peace and joy

Life can be like rain. Sometimes it is a gentle rain. It waters the earth and freshens things up. Other times it can be a torrential down pour that can make driving dangerous.

Life can be like that at times. It can seem to come at us fast and furious. We barely catch our breath and here comes more.

I am reminded that my attitude plays a huge role in how I handle the rain storms and the storms of life.

The Message Bible reminds us in James 1:2-4

“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”

Jesus tells us in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV)

So, when you feel life coming at you full speed ahead — remember peace is available through Jesus.

Peace and joy go hand in hand.
Joy is peace dancing and Peace is joy resting!

 

til next time

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but as for me…

“But as for me”

I love that phrase. It reminds that no matter what is going on, no matter what others are doing, no matter how I feel — I get to choose what I do next. But as for me, I will trust God. But as for me, I will obey God. But as for me, I will nail my feelings to the cross and believe what Jesus says.

Psalm 59:16-17

But as for me, I will sing about your power.
Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.
For you have been my refuge,
a place of safety when I am in distress.
17 O my Strength, to you I sing praises,
for you, O God, are my refuge,
the God who shows me unfailing love.

Where are your thoughts this morning? If we focus on problems – problems will be all we see. If we see problems as opportunities to see the hand of God helping us – we will start seeing His hand more and more. When we put God first, He really does give us wisdom to know what to do and the strength to do it. But as for me, I refuse to get jazzed up about ___________. But as for me, I depend on God.

Today is a new day. This morning I choose to sing with joy, to lift my voice in praise to the One who loves me most. God’s love never fails.

What are you choosing?

Selah,

til next time

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waiting 6 of 7

For the past 5 days I have looked at waiting. One thing I haven’t addressed is joy in the waiting process.

Col 1:11 Paul prays that they would endure (wait) with joy.

We are truly missing out if we think that joy is only available when we are problem free. After all, the Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Neh 8:10 I believe it is a lack of joy that causes us to give up instead of endure.

Jesus came not so we could be miserable 70% of the time. He came that we would have life abundant. (John 10:10) In Him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28)

Our joy is not dependent on our external circumstance. Our joy IS dependent on our relationship with Christ. We are building on the firm foundation of Christ. He helps us. Our heart can indeed leap for joy.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.” Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

The realization that I can rely on the Lord for my strength – that right there is cause for joy!

In my weakness, You, O Lord are my strength,
til next time

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but as for me…

Where are your thoughts this morning? If we focus on problems – problems will be all we see. If we see problems as opportunities to see the hand of God helping us – we will start seeing His hand more and more.

 

“But as for me” I love that phrase. It reminds that no matter what is going on, no matter what others are doing, no matter how I feel — I get to choose what I do next. But as for me, I will trust God. But as for me, I will obey God. But as for me, I will nail my feelings to the cross and believe what Jesus says.

Psalm 59:16-17But as for me, I will sing about your power.
Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.
For you have been my refuge,
a place of safety when I am in distress.
17 O my Strength, to you I sing praises,
for you, O God, are my refuge,
the God who shows me unfailing love.

 

When we put God first, He really does give us wisdom to know what to do and the strength to do it. But as for me, I refuse to get jazzed up about ___________.

But as for me, I depend on God.

Today is a new day. This morning I choose to sing with joy, to lift my voice in praise to the One who loves me most. God’s love never fails.

What are you choosing?

til next time

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God – the giver of joy

My thoughts turn to joy yet again tonight.

I am grateful that joy is not dependent on things going as planned, things working out, or even whether or not I “feel” joy. Joy comes from a decision I make that I will choose joy. I will trust in God who is greater than whatever is going on. I will stay in hope. Hope that says God will turn this, whatever this is, around for my good – for my kid’s good. (Romans 8:28)

As another  day comes to a close, my thoughts go to those who have faced disappointment and/or pain recently.  Some days are just plain hard.  Still in the midst of every day,  God is still God and He is good. We can still choose joy.

In fact, choosing joy in the midst of difficulty is one of the most powerful things you can do. Choosing to hold on to God when life takes a turn that you didn’t see coming or when that mountain looms largely in front of you is in fact recognizing that God is indeed the giver of joy.

“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”Nehemiah 8:10

Remember that in choosing joy, you also choose to spend time with the Father.

“You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Psalm 16:11

Lacking joy?  take a look at how much time you are spending in His presence — laying down the distractions and just being with Him.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

selah,

til next time

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hopeless? or hopeful?

Do things seem hopeless?  Are you in the middle of a struggle that threatens to overtake you?   Does it seem you take one step forward and then fall three steps backwards?

I do whole heartedly believe that every day has some good in it.  If  I can see nothing else, just knowing that God is with me and has not abandoned me is good.  It seems that it is in our darkest hours where our faith has the potential to grow the most.

Say it with me
“Now may ‘You’ the God of Hope fill ‘me’ with all joy and peace as ‘I’ trust in ‘You’ so that ‘I’ will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13. (personalized)

God is the God of Hope! As we trust Him, our faith grows. If you seem to be lacking joy and peace, look at where you are putting your trust. Joy and peace are a by-product of trust.

Trusting God impacts our outlook. Overflowing with hope impacts others.

Hope, and joy and peace and hope again. Let that soak in.

Selah,

til next time

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is joy possible?

Joy!  Yes, please!  I want my life to be filled with joy.  The Word tells me that the joy of the Lord is my strength.  (Nehemiah 8:10)

“Heart, body, and soul are filled with joy.” Psalm 16:9

Yes! Filled. With. Joy!

Verse 8 gives us some instruction on how to be filled with joy.

“I am always thinking of the Lord; and because he is so near, I never need to stumble or fall.” Psalm 16:8

What is always on your mind? I wonder how much different people’s lives would be if their thoughts were of the Lord?

He is with us, for us and loves us. I choose God. I choose joy. When situations come up that threaten to steal my joy, I pause and remember God sees, knows and is making a way.

“Heart, body, and soul are filled with joy.” Psalm 16:9

God is good!

Selah
til next time

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can’t sleep?

Sometimes sleep seems to elude me.  Situations can appear larger at night. This may be because the day is filled with activity and distractions.  I have found that if I give myself some processing time during the day, then my brain is not so insistent about processing at bed time.

As the day comes to a close, here are a few verses to think about as you drift off to sleep.

Psalm 63:5-7Amplified Bible (AMP)

“5. My soul [my life, my very self] is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises [to You] with joyful lips.

6. When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate and thoughtfully focus on You in the night watches,

7. For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings [where I am always protected] I sing for joy.”

 

The best thing I have found, when sleep seems distant, is to focus on Jesus, to cast all my cares on Him, and to make the decision to not try to figure it out. Faith means there will be unanswered questions. Trust means that’s ok.

Read verse 6 again. Maybe tonight it would be good for you to meditate on who Jesus is.

I often drift off to sleep in the middle of talking with God. I’ve been known to do that to people also. The difference is God lets me sleep. My friends – not so much.

One final thought – we can sing for joy because we know God is right there with us.

Selah!

til next time

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rules?

Some people think rules don’t apply to them. I am sure you have met some of those people. However, it will catch up with them sooner or later. Truth is God sees. God knows. You can’t get away with it when it comes to God.

Jesus tells us:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,” John 14:15-16

A Helper – the Holy Spirit — this is such a relief. We don’t have to do it on our own. The Holy Spirit is with us – helping us.

This also takes away our excuse that we just can’t help it, or that’s just the way we are. No, we are able to change because the Holy Spirit helps us to change and to grow. We are over-comers! We are victorious!

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1 John 5:2-4 (NASB)

What are these commandments?

“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31

All that God’s Word asks of us comes down to living out these two commandments.

 

Selah,

til next time

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grace, mercy, love – i need these!

Mercy, grace, and love.   I desperately need these in my life.  I am grateful that God gives them to me.

My husband often says, “Grace is when God gives us what we don’t deserve. Mercy is when God doesn’t give us what we do deserve.”

 

“God is sheer mercy and grace;

not easily angered, he’s rich in love…..

He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,

nor pay us back in full for our wrongs….

God’s love, though, is ever and always,

eternally present to all who fear him,…..” portions of  Psalm 103:8-14 The Message.

 

Go ahead and read the whole passage.  It is a great thing to meditate on.

 

Love – Trusting God’s love when my circumstances don’t make sense, when life seems to be out of control, when my heart is breaking, when the road ahead looks rough, when the urge to quit is strong, – trusting in His love calms my fears, increases my joy, renews my hope and strengthens my faith.

Trusting in His love helps me walk in obedience when my flesh wants its own way. Knowing He knows all about me, nothing is secret from Him (“He knows us inside and out,”) and still He loves me – that right there is enough for me to trust Him to work things out in ways that I may not even begin to comprehend.

God loves you! His mercy and grace are for you!

Mercy, grace, and love – thank you God!

til next time

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