CHOOSING JOY

"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice!" Philippians 4:4 NLT

I've been thinking about joy today. Well no, actually, I've been thinking about the lack of joy--when sometimes the troubles of this world seem to get the best of me and I think I have a good excuse not to be joyful. Really I suppose if you just call it what it is, I guess I've been wallowing in the mud (self-pity). But all day God has been bringing two scriptures to mind. The first one is Philippians 4:4 where Paul tells us to rejoice--to always be full of joy in the Lord. And the second one is James 1:25 NLT "If you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law--the law that sets you free--and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it."

Just before that, in James 1:23-24 Paul says that if we just listen to God's word and don't do anything about it--don't obey, it's like looking at ourselves in the mirror and then walking away with a dirty face or messed up hair, or broccoli in our teeth. (My own loose paraphrase.)

So why do these two scriptures keep rolling around in my mind today? The answer is obvious, I suppose. Philippians 4:4 doesn't tell me to rejoice if I feel like it, or if everything is going just right. It says "Rejoice!" and "Be full of joy in the Lord". And James 1:25 says if we do what God's word tells us to do (whether we feel like it or not) He will bless us for it.

Sure enough, when I make the effort to think about all the wonderful things God has done for me, instead of letting my mind keep playing in the mud, I feel better. The blessing comes quickly. Just like fixing our hair and putting on a little makeup gives us a quick lift, looking for the good and choosing joy in the Lord will give our spirits a boost every time.

Circumstances around us may be exactly the same way they were before, but our outlook is changed. The extra effort is so worth it!

God bless you with joy today!

Deborah

WORKING FOR THE LORD!

Colossians 3:23 says "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."

It's Sunday evening and almost time for bed. The weekend is over, a new work week starts tomorrow morning, and it's going to be a busy one! Clients to meet with, employees to lead and encourage, meetings to attend, other meetings to conduct, paperwork to take care of--you know how it goes.

Some of the work I really enjoy, and find stimulating and challenging. Some not so much. And sometimes I find myself wishing I could just work for God instead of being a business owner. This week He reminded me that I already do work for Him. In everything I do, with every client and every project, as well as every Bible study, prayer, writing assignment and ministry action, I work for Him. He's the Boss, the Lord, the King. What a privilege it is to be in His employ--forever!

Thinking about that, I find myself actually looking forward to Monday morning, with the intention of doing my work for my Lord.

God bless you in your work this week. I pray that you find joy and satisfaction in working for Him.
Deborah

AS HIGH AS THE HEAVENS

While driving home from my office tonight I was enjoying the longer days, with more daylight left after working hours. Looking up into the sky I noticed streaks of clouds way up in the heavens, like the tails of lost kites. Behind the gray and white streaks, way beyond and much higher, the pink of the sky faded softly away into clear white.

It struck me that I was looking into infinity, way up there beyond the wispy clouds, past the sky. The sky looked bigger and deeper than I can remember noticing before, and the immensity of it was awesome and thrilling. A scripture from yesterday's Bible study popped into my head, and the thrill became shivers of delight.

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him." Psalm 103:11 (NIV)

Really, Lord? That's how big Your love for us really is? AMAZING LOVE!

In Jeremiah 31:3 God told His people, "I have loved you with an everlasting love." Love as big as the heavens, and without end. Love that wraps around us, holds us up, helps us out, provides for and protects us, knows us by heart and calls us by name. Love that sent His Son Jesus to die in our place. It's there for you. Have you claimed it for your own?

Love,
Deborah

PEACE INSTEAD OF PANIC

If you're like me, I'm guessing at sometime or another you have experienced that feeling of panic that can strike when circumstances feel totally out of control. When your chest feels like it's being squeezed so you can't breathe, and you break out in a cold sweat, and fear grabs your heart. Have you ever felt that way? Well I have, and unfortunately it has happened more times than I would like to admit. The reaction can come in response to all kinds of things--medical emergencies, financial pressures, family issues, or time worries--like when I suddenly realize I am way overcommitted and I can't see a way out without looking foolish.

But lately, as I've been more intentional about looking for the abundant life Jesus came to give me, I realize this panic reaction does not please Him. What pleases Him in those situations is for me to "cast all my anxiety on Him" (1 Peter 5:7), and "don't be anxious about anything, but in everything present my requests to God with thanksgiving" (Philippians 4:6), and "pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). God really does know all about our troubles, He loves us with an amazing never-ending love, and He has the power to work in our circumstances. But sometimes it seems like He's standing back waiting for us to ask Him for His help before He steps in.

When we do give Him our anxieties, and learn to rejoice in Him in spite of circumstances, here is the promise: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 Wow! What an amazing, wonderful promise!

This peace He promised is one part of that full, abundant, joyful life God wants for us. I'm ready to turn my panic over to Him, and exchange it for the peace He offers. Are you ready?

God bless you with peace--
Deborah

A FULL AND ABUNDANT LIFE

What do you suppose Jesus was talking about in John 10:10 when He told us that He came to give us life in all its fullness? This statement comes right after His warning that the enemy came only to steal, kill and destroy. We talked about this recently in our ladies' Bible study, linking it with Ephesians 1:18 where Paul prayed for his Christian family in Ephesus. Paul's prayer included the hope that their spiritual eyes would be opened to understand the wonderful future God had given them in Christ. So we spent some time thinking about what Jesus and Paul meant. Yes, we know they were in part talking about our future in Heaven. But Jesus also wanted us to have a full and abundant life here on earth, as did Paul. What does that mean exactly?

As we talked through this we realized that the two (our future in Heaven and our future here) really can't be separated. Because knowing we have a future in Heaven makes all the difference here on earth. Once the eternity question is settled, everything in our daily lives takes on a whole new meaning.

For example, nearly everyone would agree that a full and abundant life would include the love of family and friends. When we share the bond of love in Christ and the promise of Heaven, friendships and family relationships grow deeper and sweeter. Another abundant life quality is the freedom from fear. Knowing our place in Heaven is secure, and that God is in control, takes the fear out of our day-to-day lives. Nothing is going to happen to us here that is too big for God to handle. (See John 16:33)

God bless you today with His abundant life, and the kind of joy you see here on the face of my precious granddaughter Rebekah! We'll talk more about what that looks like in the days ahead, but in the meantime I hope you're rejoicing, as I am, in the awesome knowledge that Jesus truly does want the best for us, today and everyday, and He knows exactly what that is! "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10

Deborah

December 31. The last day of 2009. All day I've been working down through my to-do list, marking off each item as I complete it, and then moving on to the next one. It has been very satisfying to see the long list shrinking as I work to close out the year at my office, and also prepare to be gone out of town for a long weekend. But at the back of my mind something has been nagging at me, a nervous dissatisfaction that I couldn't quite place, a vague anxiety. And all of a sudden, as I pause in my busy schedule to write out some end-of-the-year thoughts, I know exactly what it is. A realization bursts into my mind with absolute clarity, and the busy day fades into insignificance.

This morning I looked down through everything I wanted to accomplish today, and mentally calculated the time the tasks would require. In so doing, without conscious thought, I made the decision to neglect my regular time of Bible reading and prayer. Instead, during my appointed devotional time, I jumped right into getting those "important" things done. Things like finishing the apron I was making for my daughter, getting a gift ready for my granddaughter's birthday party tomorrow, laying out clothes to put in my suitcase after work, taking out the trash, and a few other items. By my actions, I was giving more importance to these to-do's and ignoring my daily appointment with the King of the Universe.

But my King wants me to spend time with Him. All through the day, as I've rushed about, He has been patiently waiting for me to keep my commitment to Him, whispering for me to slow down and come before Him with praise.

It seems like this subject is very much like what I wrote about on my last post. I must not yet have learned the lesson that my Lord is trying to teach me. His word tells me, "Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act." Psalm 37:7 (NLT) In Psalm 23 I read, "The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength." At the end of the chapter, my heart clutches in my chest as I see the words, "Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life."

Even on one of my busiest days, when my list is long, my Lord is pursuing me with His unfailing love, tugging at my heart strings. He is inviting me to come away with Him for a few moments to dwell on His goodness, to rest beside His peaceful stream, to recognize again that time spent in His presence truly is the most important thing on my life's to-do list. He won't give up on me, just as He won't give up on you. He'll continue to pursue each of us for as long as it takes to get our attention

So what about you? The King of the Universe wants to spend time with you. He wants to show you His unfailing love and goodness, and give you His peace beside a quiet stream. Have you given Him His rightful place in the busyness of your life?

Will you join me in a renewed commitment as we begin the new year of 2010?

God bless you with His grace and peace in 2010.

Deborah

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!

What a beautiful season of the year, the time when we pause to reflect on God's wonderful gift to us in His Son, Jesus.
Or do we? Do we take time to be grateful for God's gift of salvation? Do we open our eyes to the light to be found only in Jesus? Do we allow our spirits to swell with joy as we ponder His amazing, unconditional love for us? Or are we so busy with our Christmas preparations that we don't have time to bask in the true reason for the season?
Many years as I get ready for Christmas, I find myself feeling stressed and overwhelmed, with too much to do and not enough time to get it all done. For the last few years I've given myself a much needed time-out by attending the Christmas concert of our local choral society. Today was my time-out day.
Again this afternoon as I sat in the full auditorium listening to the songs of Christmas, the beautiful old words calmed me and pointed me back to Jesus. I was reminded anew that my Lord is not concerned about external Christmas preparations. He is looking at my heart, waiting for me to thank Him for His beautiful gift, waiting patiently for me to sit in stillness before Him and worship Him in all His glory.
This Christmas may your heart be filled with quiet wonder as you ponder the humble birth of the King of Kings, come to earth to bring us the salvation found only in Him.

Peace and joy to you--
Deborah