Monday SHINE.....

Dec 10

Reading Plan for Week of 12/10-12/17:

Monday 12/10: Luke 8
Tuesday 12/11: Luke 9
Wednesday 12/12: Luke 10
Thursday 12/13: Luke 11
Friday 12/14: Luke 12
Weekend Reading: Luke 13-14

Happy Monday, sweet SHINE girls! Are you bubbling over with JOY because the Christmas season is here?

I pray that you are.

Let me just say that it is not always easy to find Joy during this month. Life gets really busy. People get really cranky, and our wallets get really slim. (or slimmer.)

For some of us, this Christmas brings sadness because of loved ones no longer with us. Or maybe, our lives are just not like they used to be due to change.

My sister, Angela, has expressed this many times over the last month. Her oldest son is in the Navy this year, and her oldest daughter is away at college.

Girls, this is HARD.

Change is hard.

Can I just be honest and say that I struggle with change? It is truly a daily battle for me to find JOY in the changes going on.

The good news is: Joy is there for the taking. It always is. We just have to grasp it and embrace it.

I have prayed about what our memory verse should be this week. It is suddenly crystal clear.

I've told y'all before that this verse has been my ROCK through the years, right? Well, I think it's time to remember the promise held in this simple verse.

"The Joy of the Lord is my Strength." Nehemiah 8:10

So, grab your little notecard and write it down.

When things get hard today, say this verse out loud.

When things get sad today, say this verse out loud.

When things just are not the same, say this verse out loud.

Oh, girls! Believe in the Power of His Strength. He will never, ever, ever let you down pretty girl.

Find your strength today in that.

**Just a suggestion: If you go to the dollar store, you can find a little 3x5 index card binder. You can store all of our Monday Memory verses in there. Keeps you organized. Plus it's handy when you need to find a verse at your fingertips! If your kids are doing it with you, get them one too!