Scrapbooking Joy!

“A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,

and good news gives health to the bones.”

Proverbs 15:30 NIV

So many people today own cameras and take photos on a regular basis. If you don’t own a camera, chances are if you are a new parent or grandparent, you will be purchasing a camera soon. We love to take photos of those we love and the places we go. We are so afraid we will forget that cute face or the beautiful scenery. I for one take lots of pictures. I’m a little overboard because I take photos of pretty table settings and yummy buffet spreads that I prepare for the holidays. I take photos of my gardens and of all the beautiful flowers I plant. I snap shots of my grandchildren doing everything from A to Z. For example: picking apples – viewing a zebra at the zoo! I also take photos of every extended family event and gathering we attend. When our friends visit, guess what…yep…snap, snap! Our holidays are recorded for future generations to enjoy!  Not only do I take hundreds of photos I am also an avid scrapbooker.

 

I take pleasure in scrapbooking because it seems to be a way of preserving our memories for our family to enjoy. Scrapbooking also allows me to make comments and record stories of God’s faithfulness to our family. Hopefully, the pages that I so lovingly put together will be a tangible legacy to remind those who follow that we loved God and each other. I also find scrapbooking to be a restful hobby that allows my creative juices to flow! In a strange sort of way scrapbooking also provides me with a type of rest and relaxation that squishes out the stress in life brought on by my responsibilities.

 

I don’t exactly know why I feel I need to take these photos when I actually have a very active photographic memory. When someone offends me, I take my imaginary camera and snap a photo of that event. When someone takes advantage of me, I snap that shot as well. When someone speaks unkind words to me I take a photo and save it to be carefully placed in my mind’s scrapbook of memories. When I am pushed aside or overlooked by another that certainly is a Kodak moment! All throughout my day Satan says, snap that, take that, did you get that one? Satan loves for me to scrapbook all the pain and hurt I have experienced in life. The purpose is to preserve in my mind those negative memories in my mental scrapbook so that I can my relive my pain and remember my offenders over and over again. Not to mention the mileage I will get out of sharing those photos with others.

 

But Jesus says, “No my daughter. Do not harm yourself in this negative way. Give those photos to me. It is not your battle to fight or to remember. I am a just God. Vengeance belongs to me not you. Scrapbooking all the negative stuff in your life will only drag you down. It will cripple your spirit and make you an ineffective Christian. In no way will viewing these photos ever glorify me. I know that you may always remember the hurt you have experienced but you must choose not to focus on the same events over and over again.”

 

Deep down in my spirit I know that Jesus is right. I know that Jesus remembers the events that brought him pain and suffering. He remembers the trial, the mockery, and his friends forsaking him. No doubt he remembers the pain of the scourging, the long walk to Golgotha, the cross, the humiliation, the unkind words, and the crucifixion. But our Lord did not and does not focus on those things. Instead he considered it all joy to do the will of his Father, even his death on the cross. He chose to focus on his love for His Father and for all humanity. His job was to redeem not remember.

 

So today I will walk in the garden enjoying the first evidences of spring. The green shoots of our daffodils are poking through the soil in the wooded area of our back yard. There are tiny buds on the redbuds, and the beautiful hellebores are blooming! This newness signifies for me a fresh start. It is a glorious day to ponder my Savior and his perfect ways. As I think about Jesus and his attitude I am persuaded to let this same mind that was in Christ Jesus be also in me. I am convicted to search my heart and find any stray photos that I may have forgotten to destroy. I want to burn my mental scrapbook of negative photos once and for all. Every photo I have ever taken recording the wrongs that were meant for my harm must be destroyed. I dare not hang on to even one. It will be good for me to remember that “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.” Proverbs 15:30 NIV So I will strive to look and see only those things that bring joy to my spirit. Today I am going to resolve to take only future photos that reflect a cheerful look and will bring joy to my heart and to the hearts of others. These beautiful photos will not be damaging but instead they will help me share the gospel of good news and give health to my bones and to the bones of others.

 

My next scrapbook will be a creation of joyful happy memories. There will be photos to help me remember God’s faithfulness and provision. I will pile up stones of remembrance and take a photograph so that I will always recall the many times God has shown up in my life and in the lives of all those I love. I will snap photos of all his abundant blessings! I know right now that one single album will not contain the whole of all the positive photos I have been privileged to save in the scrapbook of my heart. I will share these photos with all who will look at my scrapbook and God will be glorified! Yes, this will be a scrapbook of joy filled with beautiful, memorable, mental photos of praise and snapshots of gratitude as I recall God’s faithfulness to me.

 

Questions:

1. Are you currently harboring a scrapbook of negative photos in your heart?
2. Do you find that reliving old hurts and pain is damaging your spirit?
3. Would you consider mentally burning your scrapbook of past offenses?
4. Are you willing to ask God to help you begin a new scrapbook of God’s faithfulness and provision to you?
5. Will you be sure to also scrapbook photos of your joy, praise, and gratitude?

 

Prayer:

 

Dear Jesus,

 

Harboring past pain and hurt is so damaging. Forgive me when I choose to take photos of my hurt, my pain, and at times my broken heart. Forgive me when I carefully preserve and embellish each of these photos in a scrapbook for safe keeping. Give me a love for you that overshadows my own selfish interests. Falling in love with you Jesus is what I want to do. I want to be so busy loving you that I will not even notice when someone offends me. Keep me scrapbooking the joyful times you have so lovingly blessed me with over the years. I want to record the peace and joy that I have experienced even in times of trouble. These are wonderful memories not to be forgotten. I want to remember every precious memory you have woven into the tapestry of my life. Heavenly Father, I thank you for your love, grace and faithfulness to me. Now Jesus, smile for the camera…I want to take a huge photo of you that I can share with others. I know that I can not really do this so I pray that you will do what you do best. I pray that you will change me in ways that will reflect who you are so that others may see you through me.

 

Jesus, it is in your name I pray. Amen.

Unpolluted Joy

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be

mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

James 1:2-4 NIV

 If you lived in or near a city in the 50’s you probably remember uncontrolled pollution. Factories spewed out rolling billows of black smoke from their smokestacks. Semi trucks, cars, and buses collectively spilled out exhaust fumes as they traveled down the road. I remember my husband saying that as a child he used to like to hang his head out of the car window and smell the exhaust fumes from the diesel buses that passed by. He always has been a little weird! In those days people rolled down their car windows and threw their trash along the roadside. Streams and lakes were dumping grounds. Year after year our world was becoming more and more polluted. Looking back I see that we have made amazing progress in cleaning up much of our world. At times we may even forget what the pollution of the past looked like.

 

Our world is not the only thing that can become polluted. Our minds and our hearts can also become full of filthy sin, nasty attitudes, and selfish motives all robbing us of pure joy. As believers we are told to consider the trials that enter our life as pure joy. To me and you that may seem a little sadistic. Who in their right mind is happy about problems? Who looks forward to the next disaster about to happen? Who doesn’t cringe in the face of unwanted adversity?

 

As believers we may put on the mask of pretend joy because we know that is what we are supposed to do. But the real truth may be that even though we are smiling on the outside, deep within we are a basket case, a train about to derail, or a bomb about to explode. The mask of deceptive joy says the right words but feels very different emotions. On the other hand, pure joy understands that life is not always perfect and in this world sin thrives. At times we are overcome with sadness and we know that which concerns us might not end well. The fact is our emotions are raw.  The heavenly truth is that God will see us through to the end of our earthly trials. We know that at the end of life’s dark tunnel, even in the worse case scenarios, we will experience eternal life in heaven. That is the source of our joy. Jesus experienced this very thing when facing the cross. He knew that here on this earth things would not end well. But he fixed his eyes on the Father and doing the Father’s will. Jesus’ joy came from knowing that the Father was accomplishing great things for mankind though his obedient work of perseverance and total surrender.

 

When we experience pure unpolluted joy we understand a heavenly secret. We trust God. We know that God will use this bump in the road, this heartache, this pain in our life, or our loss for our eternal good. The Bible tells us that in this life we will have trouble. We will experience trails of many kinds and if we are wise we will prepare for these times.

 

So today I am wondering how can I prepare for these difficult times. First of all I must believe that the Bible is true. God’s Word teaches all of us that it is because of God’s great love for us that he allows trials to come into our life. We must remind our self often, that if we belong to God, he has each one of us on a path that leads to heaven. Along the road of life God is perfecting us and we are a life long work in progress. Our holy sanctification is brought about as God uses the tools of trials to perfect us for glory. Very simply, our trials test both our faith in God and our faithfulness to God. Only a Father of love would want to make us the best we could possibly be. Our trials are designed to develop perseverance. Trials can also provide an opportunity to strengthen our resolve to be a person who is determined to trust God and seek the power of the Holy Spirit to help us overcome our trials.

 

Of course, we can always choose to curse God or become bitter and angry when we are involved in a difficult situation, facing a huge challenge, or experiencing the darkness of loss. We can give up on God. But the wonderful thing is God does not give up on us! As long as we live we will encounter more and more opportunities to both need God and to trust God. Because we live in a fallen world we will always face trials. However, God will continue to use these opportunities to pursue us by using the trials that come into our life for our eternal good. God loves it when our response to our trials is divine joy that is grounded in our heavenly hope, because this glorifies him!

 

We must persevere! We must learn to overcome life’s trials because God’s Word tells us that perseverance must finish its work. When we choose to believe that God is able to mature us in the midst of our trial God begins to work in our life. If our thinking is based on our emotions we will never understand how this can be true. But when we choose to trust God beyond our emotions we will miraculously understand that God is using our trial as a tool to test our faith and for that we can experience pure, unpolluted joy in our soul. This inward joy and peace is not to be confused with outward happiness. When we understand this difference we will begin to see our trials through our Father’s eyes not our eyes. God has promised us that we will be mature, complete, and lacking in nothing by the time we meet him face to face if we choose to persevere. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 NIV

 

I must be aware of the fact that fear, bitterness and self-pity are the tools that Satan will use to keep me from embracing joy. Perseverance is watching and waiting to see what God will do with my pain. Sooner or later God will reveal to me what he was doing in my life during my time of suffering. In this life we may never understand because our minds cannot comprehend the workings of our Creator. But without a doubt, God will reveal it all to me in heaven and I will finally understand the unanswered questions of my life.

 

So today, here in the garden of my heart I am staring at a prickly cactus. These needles are a reminder to me of the pain in my life and in the lives of others I know. It is so typical that even among the needles of trails God cushions all of our lives with blessings. This beautiful blooming cactus sings of pure joy and so today I choose to do the same. My joy is not for what is but for what will be because of his great love for me. It is a love that draws me to my maker and Savior. It is a love that is bent on making me the best I can be. Some days, even in the midst of pain, I just have to wonder, God, why are you so good to me? Why would you even care about the trials in my life? Why do you try so hard to make me into your image? I realize that it is simply because I am his precious child and he loves me with an everlasting love.

 

It is often really hard for me to see how God is using my pain and suffering. Yet, if I choose to praise God who both gives and takes away, others will notice. I must never forget that others are being affected and influenced by my response to God in the midst of my trials. When I cannot see God’s work in my life I must look at someone else, who I consider to be dealing with adversity in a godly way. I must look at the people in my life who are positive believers who have chosen to overcome their trial by trusting our Sovereign God.  They all wear T-shirts that say, “He gives and takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord!” It is another joyful day in the garden as I realize that in all things God IS good!

 

 

Questions:

1. Have you ever experienced pure joy?
2. Have you allowed your joy to become polluted?
3. What is the remedy for this pollution?
4. How does it make you feel to know that God loves you so much that he allows trials into your life?
5. Do you find joy in knowing that your trials are calling you to hang in there so that perseverance can finish its work?
6. What is God’s goal for you?

 

Prayer:

 

Dear God,

 

How amazed I am that you are perfect in every way. You are lacking in nothing. You are good. I on the other hand need work. Living in a sinful world has given me many occasions for trials. I pray that you will help me hang in there and trust you to use my trials for my good and your glory. God, I pray with all my heart that things will end well, but if they don’t, I will still choose to trust you.  I know you don’t expect me to rejoice in my trials and sorrow because that is not the definition of pure joy. Pure joy is based on heavenly hope that is waiting for us within the gates of heaven. God I am so glad that you do not expect me to find joy in the tragedy, pain, suffering, tears and challenges of this life. I know that your goal for me is not a perfect life now. Your goal is that I will be like you in heaven. It is this knowledge and hope that fills me with your pure joy. God, I love you and I thank you that you are finishing the work you began in me the day I began to follow you. Father, I pray that you will mature me and complete me so that I will be found lacking in nothing. I am amazed that you love me this much! Help me to face my trials with pure joy. I pray that others will be blessed and encouraged by my life as I choose day by day to respond to you as I consider my trials as joy.

 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Joy Is My Source Of Strength

“…for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10b

 The garden is a lovely place to walk. I love the way the pathways wind in and out of the tall shade trees. The paths are lined with hundreds of lush green hosta and feathery ferns. Hellebore's nod their blooming heads under the canopy of this cool umbrella of shade. My path leads past fragrant lilac bushes all wearing cone shaped blossoms of lavender and deep purple. Ahead the yellow forsythia and the pink and white dogwoods provide a feast for my eyes. As I take the fork in the pathway, I find that I am headed towards a mixture of beautiful perennials. The tall phlox, day lilies, and daisies dance with joy in the warm breeze. The pathway now twists past the rose garden and the aroma is sweet. There are many pathways that I will not follow today because there is never enough time. In the distance a see the azalea and rhododendron garden and I long to visit that pathway but instead I stay on the path and enjoy looking at a striking display of aromatic herbs. The last turn today allows me to walk among a breathtaking display of iris that ends at the edge of the reflection pond. It is here I will linger because I am in a reflective mood. The tranquil water lilies rest in perfect peace as they float on the water in simple faith. My spirit longs to float alongside of these beauties, always trusting that God will hold me up in all of the circumstances of life I will encounter.

 

I will sit awhile and allow Jesus, the Master Gardner to sit with me as well. The word strength comes to mind and I begin to pray. “Lord, I admit I am not feeling very strong these days. I seem to have more to do than I have energy to accomplish. I do not feel that I am on overload and I do not feel stressed, but I do feel uneasiness in my spirit that makes me feel a bit anxious and concerned. I am definitely feeling a little deficient in my spirit. I am aware that I need to have a surge of energy that comes only from deep within my spirit.” I bow my head in contemplative silence. Then the Master Gardner whispers one simple word in my ear, “Joy”.

 

I begin to mentally list all of my possessions that I am thankful for but realize that these things do not bring me joy. I think about all of the activities that I enjoy, these activities make me happy, but still that is not joy. I begin to consider the upcoming events in my future that I am looking forward to; I anticipate having a blast but previous experience tells me that these events will not make me feel joyful. I am deeply blessed with a loving family which, in this life, means more to me than life itself! They give my life happiness on so many levels, still, even though they love me more than I could even dream to be possible, my family is not the source of my joy.

 

For sure, joy is not happiness. No, joy is an emotion of the soul. This joy is found only in Jesus Christ. I remember that God’s Word says, “…for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”  That’s it! More joy equals more strength and my source of joy is the Lord. I must change my thinking. I must think about the Lord, NOT me. Oh how easy it is for me to slip into the all consuming “me” mode.

 

Even though things are less than perfect and there is much to do I know that the joy of Jesus will strengthen me. I sometimes think that the more I have the more I have to care for and the more I do the busier I become. Seeking happiness and pleasure often makes me bone weary and exhausted as I prepare for the next wave of pleasure. Often my busy schedule robs me of time with Jesus and that in turns robs me of the joy that Jesus so wants to share with me everyday. I must never forget that the joy of the Lord is my source of strength. Perhaps my energy level today has fallen to a new low because I am feeling a hint of discontentment and discouragement. God’s Word tells me not to worry because the Lord and his joy will be my antidote! I will receive my strength from the joy inside my spirit when I turn my focus from myself and instead focus on God and his amazing attributes.

 

So here at the refection pond I began to count the ways that Jesus is my joy! First of all, I am so thankful for this beautiful garden where I am privileged to meet with Jesus. This personal relationship is awesome. The garden gate is always open and my Lord is always waiting for me in the garden. Then I begin to think about the fact that Jesus paid for my sin by dying for me on the cross. I am free to sing and dance because he has freed me from my sin that separated me from God. How joyful is that? That is total joy! Then I begin to think about the fact that Jesus is my Shepherd, he cares for me in ways that no one else has ever cared. He goes before me and shows me the way. Jesus walks along beside me because he is the best friend I have ever had. Jesus walks behind me to give me encouragement every step of my earthly journey. Jesus’ presence is above me as my protector and he is my provider. Jesus lives inside of me and gives me his peace in a world where peace is a stranger. The most joyous thought of all, Jesus is my hope of eternal glory.

 

Right now I am little tearful but I assure you they are tears of joy. I must leave the garden and go back to my daily responsibilities, but for sure my heart will not walk. My heart will skip, run, dance and leap for joy because I have just spent a joyful time in the garden. Without a doubt, Jesus My Lord and Savior is my joy and that wonderful knowledge gives me strength. Jesus has promised me that he will never leave me or forsake me. When circumstances of life cast a shadow on my happiness, I want to remember that Jesus is my source of inner joy and that joy is my strength at all times and in every situation. Even though my circumstance may be hard and life may deliver a blow that knocks me off my feet, still there is a silver lining that covers my heart and protects my Spirit. I rejoice in the knowledge that there is more to life than this life. Joy today and eternal joy for all my tomorrows! This is my strength.

 

Questions:

1. Have you ever experienced the joy of the Lord?
2. Do you relate to sometimes feeling a little deficient in the joy department?
3. Have you tried to make yourself, your possessions, and your activities and accomplishments the source of your joy?
4. Is Satan a “joy buster” in your life as he tries to make you feel discontent, discouraged, or depressed?
5. Do you feel a need to reflect on the joy you have in Jesus?
6. Do you know that if you are not in a personal relationship with Jesus you will never experience the joy of Jesus because joy is reserved only for those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ?

Prayer:

 

Dear Jesus,

 

Forgive me when I depend upon myself and others for my source of joy. Forgive me for believing that financial gain, possessions and accomplishments will satisfy me and provide joy. Father, I know that eventually all of these things will pass away and what I believe to be my cup of joy will indeed be empty. Jesus you are the joy of living. Regardless of my circumstance I am ecstatic that you totally encompass all that is necessary for me to experience joy that is unspeakable. Only your joy inside of me will last forever. Today I want to meet with you in the garden of my heart. I want to stay in your presence until my joy cup runs over. I do not ask for strength today but rather I ask for your joy because your joy is the source of my strength. Thank you for your precious gift of joy.

 

In your name I pray. Amen.

 

 

If you are not a believer, I encourage you to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today. Simply pray and ask God to forgive your sin and to bring His joy into your life.

The Joy Of The Lord Is My Strength

“Sing for joy to God our strength;” Psalm 81:1a NIV

Today in the garden I am not feeling so great. I’ve been a bit stressed lately. Sometimes the problems of others can also get me down. I often wonder why some of my wonderful Christian friends and family are going through such difficult times. Yet I know the answer. The Bible assures us that in this life we will have trouble. Sin has definitely left its mark and we see the results as we watch others struggle mentally, financially, and relationally. Many people are suffering with great illness, and others are dealing with death and dying.

As for myself, even if things are going well, sometimes I become on edge and loose my focus. When that happens my mouth goes wild and my spirit becomes dull. My response to my very patient husband is short and that is usually a sign I have put a little too much on my plate and I am taking it out on him.

God has such a sense of humor! Today as I walk the garden path in search of joy the first flowers to nod their bubbly heads at me are the “snapdragons”… “How appropriate!” I snap. Pressing on down the path I spy a beautiful patch of multi colored daisies and resting on one petal is a delicate butterfly. This unsuspecting butterfly is basking in the glorious sun and taking time to simply enjoy the moment. Then it hits me. I need to sit down and enjoy the moment. I need to be still and know that God is in control. I need focus on the joy of the Lord and listen.

“Listen to what? Listen to who?” God says, “You need to look up and take a lesson from the birds.” So I look upward at the beautiful blue sky and tune my ears to hear the song of the birds. They are free to sing and in their own way dance! I open my eyes and ears so I might learn God’s lesson for today by watching and listening.

My garden is filled with birds. Every day they come, the finches, cardinals, robins, wrens, chickadees, and the sparrows. Some days I get a glimpse of a delightful hummingbird. It is always fun to enjoy our onsite woodpecker and if I am up very early I hear a turtledove in the distance. Others winged friends visit from time to time but these are the faithful. I love that they choose my backyard and my garden. These beautiful birds fly to and fro across the clouds, yet they know my green acre is their territory. It is here that I watch them fly, perch, eat, drink, and splash. They wake up singing and they sing all day long! Such simple pure joy utterly amazes me. They are clueless. They don’t even know that life is hard. No wonder they sing! They sing as they feather their nests. They sing as they lay their eggs and patiently wait for their peeps to hatch. Soon they will be required to feed their peeps. Then they will teach their new offsprings to fly. These birds are ever so busy and yet they continue to sweetly sing.

At times I especially love listening for the distant hoot of the owl. He is always asking so many questions. Oh whoooo who whoooo made this day? Oh whoooo who whoooo can I trust? I know that he knows the answer to his own questions. It is God, his creator. Now I listen to the rhythmic hammer of the woodpecker. Even in his labor for food there is no complaint. The joyous praise that surrounds me is almost deafening. Oh that I would learn this unabashed joy from these busy yet joyful birds.

I have a plaque that hangs in my kitchen that reads, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” Today I want to embrace that truth. The Master Gardener reads my thoughts and then he speaks. “You see Paula; you are blessed in many ways. Even in suffering there are always things you can be thankful for. When you or someone you love is struggling or grieving, I do not expect you to give thanks for that pain, but I do want you to learn to give thanks that I am there in the struggle as well. Because I am full of compassion, I weep with those who weep. When you trust me I will do an amazing thing with your pain. I will give you joy in the morning. When my people suffer I use that suffering to make something beautiful out of their lives. I do not expect you to give thanks for all things but rather give thanks in all things. Be joyful because my grace is sufficient. Be joyful because, for believers, this life is not the end but just the beginning of a pain free life that will never end. Do not take hard times, pain and suffering so personal. I know you feel like it is all about you but it really isn’t. It is about me and my purposes. Purposes that will give you and those you influence a joyous hope and a future and in this I will be glorified!”

So now I wonder, could it be that gratitude and thanksgiving is the place I must start to experience joy? Will my strength be renewed when I embrace the joy that is only found in Jesus? Is it possible that if I look up I can learn from yet another fowl of God’s creation? “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 NIV

As a result of today’s lessons learned in the garden I am experiencing God’s amazing joy! It is true; the joy of the Lord is my strength. Today I give thanks to all my feathered friends for the lessons they have taught me this day and to their Creator and mine! Gratitude equals joy and that is my strength.

Questions:

1. When was the last time you experienced dark clouds and a heavy heart?

2. When you start slipping into unhappiness what steps do you take to change direction?

3. What do you think about practicing gratitude as a means of restoring joy to your spirit?

4. What will be the byproduct of joy?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

Your Word says that even in difficult situations you will keep me in perfect peace if I keep my eyes on you. Help me to learn to practice thanksgiving in all of life, especially the small details of daily living like rainbows, butterflies, grandchildren, flowers, hugs and kisses, beautiful birds, bunnies, cool breezes, a full stomach, hot showers, and rest. Jesus you are my utmost joy! Help me to soar like an eagle even when life is hard. Even through my tears I pray that I will continue to trust you to help me fly. God I want to thank you for the strength that comes to me as you restore the joy of my salvation.

In Your name I pray. Amen.

I Stand Joyfully Amazed

“My prayer is not for them alone.

I pray also for those who will believe in me
through their message.”

John 17:20 NIV

Today I am sitting in my garden looking down at the word “JOY” engraved on a stone along the garden path. On this winter morning, not much is blooming and it is a bit chilly but my spirit is soon to be warmed by the memory of a time when I was joyfully amazed! It was the first time that I experienced joy while reading the Bible. I was reading in the book of John. The setting was in the upper room right before Jesus was about to go out and experience the dreaded agony of Gethsemane and the cross.

Jesus began to pray. First of all he prayed for himself. He prayed to his Father saying, “Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” John 17:1 NIV Jesus prayed that his obedience to the will of the Father would bring glory to God the Father. Jesus was all about pleasing his Father!

Then Jesus prayed for his disciples, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:1 NIV Jesus prayed that God would protect the disciples from the evil one and that God would purify them through the truth of his words. Of all the things that Jesus could have prayed for the disciples, like health, wealth, and power, he simply did not. Instead he prayed for what he knew to be important. Jesus’ prayer for them was for protection from Satan and that they would always know God’s truth and that by accepting that truth they would be able to live a sanctified life even in the midst of life surrounded by trouble.

Then Jesus prayed for all believers, “…I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, …May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them, even as you have loved me.” John 17:20, 21b NIV Jesus prayed for all future believers, that through the message of the disciples they would be brought into complete unity. Why? To let the world know that God sent Jesus and that Jesus loves them in the same way God loves Jesus. It was easy for me to see that Jesus loved his disciples but it was hard for me to wrap my mind around the full extent of Jesus’ love for me! The truth is Jesus loves me and you in the very same way that God loves him. Jesus prayed that you and I would know his amazing love for each one of us!

I cannot tell you the joy that I felt when that spiritual truth soaked deep into my heart. Up until that time Jesus was just kind of out there. I had accepted him into my life but there was still an impersonal relationship between me and the “Holy God.” Until that day I was not aware of the fact that Jesus is very personal. Jesus is so personal that he prayed for me personally more than 2000 years ago! Even before I was born, Jesus Christ prayed for me! When I realized that the “they” in that scripture included me I was moved to tears. I now understood the heart of Jesus through this scriptural prayer. The content of this prayer filled me with supernatural joy! Talk about a rush! The God of the universe had now become very personal to me. I have read this story many, many times since that first reading, and each and every time as I read it I am again touched. I still continue to stand joyfully amazed that Jesus prayed for me personally even before I was born.

I cannot say it enough. God is interested in each one of us on a very personal level. He not only wants us to receive him as our Savior, he also wants to be our personal friend, our helper, and our intercessor in prayer before the throne of God.

I am a little taken back when I realize that Jesus is praying for me this day and everyday. He always has and he always will pray that I will be in complete unity with him and the Father. He wants my actions and words to mirror his love. When that happens I become a witness to others of his amazing love for all of humanity. As believers we have a message of truth to deliver. Jesus continues to pray that others will hear the message and come to know him through the message that he asks each of us to deliver to all those he has given to us.


Questions:

Has God ever spoken to you through his Word?

What was the message of that scripture?

Did you have a sense that those words were written just for you?

As a result, did you stand joyfully amazed?

Who are the people that are within your sphere of influence that God has given to you?

What does God want you to share? Your faith? A word of encouragement? A prayer?


Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank you for your Word. I pray that you will continue to speak personally to me through your Word. Thank you for the happiness and the joy that you bring to my life through the revelation and understanding of your Word. I stand joyfully amazed to know that you prayed for me before even one day of my life began. I am so glad that you felt it was important for me to know how much I am loved by you. Thank you for praying for me 2000 years ago and that you continue to intercede for me before the throne of your Heavenly Father. Help me to share with the ones that you have given me, your love for each one of them.

In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Serendipity

“Every good and perfect gift

is from above,

coming down from the father

of the heavenly lights…”

James 1:17a NIV

After the hustle and bustle of the holidays is over and the reality of winter sets in I often suffer from seasonal depression. I think it is partly because I love light and color so much. My gardens are dull, the sky is often gray, the trees are bare and it’s cold! Sometimes the sunshine is scarce for many days.

Some people love winter because of skiing, snowboarding, sledding, ice-skating, building snowmen and making snow angels. They look forward to snow days that cancel work and school, a crackling fire in the fireplace, and a cup of hot chocolate! I like all of that too, but sometimes that is not reality and the gray days must be dealt with.

All of us are busy keeping our job, maintaining our home, and caring for our family. All of these responsibilities mixed with the limitations and drabness of winter can get us down. Adding children to that mix takes most of your thought time and your energy giving you less time to even realize that you are depressed, if you are! If you are a woman, there is also the chance that your hormones are raging! If you are a man you may get the back lash of those raging hormones! Just in case any of you readers are sharing my feelings about the winter blues or if you are having any other emotional instability that is threatening your well being, here are a few ideas that may help you combat the very real attack

During times of feeling downhearted I try to focus on spending additional time in God’s Word and investing in my relationship with Jesus. I also look for opportunities to touch base with friends and send notes of encouragement. Taking the time to think of another person is always beneficial to my mental health. During the winter months I typically schedule those projects that I don’t have time for during the other seasons. I also try to make some time to catch up on some of the things that I enjoy such as writing, scrapbooking, reading, and planning my garden for next spring.

But during the down days of winter or even dog days of summer, or any other time that you seem to be depressed or restless in your spirit, the never fail “Serendipity List” is always an emotional booster! Webster’s dictionary defines serendipity as “The gift of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.”

When I begin to make a “Serendipity List” I start early in the day, right after I pour myself a cup of coffee. Now with pen and paper in hand I head for my favorite chair and begin the “Serendipity List.” I write down all of the wonderful things that have already happened to me on this not so glorious day! As the day moves along I carefully list all of the valuable and agreeable things not sought for that began showing up in my life as soon as I woke up that morning.

At the top of my list I make note of the amazing feeling that I have because I am rested. I write down the absolutely beautiful full moon that is lighting up the backyard in the pre-dawn sky. As morning arrives I notice the way that the light filters through the trees. This too must go on the list. I jot down the enjoyment I get out of my first cup of coffee. Other things worth putting on the “Serendipity List” are the first kiss of the day when my husband comes over and says good morning. Later on is the refreshing hot shower that I am privileged to enjoy. As the day progresses it is a phone call from my son. It is also watching two squirrels scampering in a chase up one side of the tree and down the other. It is listening to my husband talk to his granddaughter on the phone. It is connecting with an old friend. Serendipity is hearing my daughter tell a funny story about my grandson. It is receiving an encouraging note in the mail. It is the happiness that I find in making a hot pot of steaming soup for us to enjoy at dinner on a cold winter day. In the evening it is the feel of crisp clean sheets as I climb into bed. But most of all it is feeling the love of God as I lay down to sleep. It is having a peace that passes all understanding even in difficult times; it is the joy of Jesus that is indescribable.

Yes indeed, the “Serendipity List” is food for the emotionally unstable depressed soul. It is acknowledging all of the wonderful valuable things that have happened to me throughout that day that I didn’t even ask for or seek out. Yes they are gifts, his amazing gifts from above. I guess the “Serendipity List” is just another way of counting my blessings. I must pay better attention to the small things in life because I don’t want to miss a single gift tomorrow!

If you are reading this and you are struggling to find even your basic needs met, I pray that you will pray and ask God to comfort, protect, and provide for you. God loves you and wants to show you his love. Look up, look down, look all around and ask God to show you something that he has made that will delight your heart. Receive comfort and hope in knowing that God loves you and he hears all who pray.


Questions:

1. Are you feeling low, downcast, or depressed?

2. Have you ever made a Serendipity List?

3. Do you think it could be a beneficial exercise in recognizing God’s love for you?

4. Today are you experiencing the love, peace, and joy that can come only from God?

If not, simply bow your head in prayer right now and ask God to take your feelings of depression and in its place give you his love, peace and joy.


Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I need for you to show me your love for me this day. The truth is, you do show me your love everyday, yet somehow some days I seem to be so self-absorbed that I miss your love for me completely! I pray that this day I will rejoice in your serendipity gifts! I am thanking you in advance for all of your good and perfect heavenly gifts. Father, please keep me from being caught up in seeking your gifts but rather may I be drawn to you, the giver of all gifts. I especially thank you for all of the delightful surprises found in the gifts that you consider to be of valuable and delightful importance. Just as I love to give good gifts to my children, I know that you love giving good gifts to me. Thank you Father, you make me smile!

In Your Name I pray, Amen.

A Reason for Joy

“Having loved his own who were in the world,
he now showed them the full extent of his love.” John 13:1b NIV

This morning I am remembering Jesus’ last night alone with his disciples. It was an intimate time of fellowship. During those precious few remaining hours before his death Jesus found amazing ways to show the disciples the full extent of his love. There were last minute instructions, an example of service, a symbolic meal, future predictions, a promise, a lesson, a prayer, and a song. In just a few short hours Jesus reminded them of all the really important things that they would need to remember after he was gone. All that information was perfectly stated in a “Heads Up I’m Leaving 101” class.

Jesus lovingly washed the feet of his disciples, as an example of service. The symbolic meal of bread and wine told the disciples of his upcoming sacrifice. He predicted his betrayal and his death. He predicted Peter’s denial. He told them that in this world they would have trouble and to expect it. He told them not to be troubled by all this because he was going away to prepare a place for them and that he would come back to get them. Then there was the important lesson of the vine bearing fruit, being pruned, and how important it was to remain in him. John 15:1-8 Last but not least, Jesus prayed for those he loved and then before leaving the Upper Room, they all sang a song of praise.

I remember sending my daughter, Amy, off to college. Was I really going to let her out of my sight? Was she prepared? How in the world would she manage without me? In an effort to show her the full extent of my “love,” in the last few hours that we were together I spit out volumes of information from the book “Leaving Mom 101!”

My husband and I drove her to college and helped set up her room, (surely that was an example of service). We shared a “last super” nothing really too symbolic except it reminded me that our family always ate together and now she would be missing. I also had a few future predictions that I needed to share like; if you wash your red shirt with your underwear you will have pink undies! If you don’t clean your room, you won’t be able to find your bed! Then there was the promise that we would see her at Thanksgiving. I also had the need to give her a quick lesson on time management so that she could produce good grades by staying focused on her grades instead of boys. I whispered a heartfelt prayer for my daughter and lastly we shared sweet parting words. Although those loving, parting words were not set to music, they were words set to the music of unending love.

As mothers, when we raise our children we are always caring for them and teaching them all the important things that they will need to know in life. We eat with them, and we sing and pray with them. We also warn them of life’s pitfalls. Most importantly, we endeavor to show them the full extent of our love by our sacrifices, our actions and our words. Above all we want them to be happy.

Jesus does not promise us a perfect life but he does go to great lengths to show us the full extent of his love for us. This is indeed reason for joy!

Questions:

Can you relate to Jesus’ loving care for you?

Where has the extent of his love been the most meaningful to you in your life?

How can you show that kind of love to others?


Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for showing me the full extent of your love by dying on the cross for me. Help me to share with others the elements of love that you modeled in the upper room. Help me to share a meal when there is a need. Help me to take on your humbleness in serving others. Help me to share the truths of my faith so that others will know the full extent of you love. Lord Jesus I do anticipate with great joy your return.

In Your Name I pray, Amen.

Joy and Emotion of the Soul

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you

and that your joy may be complete.”

John 15:11 NIV

I believe it is possible to be happy in life. I am quite sure that it is possible to even be ecstatic about our circumstances or the pleasures that we experience. But without Jesus in our life I do not believe it is possible to experience joy.

At times in my life I have mistaken happiness for joy, but as a Christian I have now come to understand that joy cannot be attained through tangible things. Joy is not going to come to us from our physical emotions. Joy is as elusive as peace because joy is an emotion of the soul. Joy, true peace, and unselfish love come only from Jesus.

I experienced joy

for the first time when Jesus Christ came into my life and now...

I experience joy

...when I hear new spiritual truth.

I experience joy

...when another person comes to know Jesus as their personal Savior.

I experience joy

...when God shows up in my life and gives me an incredible blessing.

I experience joy

...when I worship God through the beauty of his creation.

I experience joy

...when I realize how faithful God is to me.

I experience joy

...when I read God’s Word and there is clarity and understanding.

I experience joy

...in answered prayer.

I experience joy

...when I worship God.

I experience joy

...when I feel God’s love, comfort, peace, and emotional healing.

I experience joy

...when I understand how privileged I am to be redeemed by Jesus.

I experience joy

...when I think about Jesus' return and my hope of heaven.

It is NOT me + what I want = Joy

It is NOT me + what I think will make me happy = Joy

It IS God + me = Joy

Joy will never be experience by me or by you without God being acknowledged in the equation. When we walk in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ we will experience real joy. Joy is something that non believers cannot understand. Lots of people think that they know what it is to be happy but they are still clueless about how joy surpasses all happiness. Happiness is produced totally through selfish effort, but joy is an emotion of the soul.

Joy is not something we seek, it the end result of what we experience when we have Jesus Christ in our life. Joy is to be found in the garden of your heart even in times of trouble. Joy is not found in our circumstances, it is found in the attributes of God himself. We can be joyful because our all knowing, all present, all powerful, all loving God chooses to use all of his attributes in our behalf. God hears us when we pray. God is always faithful to those who love and serve him. He is a very present help in trouble and he desires to be in daily fellowship with us. Jesus is our personal friend. He smiles, he laughs, and he loves. He is our joy!

Questions:

Have you ever experienced joy?

Can you see how that experience of joy surpassed happiness?


Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

I thank you for the gift of happiness that I experience in my family, my relationships, my friends, my job, my activities, and in my church. But most of all I thank you for indescribable, glorious gift of joy that you have permeated into my heart, I pray that you will continue to pour into my heart your joy. I admit I’m a little greedy here; I want to soak up as much joy as you will allow me to have. Jesus, your joy is sweet!

In Your Name I pray. Amen.