Why Joy And Peace Amidst The Muck And Mire?

So many things occupy my heart and mind.  However, only one thing matters.

All around us is chaos.  We are bombarded with news reports that involve death.  We hear of evil attacks on a daily basis...often on an hourly basis. Often times, when I hear sirens these days, I think......"I wonder who got shot now."

It sounds so cliche to say, "why can't we love one another?"  What planet am I living on, right?   I can't seem to wrap my head around the things I see on the news.  I can't wrap my head around the anger and "me" mentality that we are bombarded with on the news.  I can't understand why anyone would want to live a life of hatred when there is a better way. A most "Excellent Way."  This most "Excellent Way," is the way of Jesus. Jesus says "I am the way the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except though me."  (John 14:6)

Is life glorious and perfect when we follow Jesus?  Oh how I wish. However, saying that, I will answer it another way....completely contradictory to what I just said....that answer is Yes.  What??? How can I say "oh how I wish," and then say "Yes, it is."  I still live in this world....this imperfect and sinful world.  An imperfect and sinful world that I, too, contribute to with my sin....with my unloving ways, with my "me" mentality.  No, maybe I don't shoot anyone, but I sin in different ways. Do I always "love" those in my life?  Oh sure I try too, BUT, I fail continually.  And even when I do "love" those around me, is it always with a sincere heart?  Oh, my, no.  Do I speak kind words always?  Absolutely not AND to make matters worse, if a person could read my mind on MANY occasions, let's just say.....thank God they can't.

But then there is that deep down Joy.   Where does that Joy come from? That Joy that lives down deep?  The Joy that allows me to muddle through the "muck and mire" of this world?   The Joy that
allows me to walk through the sadness of losing loved ones?  The Joy that lives in my heart and helps me to stay strong, to be encouraged and to press on.  The Joy that helps me focus on what is 'good' and the many, many things there are to be thankful for.

Through my life and my many trials, Jesus has taught me that through it all, there is only One thing that matters.  Only One!  Jesus.  He has taught me that this life is temporary....OH SO TEMPORARY....and that believing in Him as my Savior and following Him is where true Joy comes from.  Even when life is awful....and oh it can be and will be......no one can steal that Joy from me.

You see, it all boils down to One thing......I am loved by God.  You are loved by God.  He has chosen me.  He has chosen you too.  "We love because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19). No matter what this world may do to us or what we see going on around us, God is still good.  His promises are true.  The Joy that lives down deep is because He promises "peace that passes all understanding."  He tells us this..... "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."   Philippians 4: 6-8.

I surely don't know a lot of things, but I do know this one thing.  God does not lie and His promises are true.  He is a faithful God and He guards our hearts and minds in Him.

Through it all, we muddle through.  And yet, through it all, the Joy that lives down deep is mine.  No one can take that "Gift" from me.  No one. 

                                                                       

References for Philippians 4:6

• Cross References

• 8 4:6 - Mt 6:25-34
• 9 4:6 - Eph 6:18 ; 1Ti

                                  

References for Philippians 4:7

• Cross References

• 10 4:7 - Isa 26:3 ; S Jn 14:27 ; Col 3:15
• 11 4:7 -                                                       

                                                                          

Freedom and Love

So much has happened in the last few days. Sudden change.  Sadness hitting families in ways that you can only understand if you are them.  As one sits back and "watches" and is simply quiet, sadly, you can hear all around you how life goes on without a thought.  We nastily judge each other and obviously, think of ourselves as "better than" - if not, than why do we do it?  You see families ripped apart by the "better than" mentality and it's all so very sad.  Comparing ourselves to others and talking behind each other's back. The only reason we could possibly justify doing this is to make our insecure selves look better.

This life isn't a dress rehearsal.  This is it.  I pray that making the most of the life we are given would be a priority to us all.  That loving one another would be something God would impress upon our hearts because in the end, love is all that matters.  I pray we would love those God has put in our life, if for no other reason, than because they are God's child too.

Hug and love each other as if today is your last day with them.  Because, truly, you never know, it just might be.

Happy Independence Day.  Many have fought and died for our freedom.  The Lord Jesus died for our freedom from sin and death.  Those who believe in that will live on for eternity.  Let's not take for granted these blessings we are given.

"This Is The Day...."

Each day is new.  Each morning brings to us His Grace.  We are truly blessed, but yet, how often do we want to pull the covers up over our heads and find instead, every reason why our life isn't good.  "This is the day the Lord has made...." It really is. He made it for us to live for Him. He made it for us to worship Him. He made it for us to share Jesus and His saving Grace with others. As hard as this is at times, we must "rejoice and be glad in it" because regardless of what we are going through, HE IS GOD......and......HE IS GOOD. 

Life can be a hard place. Life can be a place where, although we are surrounded by so many, we can feel so very alone. Life can be a place where we often feel unloved, BUT, our God loves us MORE than anyone could.  Just that thought alone can help us to face the day.  When we go out and love and serve without worrying about being served ourselves, all of a sudden things change.
 
My prayer today is that we would all focus on His great love for us and how we are loved unconditionally by our Savior who gave His life for each of us. We are all truly blessed in every way. Maybe our earthly life doesn't seem like it, but OH MY FRIENDS, the BEST IS YET TO COME.

As we focus on today, let us not look back.  Our past is forgotten.  God forgives.  Only let's focus on today.  Focus on loving others in the Name of Jesus.  I pray we would all be touched by God's love through someone else today, BUT, if not, we know that the love that matters most, God's love, is ours EVERY MINUTE and He never leaves us or forsakes us. 

The Heart

Oh, this heart of mine.  It holds so many things.  Sometimes, it's hard to sort it all out.  In my heart lives so much longing, compassion, anxiousness and love. Muddling through all those emotions often just brings confusion.  Why?  What does my heart seek after?  Why does it often seem to be in a state of unrest?

I'm sure many of us can say we experience this.  Our hearts just get filled up with so much.  I believe the deepest longing our hearts harbor is the desire to be closer to our Lord and to one another. I believe, we all have that place down deep that just wants to be loved and accepted for who we are...right now!!  I believe many of us desire a place where real love and kindness flow all around us... just because it's the right thing.

I often carry this question down deep...."why can't we live in a world where we are kind to one another?"  It's a question that often baffles me because I truly don't understand why.  Isn't it easier to simply be kind and walk away?   However, we live in a world where we can express ourselves in many different ways.  In this day of Social Media, it is so easy to share our thoughts without facing one another. I suppose one could say it's easier to state our opinion to someone via our fingertips rather than face to face.  It's easier to be BOLD and say something we wouldn't necessarily say to someone face to face.  Right?  Although I love Social Media and think it's an awesome way to "connect" with others and to share many things, there is a standard I set for myself before I post anything.  If I would not speak it out loud to someone, face to face, I will not type it on Social Media...or share it.

I've been told by some that I live in a fantasy world.  I suppose they are right.....at least by earthly standards.  But the question I carry in my heart still lingers....."why can't we live in a world where we are kind to one another?"  Don't all our hearts long for that simple kindness and love?  So, wouldn't we want it to begin with us?  As I grapple with this, my heart reminds me  of all those times I am unkind, gossipy and selfish.  It reminds me of how these sinful qualities, that I possess, rear their ugly heads many times throughout a day.  Sure, maybe I don't necessarily speak it, but my heart thinks it and that in and of itself hurts my heart.

As I stated above, this heart of mine is filled up with so many things.  And, yes, it causes me much unrest at times, because, my heart longs for what only Heaven can give.  I suppose it's that thought..."what only Heaven can give" that keeps me pressing on.  My heart knows there is that "place" where love, joy and peace will only live.  My heart knows there is that "place" where my sinful heart will be no more and the perfect heart God originally planned for me will be intact.  Oh, how I long for that "Place" .......HEAVEN!    How I long to be rid of my sinful heart and possess those qualities I long for everyday!

My heart rejoices in this.....that my Savior, Jesus, came to die AND rise again for my sins.....for our sins.  Yep, He did that. And His Word simply and clearly tells us this in John 3:16..."for God so loved
the world that He gave His One and only Son; that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will
have Eternal Life."  And again in Romans 5:6 where it says, "you see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly."  And this in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 where it says, "For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep."

Yes, I believe!  My heart longs for what only He can give me.  For now, I'll simply muddle through these stirrings and longings in my heart and continually seek after the One who helps me desire kindness and love.

I Wonder!

What if we all knew how many days we had here on earth?  I wonder how we'd live differently?  Would we treat our loved ones differently?  Would we be less busy?  Would we take the time to pray for others?  Would we look at serving God as a privilege rather than a duty?  I wonder.

Life's journey can be tough.  So many prayer requests for others.  Not to mention the many I have for myself.  At times it's all so very overwhelming.  It causes me to wonder.... what if everyone loved and encouraged one another along the way?   What if letting go of all the striving for more, bigger, and better was replaced with striving to be all God calls us to be?   What if we let go of the striving to be better than others and replaced that striving with a desire to love and care for others?   What if God gave us our "end" date?  Would our hearts desire be to know Him better and would contentment become reality?  I wonder.

A prayer on my heart today is this .. Lord, "teach us to number our days so we may get a heart of wisdom."  Psalm 90:12.  All of "this" .... all the striving .... it's here today and gone tomorrow.  This journey is a stepping stone to our life to come.  Often I feel I waste so many days in striving for what isn't important.  As I pray for many hurting people and people pray for me, I see better that caring for one another in the Name of Jesus is all I should be striving for.

Oh, my heart often wonders, "what if?"  I suppose this too is a waste of time.  "All the days ordained for me were written in His book before one came to be."  Psalm 139:16.  Quite simply, "being still" and resting in His Grace is the only place I need to be today.  The steps on this journey are all "determined by Him" so all the wondering can cease. 

Oh Lord, teach me to number my days.  Help me see today as a stepping stone and give me a heart that is wise in living a life of service to You.

Truly, nothing else matters. 

A New Thing

Out with the old and in with the new.  Is it that easy?  The "old!"  Days gone bye.  The "new?"  Nobody knows...only God.  All those "old" bygone days hold important lessons.  Not all the days, but many.  Some of those days hold our best memories to date.  Some of those days brought about some of our best blessings yet.  And, some of those days hold some of our deepest regrets, to date.  Some of those days are days where "blessing" seems the furthest thing from it.  Yet, through it all, do we truly know what is considered best?  We think we know, but do we? 

Often times in my life, some of what I thought were the worst days ever, turned out to be just what God knew I needed to "grow me up" in Him.  Definitely NOT what I thought I needed at the time, but where in time (notice I said "in time") I saw that which I thought was the worst of times, truly turned out to be what I would now consider a great blessing.

God was never surprised by that.  He knows exactly what we need.  Always!  He is a good God who only has our best interest at heart. We wonder....then why am I hurting?  Why did this have to happen to me?  What good could possibly come from this or that?  Oh, how it must grieve God's heart as well.  He is a God of love and we live in a sinful world.  Because of that sin bad things happen to each of us.   Some of the bad is caused by our own choices and some of the bad just comes because sin is a part of the world.  It's not that God doesn't know.  Oh, He knows.  But, for His reasons sometimes He allows "bad" to touch us.  We "see" it as "bad" but only God knows exactly what will come from each of our situations.  Imagine all those "things" that God has not allowed to "touch" us in our lives.  We don't think about those things because we probably never knew about them.  He has a plan for each of our lives and that plan and purpose will be fulfilled in each of us.  Ultimately, our God wants for us to follow close after Him.  He wants us to be in His Word and to abide in that Word....the "Word" - the "place" where He speaks to us.  He wants our trust.  He wants our love.  He wants to be our FIRST love. He wants to bring us to that 'Place" we are always longing for.....that perfect "Place".....that "Place" where there is no more death or sadness....that "Place" where we will be loved perfectly and we will be able to love perfectly.....the ONLY "Place" we will ever be truly satisfied.....HEAVEN. 

As we journey into 2016 I have no doubt many of us will enjoy many happy blessings.  I also have no doubt many of us will experience many sad days.  It's what life is made up of.  One of the promises from God's Word that really rings in me this new year is from Isaiah 43:19 ... it says, "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?  I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."  Yes, our loving God will make a way.  He will bring us through wilderness times....those dry desert times.  Even when we don't "see" it, our God is walking with us through it.  He is teaching us and wanting us to walk closely with Him.  God also tells us in, Genesis 50:20...."You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."  You see, His love wants one thing....to bring us all to Him.  What we see as "bad" God can and does use for good.  It may take many years to "see" it and quite possibly this side of Heaven we may never see the "why,"  but one day we will see all that was meant to be.  One of my favorite promises in scripture is this verse from Romans 8:28.  It says "for we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and were called according to His purpose."  Our God is loving and He will work for our good.  We are His children.  What seems to be hurting us, God can and does use for His good.  It may bring someone else to God.  It may bring us closer to Him.  It may teach us what is most important.  We may never see why or what, BUT, God doesn't lie so we know it is true.

As I enter into this new year I am confident of this one thing.  My God walks with me.  He walks with you too.  That all by itself lets me confidently say that this will be a HAPPY new year.  Whatever the year holds, I can rejoice and be HAPPY because my God walks with me.  No one can take that from me.

IMMANUEL - GOD WITH US.

No Reason To Fear

Sitting and listening to the snow/rain pellets whipping up against the windows.  Soft Scripture lullabies playing around me.  Lyrics whispering, "let not your hearts be troubled, do not be afraid, just believe in me for I have overcome the world."  As the winds howl and I sit here thinking about all that is in the world, it would be so easy to let my heart become troubled. 

As this Christmas season winds down, I sit and contemplate all that God did for us.  He sent His Son, our Savior, to be born in a stable.  Such a humble birth for an infant King.  Our Savior King, Jesus.  He came so our hearts would not ever have to be troubled or fear that which goes on around us. 

When I sit here in the quiet, safely inside our home, I feel His beautiful love and care.  He, who conquered death and the grave.  He who lives forever in Heaven.  He who has prepared a home their for each of us who believe.    He conquered this world.   I can proudly speak His Word which says "in God I trust and am not afraid.  What can man do to me."  Psalm 56:11


As 2015 winds down, I am reminded of His faithfulness.  Troubles are all around us.  People we love are taken away, but, this is not the end.  We, His children, are simply here on our journey that He has planned for each of us.  When this journey is through, He will call us Home.  We have nothing to fear. 

The year 2016 will soon be upon us.  Only God knows what this year will hold for us.  If we sit and think about all that could be, we surely could become overwhelmed with many emotions.  My prayer is that each of us would simply trust the One who holds our future.  We have no reason to fear.  We only have reason to rejoice.  Our Savior lives.  Our Savior has a forever Home prepared for those who believe in Him as their Savior.   He will take those who believe in Him to live in perfect peace, perfect love and perfect rest in our Heavenly Home.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son that to whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16