This being the final installment of Top 3 Thursday this year, I thought I’ll showcase the top 3 inspirational posts that were viewed on my blog this year. Surprisingly, none of these posts were published in 2013! Or perhaps it’s no surprise, considering my blogging inconsistencies this year!
Here are the top 3 posts viewed on An Imperfect Life in 2013. Check them out if you haven’t read them yet!
Let’s seek Christ, not just this season, but every day of our lives. If you need a bit of musical inspiration, I encourage you to listen to the song, How Many Kings?
Here’s wishing you a blessed Christmas as you remember the love, joy, peace and hope you have in Christ!
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Every week (more or less), I share on the blog all the good things (and bad) I am grateful to God for. If you’d like to know more, check out these blog posts on why I do it and how to get started. Care to join me on this journey of intentional thanksgiving?
1381. Watching our annual college Christmas play online with hubby dearest.
1382. Watching over the boys as they ride their cycles.
1383. “The Greatest Mission” – our kids’ church Christmas play.
1384. Friends who make sure their friends are well fed!
1389. Christmas lights lighting up an entire village.
1390. Tamil songs played over loudspeakers in the above mentioned village… at 1:00AM !!! {#facepalm}
Are you in the habit of counting your blessings? I mean, literally counting them 1, 2, 3… Would you consider joining me on this journey? Would you dare to live fully, right where you are?
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Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions by Lysa TerKeurst is one of the books I had wanted to read ever since it was launched. Let’s admit it, we’ve all come unglued (given in to our emotions) at various points in our lives. My problem was that my unglued moments were taking a toll on my family. I knew I needed to change, and this book had just the information I needed.
The book starts off with a positive phrase, Imperfect Progress. I love that term! That’s how any lasting life change can be made – by progressing, even though we fail at times. The author’s own experiences of coming unglued, her imperfect progress and lessons she learned in the process are very inspiring.
The author has identified four categories of unglued reactions – none of which are good:
Exploders who shame themselves
Exploders who blame others
Stuffers who build barriers
Stuffers who collect retaliation rocks
For each of our earthly relationships, we fall under one of the above categories. For example, with my husband, I might be a stuffer who collects retaliation rocks; with my kids, I might be an exploder who shames herself. Identifying which category I fell into helped me take note of what I was doing wrong, and take the first step to transform my reactions.
What I loved about the book is the abundance of Scripture. The author goes deeper into familiar verses, teaching us how God’s Word can reverse our tendency to become unglued. The book has several practical tips to help us remain emotionally stable, even in situations where we’re most likely to fly off the handle!
I don’t think I have highlighted this many passages in any other book/ebook (save my Bible)! Here are a few quotes from the book that encouraged me:
“Could I trust God and believe that He is working out something good even from things that seem no good?”
“I can face things that are out of my control and not act out of control. I am not a freak-out woman.”
“He (God) allows the unglued moments to make us aware of the chiseling that needs to be done… Let God chisel.”
“Do not check in with the screaming demands of the world before you exchange whispers with God.”
“Regardless of the stress I’m under, I am capable of displaying God’s gentleness because the Holy Spirit is in me.”
We all experience potholes as we journey through life, but we have the ability to choose how we respond. If your natural reaction is to stuff your emotions or take it out on those around you, this book has biblical wisdom and practical tips to help you overcome it. It sure has been a much needed resource for me!
Disclosure: I received a free Kindle version of this book from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.
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Sign up hereto have new blog posts delivered directly to your email inbox. You can also follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
Every week (more or less), I share on the blog all the good things (and bad) I am grateful to God for. If you’d like to know more, check out these blog posts on why I do it and how to get started. Care to join me on this journey of intentional thanksgiving?
1371. Six years of being a triplet mom.
1372. Three red bicycles.
1373. The bruises that come along for free!
1374. Finding the perfect spot to park the cycles.
1375. Good health this season.
1376. The trio joyfully belting out “Joyful, joyful we adore Thee” in the car.
1377. The end of the kids’ exams (at least for this year!)
1378. Going deeper into God’s word.
1379. Singing a (childhood favorite) country gospel song in church.
1380. The upcoming holidays!
Are you in the habit of counting your blessings? I mean, literally counting them 1, 2, 3… Would you consider joining me on this journey? Would you dare to live fully, right where you are?
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At times, we go through phases in life where we see only darkness all around us.
The kids are sick.
Work piles up.
The house is a mess.
You’re on an emotional roller-coaster. You don’t have time to do what you really want to do… you’re just surviving on a day to day basis.
Can you relate?
Not too long ago, I went through such a phase. I really wanted to give in, give up and have a good cry. {Well, perhaps I did have a good cry ;)}
I came across a song during that period, which God used to speak to my weary heart. It truly encouraged me and pushed me on at a time when I felt I couldn’t take another step further. I realized that when darkness is pressing in all around, I do have a choice…
Do I let it engulf me, or do I push back the dark?
It’s definitely easier to give in to feelings of discouragement and despair. But we have a God who’s on our side, who’s willing to fight on our behalf. And with Him, we can conquer the darkness that threatens to overwhelm us.
Today, if you’re going through a dark phase in your life, I pray this song ministers to you as well.
One million reasons why, you shouldn’t even try.
After all you’re just one heart, a single candle in the dark.
And there are shadows here, feeding on your fears,
That you don’t have what it takes – who are you to make a change?
But oh, oh, don’t underestimate the God you follow.
Whatever you do, just don’t look back.
Oh somebody needs the light you have.
Whatever you do, just don’t lose heart.
Keep on pushing back the dark,
Keep on pushing back the dark.
The city on a hill, it should be shining still.
Every sinner saved by grace, has a purpose, has a place
Inside the bigger plan, we might not understand.
But if we just keep walking on, we will see the Kingdom come, yeah.
Whatever you do, just don’t look back.
Oh somebody needs the light you have. Whatever you do, just don’t lose heart.
Keep on pushing back the dark,
Keep on pushing back the dark.
(Let your lights all shine…)
Oh, oh, don’t underestimate the God you follow.
He is the light that burns inside your soul,
So keep on shining ’til the whole world knows.
Whatever you do, just don’t look back.
Oh somebody needs the light you have.
Whatever you do, just don’t lose heart.
Keep on pushing back the dark,
Just keep on pushing back the dark, dark.
Whatever you do, just don’t look back.
Cause somebody needs the light you have.
Whatever you do, just don’t lose heart. Keep on pushing back the dark,
Keep on pushing back the dark, yeah
(Let your lights all shine)
When you feel like you’re too small
(Let your lights all shine)
To do any good at all
(Let your lights all shine)
Like a sunrise through the window
(Let your lights all shine)
Like a symphony crescendo
(Let your lights all shine)
We are waking up again, we are rising from the dead
(Let your lights all shine)
We are shining like the stars, we are pushing back the dark
(Let your lights all shine)
Yeah, we are pushing back, pushing back the dark
(Let your lights all shine)
We are pushing back, we are pushing back, pushing back the dark
(Let your lights all shine)
Just pushing back, we are pushing back, pushing back the dark
(Let your lights all shine)
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Sign up hereto have new blog posts delivered directly to your email inbox.
You can also follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
Every week (more or less), I share on the blog all the good things (and bad) I am grateful to God for. If you’d like to know more, check out these blog posts on why I do it and how to get started. Care to join me on this journey of intentional thanksgiving?
1365. The street kids around the corner who wave and say, “bye” every time I pass by.
1366. Playful puppies.
1367. Time – a gift!
1368. The way the boys pronounce, ‘Malayalam’…
1369. …and ‘Deodorant’.
1370. Fasting prayer week at church!!!
Are you in the habit of counting your blessings? I mean, literally counting them 1, 2, 3… Would you consider joining me on this journey? Would you dare to live fully, right where you are?
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