Turn down and turn up!

I recently walked through a season my energy didn’t match its demands, my feelings weren’t dependable, fear was overwhelming, comparison had me down and I wanted direction from God but I wasn’t hearing anything.

So I turned down a few things:

• Social Media

• Worry

• Control

• Self worth from productivity 

• Expectations

• Negative self talk

• Excessive thinking

And I turned up a few other things:

• Conversations with God

• Worship music

• Self care

• Learning - podcasts and online courses 

• Trust

• Gratefulness

• Grace

The enemy wanted to steal this time. I could have so easily stayed in this restless place, watering the seeds the enemy was planting and missing the joys right in front of me. Instead, God interceded in the sweetest ways and redirected me to the abundant life He wants us to live Monday thru Sunday. But I had to turn down some things and replace them with better things for Him to do His best work.

Maybe the enemy is trying to steal your day?
What do you need to turn down? What do you need to turn up?

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” // John 10:10

📷: @katie.whalen.kelly

Looking to Him

So often we look to our relationships, friendships, success, feelings, validations to make us happy. We look left and right, horizontally, running after earthly things in hopes it fills us up. Leaving us discouraged and disappointed in our efforts - especially when our expectations aren’t met.
I often look for joy in things going smoothly. In my plans, expectations of others, health, self - pretty much everything...even traffic! And when it doesn’t, I’m left frustrated.

God is vertical and wants our joy to come from Him. Always available, always perfect in our weakness, always abundant and everything we need.

As a new mom and getting older my world has been rocked in this. I’m grateful for it because I no longer look to things or people of this world to make me happy...but God. So in the frustration of things not going smoothly and stealing my joy...

I take a deep breath - Look up and say Jesus.

His rescuing grace and joy are available instantly. I’m restored.

When we’re tempted to chase left and right to fill our hearts today...look up. Everything we need, instant joy, are already here and will never disappoint! 🙌🏻

For when you wake up in "that" mood

Days I wake up with my feelings upside down or what i like to call a “poor me” morning - I enjoy entertaining the bad mood for a hot second, but ultimately know this is not where I want to park for the day.

Days are too short to walk through them pitying myself. God has blessed me with too many wonderful things to cultivate that actually matter - home, children, family, work, relationships, His assignments. And frankly, someone you meet today is having a worse day than your bad hair, kids tantrums or tight jeans day.
Here’s how I turn it around. I write or say aloud... “I will not let the enemy have my mind or my day!”

God loves me. 
God sees me. 
God hears me. 
God is with me.

I then think of one thing I’m grateful for in what has caused my bad mood.

So for me, I’m 28 weeks pregnant and swollen. I’ve worked hard not to be, but I am. So I woke up this morning frustrated in those feelings but determined not to stay there.

I am thankful my body is growing to make this healthy boy who will call me mama so soon. And I’m grateful for the swelling that comes from this growing belly. Thank you Lord for these gifts.

It’s not terrible to wake up in a bad mood. Just don’t park there. Life’s too short.

So if you woke up a little upside down today, it’s ok. God is with you to turn it around!

Intentional Living Today

As I'm sure you've seen by now, the month of February has introduced something amazing; and no, I am not talking about the chocolate and candy hearts that have filled the aisles in Target. If you follow us on social media, hopefully, you've seen the #IntentionalLivingToday challenges we've been posting. Each day, early in the morning, we're posting a 'challenge of the day'. Each one is designed to push the boundaries of your heart and lead you to love others well. Really, it's as simple as it sounds: we post, you serve!

With each new challenge, you'll notice not every task will apply to the specific season of life you're currently in: maybe it's a post geared towards moms and you don't have children, or it's focused on serving your coworkers but your only colleague is your little baby...make it your own! Allow each of the days to challenge your heart. No coworker? Love on your neighbor instead! 

Serve like Jesus...Love like Jesus. 

This little challenge is just a small part of The Journal of Intentional Living. Throughout the journal, Intentional Living Today, is a running theme. In the quiet time section, 'Intentional Living Today' is a space to set one intention, which sets your mind and heart for your day.  There is so much joy in getting your mind off of yourself and loving others.  As women, we can lay down at night, reflect on our entire day and not be able to think of one thing we did right (but oh how the thief reminds us of all we didn't do).  Not any more!  You can rest well knowing you brightened someone else's day through your intentional living.  Let this be a space to grow and challenge the boundaries of your heart comfort zone.

We'd love for you to join along with us! Each day, peek at our Instagram story to see that day's challenge. Then, at some point in your day, complete the task. If you feel led, share a picture using the hashtag #IntentionalLivingToday on your social media to let others know you're joining in. We are expectant that God will work big in our hearts this month. 

Heavenly Father,

You sent your Son to serve. You sent Him to give His life for me. Let that same spirit of service and love awaken in me. Let me not seek gain, instead show me how to let others go before me. Make me humble, so I can give my life away like Jesus: willfully, obediently, and faithfully.

Amen. 

#ATLMRKT

Hey Friends!!

How good it feels to be home; baby & puppy snuggles were definitely missed! If you've been following along with us this past week, you'll know we've gotten our foot in the door with retailers across the country at AmericasMart, a huge trade show in Atlanta, that retailers attend & purchase items for their stores. There are so many treasures to be found, and let me tell you, we found them! The Living Joy team met amazing new friends, learned a TON and laughed even more. Our goal when planning what our space would look like was to bring a breath of fresh air to a place of busy & that's exactly what we did! 

 

Thinking about going yourself as a wholesaler?

Here's our list of 11 things you NEED to know before you go... 

1 - COMFY SHOES! COMFY SHOES! COMFY SHOES! Let me scream this one from the rooftops! You're doing a lot of standing/walking, so those dogs will be barking if you don't wear the right shoe! 

2 - BE PREPARED: It comes and goes so quick. We were ready for Market about a month ahead. We had everything we needed & were ready to set up. Plan, make a list, & plan some more (& make another list, lol). Having everything ready to go allowed our setup to be really quick and easy. We had our booth design & everything we needed to make it happen way in advance. So, once the day arrived to put it all together, it was a breeze! 

3 - GET A HOTEL CLOSE BY. We stayed a little less than a mile away, and this was wonderful. However, since we had some bad weather, walking was not possible. My hubs, Greg, was such a trooper & drove us right up to the door each morning. There are connecting hotels that allow you to just walk through a tunnel & you're there, we'll do this next time!

4 - HAVE A TALKING POINT. We had pens, really pretty pens, made prior to the show. This + our information pamphlet (with all our info on it) was an amazing way to catch peoples attention. It was an easy way to better serve potential retailers. Also, sweet Mary Blair passed them out in the freezing cold, bringing those in who might not have passed by otherwise. 

5- BE INTUITIVE. I am a HUGE rule follower. Like, HUGE! However, there are always ways around guidelines. Making time (& your team) work in your favor allows for quicker setup & tear down. Instead of waiting hours to load and unload our uhaul, we took a few trips with our hand truck which was parked in a nearby lot; pure genius.

6 - LAUGH MUCH! Man, I wish you could have been a fly on the wall in our hotel room. Now looking back, I'm not sure if it was the lack of sleep or the pure comic genius each of is, but the Living Joy team did NOT stop laughing. 

7 - BRING GOOD FRIENDS: Yall, my sweet hubs, best friend & our LJ creative director joined forces together and rocked this week; and what a crew we were! Seriously, Mary Blair (my bff) & Laura became besties! Not only did this make the trip more enjoyable, but these three are passionate about what Living Joy stands for. Their hearts are in it for the long run. God worked through the Living Joy team. They served like Jesus! It's true what they say, time flies by when you're having fun.

8 - MAKE GOOD FRIENDS! & we really did! There are so many others bringing the Lord to the marketplace, and this brings me such joy. It's encouraging to know that we are not alone in this fight. Our business is not for our flesh, but for eternity; we are growing the kingdom one journal, tee shirt, tattoo & card at a time!  Our hearts are all about community; look for a post soon about who we met.

9 - WOMEN NEED QUIET TIME. Now, I know I'm extra passionate about quiet time, after all, that's what pushed me to start LJ in the first place; but, if there is one thing you take away from this is that YOU WILL NEED TIME AWAY. 10 hour days are no joke. It's like you have to "be on" and ready to go at all times. It is physically and mentally draining. Time alone with Jesus is needed. Take time away with Him. Trust me, you'll thank me later! #RestInHim

10 - EAT WELL! Next to coffee, there is only one thing that's a must: ya gotta eat! Why not eat well! Here's a list of our favorite bites in downtown ATL:

- Antico - the BEST brick oven pizza (& I LOVE brick oven...this stuff is good!)
- STATS - "Voted the best sports bar in ATL" for a reason! Such good food, even better beer. It was a great way to catch up on the NFL playoffs! Get the hummus, you won't regret it! Also, they have beer taps on the tables, how fun is that!
- Max's - Because pizza once a week is never enough! This time it was cooked in a coal oven...& it was soooo yummy.
- Polaris - This restaurant is atop a hotel; it spins around the city & with 360-degree views of ATL & such delicious food, this is a must. 

11 - IT'S ALL IN GOD'S HANDS. After all, we were at Market to sell our journals to retailers. My one hope for the show was to see if others were receptive to the idea of our journal. I know I love it, but would others? & they did! It makes my heart happy to know other women desire to walk alongside Living Joy to bring simplicity & intention to time with Jesus. I am so excited to announce we are in 10 states & over 20 retailers! 

take a peek inside our booth

Until next time ATL,