Give and Receive!

My goodness, how time flies! How are you, friend?! I am sorry for not being with you as often as I should. I confess, I have been wrapped up in the busyness of this holiday. I do hope that you are enjoying this Christmas season to the fullest! I was so encouraged by a quote that I came across recently and I wanted to share it with you to dwell on.

"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give."

Acts 20:35 says, "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'." It is always exciting to receive a gift, but I do hope that you also find great satisfaction in the gift of giving! That is what life is all about! God the Father sent His son into this world to give life to the world. I'm sure you'll agree that there is nothing more amazing than the gift of a child; and this is the form in which God chose to send us Jesus. A baby! What a beautiful picture! New life is found in Christ, who was born and lived as wholly God and wholly man! Just as we have been given, we are to give, with no expectation of reward. However, nothing escapes God's notice and He rewards those who bless others.

John 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you...For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."  

Matthew 5:12 "Rejoice and be glad! For great is your reward in heaven..."

Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth...But store up for yourself treasures in heaven...for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Take Christ with you this season and throughout the new year, friend. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Find Joy in Him, Beloved! 

Revised!

For those of you that are involved in chronologically reading through the Bible in a year with me, I apologize for my delay in revising the links for December's reading in the right sidebar. I guess we all have a bit of catch up reading to do. Sorry about that, Friends. I hope that even in the busy-ness of the holiday, you still find moments of quiet time! December seems to be flying by. Enjoy every moment and remember that Christ is the reason for our celebration of this season. Don't be afraid to shout MERRY CHRISTMAS!! ;) 

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Give Thanks!

"in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Hmmm...in everything? I confess, I'm not very good at this. I don't usually give thanks in everything. Around the Thanksgiving holiday, I reflect on the many blessing the Lord has given, but this verse is convicting because it implies a constant. Giving thanks is supposed to be practiced all year 'round, not just during this season. We are not supposed to have moments of thankfulness and then times of ungratefulness. Though we all struggle at times, we must remember that "every good thing given and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father..." James1:17. So if you draw breath, or possess anything that you enjoy, or have someone to love...GIVE THANKS! A heart that embraces thankfulness does not have a complaint department. An ungrateful spirit cannot thrive in soul that constantly gives thanks & praise!! I thank my God for you, Friend, and pray that a heart of thankfulness follows you throughout life! May God continue to bless you! 

Find Joy in Him Beloved!

Rise Up!

I get chills every time I hear this song!! Rise Up, people of the Lord, Rise up!! Be encouraged!!

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Earthly good! Heavenly great!

I'm sure you've heard the saying "Some people are too heavenly minded to be any earthly good." Right, wrong, or indifferent...here's my two cents.

While I believe that we should be fixed on Christ and focused heavenward, I understand the meaning behind this phrase. I have come across a few Christians today that say "Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus". But it's said with a sigh of discontentment, rather than an overwhelming excitement for His return. To me, it seems like an unhappy persons way of saying, "I'm tired of living in this evil world and I'm tired of dealing with all the crap that surrounds me. Come take me away from it all, Lord. I know you have better things for me than this." Have you ever come across someone with this outlook? This perspective saddens my heart, because I believe that these folks have become their own joy robbers. They're slapping away the Lord's hand of great blessing. He created this world and said it was good. Yes, the devil parades around and evil is prevalent, but creation bares the fingerprint of God. Life is a gift, not a curse. The Lord has given us so much to be thankful for and instead, we tarnish our testimony to the viewing public by focusing on all the things that make us upset or uncomfortable. Our purpose is to rejoice in the Lord...Always(Philippians 4:4)!!

"When you look for the bad in mankind, expecting to find it, you surely will." -Abraham Lincoln. 

But if you choose to see things through God's perspective, you'd live a life of joy on this earth, because your focus would be on the good. 

I believe that we, as believers, are called to celebrate life! In my readings of "Wisdom for the way" by Chuck Swindoll, he draws attention to Psalm 90:12. "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." 

He continues, "I find it interesting that we are to view life by the days, not the years. We are to live those days in such a way that when they draw to a close, we have gained 'a heart of wisdom'. With the Lord occupying first place in our lives we accept and live each day enthusiastically for Him. The result will be that 'heart of wisdom' the psalmist mentions...
Because we cannot alter the inevitable, we adjust to it. And we do that not a year at a time, but a day at a time. Instead of eating our heart out because a few more aches and pains have attached themselves to our bodies, we determine to celebrate life rather than endure it. Aging isn't a choice. But our response to it is. In so many ways, we ourselves determine how we shall grow old."...

..."Joy is available now. We are not to put it on hold. Happiness isn't something that will secretly open up to us when we turn fifty five, or when we reach some goal or find the right marriage partner. Happiness is for now. It is inseparably linked to the living Lord...'The chief end of man is to love God and enjoy Him forever.' Not just to serve Him, not just obey Him, not just sacrifice to Him, not simply commit ourselves to Him, but enjoy Him - 'laugh through life with Him.' Smile in His presence. So much more is included in enjoying Him forever than most would ever believe...Happiness is to pervade  all the years of our life...It's there for us to enjoy throughout our days."

It's sad to think that some folks are waiting for Christ's return and an address in heaven, before they'll experience His true & lasting joy. If that is you, that's not the way it has to be, Friend. You don't have to wait for heaven to feel at home! I love the thought of continually being in the presence of God no matter where I am. Heaven will not make Jesus anymore real for me, because His home is my heart. While I anticipate His return for me and am excited for the things to come, I am just as happy being with Him here, where He's placed me. For now, though a stranger, this world is my home and God did not create me to merely exist in it, but to live and thrive!! He has good things in store for me...and you! Until Jesus Christ beckons us to reside with Him in heaven, we are called to abide, thrive and joy in our Savior...throughout our days!

Look for the good and...

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Resort continually!

So sorry for my absence, Friend. We are now back from our trip to visit out of town relatives and I am anxious to get back in the swing of things! I hope this finds you well and pray that the Lord has been filling your days with amazing blessings!

Recent events and what I've been learning:
I have to say that I had many apprehensions about flying with 2 one and a half year olds. In preparing for our departure, we had to bring the twins' identification with us. Ian and I discovered the day before that we've never received the girls' birth certificates. Of course, I panicked. Ian got on the phone with the airline and they said all we needed was an official document that had their name & birth date on it. Thankfully, we had their immunization records. Our trip to Reno was quite difficult. We drove to Austin, got on the plane, flew 2.5 hours to Las Vegas, changed planes and flew another hour to Reno. Before getting on the plane in Austin, I decided to change both girls only to discover that one of them is deathly afraid of public restrooms and wouldn't let me change her. She screamed in freight and began climbing up my body, reaching to cling to the highest height. I had no idea she would react that way. You can imagine, we caused quite an unavoidable spectacle! In hopes of providing us with some comfort, my sweet husband paid for 3 seats so that we could have an entire row to ourselves, but still the girls did not nap at all and we had many moments of sheer insanity! We left home at 9am and finally got to Reno at 6pm (8pm Texas time). It was a very long day. Having not seen my family in a year, we had plans to have professional pictures taken. My daughters have been in front of a camera their whole lives, so I thought it would be no big deal, but I was wrong. They behaved terribly (like toddlers...imagine that!). They did not sleep well the entire trip. But all in all, despite the difficult moments, we were so blessed with sweet fellowship! Being surrounded by friends & family made everything worth it!!

I wanted to share what I read upon coming home. It amazes me the way that the Lord reveals things to us at certain times. I know that I didn't react well to my circumstances & situation, so this is exactly what I needed and it is such a comfort.

"Wisdom for the Way" Chuck Swindoll:
Big Picture Perspective. You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word. Psalm 119:114

One of the greatest benefits to be gleaned from the Bible is perspective. When we get discouraged, we temporarily loose our perspective. Little things become mammoth. A slight irritation, such as a pebble in a shoe, seems huge. Motivation is drained away and, worst of all, hope departs. God's Word is tailor-made for gray-slush days. It sends a beam of light through the fog. It signals safety when we fear we'll never make it through. Such big-picture perspective gives us a hope transplant, and within a brief period of time we have escaped the bleak & boring and we're back at soaring...We can actually stand firm through discouraging times but only if we apply God's instructions. 

I wish I had read this before our trip as well. Maybe it could've helped my perspective when I was faced with uncertainty & difficulty. The Lord blessed us with an amazing visit & an amazing trip home! My prayer for us both, Friend, is that we will continually rely on our Savior and remember that God will help and deliver us when we face difficulties. "Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress." Psalm 71:3 

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Speak Up!

Friend, I have to admit that I have been struggling this week. I am quite opinionated, but typically I keep my perspective & preferences to myself. I rarely share how I feel with others, due to the worry that they might disagree or become offended by my point of view. But the Lord has been so good to me in revealing my secret faults and showing me how dangerous it can be to keep silent. When I do not share my honest perspective, I'm living a falsehood and unintentionally being deceitful. All the while, my "pursuit of peace" has only been a crusade of tolerance.

Something that really spoke to my heart this week was this excerpt from "Wisdom for the way" by Charles Swindoll.

Perspectives and Preferences: "So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another." Romans 14:19

Disagreements are inevitable...There will always be opposing viewpoints and a variety of perspectives on most subjects. Tastes differ as well as preferences. That is why they make vanilla and chocolate and strawberry ice cream; why they build Fords and Chevys, Chryslers and Cadillacs, Hondas and Toyotas. That is why our nation has room for Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals - and moderates. The tension is built into or system. It is what freedom is all about, including religious freedom. I am fairly firm in my theological convictions, but that doesn't mean you (or anyone) must agree with me. All this explains why I place so much importance on leaving "wobble room" in our relationships. One's theological persuasion may not bend, but one's involvement with others must.

...God has placed you in His family and given you a certain mixture that makes you unique. No mixture is insignificant! That mix pleases Him completely. Nobody is exactly like you. That should bring you pleasure too. When you operate in your realm of capabilities, you will excel and the while Body will benefit...and you will experience incredible satisfaction.

This is what I hope we can all glean from this...
When we adopt the "mum's the word" mentality, we deprive the Body of Christ of a good thing. The Lord has created us with individual voices and every perspective is valuable. Typically, even the most kindred of spirits differ on a few points of view! A difference of opinion is nothing to be afraid of; in fact, it should be welcomed. Have you ever changed your mind when someone else has shared their opinion with you, and come to find that their perspective actually made more sense?

We need one another, Friend! No two are alike! The world needs Mary's and Martha's, David's and Daniel's, Peter's and Paul's. I have identical twin girls and yet they are as different in personality as a lion and a lamb. But both need one another. Karis and Kelsie seem to balance one another out. I love watching them because their year and a half old enthusiasm for life is unharnessed. They don't know what it is to keep a secret or repress feelings. Although not in many words, they can communicate what they want very well. And when their desire is not beneficial, they learn to yield to parental judgement. So it should be between Christians. The older are to help the younger become wise, but how can that be when mouths remain closed?! We cannot grow if we do not share the state of our roots. The Gardener has "tools" that He uses to cultivate healthy development.

Are you allowing yourself to be ministered to?! Are you ministering to others?! However different, your honest opinions and preferences should be shared. Speak up. Sharing the truth in love will make difference!

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Faith Alone!

At Grace Bible Church, we have been in Romans and I just have to share what we learned about on Sunday! It was so great to hear! We read chapter 3:24 - 4:13 and the main point was being justified through faith alone. I know so many Christians that struggle with this concept. They seem to believe that works play a huge part in justification. On Sunday, we learned why God insists on faith alone!

1) Adding works inflames pride. 
 - "boast"; a cause for pride (Romans 4:2)
In Judges 7 we read of Gideon preparing for battle and the Lord instructs him to face the Midianite army of thousands with 300 men. Sounds foolish, doesn't it?! But the reason God only sent 300 men with Gideon was so that no place would be given to pride and that God would receive the glory for the defeat! (7:2-4)
- Acts 4:13 records the Sanhedrin(Jewish court system; supreme religious scholars) being astonished by the boldness of these untrained, uneducated fishermen (Peter & John) that they knew they had been with Jesus.
Again, another account where God was noticed, rather than man. Counting our "good works" leads us to comparison and division.

2)Adding works divides God's family.
In Acts 15:5-11, Peter is referencing Jew & Gentile alike and argues that there should be no distinction. "So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." (v.8-9)
- circumcision and the keeping of the Mosaic law = works of Judaism.
We tend to put people into classes. First/Upper class folks are those that meet our standards. Second/Lower class folks are those that don't. Sadly, we come to expect "good works" from the "good Christian" and when we don't witness the action behind faith, we judge others and slap an "unbeliever" stamp of disapproval on them. We have no right to judge the inner workings of another's heart. We often forget that Christ died once, for all people. "There is only one table and we're all sitting around it. We are all loved equally by God."

3) Adding works to faith makes it worthless.
Romans 4:13 - "For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith."
- if justification requires faith and keeping the law...
- ...and keeping the law is impossible...
- ...then faith is useless!
We do not have to "work" to prove our faith because we can't. We will always fall short! No one can be perfect or keep the whole law. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."(Romans 3:23)

True, good works follow justification, but they do not earn it, prove it, or keep it! "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5:13. Life eternal belongs to the believer in Christ, not the "good worker" in Christ. We all fall into the same category in the Lord's eyes. Good works do not make Him love us any more than He already does. His ranking system has but one level, and because of what Jesus did for us, we are acceptable to God. It is about time we set aside our judging eyes and simply focus on loving one another!!

Have you trusted in Jesus alone for justification, Friend?
What do you boast in?
"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..." Gal.6:14.
"Thus says the Lord: let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord." Jeremiah 9:23-24

Dwell on these truths this week and...

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

O Lord!

"O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it all together. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me." Psalm 139:1-5

"O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul; You have redeemed my life." Lamentations 3:58

"O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You. I will praise your name, For You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth." Isaiah 25:1

Father, Your love is astounding and everlasting. Thank you for knowing our inmost being and still desiring to draw us near to You. We are SO undeserving and entitled to nothing; yet, You long to richly bless us. Please teach us to be like You. Teach us to be doers of the Word, not only hearers. Remind us that we are nothing more than clay(Jeremiah 18:1-6). You are the Potter and can shape and mold in whatever way You see fit. We belong to You and are not our own. In everything we do, teach us first to look to You! You are the reason we're alive and for You we should daily strive.

"...Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so you are in My hand..." Jeremiah 18:6

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Proud of you!!

When was the last time you heard the words, "I'm so proud of you"?! A friend said that to me this evening and it rang so sweetly in my ears. I haven't heard that phrase in quite a while. How about you, Friend?! Have you been told that recently? Do you tell that to others often? There's something about a voiced approval that means so much!

Do you know that Jesus Christ is proud of you?! Even in our fleshly, sinful state, God looks upon us with favor and claims us as His own! Because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, God looks on us as pure and blameless.

"...that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world," Philippians 2:15
"...in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight." Colossians 1:22
"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23
"But now, thus says the Lord, who created you...'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine." Isaiah 43:1
"...Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you." Jeremiah 31:3
"But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
"You did not choose Me, but I chose you..." John 15:16
"How precious are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand..." Psalm 139:17-18

We are sinners and we hurt the heart of God when we make poor decisions, but He is proud of us; not because of what we do, but because of who we are...we are His!

It's all about Him and our identity in Christ!

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

You're safe!

Lately, in our community, we have been dealing with tragic deaths and loss. Being a police officer's wife, I am acutely aware of the depravity within this world. My husband is constantly engaging the darkness that surrounds us, so I am constantly on my knees beside him. It is a very frightening place at times and yet, we should not live in fear. Our God is a just God. True, He allows tragic events to occur that are beyond our understanding, but He is always in complete control. He is never scared, never shocked, never shaken. It is important to remember the One to whom we belong. When I am afraid, I pray the truth found in these Scripture verses. I hope they bring you some comfort as they have me. 

"Bow down your ear to me; Deliver me speedily. Be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me." Psalm 31:2

"Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress." Psalm 71:3

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

"Therefore, thus says the Lord: 'Behold, I will plead your case and take vengeance for you'." Jeremiah 51:36

"Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay', says the Lord." Romans 12:19

"The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed." Psalm 103:6

"For the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off." Psalm 37:28

"The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." Exodus 14:14

"for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you." Deuteronomy 20:4

"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I shall satisfy him, and show him My salvation." Psalm 91:14-16

"...You shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob." Isaiah 60:16

Isn't it comforting to know that an invincible, undefeatable God has got your back?!! You belong to a Mighty Master, Friend, and nothing that happens to you will ever escape His notice! Run to His embrace when you feel afraid. He is your stronghold and He will care for you!

Find Joy in Him, Beloved! 

No one and Nothing!!

How are you, my Friend?! I wanted to share a song that has been on my heart lately that I just love! Particularly, the truth of the chorus and the strength of these words, "And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us? And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?" I tear up when I sing these words because the answer is always "No one and Nothing!" I am not sure what struggle you may currently be facing, but pray the truth of Luke 18:27 over you. "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." Own this verse and have courage!! 

(pause music at the bottom before enjoying)

 

"God plus one always equals the majority" and that fills me with indescribable joy!!! 

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

The waiting game!

Hello, Friend! I wanted to share what I read in "My Utmost for His Highest" today because it really encouraged me! I hope it speaks to your heart as it did mine.

"In the beginning, Moses had realized that he was the one to deliver the people, but he had to be trained and disciplined by God first. He was right in his individual perspective, but he was not the person for the work until he had learned true fellowship and oneness with God. 

We may have the vision of God and a very clear understanding of what God wants, and yet when we start to do it, there comes to us something equivalent to Moses' forty years in the wilderness. It's as if God had ignored the entire thing, and when we are thoroughly discouraged, God comes back and revives His call to us. And then we begin to tremble and say, "Who am I that I should go...?" We must learn that God's great stride is summed up in these words - "I AM WHO I AM...has sent me to you" (Exodus 3:14). We must also learn that our individual effort for God shows nothing but disrespect for Him - our individuality is to be rendered radiant through a personal relationship with God, so that He may be "well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). We are focused on the right individual perspective of things; we have the vision and can say "I know this is what God wants me to do." But we have not yet learned to get into God's stride. If you are going through a time of discouragement, there is a time of great personal growth ahead."

Through it all, He is drawing you closer to Himself!! Our lives belong to Jesus Christ and He is what it's all about!! The Lord knows how much time it will take to shape & mold you..."For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose..." Revelation 17:17.  If it seems like God's ignoring you or delaying your proceedings, it's because He's not finished equipping you for the job He's created you for.

Time is something God created, but man invented watches. Going by our watch puts God's time in a box. We are a people that do not like waiting. Consider Moses' 40 years!! Can you imagine waiting half a lifetime for God to carry out His plan for you?! Friend, don't try to place limits on a limitless God. Instead, follow His teachings, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted above the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10. He is working out His plan in and through you and He will do it all in His perfect timing. Our challenge is to pray "Father, Your will be done" and mean it.


Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Are you "wee"?! Be "wee"!

Zacchaeus wouldn't have been able to scurry up that tree if he wasn't so wee. 

"But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, 'Why have you made me like this'? Does not the Potter have power over the clay..." Romans 9:20-21a

How do you view yourself, Friend? Do you have confidence in who you are? Do you know that every hair, every freckle, every inch of your stature was handcrafted and given to you by God? So many of us look at our reflections with critical, judging eyes. We compare ourselves to others and set up unhealthy habits in order to reach unattainable standards. To critique the Lord's design is to tell your Creator that His creation is flawed. "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" 1Corinthians 3:16; "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" 1Corinthians 6:19. You belong to Jesus Christ and it is His reflection that you should see when you look at you. Before He formed you into existence, you were an approved blueprint! You are perfect because He made you! His eyes are always upon you and His gaze is one of true & lasting love. He adores you just as you are! Adopt Christ's perspective and be proud to be the you He made you to be!

"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." Psalm 139:14

Find Joy in Him, Beloved! 

Spiritual Guard!

"Conscience is God's built-in warning system. Be very happy when it hurts you. Be very worried when it doesn't."

"This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offence toward God and men." Acts 24:16

"Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness." Luke 11:35. Don't ignore the promptings of your conscience, which is your spiritual guard! If you do, you will become calloused to the Holy Spirit's guidance. "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting." Romans 1:28. There is a reason for any unsettling of the heart. The battle between right and wrong is one that is very prevalent within & around us. 

Learn to heed the Spirit's concerns. For He will reveal the right course of action.

"For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps." 1 Peter 2:21

"Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness." Psalm 143:10

"Behold! My servant whom I have chosen, My beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon him..." Matthew 12:18

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Are you imprisoned?!

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you."

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Matthew 6:14-15

How do you handle an offence against you? Are you quick to forgive or does bitterness fester within you? I have a horrible tendency to hold a grudge when someone offends me or hurts my feelings, especially when they are aware of how I feel and show no remorse. Can you relate? I am sure there's someone in your life that has "done you wrong" and hasn't confessed. Somehow, I always feel justified in my reasons for not offering them forgiveness. 

However, I am recently discovering the danger and destruction caused by this thinking. Continually dwelling on MY pain prevents me from being able to see things through my offender's eyes. If I were not so concerned about myself, perhaps I would be able to look deeper into their situation and empathize with their pain. What if something were to happen to that person? What if I lost all chance of renewing that which was once a thriving relationship? What if he/she never really knew that, despite it all, I love him/her? No matter how bad I've been hurt, am I willing to allow someone to feel worthless to me? I truly believe that if you are not willing to renew a fractured relationship, you never really had a solid foundation in the first place. 

Some folks have the perspective that says, "Well, I'm not forgiving them as a form of punishment". If you have the, "This'll show 'em!" revenge mentality, you will end up causing yourself far more pain than you ever hoped to inflict. Trust me, the person that refuses to forgive, burns the bridge that he will eventually need to cross. Don't bind the shackles to your own wrists.

Others take the, "I know things aren't right between me and "So&So", but it's ok, because I'm right with God." approach. According to our verse, that cannot be. You must first forgive, even if your offender is unapologetic for his/her actions. And if you truly forgive that person, your heart toward them would change. You would begin to value their worth and desire to have your relationship back. Your "grudge" would be forgotten...as if the offence never occurred. Granted, you are not responsible for how they respond, but you will be freed from the bondage of being unforgiven by the Lord. And you will leave them feeling free to come back to your embrace when they're ready, knowing all is forgiven and you desire to love them.

Typically, we are wounded by people that hurt us with their tongues; their words cause us deep emotional pain. Imagine the pain that Jesus endured on the cross. He was brutally beaten. He was spat upon and humiliated. He endured every unimaginable, excruciating physical & emotional pain, simultaneously. His humanity and deity was attacked, and how did He respond?..."Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."(Luke 23:34) WHAT?!! How can that be?! We get defensive and decline offering forgiveness when someone says something we don't like. You think it was easy for Jesus to forgive while hanging on the cross after everything they did to Him?! My Friend, let's not forget that even though He was God and had the ability and authority to save Himself, He was 100% fully man. He was flesh and dealt with the same struggles that we have to deal with. The difference is, He always responded in the RIGHT way. Jesus Christ was the Ultimate Empathizer! He knows exactly what it's like!! He can relate to whatever issue you're dealing with.

Here are some nuggets of truth that I hope you will dwell on while you travel the road to forgiveness.They will comfort your heart.
"If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." Romans 12:18
"When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." Proverbs 16:7
"Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it." Psalm 34:14
"He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his peace." Proverbs 11:12
"Lord, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us." Isaiah 26:12

"And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." Romans 16:20. No time to lose, Friend! We have a responsibility to put ourselves aside and be as Christ would be to our offenders. 

Choose the freedom He can offer and...

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Nothing compares!

I love these lyrics! 
Lord, You are more precious than silver. Lord, You are more costly than gold. Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds, And nothing I desire compares to You.Lord, Your Love is higher than mountains. Lord, Your Love is deeper than seas. Lord, Your Love encompasses the nations, And yet, You live right here inside of me! Who can weigh the value of knowing You? Who can judge the worth of who You are? Who can count the blessings of loving You? Who can say just how great You are? Lord, You are more precious than silver. Lord, You are more costly than gold. Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds, And nothing I desire compares to You. 
 Our hearts desire a great many things, but nothing we desire should compare with our love and devotion to Jesus Christ! He must be our All in All! "Commit your way unto the Lord, trust Him, and He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5; "Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established." Proverbs 16:3
Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Limping?!

What a day! My little Kelsie sprained her foot. I thought all 17 month olds were made of rubber, but somehow, she tripped & landed right on top of it. Poor little thing still wants to be mobile, so it's not slowing her down much, but there's nothing sadder than a limping toddler. Although difficult for her, she keeps pressing on. I would willingly hold her but when I do, she continues to say, "Walk". Her injury has not immobilized her. She keeps going and just drags her hurt foot along.

It is hard for me to watch but amazing at the same time. When adults get hurt, we become babies; but when babies get hurt, they seem to develop a will power that says, "This won't get me down. I need to keep going!"

It reminds me of the scripture we find in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9,16  "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed...Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day."

Though in pain, she's got a job to do & nothing can keep her from her toys!
Oh to have this perspective when we're "limping"!

Our Lord is the Great Physician and He will care for His sheep! Thank you for the non-verbal reminder, sweet Kelsie Girl! 

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

TIME to Consider...!

"The greatest possession you have is the 24 hours directly in front of you."

"The only preparation for tomorrow is the right use of today."

"Time is an irreversible, irreplaceable GIFT! It is not a RIGHT!"

Psalm 90:12 "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Psalm 143:10 "Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness."

Psalm 39:4-5 "Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor."

James 4:14 "Whereas, you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."

Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Psalm 139:3 "You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways."

Proverbs 4:26 "Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established."

Psalm 5:8 "...Make Your way straight before my face."

Psalm 18:32 "It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect."

Psalm 37:5 "Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass."

Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye."

Amid the unavoidable hurt this world inflicts, the Lord has truly blessed you with a life full of precious moments and although we are unaware of our numbered days, you have been given an incredible gift of Time! Just remember by Who's watch you're operating and make every minute count!!

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Know what?!

I'm sure there's been a time in your life, perhaps even now, when you've questioned the Lord's tactics. "God, what are You doing? This makes no sense! How is this for my good?! Can You please fill me in on the plan?!" 


Using Scripture, I would like to remind you of who our God is:

"O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep." Psalm 92:5

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." Revelation 22:13

"Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him..." John 18:4

"But He knows the way that I will take; When He has tested me, I will come forth as gold." Job 23:10

"The Lord knows the way of the righteous...(Psalm 1:6); He knows the days of the upright...(Psalm 37:18); He knows the secrets of the heart (Psalm 44:21); He knows the thoughts of man...(Psalm 94:11); He knows our frame...(Psalm 103:14)."

"For your Father knows the things that you have need of before you ask Him." Matthew 6:8


Hmmm...And we, in our fallible state, want to understand His omniscience?! Even if He shared a glimpse of His plan with us, it would not make sense. It would not compute. We would be unable to process all that He knows. All we can do is prepare ourselves to deal with the things we don't understand by being firmly rooted in His Word. If you were not baffled by God, He wouldn't be worth worshiping. He would not be God if He made sense to you! "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9.


For you and I Friend, I pray the truth found in Psalms 19:12. "Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults." All we can do is draw near to the One who knows it ALL and already has every detail worked out for our good. "For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11.


So what can we know?

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, and those that are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

"Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him." John 9:31

"Beloved, we are now children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." 1 John 3:2

"By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us His Spirit." 1 John 4:13

"We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but He who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him." 1 John 5:18

"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments...But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him." 1 John 2:3;5

"We know love, because He laid down His life for us...we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him." 1 John 3:16;19

"We know that we are of God..." 1 John 5:19

(Not modern, but one of my favorites! Pause music at the bottom before enjoying or just read the lyrics!)

I leave you with this final truth to dwell on. "How precious are your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!" (Psalm 139:17)  He adores you, Friend!! You don't have to know His will; you are His will!! And that's all you need to know!


Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Pressure!

Without pressure, a diamond would forever remain a lump of coal. 

Diamonds are one of the strongest substances known to man, and yet they originate from something as brittle as coal. Under the right conditions and the right amount of pressure, a piece of coal can be changed into a precious gemstone. The truest, most valuable diamonds reflect light and shine the brightest when surrounded by darkness.

Don't be afraid of pressure, Friend. James 1:3-4 says, "knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." Perfect, complete, lacking nothing...all characteristics of a flawless diamond.

What you might consider a heavy burden now, may in fact be the very thing that enables you to shine brighter than you ever have before. "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials." James 1:2. The duties & responsibilities you count as burdens today may be God's way of preparing you for eternity. "...out of weakness we were made strong..." Hebrews 11:34. There is eternal value in withstanding the pressures of this world. You will become a strong, valuable, unique, beautiful individual that reflects the brilliant light of Jesus Christ.
"Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore..."(Ephesians 6:13-14a)  Become His precious gem!

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Deliverance!

An excerpt from "My Utmost For His Highest":

God promised Jeremiah that He would deliver him personally - "...your life shall be as a prize to you...."(Jeremiah 39:18). That is all God promises His children. Wherever God sends us, He will guard our lives. Our personal property and possessions are to be a matter of indifference to us, and our hold on these things should be very loose. If this is not the case, we will have panic, heartache, and distress. Having the proper outlook is evidence of the deeply rooted belief in the overshadowing of God's personal deliverance.
The Sermon on the Mount indicates that when we are on a mission for Jesus Christ, there is no time to stand up for ourselves. Jesus says, in effect, "Don't worry about whether or not you are being treated justly." Looking for justice is actually a sign that we have been diverted from our devotion to Him. Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it. If we look for justice, we will only begin to complain and to indulge ourselves in the discontent of self-pity, as if to say, "Why should I be treated like this?" If we are devoted to Jesus Christ, we have nothing to do with what we encounter, whether it is just or unjust. In essence, Jesus days, "Continue steadily on with what I have told you to do, and I will guard your life. If you try to guard it yourself, you remove yourself from My deliverance." Even the most devout among us become atheistic in this regard - we do not believe Him. We put our common sense on the throne and then attach God's name to it. We do lean on our own understanding, instead of trusting God with all our hearts (see Proverbs 3:5-6). 

This was such a comforting reminder to me today!
"If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:19
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31
"...He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies." 2 Kings 17:39

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

My comfort!

Please forgive my absence, Friends. I haven't been keeping up as well as I'd like lately. My little ones have been sick and when I'm not tending to their needs, I'm catching up on sleep myself. Through the difficult times, it is a comfort to know the ultimate Provider and Healer! Philippians 4:19 promises that "my God shall supply all my needs." This brings me joy! I am not alone in caring for my ill 17 month old twins and last night, I came to the realization that there's only so much I can do for them.

Believe it or not, it was first night I've ever had to let them cry themselves to sleep. My girls aren't criers. They only cry when there's a reason and I can usually figure out what it is & fix it. Well, last night the reason was "we just don't feel good." They have head colds and and there is nothing worse than a stuffy nose to a pair of thumb-suckers. I did all that I could do to make them comfortable. Then I just shut the door, prayed over them and left them alone to wail. It was SO hard but I guess there comes a time when you just have to let go and let God. I had this vision of the Lord in the room with them, standing over their cribs, with His loving, gentle hand resting upon them until they became calm & comforted. He rocked them to sleep for me!

Their cries stopped in 20 min. but it seemed even longer for me to endure. The whole time I was hurting to hold & comfort them. I can only imagine how the Lord feels when He sees us hurting, sick & crying. I, in my humanity have limited resources, but Jesus Christ has the means to heal even the worst of disease & heartache. I love belonging to a Mighty God that loves and cares for my every need!! These pictures are the best representation of how the Lord comforted my heart last night. He was with my babies when I couldn't be and they found rest in His arms!

This picture is my favorite! He holds me too! We can not escape His sweet embrace!
"I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep, and am known by My own." John 10:14

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Sweet songs of His Love!

Have you ever been so overjoyed that you just feel like singing?! As I walked with the Lord today, or rather, as He carried me, He laid this song upon my heart and I just LOVE the lyrics! It's so beautiful and powerful!! He made the wretch that I am, His precious treasure.

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the chosen One,

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that left Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts, no power, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

Recently, we remembered the tragic event that occurred on 9-11. So many lives were lost on that day, 10 years ago, and it will forever be engraved on our hearts...some etched deeper than others; but all Americans will always remember 9-11. 

I ask you Friend, should the death of Christ be any less significant for believers? Christ chose to take the tragic death that belonged to ALL people upon Himself, as a man...flesh and bones...no less human than you or I. He endured all the pain and suffering that should have been ours. How many of us live with this perspective and apply it to our daily lives? Why is it so easy to live like it never happened? If we awoke each day with the realization of what He went through on our behalf, boasting of Him would come naturally. When you're in love, don't you want the world to know?! Wouldn't you boast about the one who captured your heart and desire to do anything for that someone?! "Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." Habakkuk 3:18

(pause music at the bottom before enjoying this song)

Jesus saved you and you are forever indebted, my Friend. Rejoice! For there is no better place to be than in service of the Greatest Master! He loves you beyond all measure! Boast in and of Jesus Christ!! Remember that day...the day of His death, and all that was accomplished when it was finished! 

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!   

He is able!

He is able, more than able

To accomplish what concerns me today

He is able, more than able 

To handle anything that comes my way

He is able, more than able

To do much more than I could ever dream

He is able, more than able

To make me what He wants me to be

Whatever burden troubles your heart, the Lord is able to carry all that you feel unable to bare. Just lay it at His feet and trust! "Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22

Find Joy in Him, Beloved! 

Slavery!

What comes to mind when you think of the word "slave"? It is typically a derogatory or demeaning term, correct? You wouldn't want to be "owned by" or "in service" to anyone, would you? Well, believe it or not, you already are, Friend.

We find a few men in the Bible that took pleasure in referring to themselves as slaves...Paul, Peter, James, John, and Jude. They introduced themselves as "doulos" of Jesus Christ. They knew that being a slave meant they gave themselves up in service to God's will, and were dedicated to advancing His cause among men. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says "For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." They belonged to God and loved to make that fact known! These men were completely devoted and knew the benefits of being bond-servants of Jesus.

Earthly freedom is a myth. Slavery is unavoidable. In Matthew 6:24 we read "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Freedom is not an option for human beings. We are either slaves of the Lord or slaves to sin. "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." Romans 6:17-18. Whom or what do you serve, Friend?! Even if you are a believer, the choice is yours to make daily. Why should you, like these apostles, find joy in being slaves of Christ? Because Jesus is the best of Masters. He loves you and wants to be your friend! "He is gentle and lowly in heart, you will find rest for your souls; His yoke is easy and His burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-10) He will provide for you and protect you. When you belong to Jesus, He belongs to you!

My question is, why serve sin when the Lord is waiting with open arms to grant you the gift of salvation and offer you freedom in and through Himself. Jesus Christ died for YOU!! He endured not only death, but "death on a cross"(Phil.2:7-8); meaning a slave's death. Crucifixion was a humiliating death reserved for slaves & criminals. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21. Wouldn't you want to live out the remainder of your life in complete devotion to someone that endured a brutal death on your behalf?! All you have to do is choose Him; believe that He is, and always will be, all that you will ever need. Adore Him. Know Him. And live forever, free from the burden of sin!!! That is definitely something to rejoice over!!! "I AM A SLAVE OF JESUS CHRIST"...and proud of it!!

Find joy in Him, Beloved!

Joy, proof of burden!

An excerpt from "My Utmost for His Highest"

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." Where do the saints get their joy from? If we did not know some saints, we would say - "Oh, he, or she, has nothing to bear." Lift the veil. The fact that the peace and the light and the joy of God are there is proof that the burden is there too. The burden God places squeezes the grapes and out comes the wine; most of us see the wine only. No power on earth or in hell can conquer the Spirit of God in a human spirit, it is an inner unconquerableness.

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Who is "Me"?

"For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well." Psalm 139:13-14

An excerpt from "31 Days of Praise" - It's wonderful to know that You (God) are not the least bit dissatisfied with my inborn talents, intelligence, aptitudes, appearance, and personality, for Your hands have made and fashioned me. I am one of Your original masterpieces! 

How do you view yourself? Do you see yourself as Christ does or do you often look through judging eyes and wish that many things about you were different? Do you compare who you are with who you(the world) thinks you "should" be? This world's standards are not the Lord's. Do not be fed it's lies!

Friend, don't you realize that God wouldn't change one thing about you?! In addition to who you are, the only thing He wants to see in you is a reflection of Himself. You are perfect and precious to Him just as you are. The fact that you are unique and hand made by God should give you cause to rejoice! Be confident in Whom you belong and you will be confident in your entire being! You bare Christ's eternal imprint!! Rejoice!

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

He knows!!

Lord, You know our need! Nothing that concerns Your creation is outside of Your notice or control. We are thankful for that and trust You always know best!

You also know that it is difficult for us to keep a joyful perspective when people around us are hurting. Right now, there is a major fire in Bastrop, TX. It is an hour from our home. The fire has destroyed 785 homes and burned over 33,000 acres. It's only 30% contained. At this point we are praying that the weather will stay in our favor so that our brave firemen can get it under control.

For now, I am holding onto this truth... "I will send down rain at the right time. There will be showers of blessing." Ezekiel 34:26

We are praying for those that have fallen victim to the fire's devastation, but also taking time to count our blessings. It's amazing how fast you can lose everything! It is true that the only thing that really matters is people. Lives can be saved, but anything else can vanish in an instant. It is a good reminder to be careful what we hold tight to. Teach us, Father, to be thankful for the things we have and to remember that everything belongs to You. Thank You for being our provider and protector! With You, we lack nothing!

Deuteronomy 2:7 - "For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through the great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing."
Nahum 1:7 - "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him."

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Distractions and priorities!

Luke 10:38-42 is a great example of things that distract from joy. It is the story of Mary and Martha. Jesus came to share an evening with them and Martha, in true womanly fashion, was distracted by preparing a fantastic meal and making everything just perfect; while Mary, on the other hand, sat at Jesus feet and just enjoyed being in His presence. Although Jesus appreciated Martha's efforts, He would rather she prepared a simple meal, so that they could all sit down and make the most of their time together. Martha's hostess duties were distracting her from what was really important. I do not think it right to judge which of the ladies "loved" Jesus more. Martha was showing love by serving and Mary was showing love by spending quality time with her Lord. However, I am glad that Jesus draws our attention to which is the greater priority. Doing things for Him should not take priority over just being with Him.
"Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." Habakkuk 3:18

"You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in your presence."
Acts 2:28

Which are you, Friend? A Martha, or a Mary? I know that if the Lord were in my home, I would've probably been a Martha...worried about making everything "just right" for Him. But this story speaks to me in the fact that Jesus lives in my heart and in my home, and its OK that things in my life are hectic and disheveled. Christ does not require a tidy house and a 7 course meal in order to feel welcome. All He wants is our complete attention and adoration of Him. I love that!! Leaves me less to worry about. 

"We like sheep..." I am constantly reminded of this phrase when faced with the need to re-prioritize. Notice the life and priorities of a sheep. What do they do day in & day out? They are fed, clothed and cared for by the Shepherd and all they do is belong to Him. John 10:4 says, "And when He brings out His own sheep; He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him for they know His voice." Our sole purpose is to be with Him!! Doesn't that just make you jump for joy?!! 

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Thank You!

Joy is unattainable without a thankful heart! Count your blessings and give thanks!

"Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men." Psalm 107:15

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

"Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name." 1 Chronicles 29:13

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

A great, familiar song by the Newsboys:

You give me joy thats unspeakable
And I like it, I like it yeah
Your love for me is irresistible
I can't fight it, I can't fight it

If life is water, I was dry as the Tucson dirt
If it's a gamble, I'd already lost my shirt
If it's a journey, I was dazed without a clue
I flipped a "U" back to the first love I ever knew

CHORUS
You give me joy that's unspeakable
And I like it, and I like it yeah
Your love for me is irresistible
I can't fight it, I can't fight it yeah
You carried the cross and took my shame
I believe it, I believe it yeah
You shine your light of amazing grace
I receive it, I receive it yeah

If life's a battle, the invasion is complete
If it's a rhythm, I have found the perfect beat
If it's a renaissance, I've got a new birthday
The world don't give it
And the world can't take it away

CHORUS

Bowed and broken, everything's new
All that I need, you're like water to seed
And how your love, rights everything wrong
In my weakness
You're ever stronger, you're pulling me back
Where I belong


Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

My Prayer!

Father God,

As I continue to seek You, I find myself captivated in all that You are. Your love baffles me. I was reading John's account of Your crucifixion today and it is beyond my comprehension that even after enduring such torture, You chose to love and forgive. And then to think that You hung there on that cross and thought of me. You chose to forgive the wrong that You knew I would commit. My sin caused You to be put to death. That is a debt that can never be repaid! You saved me and I owe You my life.

Lord, I confess that You have not been my #1 priority for a long time. I keep getting in my own way. I've always known that I needed You, but my perspective was that of, "When I need Him, I'll call." I understand now that it should've been, and always be, "You are my all in all, and it's Your call."

Your inspired words in 1 Corinthians 6:20 say, "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." My prayer is that I will etch this verse upon my inmost being and remember all that You went through to win my heart! I am not my own. I belong to the Most High God! This truth brings me such indescribable joy!!

You are my King! My heart desires to be ever near You! Jesus, teach me to walk with You and mimic Your every step, so that my path will lead straight to Your throne on High, where I will live with You eternally!!

It is an amazing feeling to be wrapped in Your Joy! Your embrace is a place that this world can't touch or remove me. I love it here! I wish I never strayed from Your presence.  You are my Joy! I am grateful to You and love You beyond compare! Thank you for being mine and for making me Yours!! 

One of Your "lost without You" sheep

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Joy defined!

Here are the definitions that man has come up with to best describe "Joy":
1. the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation
2. a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated 
3. the expression or display of glad feeling; festive gaiety
4. the state of happiness or felicity
5. rapture or bliss

The Joy of the Lord outweighs all these definitions combined. It goes beyond complete satisfaction; beyond contentment; beyond happiness; beyond freedom. It is an unmistakable mark left by the Holy Spirit that only the Lord can impart; it is constant, unwavering, and absolute. Joy is Jesus' everlasting imprint!

I think the reason we observe so many sullen Christians in today's day & age, is because they are not plugged in to the proper source. They look to the world to "make them happy" and base joy on circumstances. It's the "I'll be happy when..." mentality. If you are looking for a source of joy, you won't find it here on earth, Friend. True joy is supernatural! It is not based on the "If I only's..." but rather the "Is your only..." Jesus Christ IS YOUR ONLY conduit for absolute joy.

Isaiah 35:10 - "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."
John 15:11 - "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."
John 16:22 - "...I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you."

A quote I love: "...this joy was very great, a joy unspeakable, and full of glory; it was not carnal, but spiritual, a heart joy, joy in the Holy Ghost;"

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Joyful Noise!

"O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms." Psalms 95:1-2

SING! Make a joyful NOISE! Who do you know that sings & makes noise most often?! Children! My sweet toddlers come to mind. Karis & Kelsie love to sing & make noise. They don't even have to know the words to a song; they just sing! The beautiful part about that is...a childlike faith and love of Jesus is most precious to our Heavenly Father! Children are filled with overwhelming joy. Their enthusiasm for Jesus seems effortless. When was the last time you couldn't contain your joy, Friend?! Have you ever shouted out in praise of your Savior and thanked Him for all He's done for you? When was the last time singing a worship song brought a joyful tear to your eye?

"But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven'." Matthew 19:14.
"Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3

If you haven't heard of it, I would encourage you to read "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo.
"A young boy emerges from life-saving surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to heaven. Heaven Is for Real is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each. He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how "reaaally big" God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit "shoots down power" from heaven to help us.Told by the father, but often in Colton's own words, the disarmingly simple message is heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready, there is a coming last battle."
This book provides an amazing perspective through the eyes of a 4 year old. Colton loves Jesus and is full of the joy of the Lord! It is infectious!

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

My Path!

I wanted to draw your attention to today's verse. Proverbs 16:9 says, "A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps."

Isn't this truth an amazing comfort?! I find joy in knowing that the Lord's ways are beyond my understanding. The fact that He is omniscient and knows my future as well as my present, leaves me worrying less about life. My Heavenly Father knows my every step before I even take it, and He will be with me wherever I go. "You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways." Psalm 139:3

We each have an idea about how we think our lives will turn out, but it rarely goes the way we plan. When the Lord intervenes, whether we realize it at the time or not, it is a blessing! Jeremiah 29:11 says, "'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'." Rather than worry about your way, try trusting Jesus and following in His footsteps. The best way to do this is to abide in the Word of God and remain by Jesus' side.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105
"Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it." Psalm 119:35
"You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11 (I LOVE this verse!!)

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Ask!

"Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24

"...for your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." Matthew 6:8

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

"And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matthew 21:22

"If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." John 14:14

These truths should be a comfort to us all, Friend! The Lord designed us. He knows the desires of our hearts! Have you asked anything of Him lately? How do you ask? Do you pray for His perfect will to be done in your life? There may be things that we want, but sometimes those things are not in accordance with His plan. The Lord is not in the business of ignoring His people. He will always give an answer and we need to learn to find joy in whatever His response. He always want what's best for His people and desires our joy to be full!
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares on Him for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Out of the mouths of babes!

 My heart is filled with indescribable joy hearing the name of Jesus on Karis & Kelsie's lips!

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Complaint Department!

I must confess that a joyful spirit has been hard for me to maintain lately. It seems that once you purpose to do something good, you better be prepared to get attacked. Ever since deciding to find joy in every circumstance, I have felt prone to complain and get irritated at things that usually don't bother me. The devil has been trying so hard to make me upset and I'm afraid he has succeeded this week.

I'm going to jot down my weaknesses because you're my witness, and it's good for me to SEE how ridiculously selfish my complaints are. These are the things that have recently been getting on my nerves...
- my wedding ring broke in an unusual spot and the jewelers told me it was a manufacturers defect.
- I've been blaming my husband for things he can't fix...work schedule, finances, etc.
- The grass is turning brown due to no rain.
- We are having to endure 109 degree weather and I am stuck indoors with two restless toddlers.
- My house is a mess!
- I have misplaced an article of clothing and can't find it anywhere.
- my computer has electrical issues and constantly goes offline when I Skype with family in Reno.
- my car makes a constant ticking sound. Ian thinks it's the AC we just replaced. Fantastic!
- the cat has decided that she's a dog and now licks.
- all the college students are back in town and I have to drive even more defensively than before.
- my coffee maker broke.
- the dog snores!
- people keep asking me if my 16 month old identical girls are twins. Really?

Pathetic, isn't it? I constantly tell my children, "No whining, or we need discipline." Hmmm, guess who needs a healthy dose of discipline in my house? Me!

Satan has been filling my days with little irritants, causing my perspective to be skewed and my hunger for the Word to wane. My "gripe" list will only diminish once I become firmly grounded in the Scriptures and allow the Lord to correct my behavior. Philippians 2:14 says, "Do all things without complaining or disputing." With this truth in mind, I press on. Tomorrow is a new day and the beginning of a new week. I pray for you the same prayer that I pray for myself; that we focus on the good that we've been blessed with and remain thankful & joyful in spirit!

"...the joy of the Lord is my strength." Nehemiah 8:10
When we are weak, we need to draw from the Lord's strength and recapture our joy. It takes continual effort. Friend, I urge you to keep this verse in your armory and use it when you, like me, feel tempted to complain.

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Joyful, Joyful...

Time to dwell on a familiar hymn. Sing it to Him!! 

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!