Resisting Happiness- Book Review

We’re hitting the books in this episode. This book, “Resisting Happiness,” is currently my favorite read of 2023. Want to find out why?
Take a listen. 😀

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1806754/

Romans 12:15

Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:15 NLT

Empathize. We always talk about sympathy. Which is of course important. But we rarely take time to truly empathize with others or acknowledge the need to do so.

Sympathy is me feeling for you. I feel sorrow for you or sorry for you. Empathy is me understanding and sharing your feelings. Sympathy sees you, but empathy is right there with you. I feel what you feel.

This verse is reminding us to empathize with others, especially as a body of believers. We should be happy with our brothers and sisters and also weep with them.

As I approach two years since my father’s passing, I think death is the time this is most on display amongst the body. There’s nothing like laughing at memories with someone who’s grieving, but also crying with them in the absence of that loved one.

All in all, the idea is to be present with that person. Be that support system however you need to be in that moment. Be happy, be sad, but be present, and be God honoring through it all.

Purposeful Living- Tip 5

Tip #5: Take baby steps.

The old adage is true, Rome wasn’t built in a day. You won’t change in a day. You may want to, but you won’t. And that’s OK.

The point of these tips is to encourage you to small changes. To encourage you to see little things that can make a difference. You won’t up and become optimistic because one day you spoke positive affirmations or chose a joyful outlook. But gradually you may.

Life is important, but oddly enough it’s probably one of the most undervalued and unintentional things we do. Isn’t that crazy?

Ask yourself, what does a baby step look like for me? It’s a baby step, so it doesn’t have to be “one giant leap for mankind.” It’s just a big step for you maybe.

My challenge to you is to do these little things. My next challenge is to be ok with your gradual pace. And next, celebrate the small victories. Today, you put tip 2 into action. Hooray! One day this week you positively affirmed yourself or maybe someone else. Kudos to you!

Powerful Peace

Wanting peace is not a sign of weakness. I really feel like we live in a society where bigger, better, stronger somehow means peace is out. You can offer me some choices in life, but if peace is out so am I. I don’t substitute peace.

There is power in peace. Ask someone who doesn’t have it and they’ll tell you. Ask someone who has everything and no peace, I’m sure they’d say they just want peace. Talk to someone who does have peace. It doesn’t matter their job or circumstances, they’re living it up because they have peace.

Peace is mainly powerful because of God. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, therefore there is power in peace. Yes, simple peace. But without Jesus there is no powerful peace. So I’ll actually offer a newer challenge.

Talk to someone who has the peace of Jesus Christ. It doesn’t matter their job or circumstances, they’re living it up because they have Jesus.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6 NLT

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. – John 14:27 NLT

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.- Philippians 4:7 NLT

MooreTime Podcast – The One

How do you know? Isn’t that a million-dollar question? In this episode we talk about when we realized we liked each other. Tune in!

https://mooretime.buzzsprout.com/1006603/10307757-when-did-i-know-i-liked-my-spouse

Purposeful Living Tip 4

Tip #4: Positive Affirmations

This is a simple tip. That’s kind of been the theme. Simple, yet powerful. Use positive affirmations in your life. Why? Because it’s positive!

To start off my days, I spend time in the morning standing in front of the mirror and speaking positivity. I start with scriptures that point to how God sees me. And then I say some phrases that are empowering for me.

These are just a couple of scriptures I refer to:

I am a masterpiece. – Ephesians 2:9
I’m fearfully and wonderfully made. – Psalm 139

A few phrases:
I matter.
My existence is evidence that I have a purpose.
I’m worth it.

There’s much more that goes into my morning routine, but these affirmations are a big part of it. I remind myself that anything that goes against the uniqueness God crafted me with is a lie and I won’t buy into it.

I understand everyone reading this may not be a Jesus follower, but don’t you think people are worth it? Yeah, we can be a mess, but does that make us any less masterpieces?

Affirm yourself. Stop waiting for others to do it. Or while you wait, affirm yourself. You are unique. This world wouldn’t be the same without you. And sometimes we have to remind ourselves of that. So, do.

Living on Purpose – Tip 1

Tip #1: Choose Joy

Find joy in everyday. One thing I’ve challenged myself to do everyday is find one thing to look forward to. This is a simple exercise and a huge game changer. It’s useful for a few reasons.

1) The feeling of hope creates joyful anticipation. Do you know how much easier it is to get out of bed when you have something to look forward to?

2) It promotes a more positive outlook on life. Life tends to appear more half full than half empty when you look for the fullness of life.

3) It creates simplicity in life that we all need from time to time. We complicate life so much that the things that are privileges become burdens. When we choose to focus on the simple joys, we clear our minds for the meaningful moments.

No matter how small or silly it may seem, find something to look forward to everyday. And if you can’t think of anything, create something. Here are a few little things I look forward to:

Buying a new book
Finishing a book
Buying coffee one day
Ice cream on Fridays
Chick Fil A
Jean day at work
Dinner with my family
Watching a rerun of Family Matters
Wearing sweatpants and a hoodie
Taking a nap

All very simple things, but when I use them as things to look forward to, they actually become powerful influences. They are simple things that bring me joy so when I anticipate them they bring joy to my day.

Just try it for a week and tell me what you think. It can’t hurt right?

Snow Days

We so rarely get snow in Georgia anymore. As a child, it seemed like it snowed at least once a year. Now, most of us are happy if we can see flurries every two or three years.

Oh, but when we do get some snow… it’s a real treat!

I love the snow. And one reason is a bit shallow, but it’s really the cherry on top.

Snow to me is miraculous. Do you know how many things have to fall in place for it to actually snow and to stick? Just two weeks ago we were rocking short sleeves and today we’re all bundled up.

Second, it’s beautiful. It’s always a reminder of scripture for me. All the grass, dirt, vehicles, and roads can be covered in a blanket of snow. A beautiful reminder of the love of Christ that has covered my sins.

Isaiah’s words for Judah from the Lord:

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. – Isaiah 1:18 NLT

Thirdly, it’s pretty fun to think about missing school for a snow day. Even as an adult, I get childlike excitement about a possible snow day from school, and I actually love my job. It’s just something fun about a snow day in G.A.

Glad Heart

Proverbs 15:13 A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.

People would always say, your dad doesn’t seem sick. Or I would never think your dad didn’t feel well because he’s always smiling.

This verse made me think of my dad. I believe that he never seemed sick to others because God had blessed him with a glad heart. He was always out and about smiling, and at home he was silly and laughing. He was almost indescribably silly.

It wasn’t that he didn’t feel bad, he just had something from God that made him able to cope. He had something that made him smile, even when he didn’t feel like it. God had blessed my dad with a glad heart and a happy face. I’m glad that’s the memory I have of my dad. He reminded me that joy isn’t circumstantial, in fact, it’s anything but. Joy comes from God, not from circumstances going our way.

I have to choose joy. Even though I want my dad here, and circumstances didn’t go my way, I have to remember the lesson he taught through his countenance. That even when life hands you lemons, choose to make the most of it. Choose joy that makes people wonder, are you really sick?

After all, now my dad has a healthy body and joy in Heaven. He’s got a healed body to go along with his cheerful spirit now.

Marry Someone You Will Enjoy the Ride With

Marry someone you will enjoy the ride with. Brandon and I go to Pigeon Forge every year. We may go to the movies. We may go to eat. We may ride go karts. We play putt-putt. We may play video games. We even Christmas shop for our family. We do a few other things for ourselves. We celebrate life together and create our own little traditions. We do a lot there. But do you know what my favorite part is?

Not the shopping, not the games, not the dinner, but the ride. The ride is my absolute favorite.

On the ride, we connect. We get coffee and gas station pizza on the go.

We sing. We talk. I read aloud. We listen to sermons. We may even stop and take a picture of the mountains and the trees. Nothing beats the ride there because it’s full of anticipation, but it’s also full of bonding time.

My advice to people who want to get married is simple: marry a godly person of course, and marry someone you can enjoy the ride with, both literally and metaphorically. After all, its the best part.