A Place Called Joy

My friend and I walked for more than 90 minutes around winding paths and through tranquil neighborhoods.  We enjoyed sharing the ways in which the Lord helps us in our work, in our families, and in other aspects of our lives.

As we prepared to get in our cars, the conversation turned to the subject of joy.  Sharon recently reread "The Pursuit of Holiness" and "The Practice of Godliness by Jerry Bridges.  She shared how her understanding of joy expanded as she was reminded that joy is what we experience when we are in the presence of the Lord.

"True joy comes only from God and He shares this joy with those who walk in fellowship with Him."  Jerry Bridges in The Pursuit of Holiness, p. 154. 

I recalled times when I fretted over difficult circumstances.  I tried to find joy by finding happiness. 

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11

What I now understand is the place called joy is in the presence of God.  So my question is: how do I get into God's presence?  Speaking gratitude is one way that I commune with God.  Today, I join Ann's Gratitude Community and continue counting grace gifts.

#462 - 471

enjoying beautiful weekend weather

viewing tree leaves with multiple hues

extending grace

receiving grace

sharing time together alone in the garden (He walks with me and talks with me)

trusting the Lord with all my heart

thanking Him daily, moment by moment

acknowledging Him in my world

listening to Joy

allowing Joy to strengthen me

With a thankful heart,

Welcome, Lord

A young friend visited the area and stopped by for dinner.  I  knew he was coming with a day's notice.  Ideas for a meal that could be prepared after a work day danced in my head.  So wonderful to have meals frozen for times like this.

He came through the door.  We warmly welcomed him.  Dinner ready; table set; life shared.  We enjoyed the visit.

After the friend left, I pondered:

In what ways do I prepare to welcome the Lord into my everyday life?

Welcoming the Lord:

• begins each morning as I recognize his new mercies and his faithfulness
• continues as I sing songs to him as I prepare for the day
• occurs as I read his words and pray and listen and write
• includes asking him for help to do the work before me this day
• enables me to hear his voice and see his face in the people I encounter
• helps me to speak his words and show his mercy
• is dynamic and not a formula
• remains an option, even when I feel defeated or unworthy or tired or blah or...
• provides an opening for him to abide - stay with me
• requires my life, my all

Welcome, Lord

Orienteering

Each of our children experienced "outdoor school" for a week during fourth grade.  This city girl mama accompanied first born daughter on the trip.  During that trip, I developed an enduring appreciation for nature.  This is my Father's world.

Hiking, reading, playing, learning, eating, conversing, praying, singing filled our days and nights.  An intriguing aspect of the week for city girl mama was orienteering: finding our way with map and compass.  The children experienced a separate orienteering course prior to the trip and were familiar with finding their way.  I hadn't a clue!

Lately, pondering a life less hectic, less stressful, and desiring a more intentional, more worshipful life readied my heart to hear the words that reminded me to mind my map (the  Word of God) and compass (Holy Spirit led living).  

Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.  Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.  Proverbs 4:25-27

Gratitude and praise orient my steps as I worship the Living God.

Praising and thanking Him for many gifts:

#452 - 461

baking an apple cake with Rachel

maneuvering flattened apple cake into a tasty treat

chatting about lunch options with Quez

dreaming with Reggie

singing as seven teens are baptized

listening to Mama's recollections

reading and understanding about the lives of refugee families

writing to Fernando, our son of Compassion

chopping parsely freshly picked from the patio

walking and talking with my friend

Join the throngs walking with Ann on Multitude Mondays.

Hope Lives

Hope lives today,
even with desires unseen.
Instead of wishful thinking,
Hope provides a place on which faith can lean.

Hope anchors my soul;
a truth learned while living.
The results in my heart convince me;

Hope I received is hope I am giving.

Rockin' Praises

I'm ready, God, so ready, ready from head to toe.  Ready to sing;  ready to raise a tune: 'Wake up, soul!'...I'm thanking you, God, out loud in the streets, singing your praises in town and country.  The deeper your love, the higher it goes.  Every cloud is a flag to your faithfulness.  Psalm 57:7-10

Raindrops, tap dancing on the windows, kept me awake off and on during the night.  As I tossed and as I turned, the faithfulness of the Lord over the past week, year, lifetime flashed in my mind...vignettes of victories won; clips of comfort provided; and pictures of perseverance...

When daybreak arrived, so did the voice singing praises.

"Be  exalted, God, above  the heavens.  Let your  glory be over all the earth!"  Psalm 57:11

Awakened and spilling thanks like raindrops for:

#442-451

raindrops on parched ground

cool morning air

joy coming in the morning after a sad night

purposeful living

news of healed body

margin, that is, clear space in a packed world

displays of covenant loyalty, day in and day out

rainbows, double rainbows!

butterfly sightings

freshly planted pansies

Joining the Gratitude Community in giving thanks.

What to do when you are tightly wound...

Worry, worry, worry - stowaways on my journey;

Insight told me that I needed to trust God more, then I'd worry less.

Sometimes, the harder I tried the more I worried!

Worry, worry, worry - stowaways on my journey;

Easy to go there - difficult to let go - until...

I discovered how humor can disconnect my worry wires.

A few years ago, I searched for yet another hair care product that would smooth the tight curls and tame the frizz.

On the shelf I saw a familiar product name and the words: Lasting Control for Curls without Frizz

Well, the decision was made: I had to buy the product that gave me control and no frizz.

After all, wasn't that what my worry, worry, worry was about - control?

I digress...

Anyway, I bought the hair care product.  I used it for about five days.  The results were average, but not a complete waste.

One morning when I picked up the product (with a very worry-filled mind), I took time to read the label.

I laughed and laughed and laughed.  What I had never seen on the bottle were the words:
Tightly Wound. 

Yes, folks, even the hair care product knew the state of my soul that morning!!  I indeed found myself tightly wound - worrying about this, anxious about that.

Now, before you run out to the store, know that the product was a vehicle for God's words to me - 'you need to loosen control, then the worry will lessen.'

I don't use the product for my hair, but I surely remind myself of the story behind the product.for.me.

Hair's still curly and sometimes frizzy, but I am happily out of control -
um, most of the time!  I am learning to trust God more each day...

Feel free to Jam with Faith Barista and tell your story!

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. Psalm 94:19

Nothing Between

Seeing Jesus in the dental chair can be a stretch, but that is what happened to me today.

The kindhearted and technically skilled dentist spent time and tools removing dental plaque hidden deeply in the gums.

As I heard his gentle voice checking in with me:

"How are you doing?" or "Lift up your chin and open as wide as you can", I wanted to obey.  I wanted to cooperate with removing the barriers to oral health.  I wanted nothing between my teeth and gums that would harm the way they worked together.

So, I listened; I obeyed.  I heard the teaching and eagerly nodded my assent to what needed to happen on my end to keep nothing between.  Armed with bristles and floss; water pic and toothpaste, I will keep nothing between.

As I pondered my relationship with the Lord while reading chapter one of Isaiah, I wondered: what hinders my closeness to the Lord?  Is there anything for which I need to repent?  Has the wear and tear of living come between us? 

I made a decision.  I will actively seek to stay in close relationship with the Lord allowing nothing between my soul and the Savior

Not ingratitude, not the "plaque of daily living", not indifference to the sufferings of people, not the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, nor the pride of life.

Open my eyes Lord.  Help me keep the way clear.  I need to see you.

Nothing between my soul and the Savior, so that His blessed face may be seen...Keep the way clear!  Let nothing between.

How have you seen Jesus today?  Share with those of us who are walking in community.