The Lord is With us

It’s not practical to assume we will all feel happy every moment of every day. No matter who we are
or how wonderful our life is in general, there are still bound to be moments when we’re down. No one
promised life would be easy, but the Lord did promise He would be there! God is always with us,
leading us, guiding us, loving us, providing for us — all with His unlimited resources.
The Lord has expressed to us in so many ways how we should rely on Him to provide nourishment
for our souls and minds to keep us uplifted. In the world you will have tribulation. But take
heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
We are to be open to the Lord and to trust Him. We need, by faith, to receive what He has for us. It is
essential we realize how much He loves us and that He has a good purpose and plan for each one of
us. He knows everything about us!!
O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit
down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even
before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my
head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! Psalm 139:1-6
There’s nothing God doesn’t know and can’t do for us. He walks with each of us every moment. Be
open to Him and trust Him. By faith, we receive what He has for us. We have hope: Because of
the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new each
morning; great is our faithfulness.
With this in mind, let’s be positive, finding uplifting joy in everyday things we experience. Check the
list below and take a few moments to think about each one. Joy can be found in even the smallest of
events. Let’s thank the Lord for all the joy and peace He provides for us daily—from the simplest to
the most wonderful!

• Laughing so hard that our face hurts.
• No lines at the supermarket, bank or post office.
• Taking a drive on a scenic, winding country road.
• Hearing our favorite hymn or song on our phone or radio.
• Lying in bed listening to the rain outside water the earth.
• Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
• A good and meaningful conversation.
• Looking out on the snow as we sit near the warmth of a fireplace.
• Finding a 20 dollar bill in our coat from last winter.
• Experiencing a beautiful sunset with its colorful palette.
• Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
• Long-standing and steadfast friends.
• Overhearing someone say something nice about us.
• Waking up and realizing we still have a few hours left to sleep.
• Playing with a new puppy.
• Making and then eating chocolate chip cookies.
• Knowing we’ve done the right thing, no matter what other people think.
  The moral for us is that our actions and attitudes always have a ripple effect on
  others. Happiness turns up more or less where we’d expect it to—a good marriage, a
  rewarding job, a pleasant vacation. Joy, on the other hand, is unpredictable.
  If we keep JOY in our lives… Jesus, Others, You… in that order, we create waves that can lift
  others up and carry them above the trials and drudgery of life.
  Blessings, Ben