Monday Motivations

The #BlessUp Challenge

Doing good is an important part of being a the hands and feet of God. But what if you don't know where to start?

Well I'm starting a month-long challenge called the #blessupchallenge to get you started. Below is a list of 31 things you can do to be a blessing to someone.

Here are the rules:
http://stephanielivesjoyfully.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-blessup-challenge.html

What Does it Mean to Do Good?

Do good. It's a motto companies use to show how cruelty free or eco-friendly their products are.

But I'm actually talking about doing good to and for others, and why good deeds are an important part of being a Christian.

Read more here

http://stephanielivesjoyfully.blogspot.com/2019/06/what-does-it-mean-to-do-good.html

Spring Forward in Faith

Thank you Lord! It is finally Spring! Bring on the blooming flowers, the blue skies and breezy, open-sweater weather.

That's when it's a little nippy outside so you throw on a cardigan, but it's warm enough to keep the cardigan open so you get a little swing going when you walk.

The hard part is adjusting to daylight saving. Losing a hour of sleep just to spring forward -- it seems like a cruel joke at first. But it's worth it to put the cold, dark days of winter behind me.

It’s kind of the same when you're growing in your faith.

Read more here

http://stephanielivesjoyfully.blogspot.com/2019/03/spring-forward-in-faith.html

Preparing Your Mind For the New Year

Christmas is over and now it's time to start thinking about 2019. Many are buying planners, reviewing the previous year's accomplishments and setting New Year's resolutions.

I am too.

But what good are any of those things if your mindset's the same? That's the question I'm pondering as I prepare to ring in the New Year.

I've accomplished a lot of good things in 2018. But I can't help but wonder ....

Read more here
http://stephanielivesjoyfully.blogspot.com/2018/12/preparing-your-mind-for-new-year.html

Help ... Why Is It So Hard to Find?

Asking for help... It's the hardest thing in the world.

It seems so innocent. But often times when you ask, people make you feel like you're a burden. Or worst, they think less of you and assume that you don't know what you're doing.

As much as we sing and brag about being independent or self made, the truth we need each other and we need God.

The days when I feel most down, most self conscious or inadequate, I realize....

Read more here
http://stephanielivesjoyfully.blogspot.com/2018/09/help-why-it-so-hard-to-find.html

Being a Productive Christian

Every year we come up with a list of goals, missions and accomplishments we want to achieve in the next 12 months. Then for the rest of the year we work to accomplish those goals in the hopes of producing some new and positive results in our lives.

But what about being a productive Christian? What about setting goals for your walk with God?

Read more here

http://stephanielivesjoyfully.blogspot.com/2018/01/being-productive-christian.html

Are You A People Pleaser?

I know I am ...

All my life I've tried to do things to make my parents proud, impress teachers, win friends, help out co-workers, please bosses and make my husband happy.

People-pleasing seems like as a good thing... After all, I'm working for others. That's a good thing, right?

But really it's a poor way to live.

Every time I give in to trying please others, I start feeling ...

Read more here

https://stephanielivesjoyfully.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2017-11-18T20:30:00-08:00&max-results=1

Advice for Hard Times

Last weekend I was invited to give a speech at a graduate luncheon. When I sat down to write the speech, I couldn't help but think about my own graduation. I was sooo idealistic that when I started to struggle, I struggled hard.

Fortunately, God is steadfast and unmovable. And, He never goes back on His word.

Read more here

https://stephanielivesjoyfully.blogspot.com/2017/06/advice-for-hard-times.html

Three Verses to Help You Find Contentment

Are you happy with the way your life is going???

If I had to answer this question, I would say overall, I live a good life. #Blessed. But there are moments when I look around and I am unhappy with where I am in my career. Or I'm upset with the way my home looks. Or I think, ugh I hate my clothes, I hate my hair.

I think, if only I had done this or done that. If only I could be more like this person or that person. Next thing you know, I'm spiraling into a depressed state of mind.

I was in that kind of state when I found three Bible verses that helped lift me out of my funk. Here are the verses and my takeaways from them

This Bible Verse Will Put Your Vacation in Perspective

My husband and I recently spent time at Dallas' Four Season Las Colinas golf resort to celebrate my in-laws' 45 anniversary. When we arrived, the luxury of its villas, spa, golf course, and pool was a welcomed surprise. Another surprise, we did not have to pay a dime for anything; David's family took care of everything. They picked the lush resort for their celebration and gifted us a room and several amenities. The whole thing was unreal.

I was thankful, but also guilty about enjoying such extravagance.

Read More Here

https://stephanielivesjoyfully.blogspot.com/2016/07/this-bible-verse-will-put-your-vacation.html

Tell the Ones You Love How Much You Care

Don't wait to tell the ones you love how much you appreciate them. You never know what life will bring you.

Last month was a tough month for me. My grandmother had been bravely fighting bone cancer for over three years but unfortunately...

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Don't Let Fear Stop You

This week Monday Motivation is inspired by last week's Shorty Awards, the show that highlights the creators from all the popular social media sites - Instagram, Youtube, SoundCloud, Vine and so much more.

One Shorty Award winner, comedian King Bach, gave this amazing piece of advice...

It’s Never too Late to Reach Your Goals!

Three years into the New Year, it is common to stray from your goals and fall into a lull of activity.

I know I've backed off exercise routine, and I haven't updated blogs in awhile. I have felt a tremendous amount of guilt knowing that I am not on track with my goals, and that kind of guilt makes me want to throw my hands in the air in surrender.

But I know that if I forsake my fitness goals (I want a flatter tummy) or stop trying further my reporting career, then I will be ignoring...

Open Letter to Ro of 'Newlyweds': Stay Confident

My newest reality show fixation recently reminded me how difficult it can be to answer critics who question our passion.

These critics often tell us that the task is impossible or that you’re not qualified enough or that your plans are too risky. We can sometimes ignore those critics when they are acquaintances but it’s nearly impossible to disregard a naysayer when he or she is your spouse or a member of your family.

Ro Williams Brann of Bravo’s “Newlyweds” found herself in this very predicament while ...

New Year, New Vision Board

As you make your 2016 goals, don't forget to make a vision board. The board will help you ...

Joyful Ever After

I’ve made a change in the blog to reflect a change in attitude. That’s right, I’m choosing joy just in

time for Christmas.

I heard something interesting recently: happiness leaves contentment to happenstance.

So when conditions are favorable, we experience satisfaction and pleasure. When we encounter resistance and negative circumstances, then there’s disappointment and sadness. That’s happiness.

This explains why “being happy” has felt so elusive.

God Wants Peace for Paris

The terrorist groups behind attacks on Paris and other parts of the world claim they are acting on God’s behalf but God really wants us to pursue peace.

How do I know? The Bible tells me so.

What Shopping at a Food Pantry Has Taught Me

Although I was initially embarrassed to shop at a food pantry, doing so has taught me the importance of giving.

What's Your Survival Story?

"We must see all scars as beauty ... because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived" - Udo, Little Bee By Chris Cleave

This quote stopped me cold when I read it. Everyone encounters a road block or two while traveling life's road.

I myself have had more than a few setbacks.

However this quote is a reminder that when my tough circumstances do not change, then I must change how I view those challenges.

Don't be Afraid to Put Yourself Out There

Sometimes when you put yourself out there, you learn from from your faults.

One of the hardest things in the world for me to do is to open up and ask for help.

Maybe it is the "superwoman", I-can-do-it-all-by-myself complex; maybe it's because sometimes church folks are pressured to fake it until you make it. (Totally not true by the way. David and Job, both of whom experienced many hardships, were not ashamed to be seen crying out to God for help or mourning their losses.) But I often struggle to reach out to others because it feels like I am too vulnerable or exposed to criticism, condemnation or rejection.

When I do call on others, I feel like I am admitting failure.

What Growing Herbs Taught Me About Chasing My Dreams

When I do call on others, I feel like I am admitting failure.

Maybe it is the "superwoman," I-can-do-it-all-by-myself complex; maybe it's because sometimes church folks are pressured to fake it until you make it. (Totally not true by the way. David and Job, both of whom experienced many hardships, were not ashamed to be seen crying out to God for help or mourning their losses.) But I often struggle to reach out to others because it feels like I am too vulnerable or exposed to criticism, condemnation or rejection.

Sometimes when you put yourself out there, you learn from from your faults. One of the hardest things in the world for me to do is to open up and ask for help.

Surviving the Monday Morning Freak Out

A wave of dread washes over you the moment your alarm clock goes off. It's Monday morning and you feel nowhere near ready for work, school, or life for that matter. The result is a grumpy, self-absorbed version of yourself that that is miserable and wishes others to feel the same so at least you're not alone; a version of you that sees all of the bad and none of the good.

Welcome to the Monday Morning Freak Out.

Here are some tips help you snap out of it.

Stephanie M. Samuel