Joyfull Living

 Romans 5:3-5  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;  and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. This verse is part of my weekly Sunday School lesson. I'll be the first to admit in the past I have 'cherry-picked' this verse. Meaning I have taken the good parts and pondered them, and discarded the parts I don't like so much!  Perseverance, character; and character, hope : This is a golden chain of Christian growth and maturity. One virtue builds upon another as we grow in the pattern of Jesus.  Most every Christian wants to develop character and have more hope. These qualities spring out of perseverance, which comes through tribulation. We may wish to have better character and more hope without starting with tribulation, but that isn’t God’s pattern and plan. Three th...

This is one of my favorite Bible verses.  It is a beautiful message of blessing and hope, but it came alive to me in the midst of a crisis.  Several years ago, a loved one was in a bad spot. With life choices that were cascading in a downward spiral, every resource had been used up with no help in sight. I sat in a chair with the Bible open in my lap and found this verse. A desperate situation needs hope to begin the steps toward healing. Hope is a spark of light in a dark space, it is a tiny flutter that begins and builds into confidence. An idea that jumps in the heart and compels you to action.  As vital as hope is in life, this verse tells us that God not only offers hope, but that He is the God of HOPE! It is not something that He does, it is truly who He is.  His presence and promise of hope in any situation builds faith and secures our trust in Him. A promise like this calms our fears and gives us strength to carry on  But this promise doesn't stop with H...

All week it has been 90+ degrees, humid and still hot!  Fall has arrived, the weather here just has not caught up yet!  But on a morning walk, as I wiped perspiration, I noticed some signs of fall.  Leaves on the road, the sycamore trees changing colors and the goldenrods about to bloom.  How amazing that summer heat is still furiously hanging on, but the seasons of nature, don't notice anything but the instruction of their Creator. A recent sermon on Psalms 19 brought to life that our God is the Creator of all and simply through His creation, He is seen and known. The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.   Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. What a powerful reminder that God is in control.  Even the trees and weeds obey Him!  If He is able to command the seasons and forces of nature, He can c...

I just about lost it....an explosion of sarcasm, attitude and anger simmered up quickly.   It wasn't an earth shattering event, just a few teenagers, hanging out, finding some shade on a sweltering hot afternoon.  The issue was, that they were taking up the entire sidewalk as hubby and I were on our walk. The closer we got to them, the more apparent it was that they were not going to move.  They saw us coming up the sidewalk (designed for walkers!!) and simply sat there with no inclination of moving to let us pass.   Sweet hubby, in his wisdom, sensing my ire rising said, "Just pass to the right".  I did, but not before looking and expressing some emotional gestures (waving hands to move)  to them while making a comment about the sidewalk....very mature for Christian women in her 40's huh???   While finishing my walk and simmering down, I reflected, why do I let things like that bother me?  But most importantly, why do I respond like I...

I've always loved this verse about the beauty of the Lord being upon us, followed by asking Him to establish the work of our hands. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands. It sounds so encouraging and uplifting and beautiful.  But...sometimes our work is not pretty, it can be mundane, boring and anything but beautiful!   But, when the beauty of the Lord shines in our hearts, our attitudes can change. His love is powerful enough to change our minds and hearts. A recent post from Revive Our Hearts brought out some transforming truths from this passage... "As we lift up our day's work to the Lord, some days that work that we're doing seems pretty lofty. Some days it's exciting things that we get to do, big tasks. And then, as we look at this passage, we're reminded that even when we're doing stuff that we think is pretty important, that we're really...

I may not talk much, but once I get a hold of a keyboard, 'words' seem to fly! That must be one of the reasons I love blogging.  Words are powerful and so often a thought comes to my mind and stirs my heart and I know it is something I need to hold on to.  Usually when that happens, I know a blog post is in the making!!  Three Word Wednesday is a fun way to share a condensed (very!!) version of what is churning in our hearts in 3 simple words.   We all know life is ever changing.  The last few years, we've faced and walked and embraced  some big life changes.  Moving, a son's marriage and  a new daughter in law, teenage years..again, that shifting in the seasons of life.   Any change requires a decision.  As a Christian, I believe God has the ultimate plan for good for our lives.  Over and over in the Bible, we hear how He sees, knows and directs us. When times of decision come, prayer is the best place to begin. ...

Don't groan if you are not one of these types, but I love mornings!  They are my most productive time of the day.  Today was our coldest morning of the year so far, and after thanking the Lord for somewhere to stay warm, I embraced the day - got in a cup of coffee, Bible study, a quick workout, load of laundry done, supper planned then headed out the door. A local Christian radio station is hosted by a couple who bring a positive and encouraging word on the drive to town. This morning the conversation revolved around trees and some differences in trees. All year long, we see evergreen trees, they remain the same, they continue to be steadfast living, growing and keeping the same color. The type of tree we notice most during this time of the year are Deciduous Trees. These are the trees that produce the gorgeous, breathtaking color in their leaves before the die back for the winter.  Trees are all living and serve a valuable purpose.  One of the n...

This verse was my daily Bible reading for today: By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, And of the far-off seas; Psalms 65:5 As I looked up various translations, each one brought forth some powerful words: Righteousness Salvation Confidence Faithful Hope Verses like this speak deep down into my heart, bring encouragement and build my faith.  When we face limitations, find ourselves in difficult situations, feel without hope, God has an answer...He is the Answer...the great I AM! He is faithful to hear and answer our prayers, able to show Himself mighty and is not limited in anyway....He is the hope of EVERYONE!  What an incredible reminder when we face our limits, He brings unlimited HOPE.

The Proverbs 31 passage is well known by Christian woman but it can also be a bit intimidating!  The characteristics and habits that make up this woman are truly a thing of beauty, but who can do all those things???? The more I mature as a Christian, I have learned it is not all about the doing .  When Christ's love grows in our hearts, bit by bit, He replaces our old with His new.  Our focus on 'doing' slowly becomes a part of our 'being'.   Instead of mentally checking off a spiritual to do list, we become in action the love God puts in our hearts. It isn't a chore to do,  but a desire to share with others what God has given us.   This passage of Proverbs 31 usually speaks to me in short bursts of words.  These few powerful phrases work deep in my heart to reveal what the Lord wants to do and create me to become.  Some of these phrases are: She does him good - our husbands willingly works with her hands. - our work ethic ...

I often tell my children “do a complete job”’, meaning do it all the way, to the best of your ability.  Growing up, no one encouraged me to do that…but God can work in one’s life like none other.  He blessed me when he allowed me to marry a perfectionist!  The benefits of “doing it right” is now clearly understood in my life, heart and home!  Shortcuts usually don’t work and won’t last.  A good job consists being thorough, diligent and getting it completed. I’m so glad God never does a ‘half way job’.  That He completes His work in us so that we in turn can be fully equipped to do what He has called us to do.  Hebrews 13:21 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,   make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. ...

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. James 3:17 I love the book of James!  It is hard hitting, real and relevant.  After some challenging verses on the tongue and how hard it is to control, James moves onto wisdom.  Not just any ‘ole wisdom…but true wisdom.  The person who possesses godly wisdom will meekly show it with works, not just words.  After a list of what is not true wisdom – we read the characteristics of true wisdom, it’s main one being ‘pure’ and then a few others: peaceable – describing a spirit of tranquility and calmness. gentle – not harsh or demanding willing to yield – not suggesting to compromise truth, but releasing the attitude of always being right, not matter what full of mercy and good fruits – doesn’t simply judge but seeks to find the solution with good words and deeds without hypocrisy – ...

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”  I Timothy 4:8     Happy New Year!  2013 is here and hopefully our resolutions, plans or vision for the year are taking shape.  Getting in better physical shape is a big resolution for many people during this time of the year.    In  2012, I didn’t start off with any major fitness plans, but ended the year feeling great about my physical fitness level. January found me walking about 2 miles several times a week and doing some light weight work outs to keep toned.  December ended with my being able to run 6 miles without stopping, participating in 4 5K races and currently training for a 10K in March!  The end of the year left me feeling  fantastic, energetic, full of vitality and loving how my body looked.  But…it wasn’t easy.   Fitness takes diligence, discipline, perseveranc...

In our world today, things can change in a heartbeat.  Nothing is a sure thing.  Who knows what this New Year will hold?  It can be scary.  Thankfully, God's Word is with us and when we get diligent, is in our heart.  God's promises are true and sure.  No matter what is going on around us, God is with us and His Word is true.  Here are a few promises from His Word to keep close to us for this year: God’s mercies to follow you, and pursue you, every every minute of every hour of every day. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. ” (Psalm 23:6) God to meet every single true need that should arise. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) God to lead you, counsel you, guide you, and give you wisdom. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understan...

Do any of your days seem to fly by in a blur?  Do you race around in a frantic pace and feel like you’re accomplishing nothing?  Are you looking for the ‘perfect system’ to organize and help make the day more productive?  Me too!   This morning’s devotion shared this passage of Scripture: And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalms 90:17 The best way to begin the day is to seek the Lord and His plans.  He cares about our life, our future and our day to day activities. When we seek Him first, things fall into the rightful place and He establishes the work of our hands.  This picture is the theme verse over at Home Sanctuary where this was shared ”Yes, I want the work of my hands to be established by Him. And more than anything, I want His beauty to permeate my life and home with a sweetness that is palpable. I want to see his glory in...

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:5,6 Isn’t it amazing how God’s Word can come alive in our everyday life?  I love the reminder in this verse to speak with grace and kindness and not to give a rash answer.  Practicing this biblical principal is a bit harder, but as I found out, well worth the investment! We recently went back to school shopping and purchased a pair of shoes at a local mall.  Being old fashioned and wary of the new and convenient ways of financing, I wrote a check to pay for my purchase, (of course with funds to cover it!).  A letter arrived this week informing me that there was an issue with my check and they were requesting the original amount plus a handling fee and were considering this an overdue debt. As I quickly picked up the phone, my thoughts were that this was THEIR mistake,...

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.  II Corinthians 4:7 Often in ancient times, items of precious value were stored in earthen vessels or clay pots. Today, we hold a treasure in our earthly bodies – the indwelling Christ who lives in all Christians.  The focus is on the treasure, not what holds it.  A clay pot can become scratched, marred and even crack.  In our lives today, we may be imperfect or a cracked pot, but our aim is for others to look beyond our weaknesses to see that we in ourselves are not everything, but the excellency of God’s power is what drives and equips us.    We  hold a treasure, but it’s all about HIM!

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. II Corinthians 9:10-11 Growing up in the city, seeds, gardens, soil were not terms I associated with food!  Planting and harvesting were as a foreign language, never spoken of! Moving to the country as a teenager, then marrying one who was raised in the country, seeds, planting and garden harvests became a way of life.  Still, it never grows old, seeing how a small seed planted in the ground, breaks the ground open and grows into a treasure to be harvested, a living thing!  As a Christian, the terms, seed sown, fruits, harvest also apply to our lives.  We know what we sow, we will also reap.  We know about the fruits that should be growing in our hearts – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc. We know ...

My mind was made up, today was the day.  I made my way into the closet to pull out the long neglected exercise ball.  The book demonstrating the exercises was open at my feet, along with the hand weights.  As I sat on the ball, ready to begin the quick work out, the telephone rang. This call was a prayer request that needed to be passed along through the prayer chain.  Several calls and prayers later, as I looked at the clock, my allotted exercise time was up.  Pushing through with a dedication to get this done, I did the exercise routine.  It was an easy exercise routine, but since I had not been diligent in working out, this was hard!  Ten minutes and it was done, but the effects were still going on in my shaky muscles.  For years, I had a fitness routine that worked for me.  Fifteen minutes of weights in the morning and a brisk walk in the evening kept my muscles toned, my body active and my energy level high.  But through the busyne...

Do you have a go-to verse?  One that blesses you and encourages you over and over.  One that brings strength in time of trouble.  One that you repeatedly seek out and go to. Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. Psalms 37:3-5 This passage ‘found me’ several years ago.  It reminded me to not look to the circumstances that are being faced, but to commit to the Lord and trust in Him.  Whatever is to be done, He can do it.  This passage through the years has popped up in devotions, sermons and through Bible readings.  During numerous struggles through the years, this verse would be found and bring hope.  Now, I look for it!  When I need to remember where to put my trust, where to turn or don’t know the outcome,...

Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. Psalms 66:2 Through this month’s Journey To Excellence, I’m focusing on Worship.  Focusing more in prayer time, to worship Him instead of asking for things for myself.  Some of the things to praise Him for are His love, grace, power, peace and strength. He does give those liberally to us.  But not only does He give those things, He IS those things.  He is: Loving Father (love) Mighty God (power) Prince of Peace (peace) Living Bread (provider) Wonderful, Counselor (wisdom) The God of Hope (hope) For every need we have, He not only has the answer – but He IS the answer.  The great I AM – with whom nothing is impossible can meet our need, with Himself.  May we sing aloud the honor of His name – it is who He is and that is all we need.