Two Days Worth of Joel & Victoria

Seasons of Sowing

Today's Scripture

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy” (Psalm 126:5).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

The Scripture talks about seasons of sowing and reaping in your life. In Psalms, it talks about sowing in tears and reaping in joy. That verse is saying that the sowing seasons are usually the most difficult. It’s hard to keep a good attitude when all your friends are being blessed, but you’re not. You may feel like they don’t work as hard as you do. You may feel like they don’t give like you do or don’t deserve the blessing. That’s a time of testing. It’s hard to go through disappointments and stay positive and hopeful. These are seasons of sowing. If you’ll do the right thing even when it’s hard—when you sow in tears—you will always reap in joy! I’m asking you to have a new attitude toward what God has placed in your heart. It may be taking a long time, but God still has a plan to bring it to pass. Don’t give up. Your time is coming. It’s never too late! God is saying, “This is your season. Keep your faith stirred up.” Keep sowing because in due season, you will reap the bountiful harvest with a song of joy in your heart!

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, thank You for another day to serve You and sow into the lives of those around me. I ask for Your strength today to do Your will and keep a good attitude. Help me recognize my season of sowing so that I can be ready in the time of harvest. I love You and bless Your holy name today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

God-Ordained Moments

Today's Scripture

"For I know the plans I have for you,”declares the Lord”, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

God created every one of us to be successful. Before the foundation of the world, He laid out an exact plan for our life. And in this plan, He has marked moments that are going to come across our paths. These moments are not ordinary. They are destiny-altering moments. They are designed to thrust you years ahead. It says in Ecclesiastes that “time and chance come together for every person.” That means you’ll have opportunities to meet the right people, opportunities to advance in your career, opportunities to fulfill your dreams. God has already pre-arranged times of increase and blessing. You may not be seeing a lot of good breaks right now, but let me encourage you; there are seasons of favor and seasons of increase marked for your future. There are God-ordained moments planned out for you. Don’t miss these moments! Don’t stop believing, and don’t get distracted by what’s going on in the world around you. Focus on removing the clutter from your life so that you can hear the still, small voice. Approach today with an attitude of faith and expectancy. As you do, you’ll embrace the God-ordained moments that are ordered for you!

A Prayer for Today

Father God, thank You for ordering my steps. Thank You for making a way when there seems to be no way. I choose to step out today with faith and expectancy so that You can move in my life. I trust You with my destiny and thank You for fulfilling every desire of my heart today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Simple Peace

The willingness to be and to have, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else, would set our hearts at rest, and we would discover that the simpler the life the greater the peace. ~ Elisabeth Elliot from The Shaping of a Christian Family via the Life Lessons Devotional.

I desire a simple, peaceful life. I want to eliminate all "unnecessary striving" as Reed Arvin calls it.

Heavenly Father, open my eyes to see those things I can eliminate and give me the faith and courage to release them that through having a simple life I may come to know you more. Amen.

Something is Brewing

There is something brewing inside of me. Like a big discovery about myself that I am about to make. Or maybe it is just a personal mission statement trying to get out. It is hard to explain the "feeling." Yesterday I was listening to a Maximum Impact Club CD and I had that feeling. I don't even know how to describe it...it is like a desire to make a list of the things I like, the personality traits I have, the qualities I would like to develop, the things that are important to me. And a long with that comes the urge to simplify things...perhaps that urge is to remove the clutter in my life so that I can "see" what those other things are. It's very fuzzy and like I said I don't know how to describe it.

Heavenly Father, help me with this feeling. I don't know what it is or what I need to do with it. I think it is your Holy Spirit prompting me to do something, but I don't know what it is. Please guide me and help me. I will listen for your voice. In Jesus Name I Pray. Amen.

Simple Lifestyle

A humble and simple lifestyle is the source of great joy, and a holy defense against temptations and doubt. ~ Deacon Bill Steltemeir, EWTN Family Newsletter

I keep getting messages about simplicity, simplifying, leading a simple lifestyle. I had another one yesterday, but now I can't remember what it was. This morning it was this quote written at the bottom of the EWTN Family Newsletter.

What does a simple lifestyle look like? I've been [slowly] working on decluttering. I know that is the first step and I still have a lot to do. I wonder what the next step will be?

Filling the empty places

"When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it travels through dry places, looking for a place to rest, but it doesn't find it. So the spirit says, 'I will go back to the house I left.' When the spirit comes back, it finds the house still empty, swept clean, and made neat. Then the evil spirit goes out and brings seven other spirits even more evil than it is, and they go in and live there. So the person has even more trouble than before. It is the same way with the evil people who live today." ~ Matthew 12:43-45

I have the desire in my heart to simplify my life and my main motivation is to make more room for God. This verse serves as a warning to me that as I simplify and make room, that I need to be sure and fill it with Him, instead of other things. I remember one Lent I decided to have protein bars for my breakfast and lunch every day so that I could use that time to spend with the Lord. However, a lot of that time saved was spent running errands and doing other things, instead of what I originally intended.

Lord, as I simplify my life and surroundings, please come and fill them with your presence. I want you here and nothing else. Amen.

Simplify your life

Simplify your life.

That was a line in the life lesson in today's reading. It jumped out at me. I desire simplicity. Simplifying is even an interest that I listed in my profile. But what does it mean? The definition I found by googling is "make simpler or easier or reduce in complexity or extent." I know a lot of my desire is to get rid of excess stuff in my home. I love the feeling after I clean off my desk, or organize a drawer, or declutter a closet. I can think again when I look at the area. I am not distracted by what I see. But is God asking me to simplify in other areas? I don't know - maybe if I clear some more physical clutter, I will be able to think and see what other areas He wants simplified.

Dear Lord, please help me to clear the clutter, both physical, mental, and spiritual from my life so that I will not be distracted from hearing Your still, small voice. Amen.