Category: joy

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Good Morning!

This will be a good day! Why? It’s the day the Lord has made and everything that God does is good.

“The Lord made this happen, and we think it is wonderful! 24 This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be happy today!” Psalm 118:23-24 ERV

Sometimes we are tempted to look at a day with angst. The things that transpired the day before have us wondering if this day with be filled with more of the same stress and anxiety. We can choose to stew and fret or we can look for the blessings that the Lord has ordained for us.

I’ll admit, I was doing more of the first when my day started this morning. Yesterday was filled with challenging situations. I almost let it get me down but the longer I sat here, joy began to bubble up in my heart. I’m not going to let frustration captivate my day.

I choose joy!

“Let all who run to you
for protection
    always sing joyful songs.
Provide shelter for those
who truly love you
    and let them rejoice.” Psalm 5:11 CEV

If you are having a hard time greeting the day with joy, spend some time in prayer telling the Lord what it is that has captured your peace and trust Him to take care of it for you. He will!

Begin listing all those things that you are grateful for and you will soon find that joy and peace return and you will be strengthened.

Choose Joy!

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A Solitary Place

I think the thing I enjoy most about the mountains is the quiet – the solitude!

Each morning and evening I watch the campers come to enjoy the beauty of the morning sun on the lake and the evening glow but it’s the quiet and sense of peace that overwhelm me. I don’t think there is any other place on earth where I have experienced the Scripture, “Be still and know that I am God”, anymore than here.

Throughout the day, the side-by-side’s and pickups are headed to the lake and out to the trails. Campers are laughing, waving as they head out. There is such a sense of joy, even when it’s raining.

But it’s in the peace that the Lord speaks to my heart!

“God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 ERV

We all need a place to come away and enjoy the quiet presence of the Lord.

“You have shown me the path to life, and you make me glad by being near to me. Sitting at your right side,  I will always be joyful.” Psalm 16:11 CEV

Life gets so hectic that we all need a place to unplug. Jesus knew this.

We tend over spiritualize Jesus life and forget that He faced difficult issues on a daily basis. The religious leaders hated him and were openly plotting his demise. The country he lived in was under the rule of a foreign dictator. The masses came seeking Him but most only wanted to see the next miracle and didn’t really embrace His message. His own disciples questioned his actions on numerous occasions. From early morning until late at night demands were made on His time and His strength.

“After Jesus said goodbye to the people, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. It was late, and he was there alone.” Matthew 14:23 ERV

“The next morning Jesus woke up very early. He left the house while it was still dark and went to a place where he could be alone and pray.” Mark 1:35 ERV

On the night that He was arrested He took His disciples with Him to the garden where He prayed.

“Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When they got there, he told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Matthew 26:36 CEV

Jesus needed a place to pray, we all need to follow His example.

I remember when our oldest children were two and four my quiet place was our walk-in closet. Honestly, that was where I had no distractions. I would put them down for their afternoon nap and I would go into the closet to pray. It wasn’t nearly as serene or beautiful as the view I now have of the lake but it was quiet and I was alone.

I encourage you to find a place – even a closet – that becomes your quiet place where you can go and sense God’s peace, be filled with His joy and come away refreshed.

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In The Dark

One of our fellow campground staff brought me these mushrooms yesterday. They are really big and he said they are best when sliced and sauted in butter.

Yum!

I don’t know much about mushrooms but I do know they grow best in moist places without much light. Not an ideal situation for human growth but I guess it’s ok for fungus.

Do you remember years back when scientist and medical professionals started talking about light deprivation and lack of vitamin D? This produced a condition known as SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder. One of the main symptoms was depression.

I love the sunshine. Most of my life has been in the desert with plenty of sunshine. Even though our winter days in Montana were bitterly cold we still had lots of sunshine.

If we aren’t careful we can experience SAD in our spiritual lives. The Lord doesn’t want us living in the dark. In fact, one Old Testament prophet proclaimed that “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge”. They were living in spiritual darkness. They had forgotten, or had not been taught, all that the Lord told Moses about God’s blessings being poured out on each generation of the Jewish people.

John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, instructed us to “walk in the light as He was in the light”. Jesus said of himself that He came to be the Light of the World. When we walk in the light of God’s word we grow. We develop strength, joy, goodness, peace and love. That’s the fruit that God’s light produces in us. These traits are completely opposite of SAD.

When we are walking in the SONshine our lives reflect His light. Jesus said that we are to be lights in the world. Just like the moon reflects the light of the sun and shines when the sun is absent, we can and will reflect the light of God’s Son and shine in the world when the Son isn’t in the earth.

“People don’t hide a lamp under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand. Then the light shines for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:15-16 ERV

May I encourage you today to open God’s word and let the Son shine on you. Don’t be a mushroom!

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What A Wonderful World

If you’ve been reading my blogs for any length of time you know that I am fascinated by clouds. Yesterday did not disappoint.  This is the image I captured about 7 a.m.

What a wonderful world our Father has created!

Each time I see a sky like this my heart says, “Oh Father, you do great work”. When I was younger I sang a song by John W. Peterson, “It Took A Miracle”.

“My Father is omnipotent, and that you can´t deny;

A God of might and miracles, ´tis written in the sky. 

CHORUS: It took a miracle to put the stars in place;

It took a miracle to hang the world in space.

But when He saved my soul,

Cleansed and made me whole,

It took a miracle of love and grace.”

That’s how I feel. Each day the Lord shows me something special – another expression of His goodness and love. He never disappoints! But the greatest miracle is the one He has done in my life.

“Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.” Psalm 107:31 NLT

I realize that some may think I am a bit unrealistic but for years I have prayed that the Lord would show me the good around me and keep me from becoming cynical and unkind. He has answered that prayer!

We live in a world where God’s wonder abounds.

Our job is to be an ambassador of His love. There is so much that is ugly and cruel. There is pain and disappointment, I won’t deny it but God’s goodness and love is so much greater than any of that.

“We are Christ’s ambassadors. God is using us to speak to you: we beg you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, receive the love he offers you—be reconciled to God.  21 For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God’s goodness into us!” II Corinthians 5:20-21 TLB

When I see a sky as beautiful as it was yesterday I am reminded that my Father, who made that sky, has told me to come to Him boldly whenever I find myself in need and He will be there to help. That is His message to all of us.

“So let us come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need.” Hebrews 4:16 TLB

There’s an old Louis Armstrong song that’s lyrics bring a smile to my face and I hope it will make you smile too.

“I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and for you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world”

Declare the goodness of the Lord. We live in a wonderful world!

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Don’t Wake Up Grumpy!

Have you heard that old line? “Did you wake up grumpy?”  Response: “No, I let him sleep.”

Well, yesterday I had a phone conversation with a man named Alvin who asked me where I was. When I explained to him that I was in the mountains and the view I see each morning he laughed and said, “No wonder you sound happy”.

It was a business call so we didn’t spend too much time talking about personal things, but he commented that each morning when he looks into the mirror he reminds himself that it will be a good day because he knows God loves him and that makes everything good.

At the end of the day, I had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Mendoza.  He came to camp with his grandsons the end of last week.  He wanted to extend their camping trip at least another three nights.  He had a huge smile on his face – he’s always smiling – as he told us what a good time they were having.

But I know a little of their backstory. Shortly after they arrived and had gotten their tent set up, Mr. Mendoza’s truck broke down. It wasn’t drivable. It was the weekend. How would he get someone to tow him to town to get it repaired? He didn’t seem concerned.

He and his grandsons spent the weekend walking back and forth to the lake to go fishing. The grandsons were always smiling, grandpa was always smiling. This was not spoiling their time together. Monday, a tow truck came out to the campground and picked up he and his rig. Two of the boys stayed at the camp to fish. The truck repair cost him several hundred dollars. He was still smiling.

And now he was extending his trip because as he said “I wanted to get my grandsons out of our town. There is nothing for them to do there. I wanted them to have some fun and experience new things like I did with my father.”  The boys were excited because they were catching fish and having fun.

Remember we talked about focus yesterday. Well, he was focused on the experience with his grandsons and not on the problems with his truck.

So, this morning as I sat down in my chair and took my first sip of coffee my thoughts were a little prayer. “Thank you, Father that I didn’t wake up grumpy. Thank you, for your love and filling me with Your joy”.

“You have shown me the path to life, and you make me glad by being near to me. Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful.” Psalm 16:11 CEV

Did you wake up grumpy?

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Jesus…

There’s just something about that name.

Gloria Gaither wrote a beautiful song years ago and Sunday morning the Praise and Worship team sang it as part of the our worship. My heart was full and so were my eyes. The realization of God’s love for me brings me to tears.

How could such a perfect and holy God unconditionally love someone like me? Not only does He love me, He loves you too.

I ask you to stop and consider how much God loves you? Really, really loves you!

Heaven is a wonderful, wonderful place – it’s perfect in every way. Its beauty is beyond compare – there is no pain or sorrow; no sin or corruption; no fear or distress of any kind there and yet God chose to have His son, His only begotten Son, leave heaven and come to earth.

For what? Why?

For you and I. He became our sacrificial substitute so that we could be reconciled to God, the Father. Now, as one of God’s children we are heirs with Jesus and have the promise of an abundant life here on earth and a perfect life in heaven when we die. Amazing, simply amazing!

We receive it all because of Jesus and His love for us!

The Apostle Paul records this prayer:

“So I bow in prayer before the Father. 15 Every family in heaven and on earth gets its true name from him. 16 I ask the Father with his great glory to give you the power to be strong in your spirits. He will give you that strength through his Spirit. 17 I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. 18 And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you. With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. 21 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21 ERV

Knowing the love of God – how wide, how long, how high and how deep. It’s not something that can be understood or fathomed with the head but only experienced and known with the heart.

I grew up singing a little song I learned in Sunday School.

Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong

Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so

Take time to meditate on God’s great love today; His love for you personally – it will greatly improve your outlook.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

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A Full Life

Years ago I realized that the Lord had given me an ability to teach and share His word. From then till now, it has been my passion to share His unconditional love, His mercy, His grace and His gift of sonship to us who believe that Jesus Christ died, was buried and is risen as our living Savior.

I saw so many Christians who were like I was; reading the Bible but not really applying it to their everyday lives. We had grown up hearing of God’s retribution, “ God’s going to get you for that” or His surprise tactics, “you never know what God’s going to do”. We were fearing God and His retribution rather than living in His love.

I accepted my calling to proclaim the good news of the gospel to Christians. It is and was my desire to see fellow Christians grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. It was my desire to see Christians walk in the full power of relationship with Christ and to receive fully from His blessings. When we live in this way, the way God intended, we truly are examples of Jesus.

Jesus said: “A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” John 10:10 CEV

The Apostle Paul tells us it is the goodness of God that draws men to repent, not the condemning of man. There is nothing I find more fulfilling than to share God’s word – through written communication, one on one personal interaction or teaching to a gathering. It’s my heart passion.

“You, Lord God, have done  many wonderful things, and you have planned marvelous things for us.  No one is like you! I would never be able to tell all you have done. 6 Sacrifices and offerings are not what please you; gifts and payment for sin are not what you demand. But you made me willing to listen and obey. 7 And so, I said, “I am here  to do what is written about me in the book, where it says, 8 ’I enjoy pleasing you. Your Law is in my heart.’” 9 When your people worshiped, you know I told them, “Our Lord always helps!” 10 When all your people met, I did not keep silent. I said, “Our Lord is kind. He is faithful and caring,  and he saves us.” 11 You, Lord, never fail to have pity on me; your love and faithfulness always keep me secure.” Psalm 40:5-11 CEV

Look particularly at verses 8-10, “’I enjoy pleasing you. Your Law is in my heart.’” 9 When your people worshiped, you know I told them, “Our Lord always helps!” 10 When all your people met, I did not keep silent. I said, “Our Lord is kind. He is faithful and caring,  and he saves us.”.

On this Sunday morning let me take the opportunity to declare again today – God is faithful, He is righteousness, He is my salvation and His lovingkindness endures forever!

My life is full and running over.

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Joy Is Simple

We were blessed to have had four little ones in our home this last week. Children remind us of the joy to be found in the simple things of life. As adults, we sometimes get too busy to enjoy the things that are around us.

I can still hear the laughter that came from the breakfast table, the giggles on the swing and the squeals of delight in finding a pretty rock in the yard. When was the last time you got excited over bubbles in the bath tub?

Happiness. Simple enjoyment.

The book of Proverbs tells us “Happiness is good medicine, but sorrow is a disease.” Proverbs 17:22 ERV

Think about the word “enjoy” for a moment. The simplest definition is to add joy or find joy. When we enjoy someone’s company we are at a place where we have found joy.

As an adult there are so many things that distract us from finding and experiencing joy. We often forget about the simple things that once brought a smile to our face or a giggle in our hearts.

“Yes, happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” Psalm 144:15 NLV

We find joy when we find the Father and experience His love. Wasn’t that the message the angels brought to the shepherds?

“Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Luke 2:9-11 NLT

Great joy!

Find joy in the simple things. Our Father has made the whole of creation for our enjoyment. The old expression “stop and smell the roses” rings true. When we see the beauty and intricacies of the nature we can’t help but recognize the power and greatness of our Father.

The Father’s plan is that we have and enjoy life. Jesus said:

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10 AMPC

If anyone is feeling discouraged, disheartened or disillusioned come to the Father and pour out your heart. Ask Him to fill you with joy. He is a faithful Father and He will answer your heart’s cry.

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

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Spoiler Alert

In yesterday’s blog we looked at the practical teaching of joy. This morning I was reminded of a time when an every day situation had me so frustrated that I wanted to scream. The Lord taught me a valuable lesson through it.

“Catch the foxes for us— the little foxes that spoil the vineyard. Our vineyard is now in bloom.” Song of Solomon 2:15 CEV

King Solomon said that we are to catch little foxes because they spoil our fruit. In this case, the fruit is joy. I kept running into little foxes on this particular day.

I had just gotten a new computer. My old computer had been around for the last 4-5 years. I knew it inside and out, literally. But it was old and running so slow. I asked our son-in-law to recommend a newer and better computer that would meet my needs and have a relatively easy learning curve for both Dave and I.

I made a list of everything I needed to move from one computer to the other and methodically went about my task. I felt pretty accomplished for a non-computer tech type person. Checking off each item as I completed them. Yes, this was going smoothly until one of those little foxes showed up!

It came in the form of a command “restart to activate new software” and there was a glitch. A phone call in the midst of my concentration proved to be another little fox, a fox of distraction. Launch again, a missing element, another little fox! Frustration mounted…

I’ve learned to recognize the “big” things in my life that seek to get me off course in my relationship with the Lord but more often than not, I get tripped up by these little foxes.

It was certainly time to pray.

I had done that when I started, asking for wisdom and thanking the Father for guiding me through this process but somewhere along the way, I had allowed the frustration to override my peace.

Then I heard these words in my mind, “in my presence is fullness of joy”.

“I don’t feel very joyful right now Father.” “Then you’re not in My presence”. It was a short conversation between the Father and I and He was right.

I was wrapped up in my own little world and I’d forgotten to lean on Him. If God, the Father, is concerned with a small thing like setting up a new computer, let me assure you that the weightier matters of life are certainly within His provision as well.

“LORD, you give me all that I need. You support me. You give me my share. 6 My share is wonderful. My inheritance is very beautiful…8 I always remember that the LORD is with me. He is here, close by my side, so nothing can defeat me. 9 So my heart and soul will be very happy. Even my body will live in safety..11 You will teach me the right way to live. Just being with you will bring complete happiness*. Being at your right side will make me happy forever.” Psalm 16:5-11 ERV *(fullness of joy, KJV)

What little foxes are spoiling your vineyard? Capture them and sit in the Father’s presence. There you will find FULLNESS OF JOY!“

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Smile & Feel Better

Today’s blog is amazingly practical.

Late yesterday Dave and I were watching a program on television that was dealing with some real life, very emotional issues that face teenagers. They were completely without hope and it left both of us sad and downcast.

I knew I couldn’t let this premeate our evening or we’d both go to bed feeling depressed. I asked him to find something funny we could watch, “I need something to make me laugh”. He switched to YouTube and there we found old clips of Tim Conway and Harvey Korman. We watched a few of those and then Dave found an old Abbott & Costello movie – more laughter.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” Proverbs 17:22 NLT

“Happiness makes you smile; sorrow can crush you.” Proverbs 15:13 CEV

We went to bed last night with a smile on our faces and our spirits were lifted.

Somedays it’s hard to be joyful. I understand that completely but we must take these verses on joy and happiness for what they are – instructions from the Lord. He wants us to have a glad heart, He wants us to be “care free” and roll all our worries over on Him. When we do He promises to replace our worries with His strength.

“Ezra said to them, “Go, eat and drink what you enjoy, and give some to him who has nothing ready. For this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be sad for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 NLV

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” I Peter 5:7 NLV

A couple of weeks ago I had to go into the pharmacy to pick up a prescription for my mother. As I was standing in line waiting for the pharmacist the woman at the counter turned and looked at me. Behind her mask, I saw that her eyes were filled with sadness. She turned back and then turned around one more time, we made eye contact and I gave her my biggest smile, behind my mask. She said to me “I can tell you are smiling. Your eyes are twinkling. Thank you I needed that”. I said a simple “God bless you” and our encounter was over.

Lord, I want you to use me and all who read this to bring joy to a hurting world. We have a message to proclaim “Joy to the world, the Lord has come”!

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed… 3 To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.” Isaiah 61:1-3 NLT

The words above were written about Jesus. This is why He came – He came to bring God’s favor (His life) to the earth.

The next time you are feeling down ask the Lord to fill your heart with joy. He will! With joy will come strength and with His strength we can do all things!

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