Reclaiming our Joy

     Years ago, I took one of our sons to his Saturday soccer game in Sebring where it was being held.  After the game, I went to Walmart to do some shopping and came home.  That evening, I laid down on our bed to read the paper and glanced at my engagement ring.  To my absolute horror, the diamond was missing.  Evidently a prong holding the diamond in place was broken.  Of course, I immediately panicked.  I checked the van, looked around the house thoroughly, and even called Walmart to report the missing diamond and see if any good soul had by chance found it and turned it in.  No one had.
     On the next day, I drove up to Sebring to the soccer field and scoured the area where our game had taken place looking carefully in the loose dirt to see if I had lost it there.  Then, I went to Walmart again and asked if anyone had turned it in.  There was no result nor had anyone seen anything.  I was devastated.  Talk about losing my joy!
     Whenever circumstances or unexpected happenings hit us, we are tempted to do just what I did.  Panic!  But the Lord has a remedy for us that reaches above these things to see us through and keep our joy intact.  Psalm 66: 8-12 says:  "Oh, bless our God, you peoples!  And make the voice of His praise to be heard, Who keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved.  For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.  You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.  You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but you brought us out to rich fulfillment."  Sometimes, God allows the suffering or the affliction for our growth in patience and righteousness.  He tests our hearts and refines us like silver that the Psalmist mentioned.

God's beautiful sky!

     This Psalm is similar to Paul's description of what he and the other Apostles faced for the sake of God's people.  It is recorded in 2 Corinthians 4:8-10:  "8we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."  We know from Scripture that Paul had been stoned and nearly died.  He had been bitten by a poisonous snake from which God spared his life, and he was imprisoned unjustly.  Yet, through all the trials, Paul makes it clear that while he and others endured hardship they were able to maintain their joy in the Lord for the sake of God's glory through Christ.  When we look at his life, what, really, do we have to complain about?
     Of course, Paul and the Psalmist were not the only ones to tell us about how to react to suffering, loss and circumstances.  James wrote the following: (James 1:2-4):  "2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  This is really what God wants to build in us...perseverance that we can become mature as believers.  No one said that the life of a Christian would be easy.  In fact, the Lord said that we would face tribulations in this world.  So how can we regain our joy when trials come our way?
     Perhaps the best way is to begin is by praising the Lord as the Psalmist did in Psalm 66.  We thank the Lord for working in us because we are not yet able to see what He is doing.  His perspective is far different than ours, and His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).  Then, we should praise Him for all He has done for us.  If we really want to restore our joy, this is the road we need to travel.
     I used to have a sign above our computer that read:  "Joy is not the absence of sorrow but the presence of God."  Joy is far different than being happy.  It is the deep abiding grace that only God can give through Jesus Christ His Son.  We must not let the enemy steal His peace and joy from our hearts.  Praise is the answer!
     Fortunately, for me, our insurance covered the cost of a new diamond to replace the one lost.  I did not need to panic.  God worked out this situation, but even if He had not, my joy, my life are not dependent on things but upon Him.  Let us learn to praise Him in the midst of our trials for He is working for our good and His glory!  Selah!

Holding It All Together

     Long before there was IKEA, Home Depot or Lowe's, there was K-Mart where, on many occasions, I purchased "so-called" simple kits to put together a bookcase, night table, and a student desk.  When you are busy raising four children, you don't go with expensive pieces.  Instead, you go for less expensive, and practical.  So with instructions in hand, I began to work on my projects.  For the most part, things went smoothly until I found a piece missing.  Then, I did what all good people do when something you need is not there....improvise.  As long as the finished product was useable, it did not matter if all the screws were exactly the same size.  I just wanted it to hold together.

Still in one piece even after Hurricane Irma!

     This was also true for the playground fort/swing set that my husband and sons constructed for the grandchildren to play on.  There were a zillion parts which all had to be identified and separated.  The instructions were not a breeze to follow as had been advertised, and when it came to putting it all together, some of the pieces did not fit the way they were supposed to.  So once again, they had to improvise in order to complete the project.  I dare say they did an excellent job because it wasn't even damaged one bit during Hurricane Irma in 2017.   We really weren't certain it would be standing after the storm, but it goes to show that good workmanship pays!
     Though we may not be conscious of it, we are the beneficiaries of a perfect Creator who made all things, and even now, holds them altogether.  In Paul's letter to the Colossians (1:16-17), he writes:
"16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."  When God made heaven and earth, He spoke it into being.  There were no parts missing and nothing was defective initially.  In fact, after each act of creation, God called it good (Genesis 1 and 2). We know that the crown of His creation was man and woman. They were called to work in the Garden of Eden and care for the living creatures.  It seemed as if everything would be perfect until Satan entered the scene.
     At the moment that Eve ate the forbidden fruit followed by her husband, the perfect world became a fallen one under the curse of God's judgment.  Unlike the scenario of missing screws, misplaced drill holes that both my husband and I had to
improvise for, God already had a plan in place before the world, as we know it, came into being.  That is why Paul could write in verse 17: "And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."  God's plan of redemption was set before creation, and the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ for our sin along with his bodily resurrection was the seal that held all creation together.
     God knew before the foundation of the world what would happen.  He wasn't surprised by anything.  In fact, Paul verifies this in his letter to the Ephesians (1:4-5):  "4For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love 5He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,…"  What an amazing statement!  He chose us to be His own long before we were even created and knit together in our mother's womb. This should encourage us daily.
     Sometimes, we are fraught with worry over life and circumstances.  We may feel like we are falling apart at the seams.  It's at that moment that we need to remember that God holds all things together.  His plan is perfect and His salvation is certain to all whom He calls.  In light of that hope, how can we avoid rejoicing in Him?  Our problems come as a means of testing us, but all the while, God has a hold of us.  He is the answer because He made the plan as recorded in the Bible.  Christ sealed the plan in His blood.  Today, take encouragement knowing that God holds everything together.  We may not see how things will work out but He does.  Therefore, today, trust in the Lord and lay all your burdens down for He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called by His name (Romans 8:28).  Selah!

Just What the Doctor Ordered

     Have you ever picked up a book and it seems like every page has been written just for you?  Or what about the Sunday Sermon where it seems as though the pastor has been reading your mail?  Those are not just coincidences in the life of a Christian.  I know without a doubt that it is the providence of the Lord who made us and knows us better than we know ourselves.  For these tender mercies, I will forever praise Him.

     Each of us go through circumstances, heartaches, loss and illness at various times in our lives which tend to strip us of any reserve strength we might have had, and when this happens, it is often hard to read the Bible, pray or even fellowship with others.  I watched my own mother struggle with this in her life.  She loved children and two years after having me she lost a precious little girl named Rebecca
Hess.  She only lived for six hours as there were no special life saving measures at that time.  It sent my mother into a deep depression requiring some hospitalization in order to recover.  When she came home, she took long walks and every night she read the Psalms.  This is what came to bring her healing.  She passed this practice along to me as a means to calm my soul when life got tough.
     Over the years, I, too, have had my struggles with depression/anxiety.  It comes at times quite unbidden where there are no unhappy circumstances that stir it up, though I have had my share of them.  Besides a hereditary factor or chemical imbalance, no one but the Lord knows why this occurs as it does; still His purposes even in the darkest hours, are worked for my good and His glory.  I know that I am not alone either.  Charles Spurgeon, Martin Luther, and even C.S. Lewis suffered from depression.  Thankfully today, we can talk about this more openly and there are many more medications available to assist in recovery.  So when I purchased the book "Psalms for Trials" by Lindsey Tollefson about a year ago, little did I realize how much it would mean for me.
     Within its pages are helpful meditations on praying the Psalms.  This is something I have done for many years thanks to my mother, but the meditations are filled with soothing words of truth that a hurting heart needs to read.  For example, on page 79, she writes:  "Negativity is like an old comfortable shoe.  It is easy to throw it on without even thinking.  We have to engage in an active fight against worry, fear, and any other negative thoughts about the future."  She is simple and direct and then points to the Psalms for the comfort found only in the Lord.  Every day, I tell my husband that she wrote every word for me.
     I am convinced that the fast pace of living, instant news availability (often negative), caregiving a loved one, excessive stress, grief over the loss of a loved one, PTSD as a result of military service or some other trauma all contribute to both depression and anxiety.  It is also a spiritual battle for which the Christian is well equipped with the help of compassionate friends, God's Word and lots of prayer. But make no mistake....it is a battle.  The Enemy of our soul likes to fill our minds with negative thoughts and doubts.  This is when we need to make certain we are wearing the full armor of God that
keeps us from the fiery darts of the wicked one.  He is a Liar and the Father of lies, but our hope is in the truth of God's Word.
      If anyone reading this today needs a lift for their spirit, I would encourage you to buy this book and start praying the Psalms daily.  There are even resources available online for singing the Psalms if this is something more to your liking.  The key is to put on the new man in Christ each day and renew your mind by filling it with the Word.  I always welcome your thoughts and comments. May the God of all encouragement bless each one reading this today and always!  Selah!

The Waiting Game

     "Waiting" for something has never been one of my strong points.  I remember our many car trips to Florida during the Winter months from the time I was eight years old.  There was no in car videos to watch, or electronic games to play much less a super highway to get us to St. Petersburg quickly.  No, the roads were two lane and ran through the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee.  It was a long drive usually taking us two and a half days to get there.  Naturally, I was bored so I frequently asked the question, "When will we get there?"  My mother was wise and always made traveling more fun by making up games.  For example, we would see many billboards along the way hyping one type of attraction or another such as:  "See Rock City" or "Come and see Dogpatch".  Then, there was my favorite in Kentucky called "Fort Sequoia" where they supposedly sold authentic native American headdresses and items.  So, knowing how I noticed these signs, my mother proposed that I counted how many signs there were until we got to the location or passed it.  This certainly kept me occupied, and helped me play the waiting game.

Boarded up and prepared for the storm

     In much the same way, waiting on a hurricane is about as much fun as traveling in the back seat of a car when you are a little girl full of energy.  Our current weather has been building for a couple of week's now and like most storms, it is a waiting game.  Meteorologists do the best they can to predict where and when a storm will hit, but only God knows its final course.  Meanwhile, we boarded up our windows with the help of a godly man, bought gas for our generator, stocked up on food we might need, made certain we had fuel for our camp stove, and now, we are waiting on a very slow moving storm that the weather people assure us will turn North any time now.
     As I moved through our neighborhood today, I did not see too many houses boarded up since the track has been back and forth so much.  Some might believe we went into overkill, but we have had seven hurricanes pass over our Central Florida location.  The last one did a great deal of damage so we will not take any chances.  
     Thinking about all our preparations reminded me of the ten virgins who trimmed their lamps in preparation for the bridegroom. This was a story about the Kingdom of Heaven.  The parable is found in Matthew 25:1-13 (please read this).  These women in the story were possibly bridesmaids or part of the official wedding party in some capacity.  Jesus said five were wise and five were foolish.  The wise virgins had brought along extra oil for their lamps but the foolish did not.  Since the bridegroom did not come right away, the women fell asleep.  At a later hour, a cry went up that the bridegroom was coming.  The foolish virgins realized they did not have enough oil for their lamps and asked to borrow from the wise.  However, the wise virgins told them to go buy from a seller.  While these foolish women were gone, the bridegroom came and the wise virgins went in to the celebration.  When the foolish virgins returned from getting more oil, they realized they had missed the bridegroom and found themselves shut out of the celebration.  They were not given entrance since they had come late.  In verse 13, Jesus tells his listeners the moral of this parable:  "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."  Indeed, no one knows when Jesus will return for His church....only the Father knows.  This is why we must be ready like the five wise virgins.
     Keeping our eyes on the Lord is hard to do in these days filled with distractions in our world.  It seems that world events, natural disasters, and politics tend to fill our minds with grave concerns so much so that it is easy to focus on them rather than the renewal of our minds in Christ.  Jesus warned us to keep watch.  If we do not know the Lord, today is the day of salvation because we are not promised tomorrow to make Christ our Lord.  On the other hand, if we are believers, then we need to grow in our faith by reading His Word, prayer and fellowship.  Like the wise virgins, we will be ready when the bridegroom comes.
     Waiting is never easy whether it is a storm or a long car trip, but the reward in the end, is worth every moment of preparation.  One day, the sky will split, the trump will sound and our beloved Bridegroom will return for His people.  Don't miss it!  Selah!