fully.

Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Heb 12:11). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

1 Cor. 9: 24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Co 9:24–27). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Clearly, I see the value of possessing this character of self-discipline; my personal success is dependent upon it. I can easily lose sight of its value in the noise and busy work I surround me. I’m thankful for mornings like this where simple reminders grow into meaningful messages meant for my good.

Until our next chat…

Your friend,

Mrs. Joseph Wood

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