Smile - It's Contagious!!

"When they were discouraged, I smiled at them.  My look of approval was precious to them." - Job 29:24


I was reading through Job and I run across where he is talking about his former blessings.  No matter what Job was faced with, and everything that was taken away from him... he still mentioned a smile.  What if we were all as faithful and loyal to God as Job was?  Everything but his life was taken from him, and yet he chose to praise God through it all.  Why?  Because he knew the love of God. 


I find it funny too that the last few Dove Chocolates messages to me were "Smiles are Free", and "Your Smile brightens the room".  We get little reminders daily that what we project with our attitude is contagious.  


Job could have infected others with complaining and cursing God, and this is what some of his friends wanted him to do... Curse God and Die!  But Job chose to let his love for God and devotion be contagious.  

Now, I'm not saying put on a plastic smile... I'm not asking you to be a pretender.  We can all force a smile, or force others to smile... What I am asking is that you find that inner happiness that makes you smile!!!  Job found that... his happiness was his love for the Lord, and knowing that God loved him too.  I know I have said it time and time again, but count your blessings.  I assure you that if you make a list of Pro's and Con's about whatever you might be facing, your list of good will usually outweigh the bad.  I know I have myself made Good and Bad / Pro and Con lists.  I know I am not always optimistic about everything, but I sure try to be.  I try to look at the glass as half full, and thankful that I have anything in my glass at all.  Each of us take for granted daily blessings.  Job didn't do this... he knew his blessings and he thanked God for them.  Satan tormented Job... the reason he smiled was a reflection of his heart.

Don't be the frown in the crowd. Find your blessings and be that smile that stands out!!!

Encouragement - It's what we should do...

Ephesians 4:29b Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.


I start this post with a picture and a bible verse. The picture is of my husband Brandon and my sweet niece Neve.  She was a few days shy of 9 months in this picture and she is pulling up on things and trying to walk.  It was a blessing to see the "encouragement" that Uncle B showed this weekend.  This is just one example of how encouragement is given.  Another form of encouragement may not be physical, but could be just as (if not more) important... verbal.  I was having a stressful day the other day and just out of the blue my friend Desiree texts me bible verse, I stopped... read the verses and then thanked God for sending his word through a friend.  We can all be an encouragement to one another in at least one way.  We can encourage those who are discouraged, those who need that extra push, those who are facing trials, and even those who everything seems fine!  You never know how much a friendly hello text, e-mail or phone call can mean to someone.  The text I got meant more to me than anything that day... it was that reminder of God's love, the reminder that there are people praying for me.  How uplifting this can be.  I encourage you, or should I say challenge you, to uplift someone with either a friendly hello, a helping hand, a phone call, or having coffee with a friend or loved one.   Just "Be There", be a friend... be that encouragement.