Posts Tagged ‘joy’

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5 Reasons to Trust God

Friday, May 24th, 2013

John 14:1 NLT

I realize this post’s title doesn’t do justice to my heavenly Father. In reality, it should probably read, “Infinite Reasons to Trust God.” Heaven knows the list is endless. Our time to read, however, is not. Therein lies the only reason for a mere five.

Jesus’ words—“Don’t let your hearts be troubled,” remind us that we have control over worry and fear’s role in our lives. We can choose to let them run rampant and then bear their negative consequences. Or we can choose to trust in God and walk in confidence instead.

Personally, I choose the latter. I’d much rather trust and experience peace than struggle with fear, sleeplessness, negativity, and a knotted stomach. And so, here are five reasons for why I choose to trust the Lord:

  • God promises His presence. No matter what happens in the course of a day, He is with me. I am never alone. Why, then, should I be afraid or anxious?
  • God promises to give me wisdom, and lots of it. When I face circumstances that baffle me, I can ask Him for insight, and He will answer.
  • God promises victory. I belong to Him, therefore He’s on my side. Who can stand against me?
  • God promises to turn negative situations into something good. He specializes in transforming the bad into beauty, the sad into splendor.
  • God promises joy. Sorrow may last for a night, He says, but joy comes in the morning. There’s light at the end of the tunnel. God knows what He’s doing even when I don’t understand.

How about you? What would you like to add to this list?

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What’s the Big Deal About Praise?

Monday, March 25th, 2013

I’ve heard some folks question God’s reason for commanding us to praise Him. Some think He’s proud or self-centered. In fact, the opposite is true.

Scripture says that God dwells in the praises of His people. If that’s true, then praise is actually the means to deeper intimacy with Him. And when we walk in intimacy with Him, we experience greater joy, peace, and purpose.

When we praise God despite our circumstances, we express trust in who He is and we honor Him. Or faith grows as our focus turns from our circumstances to His character. Praising God—at all times—ensures our spiritual well-being, and that’s a big deal considering the battle that rages around us.

Psalm 68:4 says, “Sing praises to God and to His name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord—rejoice in His presence” (NLT).

Let’s choose to praise God for who He is, no matter what our circumstances look like. Doing so strengthens our faith and enables us to face anything that comes our way.

Join me for this devotional on YouTube.

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Got Joy?

Friday, November 23rd, 2012

Someone once said, “How do you spell joy? Jesus. Others, You.”  Simple, and true. Life works well when we keep Jesus as our first love and then, in turn, lavish love on others rather than focusing on ourselves.

This morning I read some words that add another dimension to the J in Joy.  They say, “Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD. Joyful are those who obey his laws, and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths “ (Psalm 119:1-3).

Quite honestly, obeying God’s laws doesn’t always feel joyful especially if doing so collides with our wants or perceived rights. Take, for example, His command to love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us.

How about remaining faithful and respectful of one’s spouse when he/she shows no interest in keeping your marriage alive? What about tithing when finances are tight? What about taking a God-given risk when there’s no hint of the results it might bring? How about obeying the speed limit even though doing so means we’ll likely be late for a meeting? (Consider the possible options to that one and then ask yourself how joyful you’d feel paying a speeding ticket!)

Sometimes we consider God’s commands as old-fashioned or constricting. Perhaps it’s time for an attitude adjustment. We need to embrace them as safeguards placed by a loving, all-wise heavenly Father or as the strategies for successful living. Obeying them results in true joy even when it hurts or it’s inconvenient.

Answer this question: On a scale of 1 to 10, what’s your joy level today? What action can you take to move it at least one notch higher?

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Wisdom Wednesday

Wednesday, October 31st, 2012

A fresh perspective on one’s to-do list…

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Cure the Blahs

Monday, August 27th, 2012

Sometimes our lives look bleak compared to others. Then again, our lives look pretty good—all the time—compared to most of the world’s population. Still, when lousy stuff happens, the blahs sometimes take up residence in our attitudes. Sound familiar?

I read Psalm 31:19 recently and it blessed me in a major way. In response, I spent a few minutes listing the goodnesses God has lavished on me:

  • friendship with Him
  • forgiveness for sin
  • inner peace
  • joy
  • physical strength to do what He’s called me to do
  • a faithful, godly husband and a great marriage
  • kids who enjoy spending time with us and each other
  • grandkids who bring lots of laughter
  • freedom to worship corporately
  • a fruitful ministry in Eastern Europe this summer
  • two new book contracts with Harvest House Publishers
  • multiple upcoming speaking engagements to encourage women through His Word
  • the ability to walk and exercise (my dad was paralyzed after a massive stroke and I’ve never taken my legs forgranted as a result)
  • eyes to see
  • ears to hear
  • a home that provides shelter
  • funds to replace our home’s old windows
  • good neighbors
  • sunshine
  • a beautiful city park nearby where I can walk

The list goes on, but this is what it looks like for starters. Some might think my life is ideal, but let me assure you it’s not. It just feels that way when I focus on the gifts God’s given me. There’s no way the blahs can hang around when I choose this frame of mind.

Take a few minutes to list the goodnesses God has lavished on you. Then tell the rest of us, okay? We’d love to hear what you say.

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Practicing Thanksgiving

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

Expressing thankfulness—what a great exercise! It makes the heart healthy and puts a smile on our faces. It even lifts a weight from our shoulders. Why, then, do we often neglect to do it?

I think of the 10 lepers who cried to Jesus for physical healing (Luke 17:11-19). He granted their request. What happened? Nine healed and happy men ran off. Only one thought to say thank you.

This guy fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet in gratitude. The other nine guys appreciated being healed, too, I’m sure. After all, their lives were forever changed. They’d be accepted into society again. Allowed to live in community, to work, to worship, to come and go like everyone else. They may have felt like they’d won the lottery, but they failed to extend even a common courtesy for this extraordinary event.

Jesus noticed their oversight. “Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

I’d like to think that if we’d been healed from leprosy, we’d pause long enough to express gratitude to God. Better yet, I’d like to think that we express thankfulness not just for the big things but also for the little things that we enjoy every day.

God does so much for us every day. He gives us our next breath, and the next, and the next. He gives us clean water, food, clothing, health, safety, homes in which to live. He gives us sight, hearing, minds to think and reason. He gives us His written Word, the promise of His presence, forgiveness for sin and the joy of a clean conscience.

Some of these things we take forgranted. No doubt we appreciate them but sadly we often neglect to extend the common courtesy of saying thank you.

Let’s choose to follow the one leper’s example and express gratitude. I’ll start: “God, thank You for the rain—liquid sunshine—that’s forecasted this week. Because of it, we can enjoy the lush greenery that makes our location so beautiful.”

Now it’s your turn. For what will you give thanks today?

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Joy…Again!

Monday, March 26th, 2012

In previous blogs I’ve mentioned that my heaven-sent word for 2012 is joy. I had no idea how often Scripture mentioned it until now. It seems that every time I read the Word, it’s there.

The latest popped up while I sat on a window seat overlooking the grounds of Capernwray Harbour Bible school on Thetis Island. It was early Saturday morning, before breakfast at the women’s retreat where I was speaking. I opened my Bible and read Psalm 68:2,3,6—“Let the wicked perish in the presence of God. But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy…God places the lonely in families, he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.”

The part about being glad in God’s presence caught my attention. Being in God’s presence brings joy—and not just a little. It brings fullness of joy. You know what that tells me? Those who love God can experience joy no matter what because His Holy Spirit dwells in them 24/7. God’s presence in is them, over them, behind and before them. They can never get away from His presence. That means joy is their constant companion, too.

I’m not talking about a giddy, giggly emotion. I’m talking about a deep settled sense of peace, contentment, and confidence that God is in control of every detail and will fulfill all of His promises.

The more time I spend in the Word and practicing God’s presence, the more I experience joy. How about you? What’s your joy quotient today?

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Why Our Morning Words Matter

Monday, March 19th, 2012

What are the first words you speak in the morning?

What words do you speak in the morning?

Here’s a multiple choice quiz:

  • Grooooan. It’s morning again. I don’t feel like getting up.
  • Help! I need coffee—now!
  • My to-do list is a mile long; I don’t know where to begin.
  • Good morning, Lord. This is the day You’ve made; I’ll rejoice and be glad in it.

Which option sounds most like you? Truthfully, I’ve said all these things in the past, but nowadays I intentionally focus on the last statement.

I find that my first words make a huge impact on the rest of my day. If the first words from my mouth are negative, I trudge through my day with a negative outlook towards everything and everyone. If I speak positive words, however, my attitude reflects them.

Perhaps the Psalmist discovered the same truth. In Psalm 59:16, he writes, “…I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress” (emphasis mine).

Sounds like this guy made an intentional choice about his words. We can do the same. Even when our emotions tell us to stay in bed or to complain about a specific task ahead or our perceived hardships, we can refuse to go along with them. We can—and should—choose instead to thank the Lord for the gift of a new day, for His presence with us, and for His unfailing love. Doing so changes us from the inside out, creating in us a thankful heart and a sense of joy no matter what. I’d much rather live that way than the opposite.

Do you agree? Do you have a favorite phrase with which you greet the morning?

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Joy Comes From Doing What’s Right

Monday, February 13th, 2012

“Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!” (Psalm 32:11)

For nearly half a year I balked at the idea of hosting a weekend getaway for businesswomen. After all, I reasoned, it wasn’t my idea. I don’t really need anything else on my plate. Besides, I haven’t a clue how to network and advertise.

All along, I knew my attitude was wrong. If God had truly planted the idea in my head, then my only recourse was to do it, right? If only it was that easy.

My joy started to dissipate when September arrived without my reserving a venue for the weekend that I knew must be held in February 2012. I began descending into a dark place spiritually. My Bible reading turned to dust. “I’ve never experienced a desert of the soul like this,” I told my husband one day. “I don’t know what’s wrong.”

“You know exactly what’s wrong,” whispered a quiet voice within. “You’re not doing what you know to be right.”

Ouch!

The message convicted me. I wrote a deposit check and sent it to the venue of choice. My joy returned. And I began making serious plans. Long story short, the businesswomen’s weekend getaway happened last weekend. Three dozen women showed up, some from nine hours’ drive away. We laughed, played board games, ziplined, went tubing, enjoyed spa treatments, and learned strategies for overcoming hurdles in life.  Judging by the comments, it was a great success. I look forward to it being an annual event.

I think back over the weekend getaway and the long process of the soul leading up to it, and I understand the truth of Psalm 32:11. Obeying what God asks us to do results in joy. The process might involve hard work and personal sacrifice, but ultimately there’s sheer gladness in knowing there’s nothing hindering relationship with Him. Next time I won’t dilly-dally around before saying yes!

Can you relate? Is your heart pure before God? Are you experiencing the gladness that comes from doing what He’s asked you to do?

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From Mourning to Joy

Monday, February 6th, 2012

There it is. My word for 2012 – joy – has popped up again. This time it appeared in Psalm 30:5 and 11 – “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning…You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.”

What a promise for those who grieve! What a statement of hope for men and women in pain.

Last night my heart broke when I read my emails. Two women shared stories of losing their husbands recently – one through cancer, and the other through a marriage breakup. Both women are mourning their loss. Their nights are long and lonely, and their days are empty as they seek to make sense of what’s happened and how to embrace life with its new normal.

Joy isn’t part of these women’s vocabulary at this point on their journey. It might be difficult for them to even imagine that it will one day return, but it will. Slowly, slowly the pain will dissipate. Darkness will turn to dawn as God fills their hearts with an ever-increasing peace that passes human understanding. Laughter will live again.

I read these emails and whispered a prayer for these women. A prayer that they will soon be clothed with joy. That each morning will bring renewed hope. That each new day will bring restored faith and confidence in the One who loves them and knows their deepest hurts.

If you’re experiencing a nighttime of the soul, then this is my prayer for you, too. May God ease your pain and fill you with joy. May today put a dance – a joyful dance – into your step. You are loved!

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