Tag: Romans 15:13

Joyful Life

It Is What It Is – Or Is It?

Michele Kearns

Well hello there, it’s me. I figured it would be good to end the month with a regular post instead of a brief Weekend Wisdom post. It’s been a productive few weeks just not in regard to this blog or my photo blog. While the weeks were filled with accomplishments, they also drained me of physical and mental energy. (It’s not that catchy thing-a-ma-jiggy; had that in February 2020.)

Now I better finish this post and get it scheduled before Dracula, Barnabas Collins or some other vampire comes and drains most of my energy again.

May you be filled with joy and energy today and every day.

Eliminate This Phrase

The phrase “It is what it is” irritates me worse than a pebble in my shoe.

I have always

HATED

that phrase.

It’s even more despicable than the phrase “next year.” If you are a fan of any Cleveland sports teams (especially football) you know the sickening feeling you get when speaking the words “next year” after a dismal season.

WHY?

I could never put my finger on why I despised “It is what it is” so much. Then a couple weeks ago Kaitlyn Bouchillon wrote about it in her post Get Your Hopes Up. She too disliked the phrase but did not know why until It was pointed out by someone else that “It is what it is” leaves no room for hope.

BINGO!

That is why I hate it, my soul deep down knew there was no hope in “It is what it is.” No room for hope means you are permanently stuck in the valley of the shadow of death.

That is simply not true. Where there is God, there is hope. Even in life’s valleys.

So I challenge you and me to eliminate “It is what it is.” from your vocabulary. Then encourage others to find hope even in the deepest, darkest situations so they too never use or believe “It is what it is.”

My Prayer For You

Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her widowhood adventures hoping to inspire widows to move through grief and rebuild their lives. Michele is also the amateur photographer behind the blog OgleOhio.com.

Weekend Wisdom

Endurance and Encouragement

Michele Kearns

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans15:13 (NIV)

Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her widowhood adventures hoping to inspire widows to move through grief and rebuild their lives. A graduate of Kent State University with a Bachelor’s degree in communications, she’s currently using those skills as a virtual logistics contact center representative. She’s also managed call center teams, co-facilitated a grief support group, and helped small businesses with various writing assignments. Michele is a bookworm, and a lover of music, chocolate, red roses, and golden retrievers. She is also the amateur photographer behind the blog OgleOhio.com.

Weekend Wisdom

Weekend Wisdom: Advent Week 1 – HOPE

Michele Kearns

This first week of Advent is about HOPE.

I love Ann Voskamp’s definition – “A defiant reliance on God keeping His word.”

In this crazy, chaotic time in our nation, we need to rely on God’s faithfulness more than ever. Because that is what He promises, to be faithful. We just need to trust Him, to defiantly rely on Him.

This is one of my favorite verses. May you find hope in this verse no matter what you face this week and this Christmas season.

Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her widowhood adventures hoping to inspire widows to move through grief and rebuild their lives. A graduate of Kent State University with a Bachelor’s degree in communications, she’s currently using those skills as a virtual logistics contact center representative for a Fortune 100 company. She’s also managed call center teams, co-facilitated a grief support group, and helped small businesses with various writing assignments. Michele is a bookworm, and a lover of history, music, chocolate, red roses, and golden retrievers. She is also the amateur photographer behind the blog OgleOhio.com.