Choose Joy Day 3 -- Silver Lining

"I think our expectations of what we want life to be often overshadow the good things that are already in front of us... and that's when we miss the silver lining. "All God asks of us is to live the best life we can with what we are given."  I know I can't just apply this to my own life... I have to apply it to the people in my life as well. If I am really allowing the people around me to live the best life they can with what they are given, I can't put my own conditions on them. The more I acknowledge that silver lining, the less I notice the gold that's out of reach."  ~Sara Frankl

My mom (Sara's mom...well, mom of 6 of us), always would say that we need to have "an attitude of gratitude." That is what pops into my mind as I think about how this relates to joy. Sometimes the reason we aren't feeling joy is because the gold we wanted didn't come. Yet, if we stop and look at the silver linings that did, we will find the JOY.

In my families life, the gold would've been for dad and Sara to be here on earth with us much longer than what we were given. To have them with us to share and experience life with us today would have been ultimate gold. But that gold was not what God's plan was. So, with an attitude of gratitude, we have found many silver linings. 

We are VERY grateful for the time we did have with them.

We are grateful that we took the time to love each other well and let each other know how much they are loved.

We are grateful that God chose them for us.

We are grateful for a God who loved us so much that He gave us His son, who died on the cross, so that we, dad and Sara, can live forever!

The list goes on and on...so many silver lining blessings that bring JOY back to our lives.

So tell me, what silver linings have blessed you today?

More lessons on choosing joy can be found in the book, Choose Joy: Finding Hope and purpose when life hurts.

Choose Joy Day 2 -- Joy is Prayer

A living Prayer ... It would be found in the reflection of others when they are touched by you. It would be seen in the joy that others would find contagious, in compassion that others would feel in your words and deeds. It would be found in the kind word for no reason, the intentional way of listening and the hand outstretched to give and to receive. All these things must be what a living prayer looks like to others. I want to be remembered as a living prayer."      ~Sara Frankl

When I think of Mother Teresa's quote telling us that JOY is found in prayer, strength and love...I think of how A dear sister friend of mine taught me how to pray a well known prayer, Psalm 46:10..."Be still and know that I am God. Be still and know that I am. Bet still and know. Be still. Be." After I close my eyes and say this prayer, that's when I fell God give me joy, strength and love. 

It still comes down to this...It's not about me. It's about Him.

Be a living prayer to others by continuing to spread Joy, Strength and Love to others!

Peace!

You can find more messages of joy in the book Choose Joy: Finding Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts.

Gitz: 31 Days of Choosing Joy

Gitz: 31 Days of Choosing Joy

Choose Joy Day 1 -- It's Not About Me

"How can I find within myself to Choose Joy?  I don't know how to do that without first knowing that it's not about me. It's not even about me living my life and relying on God to help me through. Because that would mean I was driving and God was giving me moral support. I am saying that my life only works if God is at the wheel, if He's reading the map and if He's making the turns."   ~ Sara Frankl

My reflection for today...

How many times do I pray for God to help me through this or help me through that...(fill in the blank)?  Maybe my own prayer life includes too much me thinking...

My new daily prayer is that He will give me an open mind, a humble heart and faithful feet to walk where He leads.

If you feel God at the wheel asking you to help spread His joy and His word, share these 31 days of joy and say a prayer for all those who will read it!

I will use a phrase from Pastor Darrin Vick ...Go out, spread the joy and raise a little heaven out there!

You can find more messages of joy, in the book Choose Joy: Finding Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts. 

31 Days of Choosing Joy

Hello friends! 

How would you like to be part of 31 days of choosing joy? Doesn't that sound like an offer you can't refuse? 

I assure you it is!

This post is a part of a 31 day challenge. I'll be sharing a Choose Joy quote and graphic each day this month in honor of Sara, more affectionately known to many as Gitz. I hope that it will bring you hope and that you will find it encouraging!

Sara's definition of Joy:
"The unwavering trust that God knows what He is doing and has blessed me to be a part of it, not despite what's happening in my life, but because of it. When everything earthly feels heavy, He gives me an internal lightness that can't be touched."

How do you define joy? 

Please join me on this journey filled with joy over the next 31 days. You can also find hundreds of other 31 day series at The Nester’s 31 Days site.

To learn more about Choosing Joy and Sara's journey in choosing, you can also pre-order her book today! Choose Joy: Finding Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts

Choose Joy: The Sara Gitz Frankl Memorial Foundation

This is truly an exciting time for our family as well as each of you have loved and continue to love our sweet Sara! We are grateful for God's continued blessings. In particular, the opportunity to continue His teachings using Sara's life as an example of what being faithful to God can do in our lives.

God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good!

Our family has set up a memorial foundation in honor of Sara's legacy. All profits made from the sale of her book, Choose Joy: Finding Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts, will go directly to the foundation... Choose Joy: Sara Gitz Frankl Memorial Foundation.

Our Mission:
To be a disciple of God and touch people's lives as they continue to learn, believe and trust in God, all while remembering, it's not about us, It's about Him.

Our Purpose:
To continue the memory and ministry of Sara "Gitz" Frankl. Sara's life was an example of God's love, grace, joy and care. Her memory moves us to fulfill her wish that people continue to learn, believe and trust in God while spreading His word and living a life of Joy!

Goals and Objectives:
To support Christian ministries and organizations, foster the development of Christian based education and provide support to Christian charities and churches.

You can visit the foundation website at: www.choosejoyfoundation.com. 

Thanks also to each of you for loving our Sara so well! Keep choosing....JOY!!

Laura

Sara's Heavenly Birthday Wish...

Today, September 24, 2015 marks 4 years since Sara reached for heaven and joined hands with her Father in heaven. Right up until the end, Sara was intentional with her time. She was intentional in making sure everyone knew how much they were loved and how excited she was to be going home.

We miss our Sara...our Gitzen Girl!

We miss how intentional she was in sharing...

Her life...Faithfully devoted to Him.
Her words...Filled with inspiration and hope.
Her heart...Filled with so much love and joy.

We miss all of her!

Sara lived with so much intention and taught us the importance of being intentional in all we do. To be intentional in making this life about Him, not us.

Since September 24, 2011 there has been continued intention in making sure Sara's God inspired legacy will continue here on earth. Sara always made sure that we knew..."It's not about me, it's about Him."

This journey has been amazing. God has opened so many doors. He has made this continued discipleship a reality.

Sara also liked to challenge us. Even in her last days, she provided us with challenges.  

First challenge … Sara didn't want her funeral to be about her…she wanted it to be about Him. 

How do you celebrate someone's life and not make it about them?  Sara's funeral was about the One who gave her JOY, Strength and Hope.  And, we celebrated Sara…Her example of being intentional in trusting the One who can give us JOY, strength and Hope.

Second Challenge…How to continue someone's beautiful legacy and not make it about them.

On January 5, 2016, the book Choose Joy, finding Hope and Purpose when Life Hurts will be released! This book is about Him. Using Sara's life and words as an example of how being intentional in choosing can bring us joy, hope and purpose. 

How can you be intentional?

If you want to be inspired and live a life of JOY, hope and purpose, click on the picture below to purchase your own copy of Choose Joy; Finding Hope and Purpose when Life Hurts.

You can also be intentional by sharing it with a friend…you won't regret it and neither will they.

God's blessings today and always ~