The Joy of the Lord

Sad times come and go - just like happiness comes and goes. Both sadness and happiness seem subject to the winds of change. Not so with JOY. The ongoing abiding presence of our beloved Lord Jesus keeps the believer encompassed by an inner joy in knowing Him, and knowing He is in control and has our backs. Can you be sad and joyful at the same time? Absolutely! This seeming paradox is made simple by knowing and trusting in Jesus Christ Who dwells within the hearts of believers.

Thank You, Jesus, for never leaving nor forsaking us. You are always present - even in sad and hard times. It is Your presence and the joy in knowing You that gets us through when life is rough. May all glory be Yours. Amen.

Can We EXPECT To Receive God's Blessings?

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? ... the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great." (Luke 6: 46, 49)

There is no doubt about it: Life can be really hard at times. And - oh, how we do hope for God's blessings, especially during those harder times. But, are God's blessings automatic? Can we just EXPECT His blessings if we have prayed to receive them, and asked in faith?

I would suggest the above verse holds a clue. JESUS IS LORD! Folks in distress will call upon Him for help - and expect His help and blessings - and yet do not do what He says in their lifestyles. We want what we want - our way - NOT His way - and then we expect His favor and His blessings? Come on now - let's get real! A lord is someone whom WE SERVE! 

Let's look deeper:

JESUS IS LORD: are we serving Him in our lifestyles - in our daily choices? This is the first place to look - self-examination. Or do we pick and choose, ignoring what He desires of us and choosing to call Him Lord while navigating around those things we really don't want to do. In plain talk, there are times we pretty much do what we want to do, and only call upon Him when we want something from Him.

Let's face it: None of are without sin...Nada!!! We ALL fall short. Yet, to be hearers and doers of His Word is to honor and do what He asks of us as a LIFESTYLE, daily and moment-by-moment. Our choices define whether Jesus is REALLY Lord of our lives - or not! 

Jesus asks: “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

~ But for those who hear and obey, Jesus tells us:

"Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built."

(Luke 6:47-48)

Saints, sometimes we may have to wait awhile to feel the effects of His blessings; yet, to be a part of this latter group - hearers and doers of His word: YES, YES, and YES again - We can then expect to receive - for truly JESUS IS LORD of our lives. He will bless us; He WANTS to bless us!

Amen ~

GUARD MY LIPS, O LORD

      

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29)

I have some questions. What was your mouth like when you were living in the ways of the world? What kind of words were uttered out of your mouth? More specifically, was your language output four letter words meant only for the gutter?

While never attractive language, there is an understanding that our transformation had not yet begun. We were brand new, and necessary changing takes place over time.

What was it like for you when you first become convicted by Holy Spirit that the words of your mouth were offensive to Him? That you needed to cease and desist; that you needed to clean up your language? With God's help and with sensitized spirits, we made a decision to clean up our act in many ways. Each time we would utter something foul, we felt immediate conviction, and we further felt we were wounding the Spirit of God within us by our language. 

By His grace, over time, our words became blessed and no longer did we utter gutter talk.

Yet, I ask: have you run into seasoned Christians who continue to use unwholesome expletives as though it were unimportant? It's no big deal to speak in this way? It doesn't matter? 

Don't misunderstand! We may all on rare occasion still slip, as we do in many other areas. I am speaking of using "colorful language" as a way of speech in expressing oneself and finding no self-fault in doing so.

The Word of God is clear: "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth ..."

For ALL of us who number among God's saints, whether brand new or seasoned in the faith, 

"Guard our lips, O Lord."

May this be the prayer we utter for ourselves from our lips:

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

Amen ~

ARE WE TURNING A DEAF EAR?

"But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves." (James 1:22)

If we have been walking with The Lord for awhile, hopefully we have learned to hear the sound of His voice. If that be so, what do we do when He speaks and we know it - and we don't like what He says? Do we listen, or do we turn a deaf ear? We love it when we like what we hear ... but not so much when He speaks in ways that require us to change direction in some way. We flat out don't want to hear it, do we? We wish he hadn't said THAT!

What are the consequences for not listening; not heading The Lord when He speaks?

Some suggestions:

OTHER VOICES: We begin to listen to "other" voices; become prey to deception, and choose to do what we want. We choose not to submit to The Lord.

DECISIONS ARE SELF-BASED: Our choices become based on how much they appeal to us, not based on the wisdom of God and what He knows is best for us.

THE BLAME GAME: We begin to blame others for our wrongdoings, make excuses for ourselves, and assume no responsibility for our poor choices.

OTHERS SUFFER because of our wrongful actions and behaviors.

DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD: Our loving Lord will discipline us for our own good when we refuse to listen, heed and obey.

All of us must deal with temptation - in this, the temptation of turning a deaf ear to the Lord's instruction.

Suggested solution:

Refuse the temptation of listening to other voices. While some of those other voices are voices of well-meaning friends, but not in accord with Scripture, other voices can be those of wolves masquerading in sheep clothing - voices that may lead us away from what The Lord desires of us or for us. Voices that may lead us into sin. Do not listen and heed words that merely tickle your ears, are empty, and filled with deceit. LISTEN, HEAR, REMEMBER, and OBEY the One voice that brings us blessings, and guarantees our best outcome. 

Amen.

THANKS GIVING ... and the Rest of the Story

Paul Harvey was a radio broadcaster for around 40 years. He was famous for his broadcasts "The Rest of the Story." As I would drive to work, I would listen to Paul Harvey as he would daily tell his story.

Yesterday, I posted a blog entitled "Not By Might." I spoke about how the holidays can be such a stressful time for me. That was only part of the story. Today, is my version of "The Rest of the Story."

On the one side, the whole holiday season can be so stressful ... yet it does not eliminate "The Rest." Those precious moments of incredible joy, tenderness, great smells and good eats, celebrations, decorations, and children laughing. Yet most of all, for me - there is a heightened awareness of thanks giving for my Savior, Jesus Christ. Regardless of the stress factors, thanks giving is the focus. I reflect on how much my Lord has done for me - how very much He has given me.

Of all such reflective moments, and by God's Grace every year is Christmas Eve. Recollections of Christmas Eve from years now long past and years in the present.

Absolutely nothing rocks my world in quite the same way as entering a darkened church on Christmas Eve to celebrate the Coming of my Infant Savior. Hand-held candles light the darkness. The service begins and I am in a holy place even beyond the norm. It is almost a different plane of reality. In the hushed sacredness of the moments, I see the humble birth of my King and my God. The beauty of the music within the church enhances what happened over 2,000 years ago.

My Savior has entered the world - for me - to live and die - for me. Born of a woman, just like you and me. Yet sharing a destiny with me none other could ever share. He came to die as payment for my sin - and yours - so we wouldn't have to live and die forever in an eternity without Him - the penalty for our sin.

Stress on the one hand - oh yeah - no doubt about it...

Seeing, Tasting, and Experiencing one more time the Sacredness and Thanksgiving for what my Savior has done for me is worth every second of the Stress. 

Its all about focus, and how I choose to focus. I choose to focus on the reasons for why I am Thankful - not just in the season - but every day.

"The Rest of the Story" ~

I am Thankful for my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, every day ... not only in the season between November and January.

How about you? I invite your comments. What is your "Rest of the Story?"

~ Amen.

NOT BY MIGHT ...

Do you feel overwhelmed at times by the amount of tasks on your “to do” list? You can see no way to accomplish these many things in the time frame given. 

I can feel that way – especially as the whole holiday season approaches. Rather than anticipating the enjoyment and celebration just around the corner, I tend to dread the holidays. 

On the negative side of the “season to be jolly” I often feel buried under the magnitude of responsibilities before the arrival of those days. From my perspective, much is added to those responsibilities with nothing removed. “Where shall I ever find the time to do ___________? And ______________? And _________________?”

It is at holiday times when I most often cry out a silent or loud verbal prayer: “O Lord, give me strength!” Being honest, sometimes, it is said more as an expletive than a prayer. Either way, I know I need help.

No matter the particulars of feeling overwhelmed – stressing out is the result. The worries and concerns assault and it becomes a vicious circle of doing – or not doing. I have often felt I would rather sleep through the holiday season and wake up when it is all over.

What an attitude! Yet, I have been there often. How about you? Do you truly enjoy November through January?

Personally, when I cry out: “O Lord, give me strength” I need to recall the verse from the written Word of God:

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts." (Zechariah 4:6)

Inevitably, I have always found I do get through the season – tired, but with a deep satisfaction. Yes, I have worked hard. And I have accomplished what has been given me to do. Sometimes, through hindsight after all the dust settles, I realize what has happened. 

No matter how imperfect my prayer for strength, my Lord has heard my cry, and He has answered.

We can all cry out to our Savior for strength to be and to do what He would have us do – and honestly, the rest doesn’t matter. He supplies our need. He is our provision. He is our Lord. He is the One Who causes the sun to rise and the sun to set. Surely then, He can more than order the things in my day and in yours.

Take heart, Saints. We have the Source of our strength living within us. Shall we plug in to Him for our every need? I say: “Yes!” How about you?

Amen ~

'LORD, SAVE ME!"

We have all been there at one time or another, haven't we? "Lord, save me!" A time in our lives where all answers to the problems of life are dead-end answers and there is nowhere left to turn. Trapped and without recourse. We have prayed for solutions, and the Lord is silent. "Where, O Lord, can I turn if not to You? Hear me, O Lord, and let my cry come unto You."

When Peter was out there sinking into the sea, he cried out: "Lord, save me!" And Jesus reached out His arm, and Peter was saved from drowning - instantly - from beneath those watery depths.

Sometimes we feel like we are drowning in a raging sea of difficulties, and it may not be in a churning, angry body of water. That sea for us may be the flood of water flowing from our eyes in times of deep trouble. "And why not NOW, O my God ... why not now, as with Peter, in the instant of my cry? Why not now?"

True, our help is NOT always in the instant of our cry; we may have to wait, as our anguish mounts. "Where are You, O God of my salvation?"

It is a most painful time for us. There is no getting around it.

The well-intentioned platitudes of loved ones, while appreciated, offer no real solutions. We do know they care. And we covet their prayers of faith. We hang on to those prayers knowing the heavens are bombarded by this crying out to The Lord on our behalf.

Our own cry, and the cry of others on our behalf, are rooted in faith that God will answer His children. The Lord DOES hear the cries of His children...even when our help does not come instantly. We have only to wait upon Him. His timing is best even though we may not understand why He is so long in responding. He is faithful to hear our drowning cries - and He says:

"He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with Him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him" (Psalm 91:5).

Amen ~

CHILDREN OF FAITH

Even as so many of us struggle, and some are still struggling (me!) with the hard questions of life and faith, and to come out always trusting in the sovereignty of our God, mighty and awesome is He, is a gift that is such a part of faith in Him. We sometimes come out with our own answers that differ from other strong believers; even so, we ponder, we question, and above all, we TRUST.

Yesterday, as Tony and I walked through the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, TN ... only trusting in our Savior, Jesus Christ, even with questions pondered, and for now, unanswered, to know that you know that you know - God knows, and to trust Him is a feeling, an emotion, an action, a desire met - that gifts me in ways traveling far beyond human language and the fabric of my ponderings.

Today, and every day I breathe life on this present earth, I chose to trust my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in all things, by His ongoing and continuing grace, even in those unanswered questions encountered in life and living.

Anyone with me?

Amen ~

"NOW THAT I AM OLD AND GRAY"

The sun was barely up with the dawn of an early morning.  Inside the convent chapel, a small group of nuns were reciting Morning Office. And then it happened - again! The young nuns, who only seconds earlier were praying solemnly, began to giggle. We had reached that part of Psalm 71 (vs. 18) where we had to recite:

"Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God ..."

You had to be there. We were all in our early 20's and we never could get past that line without losing it. The only one who did not find it humorous was Mother Superior, and she WAS gray.

A few years ago, a movie hit the theaters: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". While only a fictional story, which was originally penned by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I found myself fascinated as I watched. Benjamin Button was diagnosed at birth with several aging diseases and was given little chance of survival. Benjamin not only survived, but he got younger with time. He aged backwards. An old man at birth; a child as he chronologically aged.

I have to tell you, I identified with Benjamin! A lot! Emotionally, in some ways, I have aged backwards - hence the reason for the Benjamin-identification. Benjamin was born an old man. Early in life, I became an old woman. Like Benjamin, I survived. 16 years ago, I was "born" and in my today, I am a youth, reveling in the years that have been restored to me ... those same years which the locusts had eaten. Not an old woman emotionally anymore, I have gotten younger.

Part of living for me in my today is - experiencing the joy of my youth. Much of that is due to the Family of God within which He has planted me.

Life is meant to be embraced and enjoyed, I believe. It is a precious gift. For as long as life lasts, and I am able, I shall Praise The Lord for Life ... My Life, and a life that is now so much more abundant than in my days of old.

Psalm 71:18  begins as above:

"Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God ...

and finishes:

... till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come."

Some of us "grow old gracefully." Some of us fight aging for as long as we can.  I am of the latter group. Even so, aging is inevitable.

Yet, today, I declare to all who will hear, both young and old, and for those who are yet to come of the power of the Almighty.

Gone are the days when those old convent walls received the joy of our youthful laughter. Only The Lord knows the stories life has given my fellow sisters since last I saw them.

But for all of us who believe, we can trust that - whether it be about aging, or any other issue for that matter -

Jesus is the source of our joy. Only He truly heals the brokenhearted. He saves those who are crushed in spirit. He binds up our wounds, physically, emotionally, spiritually. He opens prison doors and sets captives free ... that would be us when we are experiencing our issues. And we are so in need of Him.

He is our God, our Magnificent Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and He is   ... Mighty to Save.

Amen ~

STORMS

I have just left my room for the first time today ... late for me. Getting up was difficult this morning. I felt achy and sleepy. Besides, the day outside, as seen through my window, gave evidence of a murky and overcast day dawning. Now, though the sun has emerged, it is more a dance between sunshine and shadow. Even the river appears different today. No glassy surface close to the shoreline; rather a darker, less-friendly presentation than the norm. There is the appearance of a gentle turbulence along the surface of the river, replete with a few tiny white-capped waves here and there. Life within these waters appears devoid of river creatures this morning, no frolicking about with the absence of calm.

Is this not somewhat like my own life, Lord? Times of sunshine and shadow? Times of feeling different? Times when my soul is clear and calm and glassy-smooth with peace flowing within me. And at other times, when my soul runs darker with a gentle turbulence, the tiny white-capped waves of anxiety washing over me which rise to the surface of my awareness.

The weatherman has predicted thunderstorms rolling in for later this afternoon. In nature sometimes, the thunderstorms do come, as predicted. Other times, they do not come at all even when predicted . The sun remains on those latter days - strong, bright and smiling on both land and water. The storm has changed her mind, or the weatherman has erred in his prediction.

I suppose thunderstorms are necessary in nature, and even necessary in my own life from time-to-time. I thank You, Lord - thunderstorms do not often erupt within me. When those storms do create havoc within my soul, Lord, it is most often over someone or something that has unsettled my world, and turbulence and tempestuous waves crash in on the shores of my raw and naked soul. Lightning strikes and tears at my open and gaping wounds, and inwardly, I churn and thrash with the violence of the storm ... until, finally, the storm has spent itself, and my peace is eventually restored.

I would so much rather the thunderstorms never come, whether in nature or in my soul. I do not like them! I would prefer the storm change her mind, or the weatherman err. I would prefer the serenity of my soul never disturbed. I would prefer gentleness, peace and calm to reign within at all times. Even so, Lord, how then would I appreciate the calm when it returns without knowing the ravages of the storm? How then would my soul know the fullness of joy when my peace has been restored without some storm in my life?

Without the storms in my life, or yours, we would never fully experience the joy when peace and tranquility has come again bringing with it life which runs freely within the rivers of our souls.

Lord, while I do not like the storms of life one bit, I must thank You for them, for without these storms, I could never truly appreciate the joy of tranquility. Thank You that even in storms that rage within me, I know You are there, and You will restore me back to peace, life and joy again. Thank You for revealing these things to me, Jesus. 

Amen ~