Don’t Stop Believing

by Jennifer Vlaicevic, in category Uncategorized

[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living! (Psalm 27:13 )

God has breathed hopes and dreams bigger than ourselves into our beings; whispered from on High words of promise straight to our hearts, promises that in the natural may seem impossible. But, He has planted that hope in your heart beloved for a reason; it is the very song that sings back to you when you have forgotten. When all else around you seems desolate and bleak, it is the melody that moves you and reminds you that indeed, you have a faithful Father who loves you and delivers.

Our Faith pleases God and fuels us; disbelief on the other hand, is a dry and barren place. It sucks the life giving energy and joy right out of us. It causes us to become inactive and at times, begin backsliding in our faith. Because of this, the enemy of our soul is hard at work each opportune moment to keep us there.

In the Bible we read of everyday people with visions, dreams and prophetic words spoken over their lives that seem impossible. A young virgin believes she will carry and birth the Son of God; Savior of the world. An elderly man believes his barren wife; well into her years, will conceive a child and make him a father of many nations. In the natural, these people had every reason not to believe. But in His time, God fulfilled those promises.

What dreams has God placed in your heart? Do you ever doubt that you will see the fulfillment of those dreams? At times, do you begin to question God or yourself? Are these uncertainties causing you to backslide in your faith?

Let this be your confirmation! Keep going! Never give up! Never stop pressing toward the good life God has for you! Never cease being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it out to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6) Fight the good fight of faith until the very end friend! let people look back on your life and the way you chose to live and love and believe and let them say “Wow! That was one hell of an amen!” (Brantly Gilbert)

Let these words breathe Life and awaken those promises within you! Let them be the hand that winds your heart back up and allows your own, unique song of hope to sing to you once again! Dance! Live! Laugh! Love! Create! Build! Encourage! Dream! Breathe! Be! And don’t you dare stop believing!

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord. (Psalm 27:14 )

Enjoy some Don’t Stop Believing tunes!

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Jun102015Jun 23 2016

Waterfall

by Jennifer Vlaicevic, in category Uncategorized

I JUST WANT TO SWIM UNDERNEATH A WATERFALL! My heart screamed loudly, as life’s demands and conditions pounded harshly at me. I was BURNT OUT and craving a vacation, but for the time being, my life was not on The Road to Hana!

Can you relate? Sometimes we JUST NEED A BREAK! We need a breather from it all! Our work, our worries, our responsibilities. We need a change from the mundane, a relief from our titles, our relationships, even from ourselves!

Our soul thirsts for a deep, quenching refreshment of rest and revival! It longs to be doused, drenched, evoked, invigorated, moved and truly AWAKENED to the fullness of life in the Spirit!

So what are we to do when life doesn’t always provide this cascade of renewal?

We find that soul soothing rest in God through His Son Jesus Christ. It is through a relationship with Him (John 14:6) that we enter into the curtain of The Waterfall.

Jesus is our Living Water who refreshes our souls. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find REST (RELIEF and EASE and REFRESHMENT and RECREATION and BLESSED QUIET FOR YOUR SOULS.) Matthew 11:28

That my friends sounds like a vacation! God is that vacation our soul so desires!

No matter where you’re at in your day, whether you find yourself to be overwhelmed or underwhelmed by this world, you can dive into the expanse of His refreshing, life giving, soul cleansing Presence!

God invites you to vacation in His splendor. –Max Lucado

He is everything our soul desires and craves in a sabbatical!

He knows you, He knows what you yearn for right now, in this very moment and He is your Provider. He is your Rest, your Peace, your Strength and your Song. He is the Compassion, Passion and the Companionship we so long for. He is our greatest measure of joy, pleasure and leisure!

No matter where you are at, whether it’s a stressful job or under a mountain of laundry, call on Him! Dive into His depths of Grace! Plunge into The Waterfall and have yourself a vacation! It’s fully paid for!

Cool off from the heat and harsh effects of this world and then, when you’re good and ready, step back into your life, refreshed and renewed!

God has a great plan for you and He wants you to enjoy the ride to the Fall! (John 10:10)

Geronimo!

Enjoy some Waterfall tunes!

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May192015May 21 2015

Father First Challenge

by Jennifer Vlaicevic, in category Uncategorized

Psalm 5:3 (AMP)

In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; In the morning I prepare [a prayer, a sacrifice] for you and watch and wait [for you to speak to my heart.]

“Why do you go straight to your phone when you wake up Mommy? What about your Bible?” I was recently called out on a hazardous habit by my youngest daughter, while scrolling through my phone looking to see what the #fearlessinversion of the day was. Like they say, “Through the mouths of babes.”

In Holy Yoga, each class, we set an intention for the practice by setting our hearts and minds on God and His Word before any movement takes place. Similarly, as Christians, we need to live intentional lives. We can accomplish this by intentionally going to God first thing in morning, before checking our emails, missed calls, latest new headlines or scrolling through our Facebook or Instagram feeds. We need to first, feed, strengthen and nourish our hearts, minds and spirits with Him. Girding our selves in Truth so that we can be prepared to handle what we’ll open, read and see. By opening the internet or tuning into the world via social media, before conversation with God and His Word, we open a wide door for the enemy to work in us early on and set his intention for our day. With overwhelming feelings of inferiority, thoughts of fear, dread, anxiety, comparison or doubt. Our day can quickly take a downward spiral!

Here is the Challenge! Each and every morning, get with God first! Before you go to your smart phone, I pad, computer or television, before you go to the world, pray and prepare this day before the Lord. Together, set a good intention before you move throughout your day. Luke 1:37 For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment. The world can wait! Wake up and go straight to your Almighty, Living, ALL things are possible, Sovereign God! Be fed, nourished, empowered, renewed, strengthened, encouraged, healed, guided, loved and filled! Then go and take on the world! Watch expectantly and see how God’s grace, goodness and power unfold and reveal itself to you and your life! (Matthew 5:6 AMP)

God’s glory is you at your finest! When we are happy, healthy and whole, filled with joy and peace; regardless of our circumstance, living the abundant, spiritually prosperous lives we were created to live, God gets the glory (2 Corinthians 4:15)! Let the world be filled with His wondrous works and glory by filling ourselves with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19)! I challenge you to give Him the time and space He desires to fulfill the promises He has for you! He’s waiting to pour out favor and blessings into your life! Are you ready to truly LIVE?

For the Glory of God, His Word before the world! Father First Challenge! Hear’s what you do!

*First accept the Challenge! Click the button below to Share this post to Facebook then, TAG your friends to challenge and join in on this invitation from the Father! Next, set your personal or family goal prayerfully with the Father. 30, 60, 90 days, a year? Our hope is that this practice of Presence first sticks for life! You’re almost there! Now, Follow and Like Heaven Happy on Instagram and Facebook! Now you are ready!

Each morning take these steps!

Father First! Each morning before any news, emails or social media of any kind, read His Word in the Bible or a daily devotional! Pray, listen, rest, renew, fill up! (Even if it’s just a few minutes! let’s be real, some days are crazy!)
Snap a photo or a video each day inspired by the time with The Father! (Bible and blooms in your backyard, Handsome hubby in the Word, kiddos praying.) Maybe it’s a picture of the favor, joy, beauty, peace or breakthroughs you are experiencing in your life, as a result of putting the Father First!
Post, Tag and #! Post your pictures and videos to your Instagram and Facebook page! Tag @Heaven_Happy and use both #FatherFirst and #HeavenHappy!

I can’t wait to see and hear all of the ways God is working in and through your life! See you on social media!

We’d love to hear from you! Don’t forget to come back and comment! Share your own Father First experiences in the comment section below and let us know the ways the Father is redeeming your beautiful life through this time spent with Him!

If this spoke to your heart, let it speak to someone else’s! God works through people! Please share with others! Click the Share button below!

Enjoy some Father First tunes!

Apr272015Apr 28 2015

Heartstrings

by Jennifer Vlaicevic, in category Uncategorized

We’re all waiting on something. We’re waiting for the phone to ring, the opportunity to present itself, the promotion, the provision, the diagnosis, the answer, the guidance, the healing, the strength, the breakthrough. We’re all waiting. We all have dreams and desires placed in our hearts that we are waiting to unfold.

A friend wanted to start her own styling business, giving people head to toe makeovers. Other than passion and a natural talent she didn’t have much experience, so she felt under qualified and that fear kept her from moving toward her hearts dream.

Going about her days discouraged, thoughts of an elderly neighbor who had just lost her husband kept entering her mind and tugging at her heart. Driving home from the grocery store one day, the thought had pulled at her once again, so she followed through and paid the woman a visit.

While visiting the lonely widow, enjoying herself over tea and laughter there was an unexpected knock at the door. In walked a woman who in conversation mentioned how she admired my friend’s style and was indeed in need of a makeover herself. She had just received her first client!

We worry and work so hard at chasing after our own hearts happiness, when really, what we don’t realize is that happiness is chasing us. It’s found in the guidance of our hearts as they are being tugged and pulled in compassion for others. It’s that tug at the heart that tells you to go and check on that lonely neighbor, it’s that pull you feel each time your heart and mind is reminded of someone else’s need, desire or dream. It is those very heartstrings that will lead you to our own hearts happiness. We are fulfilled not by getting everything we think we want; when and how we would like it, but by fulfilling the will of our Father. (John 4:34) We are fed, nourished, and sustained with LOVE.

Psalm 37:4 (ESV) Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. If we will follow the guidance put in our hearts for fulfilling others happiness, God will surely guide happiness to ours! If we stop chasing after what we want in life and look around at how we can fulfill the needs and wants of others, we will have slowed down long enough to realize that happiness just caught up!

Isaiah 58:7-8 (NIV) Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

What are you waiting on today? Has God been tugging at your heart? In what ways can you follow that hearts pull?

If your heart was encouraged by this post, please click a link below and share the love with your friends! Then come connect with me, find and Like my Heaven Happy Facebook page for more inspiration!

Enjoy some Heartstrings tunes!

*Photo by Morgan Day Cecil

Apr142015Jun 27 2017

Perfect

by Jennifer Vlaicevic, in category Uncategorized

We are of no surprise to God. He knows us. He knows our frail human life is transitory; here today, gone tomorrow.

He knows our hearts desire is to please Him, to do what is right, but we fail, time and time again. Like the Apostle Paul, we can’t understand ourselves. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Romans 7:15 (NIV)

Our thoughts wander to lost places that we are confused by and ashamed of. Our futile feelings and emotions whip and turn as if they’re following the song and dance of the wind.

For the Lord searches all hearts and minds and understands all the wanderings of the thoughts. 1 Chronicles 28:9 (AMP)

We are of no surprise to God.

God knows you, He knows your story from beginning to end (Isaiah 46:10), He knows when you will rise and when you will sit and everything in between (Psalm 139:2) and guess what, He chose you anyway!

For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love. Ephesians 1:4 (NIV)

And He would choose you again and again and again. He knows you will fall, He will lift you up, He knows you have sinned, He’s promised to wash you clean, He knows you will sin again, He has forgiven you.

We think in order to love God, to be a Christian and to come into a close relationship with Jesus we need to be perfect, and so when we mess up, we distance ourselves from Him allowing our sin to act as a gap between our Heavenly Father. The whole reason Jesus came was to bridge that gap. He paid the price, He paid it all!

This perfection perception couldn’t be further from the truth; it is a lie to keep us from obtaining the very life of freedom Christ died to give us! Perfect in the bible means pressing toward the perfect image of Christ with a right heart.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)

It’s in our imperfections that we should seek Him. It is promised He will be found and it is there that we find light! In your Light we see light (Psalm 36:9). It is there we find that peace we crave, healing, redemption, strength and wisdom.

Child, God delights in you, just the way you are. You are of no surprise to Him. Draw near; come close to Him in all your mess. Receive His beautiful exchange, His beauty for your ashes (Isaiah 61:3) and rest.

Know that in your weakness His strength and power are made perfect. It’s through our frail human cracks that His glory shines bright! It is there where we find intimacy, reliance and relationship.

There is no fear in Love. Perfection is fear of not being enough.

Hear and receive Him saying these freeing words to your heart.

You are enough. Through the sacrificial gift of love of my Son Jesus, you are enough.

Through Him YOU ARE MADE PERFECT! (Colossians 1:22)

If this spoke to your heart, please click the Share button below and share it with someone else’s! Then come find and Like me on my Heaven Happy Facebook page so we can connect!

Enjoy some Perfect tunes!

Apr102015

Highway to Heaven

by Jennifer Vlaicevic, in category Uncategorized

Proverbs 10:17 (AMP)

He who heeds instruction and correction is [not only himself] in the way of life [but also] is a way of life for others. And he who neglects or refuses reproof [not only himself] goes astray [but also] causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others.

I sat in my car, not moving, at all! Singing my heart out, thankful in the moment for cool air conditioning, good country music and the rustic beauty of faded desert colors tinting my windows in sepia. I was happily heading south when traffic came to a halting stop, seems a very slow going piece of large construction equipment decided to take the lead. A line of cars was backed up for miles; crazy how one person can cause such a huge delay for so many others!

Similarly, by listening and responding to the governing and guiding of the Holy Spirit in our own daily lives, we have an effect on the timing and progress of others lives. In fact I’d say we have a responsibility in the flow of the Kingdom of God. We can either choose to receive the instruction we are being given and move onward; in and towards God’s good plan or we choose to ignore what we are hearing from the Lord and slow the process up. Our spiritual gifts and growth bless others and so on, but in the same way our stubborn, stagnant disobedience slows and stunts the spiritual process.

There is a world out there of spiritually stuck people who are just waiting for that freedom of an open road. So the next time you are given the choice to press the gas with God, to take an active role in the Kingdom’s work by applying the gifts and insights he has bestowed upon you, remember this story and the frustration you feel when stuck, unable to move freely and forward. Choose to be the one to help make a way for others! Move confidently and boldly forward with God’s placement and purpose for your life! Like the Rascal Flatts sing so well, Life is a highway, I’m gonna drive it all night long! Get driving that car of yours! Heaven and earth are waiting!

If you enjoyed this, click the Share button below to share with your friends on Facebook and then come find and Like me on my Heaven Happy Facebook page so we can stay connected!

Enjoy some Highway to Heaven tunes!

Apr72015Apr 9 2015

Just Like Jesus

by Jennifer Vlaicevic, in category Uncategorized

Acts 4:13 (AMP) Now when they saw the boldness and unfettered eloquence of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and untrained in the schools [common men with no educational advantages], they marveled; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

You can always tell when someone has been spending time with someone else. They begin to embody similar traits, gestures, attitudes and expressions; even the tone of their voice can change.

My husband began working closely with his brother. Shortly after, I noticed he began speaking and carrying himself similarly, even his facial gestures took on that of his brothers . Likewise, my mother always begins to sound like her dear friend who tends to over exaggerate her words. And so even thousands of miles away I can tell who she’s been spending time with. I am equally as guilty, its in our nature. When I was twelve, I’d return home from spending hours at my girlfriend’s house, I would speak a mile a minute and dance all over the house, which I’m pretty sure aided in my parents desperate need of date night!

The greatest compliment I have ever received was during one of the most trying times in my life. My best friend Cheri was dying of cancer. As I was showing compassion to her fiances mother, acknowledging how hard it must be for her to have to stand by and watch her son go through such a thing, she acknowledged my compassion and patience to the divided family. It’s crazy, she said, with tears filling her eyes, looking at me astounded, it’s like I see Him in you, I see Jesus in you! Never before had I been so honored. Of course, Jesus was there with us, but she could see Him in me because I had been spending most of my time with Him.

It is important who we choose to spend our valuable time with. And it is especially important to spend time with Jesus, so you can see your life’s circumstances through His eyes and people can see Him through yours.

If you enjoyed this, click the Share button below to share with your friends on Facebook and the come find and Like my Heaven Happy Facebook page so we can stay connected!

Hang with Him and enjoy these tunes!

Apr22015Apr 2 2015

Harbingers of Love!

by Jennifer Vlaicevic, in category Uncategorized

John 13:34-35 (NIV) “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

A single, sunny gold daffodil sprung up unexpectedly out of the cool earth, an unlikely yet welcoming contrast against Oregon’s steel March sky and soiled brick wall. A harbinger, pioneering a way for the beauty and awakening of what’s to come!

As Christians we are called to be that unexpected pop of hope, springing forth with warmth and vibrancy, meeting and ministering to people in their needs, rising from that deeply rooted relationship with the Lord and blooming forth the beauty of His Love.

Just as the bold cry of John the Baptist once declared the coming of the King, our love is divine mercy, preparing, paving and pointing the way to Jesus.

Matthew 5:16 (AMP) Let your light so shine before men that they see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.

Enjoy Harbingers of Love tunes!

Mar272015Apr 28 2015

Twirl!

by Jennifer Vlaicevic, in category Uncategorized

My Mother was recently admiring a mother and daughter duo in a coffee shop in the village and complimented the little girl on her pretty summer dress. The mother smiled and said “Where we’re from in the south, dresses are a big thing! It’s all about the twirl factor!” My Mom said replying to the woman, “Oh really, do you wear lots of dresses that twirl?” The mother simply laughed and said “Oh no! I’m way past twirl, I’m to tailored!”

My daughter wakes up laughing, in fact at times she laughs just to hear herself laughing! She breaks out in to dance wherever she so fancies, she sees the good in all she meets, smiles and waves excitedly! She enjoys the purity of God’s gifts, divine fruits and vegetables, the tickle of a blade of grass against her soft skin, rain falling from the sky and onto her face and the new found extraordinary capabilities of her body. She tries her very hardest to conquer the task at hand whether it is putting on her shoe or climbing a chair three times her size. However, she is never afraid to ask for help, holding up her little hand letting out her little almost Italian sounding “Mama, Mama!” She is always quick to forgive with a great big smile and a hug and kiss that follow.

After spending days attempting to write a piece on being childlike I decided to take a break and get out of the house, arriving home from a day of play and errands, I got out of the car only to find my daughter fast asleep in her car seat. I took a moment on the hot, leather seat to just stare at her before I interrupted her peace to bring her inside; she’s so beautiful, so pure, filled with such love and trust. I kissed her sweaty little head and whispered “I want to be like you when I grow up.”

While rocking my darling angel back to sleep in her shaded nursery, her butterfly mobile fluttering above me to cool wisps of breeze, admiring the splendor of her innocence, a voice within me gently whispered “Children put their lives in the hands of their parents.”

And that, I believe, is exactly it! We aren’t meant to be “tailored” rigidly holding inside hate, mistrust, bitterness, unforgiveness or worry. We are to become like a child, going through life trusting, loving and forgiving, putting our lives in the hands of our heavenly Father so we can relax, enjoy life and twirl!

Matthew 18:3 (AMP) Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven.

The Kingdom of Heaven is righteousness, peace and joy, it’s the state in which our spirits can rejoice, celebrate, be free and dance!

Twirl to some tunes!

Mar232015Jul 22 2016

Rise and Shine!

by Jennifer Vlaicevic, in category Uncategorized

‘m all out of coffee and it’s setting me in a real bad mood! My friend muttered over the phone.

We set ourselves in the direction we are headed in our lives with our mindsets. My friend had set her mind, that because she didn’t have her morning cup of coffee she was going to be in a miserable mood the rest of the day.

Just as coffee percolates into a pot, our thoughts seep into our actions. So, just as we choose a blend of coffee we wish to later drink and enjoy, we must selectively choose our thoughts that we will brew and later enjoy living out in our lives.

Proverbs 23:7 teaches us that we become what we think. For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. So it is imperative to be mindful of what we allow to be filtered into and brewed in our minds. We must set and concentrate on the good things God’s Word says is true! So that we can be ready, set and go in the fulfilling direction God has planned for our lives!

Rise and shine and set your mind!

Colossians 3:2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.

Enjoy some Rise and SHINE tunes!