http://nogreaterjoy.org/articles/serious-smile/ Over 500 articles from Michael and Debi Pearl on Child Training, Homeschooling, Family, Marriage, Christianity, the Bible, Missions, Simple Living, Gardening, and other topics! Fri, 18 May 2012 19:40:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://nogreaterjoy.org/articles/serious-smile/#comment-2534 Alida Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:13:40 +0000 http://new.nogreaterjoy.org/?p=2661#comment-2534 Oh how often I burden myself with the heavy load God was prepared to carry, instead of carrying Jesus' yoke that is light, soft and easy to bear. I take too much responsibility on myself, to the point that I stress just about everything. The baby wakes the moment I 'should' have started cleaning. The toddler wants Mommy to come play mud cakes just as I was about to (or is busy with) preparing dinner. At such a moment my blood pressure soars and I have a hard time feeling any peace or joy. I know my face then is hard and tense and if I try to smile, I know my children know it's because I try, not because I feel it. And that makes my tension worse, because I SO want to be joyful and 'easy going' in my life. My brain knows I should rest and rejoice in the Lord, my heart has been trained with fear and guilt as a child, leaving me struggling daily with myself, daily praying for the ability to overcome unnecessary stress. Dear Father in Heaven, I seriously need Your smile on my face !!! Oh how often I burden myself with the heavy load God was prepared to carry, instead of carrying Jesus’ yoke that is light, soft and easy to bear. I take too much responsibility on myself, to the point that I stress just about everything. The baby wakes the moment I ‘should’ have started cleaning. The toddler wants Mommy to come play mud cakes just as I was about to (or is busy with) preparing dinner. At such a moment my blood pressure soars and I have a hard time feeling any peace or joy. I know my face then is hard and tense and if I try to smile, I know my children know it’s because I try, not because I feel it. And that makes my tension worse, because I SO want to be joyful and ‘easy going’ in my life. My brain knows I should rest and rejoice in the Lord, my heart has been trained with fear and guilt as a child, leaving me struggling daily with myself, daily praying for the ability to overcome unnecessary stress. Dear Father in Heaven, I seriously need Your smile on my face !!!

]]> http://nogreaterjoy.org/articles/serious-smile/#comment-2533 Wendy Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:35:04 +0000 http://new.nogreaterjoy.org/?p=2661#comment-2533 "She doesn’t carry the burden of personal ambition." I cast this burden upon the Lord 4yrs. ago, when I read "Created to be His Helpmmeet" for the first time!!! When I think of all God has blessed me with and how much I don''t deserve it, my heart can''t help but smile!!! “She doesn’t carry the burden of personal ambition.” I cast this burden upon the Lord 4yrs. ago, when I read “Created to be His Helpmmeet” for the first time!!! When I think of all God has blessed me with and how much I don”t deserve it, my heart can”t help but smile!!!

]]> http://nogreaterjoy.org/articles/serious-smile/#comment-2532 Esther Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:57:18 +0000 http://new.nogreaterjoy.org/?p=2661#comment-2532 Thank you so much for this encouraging word. I needed it more than you can know. Thank you so much for this encouraging word. I needed it more than you can know.

]]> http://nogreaterjoy.org/articles/serious-smile/#comment-2531 Edie Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:09:41 +0000 http://new.nogreaterjoy.org/?p=2661#comment-2531 This is such a good word. Thank you for reminding me of this. As my face would show, I'd lost sight of this truth. This is such a good word. Thank you for reminding me of this. As my face would show, I’d lost sight of this truth.

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