....answered

Beloved, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well 3 John 2

You came home cranky because a deadline got moved up. She came home grumpy because the day care forgot to give your five-year-old her throat medicine. Each of you wanted a little sympathy from the other, but neither got any. So there you sit at the dinner table - cranky and grumpy - with little Emily. Emily folds her hands to pray (as she has been taught), and the two of you bow you heads (but not your hearts) and listen. From where this prayer comes, God only knows. 

"God, its Emily. How are you? I'm fine, thank you. Mom and Dad are mad. I don't know why. We've got birds and toys and mash potatoes and each other. Maybe you can get them to stop being mad? Please do or it's just gonna be you and me having any fun tonight. Amen." 

The prayer is answered before it's finished; you both look up in the middle and laugh at the end and shake your heads and say you're sorry. And you both thank God for the little voice who reminded you about what matters.

Be encouraged and know that God wishes for you to live a life filled with Peace and Joy. We are to let the "Joy of the Lord" be our strength. Never allow minute circumstances to change your attitude on how your day should go. You be the dictator on how your day ends up and not the trials that come before you. Let your focus be on the God who created you rather than any negatives that come before you. 

The Bible declares in Isaiah 26:3, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in You." Keep your trust in Him and make an extra effort to see the beauties that surround you. 

- dave langerfeld