A Mocha with Joi Copeland - Giveaway!

Update Tuesday 5/22/12 8:55 pm WINNER

Here are your random numbers:
9
Timestamp: 2012-05-23 01:53:43 UTC
Congrats to Merry! Email me your address, Merry, and Joi Copeland will send you her book.

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Today I welcome author Joi Copeland as she shares a devotional based on a scene in her recent book, Hope for Tomorrow)

Desires
by Joi Copeland

Steven wandered around the house a little bit more. He opened up the blinds that led to the backyard and saw a swing set left by the previous owners. His mind began to drift. He envisioned his own children one day playing on the swings. He could hear their laughter in his head as they tumbled down the slide together. He imagined him and his wife, sipping their coffee, watching them play. Suddenly, his heart ached. (Hope for Tomorrow)

Have you ever felt that way? Maybe you are single and are anxiously awaiting the right person God has for you, just like Steven. Or perhaps you are aching to be a mom or a dad. What about the perfect job? Are you stuck in a job you don't like? You could be like me not too long ago. I desired, no yearned would be a better word, for a bigger house. My family of five lived in a two bedroom, eleven hundred square foot condo that we were renting. I would go to my sister's house or my friends' houses and wish I had a backyard for my boys or even a bigger kitchen. I desired a kitchen where my husband and I wouldn't run into each other just opening the fridge while one of us was making dinner.

Yes, desires can be pretty powerful things, can't they? We want what we want, and many times, those wants plague us. Everywhere we look, someone has what we desire. How are we to respond? What are we supposed to do with that? Let's take a look at what Steven did:

He began to pray, "Lord, You know the desires of my heart. You know how lonely I can get. If You want me to buy this house, I pray it will all work out. I pray my future wife will love it. I pray You will be with her right now at this moment, blessing her, guiding her, showering her with Your love. Have us come together soon. Lord, thank You for this opportunity. I pray You will guide and lead me this very moment."

Steven prayed. Isn't that what we should do when we feel our desires tugging us and pulling us into places we shouldn't go? Jealousy and envy can cloud our vision. Ah, but taking it to the Lord. Well, He gives us eyes to see and ears to hear, doesn't he? So here are my thoughts: When we are struggling with desires and wants, with maybe even a little jealousy and envy, take it to Jesus. Psalms 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Those desires could very well change once you delight yourself in Him.

Dear ones, I pray you will delight yourself in the Lord. Really, in the end, that is what matters the most, isn't it?


ABOUT JOI COPELAND:

Joi Copeland is married to a wonderful man, Chris, and has three amazing boys, Garrison, Gage, and Gavin. She is living the dream in beautiful Denver, Colorado. She home schools her boys and loves being a wife and mom! Joi enjoys spending time with her sister Steffanne, and loves to sit and have a cup of coffee or tea with friends! She has been a Christian for over twenty years. Following Jesus has been the best decision she has ever made. Look for Joi's first book in this series, Hope for Tomorrow. Her next book, Hope for the Journey will be published in December.

GIVEAWAY
Joi has graciously offered to give a copy of Hope for Tomorrow to one of you! To enter, leave a comment on this post by 8:00 pm CDT Tuesday, 5/22/12, and I will randomly draw a winner. US residents only please. Be sure to include an email address if you do not have a blog. One entry per person, please.



Disclaimer: I have not read Joi Copeland's books and therefore do not have an opinion on them. The views expressed in this guest post are those of the author, Joi Copeland, and may or may not reflect the views of Mocha with Linda.