As a person who loves language, I am always intrigued when I hear or read an expression that perfectly captures something that I have thought or experienced myself. Phrases that speak to my condition are the ones I store carefully away, to be given further consideration during a moment of quiet reflection.

As I sat down to prepare the column this week, I felt a leading to share three that I treasure. I hope they connect with your spirit as they have with mine.

"Surprised by Joy"

C.S. Lewis used this phrase to describe the many moments in his life when unexpected joy moments gave rise to spiritual search.

This search ultimately led to his surrender to Christ. This phrase has resonated with me since I first read it as a teenager. I understood this sense of yearning for something greater than and outside myself. Like C.S. Lewis, I found this yearning met in Christ.

Throughout my life, I have tried to be very attentive to the many joy moments that God brings into my life each day. Whether it is the sweet song of a cardinal on a cold winter's day or prayers with a patient in the hospital, these are "joy" moments that call my spirit upwards.

"When eating a fruit, think of the person who planted the tree."

This Vietnamese proverb spoke to me more recently of the need that we have in our life for mindfulness. Mindfulness means to become intentionally aware of our thoughts and actions in the present moment. The intent is to find meaning in the moment. To eat a fruit will nourish my body. To eat a fruit and think of the connection I have with the one who planted and nurtured the tree, will nourish my spirit.

The pursuit of mindfulness has become a popular spiritual practice in recent years. I have brought my own focus to it by becoming aware of my thoughts and actions and then centering on God's message to me in that moment. Sometimes I receive a lesson. Sometimes I receive direction. Sometimes I receive a simple blessing of divine presence. Developing Christian mindfulness has helped my spiritual, emotional and mental health.

"The good is the

enemy of the best."

When I first read this phrase in the Oswald Chamber's devotional book, My Utmost for His Highest, I was overwhelmed with the many tasks that I had to accomplish each day.

There were so many good things that needed to be done but I was wearing myself out doing them.

When I read these words I sat down with God to sort out the question, "What is the best for Barbara Moulton?"

As we reasoned together, I began to see that the best would be the ability to live out my life in service for the Lord I loved, not burning myself out in the early years of ministry. So I surrendered all the "good" things I was doing to God. He gave many of them back to me as part of His best but some I have not seen since. I thank God for His reminder to always seek His best for my life.

There is a common theme to the three thoughts that I have shared. All of them involve deliberate and intentional choices. We can choose to seek joy. We can choose to become mindful of the lessons God wants to share each and every moment. We can choose to seek God's best. The truth is that we can't live a victorious Christian life by accident.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things." ~ Philippians 7:8 NIV