The other day I read, "There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace." Prov 12:20
Relationships are hard and not all the people we are in relationships with are easy to get along with. If you are struggling with a relationship, especially a relationship with someone close to you, it can be a real joy killer. As I sit in a particularly hard relationship right now this verse was a little reminder that I can have joy despite its hard because I know that while I might not be perfect in my heart I work to promote peace not plot evil.
Since joy is a choice rather than something that does or doesn't happen, you have to spend some time thinking about how to have joy. In this case I can experience joy when I remember that I am trying to promote peace and I see God applauds that behavior. I can let go of guilt or responsibility for the relationship which holds me back from joy. I am not perfect but I know my heart. And I remind myself that the battles before me are for God not me.
So I can look out the window and have joy because I can see the beauty of a fresh blanket of snow. I can have joy when I see my daughter sitting at the table working hard on her homework, I can have joy while laughing at my 5 year old nephew who has discovered how funny it is when he says, "Awkward!" in the middle of a conversation. And I can let myself step away from my stressful and at times difficult life to go help a friend with a church decorating project we both love to work on, the joy we both get from doing it together.
Where did you experience joy today?
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
The Middle
Traditionally when you read a story or watch a movie there is a beginning, middle and end. We mostly focus on the beginning and end but don't spend much time dwelling on the middle. Because the middle is just the middle. There is no significance. Nothing happens in the middle, and yet a lot happens in the middle.
The middle is the time where they are learning, growing, becoming. In a mystery, the middle is where the clues are gathered. In a love story it is the time where they are getting to know each other. We learn details about characters and their lives in the middle. Sometimes the middle is where tragic events occur that cause our hero or heroine to grow and examine the choices of life. Everything that happens in the middle is vitally important to what happens next but not always the part of the story we talk about. When you think about the Matrix, do you remember how Neo struggled to believe he was the one and had doubts or do you remember how he confidently walked through a security gate and the epic series of action scenes that followed. We remember how he came to believe and did things that they didn't know were possible, but before that, he was just a guy on a cold ship, wearing old clothes and with serious doubts about who he was.
The stories in the bible have beginnings, middles and ends. Abraham was told by God to sacrifice Isaac, brought him up the mountain to do so and at the last minute God stopped him and provided an alternate sacrifice. God's people were rescued from Egypt, wandered for 40 years in the desert and then were given the promise land. The prodigal son was given his inheritance, was gone many years and then returned. Mary was told she would give birth to God's son, 9 months of pregnancy passed and then Jesus was born. 33 years later he was crucified on a cross, 3 days past and then he rose from the dead.
What happens in the middle? What was it like for Abraham to walk up that mountain not knowing God would save his only son? What did the Israelites do for 40 years wandering the desert wondering what the purpose of their life was? What was the father of the prodigal son thinking when he sold half his stuff, gave it to his son who he loved and watched him walk away unsure he would ever see him again? What was it like for Mary to spend all those months being judged? And then all those years raising Jesus and watching him grow and be part of their lives. He didn't launch his ministry at 18 after high school, when he was an adult, he continued to live as a regular man learning and listening well into his adult life. What was Mary thinking about the fact that she was raising God's son and yet he was doing nothing significant? What were Jesus' disciples thinking during those 3 days Jesus was in the tomb? How they all must have suffered.
We know the stories, know how they end, the beautiful way God redeems, works out situations. He has a purpose for everything he does. So when we see someone in the middle or we are in the middle we tell ourselves God will work it out. And He does! No doubt about it. Eventually. God does not make random decisions, he is not surprised by anything that happens. God does not go about reacting to what pops out in front of him. He didn't leave the Israelites in the desert for 40 years because he forgot about them or was busy with something else. There is deep purpose in the middle.
In the middle we grow, learn, listen, believe.
I imagine Abraham walking up that mountain praying, telling God he trusted him, reminding himself of God's promise and power to fulfill it. Reminding himself of God's sovereignty and his commitment to Him. But I also can't imagine the walk up the mountain without also hearing Abraham's doubts, fears. Why are you asking this of me God? How can you fulfill your promise if I sacrifice Isaac to you? I don't want to do this Lord, please don't ask me to do this. And I imagine a deep sadness settling on him as he got closer and knew he must obey the Lord. The full gamut of grief.
I imagine the Israelites wander the desert, day in and day out. The routine can become comfortable and familiar. Life happens. Manna and quail show up every day to feed them. They walk, set up tents, build fires, sleep. Wake up, break down camp and move again. They marry, have children, celebrate, learn, grow, listen. But they wonder what they are doing, how long must they do it. They get tired of all the same, see other nations building buildings, building wealth, setting down roots, having a place to belong and yet they just wander.
I imagine the father of the prodigal son. The grief he must have felt when his son asked for his inheritance. I imagine him selling half of all he had to give his son the money he desired and then watching him walk down the path away from him. I imagine what it must have felt like to not know if he would ever see him again. And I imagine all those years the father spent, rebuilding his wealth, taking care of his land, enjoying his other son yet knowing someone was missing from all their celebrations. Always remembering the son who left. I imagine him wondering what he did wrong. Wishing he could go back and be a better father. His desire to go find him and bring him back. Tell him he is wrong and make him understand how much the father loves him. And how much more valuable that is than all of his wealth and any inheritance he might receive. And yet, he waits patiently at home.
I imagine Mary going through a pregnancy, trying to convince people she did not cheat on Joseph, being judged, hiding, being scared of what was happening to her. Trusting God and yet, wondering, so much wondering when we are in the middle, Mary wondering what will happen to her. Why did God chose her?
I imagine Mary's pain as her son is killed, crucified. As she watches him die. And his disciples who gave up families and livelihoods to follow him. 3 days of wondering, why they did that? Do they have anything to go back to? What is next for them? I imagine a real crisis of faith at that moment.
Maybe it is just me but when I am in the middle I tend to get wiggly. Sometimes the middle can be OK. We are in the middle of John's educational journey. It isn't fun but I can practically taste the thrill of victory that will come when he is finished and has a job in hand. And the success will be sweeter because of all we did to get there.
However, not all middles are the result of a clear goal or plan. Sometimes you are in the middle of something you don't want to be in, sometimes you get put there by someone else and you have no idea when or if it will ever end. Being in the middle of something you didn't choose, no fun.
Still, the stories give us hope. Keep us going. Abraham came down the mountain with his son, the Israelites settled in the promise land, the prodigal son came home, Jesus was born and had a ministry, he rose from the dead and is reining to this day. Knowing all that doesn't make the middle difficult, a big pain in the butt, a place we want to run from but, it does remind us on those days that there will be an end and God's purpose is always so much more amazing than what we had planned for ourselves.
The middle is the time where they are learning, growing, becoming. In a mystery, the middle is where the clues are gathered. In a love story it is the time where they are getting to know each other. We learn details about characters and their lives in the middle. Sometimes the middle is where tragic events occur that cause our hero or heroine to grow and examine the choices of life. Everything that happens in the middle is vitally important to what happens next but not always the part of the story we talk about. When you think about the Matrix, do you remember how Neo struggled to believe he was the one and had doubts or do you remember how he confidently walked through a security gate and the epic series of action scenes that followed. We remember how he came to believe and did things that they didn't know were possible, but before that, he was just a guy on a cold ship, wearing old clothes and with serious doubts about who he was.
The stories in the bible have beginnings, middles and ends. Abraham was told by God to sacrifice Isaac, brought him up the mountain to do so and at the last minute God stopped him and provided an alternate sacrifice. God's people were rescued from Egypt, wandered for 40 years in the desert and then were given the promise land. The prodigal son was given his inheritance, was gone many years and then returned. Mary was told she would give birth to God's son, 9 months of pregnancy passed and then Jesus was born. 33 years later he was crucified on a cross, 3 days past and then he rose from the dead.
What happens in the middle? What was it like for Abraham to walk up that mountain not knowing God would save his only son? What did the Israelites do for 40 years wandering the desert wondering what the purpose of their life was? What was the father of the prodigal son thinking when he sold half his stuff, gave it to his son who he loved and watched him walk away unsure he would ever see him again? What was it like for Mary to spend all those months being judged? And then all those years raising Jesus and watching him grow and be part of their lives. He didn't launch his ministry at 18 after high school, when he was an adult, he continued to live as a regular man learning and listening well into his adult life. What was Mary thinking about the fact that she was raising God's son and yet he was doing nothing significant? What were Jesus' disciples thinking during those 3 days Jesus was in the tomb? How they all must have suffered.
We know the stories, know how they end, the beautiful way God redeems, works out situations. He has a purpose for everything he does. So when we see someone in the middle or we are in the middle we tell ourselves God will work it out. And He does! No doubt about it. Eventually. God does not make random decisions, he is not surprised by anything that happens. God does not go about reacting to what pops out in front of him. He didn't leave the Israelites in the desert for 40 years because he forgot about them or was busy with something else. There is deep purpose in the middle.
In the middle we grow, learn, listen, believe.
I imagine Abraham walking up that mountain praying, telling God he trusted him, reminding himself of God's promise and power to fulfill it. Reminding himself of God's sovereignty and his commitment to Him. But I also can't imagine the walk up the mountain without also hearing Abraham's doubts, fears. Why are you asking this of me God? How can you fulfill your promise if I sacrifice Isaac to you? I don't want to do this Lord, please don't ask me to do this. And I imagine a deep sadness settling on him as he got closer and knew he must obey the Lord. The full gamut of grief.
I imagine the Israelites wander the desert, day in and day out. The routine can become comfortable and familiar. Life happens. Manna and quail show up every day to feed them. They walk, set up tents, build fires, sleep. Wake up, break down camp and move again. They marry, have children, celebrate, learn, grow, listen. But they wonder what they are doing, how long must they do it. They get tired of all the same, see other nations building buildings, building wealth, setting down roots, having a place to belong and yet they just wander.
I imagine the father of the prodigal son. The grief he must have felt when his son asked for his inheritance. I imagine him selling half of all he had to give his son the money he desired and then watching him walk down the path away from him. I imagine what it must have felt like to not know if he would ever see him again. And I imagine all those years the father spent, rebuilding his wealth, taking care of his land, enjoying his other son yet knowing someone was missing from all their celebrations. Always remembering the son who left. I imagine him wondering what he did wrong. Wishing he could go back and be a better father. His desire to go find him and bring him back. Tell him he is wrong and make him understand how much the father loves him. And how much more valuable that is than all of his wealth and any inheritance he might receive. And yet, he waits patiently at home.
I imagine Mary going through a pregnancy, trying to convince people she did not cheat on Joseph, being judged, hiding, being scared of what was happening to her. Trusting God and yet, wondering, so much wondering when we are in the middle, Mary wondering what will happen to her. Why did God chose her?
I imagine Mary's pain as her son is killed, crucified. As she watches him die. And his disciples who gave up families and livelihoods to follow him. 3 days of wondering, why they did that? Do they have anything to go back to? What is next for them? I imagine a real crisis of faith at that moment.
Maybe it is just me but when I am in the middle I tend to get wiggly. Sometimes the middle can be OK. We are in the middle of John's educational journey. It isn't fun but I can practically taste the thrill of victory that will come when he is finished and has a job in hand. And the success will be sweeter because of all we did to get there.
However, not all middles are the result of a clear goal or plan. Sometimes you are in the middle of something you don't want to be in, sometimes you get put there by someone else and you have no idea when or if it will ever end. Being in the middle of something you didn't choose, no fun.
Still, the stories give us hope. Keep us going. Abraham came down the mountain with his son, the Israelites settled in the promise land, the prodigal son came home, Jesus was born and had a ministry, he rose from the dead and is reining to this day. Knowing all that doesn't make the middle difficult, a big pain in the butt, a place we want to run from but, it does remind us on those days that there will be an end and God's purpose is always so much more amazing than what we had planned for ourselves.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Back to working mom
This is just a random update post. I don't know if anyone else likes these play by plays of my life but sometimes it is nice to write it out just for my own ability to review and reflect on experiences.
So last spring I got my real estate license and have been busy not making money ever since. Everyone assures me that it takes at least a year to get up and start making money. Since I am still several months from that year it stands to reason that my lack of income over the past 8 months is not that surprising. Not that have done nothing but what I have done won't be keeping us housed and fed.
So this fall I started looking for a part time job to supplement my income. I considered full time as well and had one job that I actually would have taken if they had made the decision in the last couple months (I appear to be their number one candidate but they haven't decided yet to fill the position). Other than that one job I was basically ignored by the world of human resources. I was starting to wonder if I was doing something wrong when responding to Craig's List postings. Maybe they weren't actually getting my resumes.
To be honest the stress of the fall made me slightly grateful I didn't have a "real" job. However, the stress of not having any income did not help the other personal stress at all. But in the back of my mind on really bad days I did wonder if maybe God just knew I could not be working at that time. Finally as the year ended and the big burden moved off to the side I sat down in front of Craig's List ads once again. The Monday before New Years I sent out resume's to 4 or 5 jobs. All of which were very different positions but sounded interesting in their own ways. I had gotten in the habit of doing this every week or two so I didn't really think much of it but on Jan 2 I got an email asking to set up an interview! And then I got another, and then another! By Jan 3 I had 3 job interviews lined up for this past week and ended up having a follow up interview for the full time job as well. 4 interviews in one week after months of crickets. God knows. We do the work, but always he brings in the harvest at just the right moment.
After many discussions with John I narrowed it to a first and second choice, prayed and waited to see what would happen next.
Great news! My first choice offered me a job! At the same time I have been helping out a realtor at my office that asked if I would be interested in joining his team. Initially I wasn't sure I wanted to give up my total independence but realized the benefits outweighed the negatives and decided to go for it. And here I am back to work! Part time assistant manager of a mini storage facility and part of a successful real estate team.
This has been a weird few months for me. After years at home I had just started getting into a comfortable routine as a working mom when I quit my job to do real estate. I had gotten comfortable with a schedule that did not allow me to spend a day organizing cabinets or being free to meet friends at a moments notice. And then this year happened and I found myself feeling confused. Am I at home? No, I definitely am supposed to be working. But I have very little to do and I am not making any money. The least I could do is clean the house and organize a closet. And I like my friends. But if I do that am I wasting time I could be doing something that might produce money in the future? How do I spend my time?! It felt like a year in which I wasn't a homemaker or a working mom. I was limbo woman.
Now with that limbo time drawing to a close I will say I am not looking back fondly feeling I didn't appreciate the time I had. I think confused was the only place to be. However, knowing this time will soon be coming to a close I am madly spending this weekend cleaning, organizing and preparing our home and schedule for the return of working mom and the need for a plan and system to keep myself sane.
My first return to work didn't go so well but I think this second return is going to be just right.
So last spring I got my real estate license and have been busy not making money ever since. Everyone assures me that it takes at least a year to get up and start making money. Since I am still several months from that year it stands to reason that my lack of income over the past 8 months is not that surprising. Not that have done nothing but what I have done won't be keeping us housed and fed.
So this fall I started looking for a part time job to supplement my income. I considered full time as well and had one job that I actually would have taken if they had made the decision in the last couple months (I appear to be their number one candidate but they haven't decided yet to fill the position). Other than that one job I was basically ignored by the world of human resources. I was starting to wonder if I was doing something wrong when responding to Craig's List postings. Maybe they weren't actually getting my resumes.
To be honest the stress of the fall made me slightly grateful I didn't have a "real" job. However, the stress of not having any income did not help the other personal stress at all. But in the back of my mind on really bad days I did wonder if maybe God just knew I could not be working at that time. Finally as the year ended and the big burden moved off to the side I sat down in front of Craig's List ads once again. The Monday before New Years I sent out resume's to 4 or 5 jobs. All of which were very different positions but sounded interesting in their own ways. I had gotten in the habit of doing this every week or two so I didn't really think much of it but on Jan 2 I got an email asking to set up an interview! And then I got another, and then another! By Jan 3 I had 3 job interviews lined up for this past week and ended up having a follow up interview for the full time job as well. 4 interviews in one week after months of crickets. God knows. We do the work, but always he brings in the harvest at just the right moment.
After many discussions with John I narrowed it to a first and second choice, prayed and waited to see what would happen next.
Great news! My first choice offered me a job! At the same time I have been helping out a realtor at my office that asked if I would be interested in joining his team. Initially I wasn't sure I wanted to give up my total independence but realized the benefits outweighed the negatives and decided to go for it. And here I am back to work! Part time assistant manager of a mini storage facility and part of a successful real estate team.
This has been a weird few months for me. After years at home I had just started getting into a comfortable routine as a working mom when I quit my job to do real estate. I had gotten comfortable with a schedule that did not allow me to spend a day organizing cabinets or being free to meet friends at a moments notice. And then this year happened and I found myself feeling confused. Am I at home? No, I definitely am supposed to be working. But I have very little to do and I am not making any money. The least I could do is clean the house and organize a closet. And I like my friends. But if I do that am I wasting time I could be doing something that might produce money in the future? How do I spend my time?! It felt like a year in which I wasn't a homemaker or a working mom. I was limbo woman.
Now with that limbo time drawing to a close I will say I am not looking back fondly feeling I didn't appreciate the time I had. I think confused was the only place to be. However, knowing this time will soon be coming to a close I am madly spending this weekend cleaning, organizing and preparing our home and schedule for the return of working mom and the need for a plan and system to keep myself sane.
My first return to work didn't go so well but I think this second return is going to be just right.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
More than I can bear
I had a little time and thought maybe a blog post or two was in order but wasn't sure what to write about so I did what I always do when I have time and no thoughts, I go to facebook. There I came across other blog posts on a topic I can totally relate to right now.
"God won't give you more than you can handle"---MYTH! Not in the bible, not even biblical.
Luckily in the past several months I don't recall anyone saying that to me but I am familiar with the phrase and I can testify to the truth of the other posts which assure us that God can and does give us more than we can handle. And as evidence you can ask any number of my friends who will all tell you that I did not handle what God gave me this fall at all. Smeared across the living room floor is how I described myself.
But, God was there, he walked with me, he picked up my burden and picked me up and helped me walk through my big trial. That is what God promises. I am probably years away from being fully on the other side of this trial but God has gotten me to a place where I can stand upright and move forward. I do so because I know if any little thing comes my way he is right there for me to lean on. I can shrug whatever comes my way right off my shoulder and onto his without skipping a step. I hope I am done being smeared across the floor over this, God has taught me many great coping skills over the past few months, but if I do find myself there again, undone by far more than I can bear, I know he will be there to help me through it once again.
Since several people have already written well on this topic here are a few links to the ones I like: Here and then this one HERE and this one HERE.
New year and on the other side of a big hurdle in this trial I am trying to move forward. My mind is slowly starting to work again and I am dreaming of having interesting thoughts and ideas soon! For now I am just so happy to be in one piece again and functioning like a regular person. God is good.
"Then the nations will say about them, 'The Lord has done great things for them.' The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with JOY". Ps 126:3
Since several people have already written well on this topic here are a few links to the ones I like: Here and then this one HERE and this one HERE.
New year and on the other side of a big hurdle in this trial I am trying to move forward. My mind is slowly starting to work again and I am dreaming of having interesting thoughts and ideas soon! For now I am just so happy to be in one piece again and functioning like a regular person. God is good.
"Then the nations will say about them, 'The Lord has done great things for them.' The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with JOY". Ps 126:3
Thursday, January 2, 2014
We are filled with Joy
I just reviewed all my posts from 2013. And I am struck by two things: #1-I really am a good writer. I totally inspire myself. (I feel a little like Castle, "I really am ruggedly handsome"), #2-this was sort of a depressing year. And what is more depressing is that clearly last January I was feeling relieved to be at the end of 2012 and was looking forward to 2013 being a better year. And yet this year...So much I haven't even written.
The good news is that a lot of the hard things from 2013 have had some sort of resolve at the end of the year. Good or bad they are all on a path and off my plate. Some problems will be ongoing but, we have finally learned this fall how to interact with the stresses of our life without letting it affect our ability to live life. And I can focus on areas of my life I can control. Like my need for a part time job.
I love, love real estate but need at least a little regular income. I have had some good interviews but so far no offers. Another interview for a job just a mile from home on Monday. Would love your prayers.
Whether 2014 ends up to be a great year or a continuation of the stress of the past 2 years, it never hurts to start off with a little optimism. And I really do think this will be a good year. Great? I don't know. Good? Definitely within my grasp.
As I was reviewing some recent posts I noticed that I have already written a little about my word of 2014. This year I didn't have to sit down and contemplate what it should be. God had been presenting this to me for the last couple months and it seemed silly to even pretend I was going to focus on anything else.
For Christmas this year I printed up this and framed it for family and friends:
The good news is that a lot of the hard things from 2013 have had some sort of resolve at the end of the year. Good or bad they are all on a path and off my plate. Some problems will be ongoing but, we have finally learned this fall how to interact with the stresses of our life without letting it affect our ability to live life. And I can focus on areas of my life I can control. Like my need for a part time job.
I love, love real estate but need at least a little regular income. I have had some good interviews but so far no offers. Another interview for a job just a mile from home on Monday. Would love your prayers.
Whether 2014 ends up to be a great year or a continuation of the stress of the past 2 years, it never hurts to start off with a little optimism. And I really do think this will be a good year. Great? I don't know. Good? Definitely within my grasp.
As I was reviewing some recent posts I noticed that I have already written a little about my word of 2014. This year I didn't have to sit down and contemplate what it should be. God had been presenting this to me for the last couple months and it seemed silly to even pretend I was going to focus on anything else.
Ps 126:2-3My word of the year is JOY. Joy is not something we have or don't have, it is something we choose. Joy is not determined by circumstances. My sister said, "joy is void of circumstance".
Our mouths are filled with laughter and our tongues with songs of joy. And it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with JOY."
For Christmas this year I printed up this and framed it for family and friends:
This picture was taken in Kenya when we were visiting Kibera which is one of the largest slums in the world. There, as we walked by garbage, rivers of sewage, dirty children and desperate people, was a blue window contrasted against a cracking clay building. I was struck by the beauty of it in the middle of such poverty.
Joy is like that. Whether this is a great year or turns out to be another year of struggle we can look around and see beauty, see God working and choose to experience the joy.
I have found about a dozen verses on joy and we are going to try to memorize one a month as a family. So far so good on the first one.
Ps 126:2-3Our mouths are filled with laughter and our tongues with songs of joy. And it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with JOY."
Sunday, December 1, 2013
My greatest strength
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Areas we excel in and areas that need some shoring up. I, for instance, am good at organizing things but not so good at cleaning. I am good at planning but not implementing. I am good at sudoku puzzles but not words with friends. Mostly I will confess that it is easier to see my weaknesses than my strengths. Always aware of my failures, never wanting to boast too confidently in my triumphs.
This morning I read this familiar phrase:
This morning I read this familiar phrase:
"The joy of the Lord is my strength"Normally I think of this in terms of giving me strength to do something but today it struck me different. Maybe this one of my strengths; knowing and experiencing joy only found in the Lord. Maybe this is all of my strengths.
I do have joy in the Lord. I love my life and delight in it but it isn't perfect and isn't always fun. The joy I have always lived with is not the result of having a perfect life but the result of the love I have for the Lord. The joy I experience in knowing and following Him.
What makes me a great mother, homemaker, wife, friend, employee, etc? It is my joy of the Lord! And if I want to be better? Focus on strengthening my joy in the Lord! Often when we feel under attack our joy gets lost. We turn our attention toward the specific problem and try to gain strength for that one situation rather than retaining strength in our joy in the Lord. My strength comes from the Lord, comes from delighting in Him, comes when I allow myself to be filled with His joy. It gives me what I need to face any problems, frustrating situations or simply answer the question, "what's for dinner?" every night.
If ever anyone was filled with the joy of the Lord it was Paul. In his letter to the Philippians he mentions joy at least 16 times in 4 chapters. And in Philippians, filled with joy, Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." In this book some call the "epistle of joy" I don't think I am making too big a leap to say that it is the joy Paul has in the Lord that allows him to feel he can do all things. When your strength is the joy of the lord you really can do anything.
When Paul is saying he can do all things we are talking about a guy in prison, a guy in serious peril in circumstances he would not choose and did not have control over. Yet he writes things like,
Where does your greatest strength come from?
When Paul is saying he can do all things we are talking about a guy in prison, a guy in serious peril in circumstances he would not choose and did not have control over. Yet he writes things like,
"Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance"and
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"Life is full of challenges. But they don't have to get me down. I am filled with the joy of the Lord and "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
Where does your greatest strength come from?
Monday, November 25, 2013
Gladness of Heart
"He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart." Ecc 5:20I don't know if you have noticed but, I have been having a few life challenges lately. And they have sort of been kicking my butt. And so I have told you that life is hard because lately my life has been HARD.
I find it is always worst right before it gets better and I am happy to report that I believe I hit my bottom this week. And having spent hours over the past few weeks crying out to God and praying with friends and seeking wise counsel, I feel like I have sprung back out of the hole I have been in. Not because anything has changed but because I changed.
I am reading through Ecclesiastes right now. I know people say it is a depressing book of the bible, and in many ways it is, because you see the hopelessness of life apart from God. Honestly, without God it is all meaningless, there is no hope, we work, we die, who cares. But I know how it ends, I know there is a God who gives life meaning and purpose, we work, we die, we leave a legacy, we live in Glory for eternity.
Today I read, "He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart."
Life is still hard, we work, we die, who cares, but...we can either reflect on that fact, the burden of life, the hard, the challenges, or, we can let God occupy us with gladness of heart. Remembering His Glory, seeing His Blessings, being Thankful for His Provisions.
We tend to not want to brush problems under the rug these days. Once upon a time that is all we did. Hide problems and put on a happy face. Today it seems we have almost gone the opposite, brush the good under the rug because we don't want to deny the problems. Being true to yourself means you can't say you are doing good when everyone knows your life has challenges. But if we trust God and let him occupy us with gladness of heart, then challenges and joy can co-exist within us.
It is Thanksgiving week, what a perfect time to come out of my hole. I have been reading all the thanksgiving posts on facebook. And my friend Jody has been hosting "30 days of Thanksgiving" and while I have been happy everyone else was thankful this month, I haven't been really feeling it. Not that I couldn't come up with things to be thankful for but I just didn't care. However, I have sprung out of my hole just in time to celebrate this great holiday and today I share a few things I am thankful for:
- Boxes unpacked and feeling settled in my beautiful new home.
- New friends for Isabelle.
- The closing of my first sale (in which I wasn't the buyer or seller.)
- The hot tub at our new place.
- Family that stands by you through it all.
- Friends who love and pray for you.
- A husband who will get on a ladder in the cold misty rain to hang a for sale sign for you while you sit in the warm car.
- The contrast of black on blue walls.
- Teaching my daughter to sew her first barbie dress.
- Fabric glue to handle the finishing touches.
- A flexible schedule to enjoy Thanksgiving break with Izzy.
I pray God occupies your heart with gladness and thankfulness during this Thanksgiving week and throughout the year.
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