Category: joy

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Heading Home

I want to tell you a story this morning about a rancher I know and his sons. The youngest son was tired of all the hard work, long hours and responsibility so he left for a more relaxing, fulfilling life in town.

No more getting up at 3 am during calving season; no more doctoring in the rain; no more busted fences to mend and no more eating dust on long, hot days.

His life in town was heavenly. Nice apartment, new car, boots that didn’t have manure plastered on them and a new Stetson that wasn’t sweat ringed or rain blotched. Yes. Life was good.

It didn’t take him long to make new friends and put ranch life behind him. Steak houses and clubs at night, a life of leisure. It was a constant party. Wine, women and song. Over the next few months things were going just as he had planned.

But then one day he got his Visa bill and he was shocked. The “good life” was costing him plenty. He went to make a withdrawal at the ATM and found his withdrawal limit had been reduced. The proverbial well was running dry.

He was behind on the rent and had received an eviction notice. He sold his car but that money didn’t last long. He had to get out and look for a job but what? His pay checks went for cheap wine, he overslept and missed his shifts so he was fired. He found himself on the streets – really! A street person.

Wasted, used up, cold and alone!

Putting pride aside he started for home. Hitch hiking and walking he finally made it. He was only 200-300 miles away but it took over a week to get there; begging for food along the way.

The whole way home he rehearsed his story. What he would tell his dad and how he would ask for a job, the job of a hired hand.

He turned off the main road and headed up the 1/2 mile drive to the house. While he was still a long way from the front gate he saw someone come out and start up the lane.

Now that person was running! Really running. It was his dad and he was calling his son’s name. As they met, tears were streaming down both their cheeks. The father hugged and kissed his son and the son tried to get out his request to be a hired man – just a worker, no special privileges but the Father was talking excitedly.

Ok by now you’re probably saying this is all just make believe but no…no, it’s not. This is exactly what the Father has done and will continue to do for each and everyone of us who go our own way, wanting to do our own thing without His oversight and restrictions and then come home!

He’s waiting…waiting and watching for you and I and He comes running to meet us and to lavish us with His love!

You’ve not gone too far or done too much that the Father won’t love and welcome you home!

“When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: ‘Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son ever again.’ We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!’ And they began to have a wonderful time.” Luke 15:20-24 MSG

Welcome Home!

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Bitter Fruit

We have a beautiful orange tree at the back of our lot. The fruit grows large and has a beautiful color but we warn everyone not to pick or eat the fruit.

It’s full of thorns and bitter as medicine.

They are called an ornamental orange, many of them have been planted throughout the Phoenix valley because they look beautiful all year round. But to give you an idea of how bitter the fruit really is even the javelina won’t eat them. Personal experience tells me to leave them alone.

This morning I was focused again on prayer. I remember a time when I was bitterly complaining to the Lord about a situation that just wasn’t right. I may have even used a swear word or too when I was talking to Him.

What a sharp contrast to the words of one of our verses yesterday, “Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done”. There is no room in our relationship with the Lord for bitterness and complaining. He wants us to rid ourselves of this destructive behavior and focus on His goodness and provision.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT

That doesn’t mean that we can’t or don’t come to the Lord when we are upset, angry, heartbroken or even complaining bitterly but what it does mean is that when we leave our prayer time we leave the bitterness and murmuring there. The Father knows our heartaches and disappointments so we can be honest with Him, asking for His help. Taking on an attitude of joy and thanksgiving because we know He has heard us and will intervene in our situation.

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and sing praises to Your name, O Most High. 2 It is good to tell of Your loving-kindness in the morning, and of how faithful You are at night, 3 with harps, and with music of praise. 4 For You have made me glad by what You have done, O Lord. I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands. 5 How great are Your works, O Lord! How deep are Your thoughts!” Psalm 92:1-5 NLV

Murmuring is a lot like that ornamental orange tree. We can disguise it as concern or our desire to correct a wrong, making our complaining and criticism look good on the outside but inwardly there is bitterness.

“The Lord is right and good in all His ways, and kind in all His works. 18 The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. 19 He will fill the desire of those who fear Him. He will also hear their cry and will save them. ” Psalm 145:17-19 NLV

When we pray about the things that bother us or are unjust He hears us and will save us. Our job is to let Him do it in His own way and with His best timing.

Let’s not be like that bitter orange but instead be a sweet fruit of joy.

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Be Heart Happy!

Last night we had a wonderful time with friends. Our hearts were full and so were our spirits. We laughed…alot!

Laughter is good for the body and the soul.

“A happy heart ·is like good medicine [L brings healing], but a broken spirit ·drains your strength [L dries up bone].” Proverbs 17:22 EXB

“A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.” Proverbs 17:22 MSG

It’s good to have our hearts filled with joy. Left unchecked sorrow and sadness can elevate to discouragement, and disease. Dis-ease. Dis-courage. To lose courage and be ill-at-ease can leave the body and the mind drained and bone tired.

“…Today is a special day to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the joy of the Lord will make you strong.” Nehemiah 8:10 ERV

Every one of us will have troublesome situations. That’s just part of living on planet earth, however, we are not left to our own devices. We have God’s promise that end result will be good.

“Praise the Lord, because he is good. Praise his name, because it brings such joy!” Psalm 135:3 ERV

The Bible teaches us how to handle hardship. David faced Goliath, Daniel encountered a lion’s den, the disciples thought they would drown at sea, Paul and Silas were beaten and jailed. But they all came through victorious because they placed their trust in God.

God doesn’t create the problem but He does provide the victory.

“ We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose,” Romans 8:28 CEV

Having a merry heart and trusting God is a choice.

No one knows what this year of 2023 will present to us, but we can make the determination of how we will handle each situation, the simple and the difficult, the good and the adverse. We can choose to trust God to handle every circumstance, to be at work for our good. He will strengthen us and fill our lives with courage and joy.

Choose to live well – live with a merry heart!

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Overwhelmed

Have you ever taken the time to sit quietly and think on God’s goodness? When I do this I am overwhelmed!

We need to contemplate, as the song says, “the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God”!

“I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10 NLT

I heard the testimony of a young evangelist 40 years ago. He had been invited to speak at a gathering during the Jesus movement of the 1970’s. Speaker after speaker stood and gave testimony to God’s saving grace. They told of drugs, homelessness, imprisonment, alcoholism, severely depression. Then it was his turn. The moderator said to him, “Tell us how you got here.” He said I quietly answered, “On the bus.” Everyone laughed.

He then went on to tell the crowd how being raised in a Christian home he had never strayed, but God had kept him, giving him strength to overcome the temptations that so many others had experienced. He said the miracle of being kept from a life of sin was just as great as being delivered out of that lifestyle.

I hear people talk of how God protected and delivered them in dangerous and life-threatening situations. I am so thankful for the miraculous deliverance of my friends and family, but I am just as grateful that Dave and I have driven hundreds of thousands of miles without a “close call” or an accident. That too is miraculous!

The children of Israel saw the miraculous power of God deliver them from Egypt, part the Red Sea, provide food from heaven, and then bring them to the Promised Land that was flowing with milk and honey.

“‘I gave you land you had not worked on, and I gave you towns you did not build—the towns where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive groves for food, though you did not plant them. 14 ‘So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly.'” Joshua 24:13-14a NLT

Never downplay what seems ordinary when compared to the miraculous. The person who has had a miraculous healing from a life-threatening disease prays for a life of ordinary good health.

The Bible uses the illustration of sheep and the Good Shepherd on several occasions. One story is of a shepherd who went out to find one lost sheep. That sheep needed rescuing; it needed a miracle. However, there were 99 sheep who weren’t lost but had been living under the shepherd’s overwhelming, never-ending, precious loving care.

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10 AMPC

“ The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack…Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.” Psalm 23:1, 6 AMPC

We all need to take time to be overwhelmed by the ordinary, everyday, protection and provision of God’s love. It’s miraculous!

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The Gift of God

“but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 NLT

Have you ever stopped to wonder why Jesus was given the name Emmanuel? The translation of that word is “God with Us”. The way the heavenly Father brought His purpose and plan to earth was through His Son, Jesus.

Jesus literally became God with us. The Father wanted us to know we would never be alone, He would always be with us.

“The virgin will be pregnant and will give birth to a son. They will name him Immanuel.”(Immanuel means “God with us.”) Matthew 1:23

God with us – in the car going to work; in the kitchen baking cookies; helping our kids with their homework; Christmas shopping; sitting beside the bed of a sick friend; sitting alone looking at the checkbook and the bills that need to be paid.

God with us – His purpose in coming was to be “with us”. In fact, Hebrews 13:5 tells us that He will NEVER leave us or forsake us.

We are also told that He promises to provide all our needs, heals all our diseases and forgives all our sins. Psalm 103

He always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus. II Corinthians 2:14

Can’t say that’s the way it’s always been in my life but I can say that when I realized that “God was with us” it has certainly changed the outcome for the better – the best.

When we focus on all “we” have to do and how it’s “All” up to us, we become self absorbed. We make a very small package. But when we realize, truly realize, that God’s purpose is to “Be with us”, when we unwrap the present of His presence in our daily lives our world changes dramatically.

” What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? 32 God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else?” Romans 8:31-32 CEV

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11

Spend time acknowledging God’s presence today and you’ll find joy!

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Ring Out the News

I remember when our first granddaughter celebrated her first Christmas. She and her Momma were at our home because our son-in-law was in the Navy and his ship was out to sea.

Seeing the Christmas decorations through her eyes was such a joy!

She wasn’t big enough to walk so I felt safe in hanging my bell ornaments from the lowest branched of the tree and then would lay her on a blanket where she could reach up and touch them with her little fingers. She was occupied for long periods of time and it was so fun to hear the tinkle, tinkle of those little bells.

Don’t ask me why but that memory came back yesterday as I was reading Luke 1 when the angel, Gabriel, appeared to Zechariah, John the Baptist father, and told him his wife was going to have a baby.

“But the angel said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,'” Luke 1:13-14 NLT

The birth of a baby is always a reason for great joy and this child was being given to a couple, well advanced in years. Elizabeth had been ashamed of her bareness and when she learned she was pregnant, she stayed in her house not wanting to expose herself to any more public ridicule.

Elizabeth had a cousin, a young girl named Mary. Mary went to visit her cousin and when she did, the two women experienced great joy!

“For even when I just heard the sound of your greeting in my ear, the unborn child leaped with joy in my womb.” Luke 1:44 TLV

These two women had both been blessed with pregnancies, but those miraculous conceptions opened them to ridicule. One was an older woman, well advanced in years and the other was a young, unmarried teenager.

“Then Miriam said, ‘My soul magnifies Adonai, (The Lord) 47 and my spirit greatly rejoices in God, my Savior. 48 For He has looked with care upon the humble state of His maidservant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.” Luke 1:46-48 TLV

Neither woman allowed the possible shame or public ridicule they would face to steal the joy of the blessing that God had given them. They both embraced the Lord’s blessing with grateful hearts.

Is there a blessing the Lord has given you that others don’t understand? Maybe the Lord has led you to make a move that is bringing criticism from your “friends”. Could it be that others might be jealous of something you know was the hand of God in your life?

Long before telephones, internet and text messages the way news was spread through a town was by a herald. He would walk through the streets of the city, ringing a bell, announcing the news.

Isn’t it time that we ring the bell and announce the good news of Jesus and His love to those around us?

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Great Joy!

Joy.

It can be seen in the faces of little children playing in the sprinklers on a hot day, throwing snowballs on a cold day, giggling while playing with a new puppy. Joy is induced by many different situations.

Great joy.

Experienced by a couple on their wedding day, seen in the face of grandparents at the birth of their first grandchild. The arrival of loved ones. This kind of joy not only comes with smiles and laughter but also with tears of joy. It’s uncontainable!

“but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! ” Luke 2:10-11 NLT

Great joy to all people, not just a few chosen elite, but to all! An uncontainable joy.

God’s message of Good News is for all. Remember what Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave…” Everyone who experiences life on this earth is part of “the world”. This was an entirely new concept to some of the religious rulers of His day. In their eyes there we only two divisions of people, the Jews and the Gentiles. The Jews had been God’s chosen people for thousands of years but now, through Christ, the whole world could be adopted by God.

“And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:6 NLT

Our joy is very important to the Father. In fact, it is one of the characteristics that the Holy Spirit produces in our lives; the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control.

The angels announced the great joy of Jesus coming and Jesus prayed for that joy to remain in us right before He was crucified. Joy was always forefront in the life of Christ.

“Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are…13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word…” John 17:11-14 NLT

It’s so easy to become overwhelmed by life’s circumstances. These were some of the final moments of Christ’ life. He was praying for our lives to be filled with joy. How? By staying grounded on His word.

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” John 10:10 AMP

If the thief has stolen your joy, come to the Father and ask for a refill. We are a testimony and light to this world and He wants our lives to reflect His joy, to the full, till it overflows!

Great joy!

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Thankful for God’s Love

Happy Thanksgiving!

I pray that each of you find much to be thankful for today. One of my favorite Psalms is entitled “Praise for God’s Love”. That’s what today is all about – praising God for His love, protection and sustaining power.

I hope you will read it all the way through and open your heart, as King David did, to praise God for His amazing love.

“Praise the Lord, O my soul. And all that is within me, praise His holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul. And forget none of His acts of kindness. 3 He forgives all my sins. He heals all my diseases. 4 He saves my life from the grave. He crowns me with loving-kindness and pity. 5 He fills my years with good things and I am made young again like the eagle.

6 The Lord does what is right and fair for all who suffer under a bad power. 7 He made His ways known to Moses and His acts to the people of Israel. 8 The Lord is full of loving-pity and kindness. He is slow to anger and has much loving-kindness. 9 He will not always keep after us. And He will not keep His anger back forever. 10 He has not punished us enough for all our sins. He has not paid us back for all our wrong-doings. 11 For His loving-kindness for those who fear Him is as great as the heavens are high above the earth. 12 He has taken our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. 13 The Lord has loving-pity on those who fear Him, as a father has loving-pity on his children. 14 For He knows what we are made of. He remembers that we are dust.

15 The days of man are like grass. He grows like a flower of the field. 16 When the wind blows over it, it is gone. Its place will remember it no more. 17 But the loving-kindness of the Lord is forever and forever on those who fear Him. And what is right with God is given forever to their children’s children, 18 to those who keep His agreement and remember to obey His Law.

19 The Lord has set up His throne in the heavens. And His holy nation rules over all. 20 Praise the Lord, you powerful angels of His who do what He says, obeying His voice as He speaks! 21 Praise the Lord, all you armies of His who work for Him and do what pleases Him. 22 Praise the Lord, all His works in all places under His rule. Praise the Lord, O my soul!” Psalm 103 NLV

God loves each one of us with an everlasting love! Happy Thanksgiving.

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Come & Sing

Dave and I had a wonderful day yesterday. We hope you did too. We enjoy being together, after 50 years we are still each other’s best friends. It’s a gift and we are grateful!

Last night, instead of driving all the way home, we stopped at a hotel for a good night’s sleep. This morning I’m sitting here on the couch, drinking my coffee and writing to you all and I have to chuckle. This hotel suite is close to the same square footage as our RV. It’s a space I am comfortable in.

Dave’s still sleeping and I’m enjoying the quiet. Just the Lord, the little coffee brewer, my keyboard noise and you.

On our drive here we were discussing some decisions we will need to make in the next few months. Nothing that has to be decided today but something we need to begin discussing. You know how that is.

The one thing we kept saying last night as we put different scenarios into the discussion was, “We don’t need to decide this today, we can discuss it and let the Lord lead. He’ll work out all the details. We can trust Him.”

At different times through the night, I woke with these words filling my heart.

“It is the same with my word.  I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. 12 You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! 13 Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.” Isaiah 55:11-13 NLT

God’s word will prosper. It will lead us with joy and peace. When we follow Him the events of our life will bring Him honor and be a sign of His power and love. Even the mountains will burst into song. (Sounds like a line from the Sound of Music)

Jesus taught on worry. He asked the question, why do you worry and fret. He went on to say that worrying won’t add an inch to our height.

“Look at the birds. They do not plant seeds. They do not gather grain. They have no grain buildings for keeping grain. Yet God feeds them. Are you not worth more than the birds?25 “Which of you can make yourself a little taller by worrying? 26 If you cannot do that which is so little, why do you worry about other things?” Luke 12:24-25 NLV

Dave and I have learned not to follow any decision we don’t have a peace about. The Lord’s faithful to lead and we can trust Him.

“Trust your work to the Lord, and your plans will work out well.” Proverbs 16:3

Join me this morning, join the trees, the mountains and the birds. Join the chorus and sing praise to the Lord for He is good.

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Child’s Play

Years ago, we moved from Southern California to the Pacific Northwest. Our youngest daughter was only six. She had never seen a true autumn.

We had big trees in our yard and the leaves began to fall. It seemed that all her little friends came to play. Dave would rake the leaves and the kids would jump in the piles and throw them in the air, just like you see in the movies. To the kids, it wasn’t work when we had them “help” fill the big black trash bags with the brightly colored bounty. It just added to the fun.

And then, in true Fall fashion, there would be hot cocoa and cookies before the kids would head home. What filled our home on those days were the giggles and the laughter, the joy and delight of being children, allowed to play. Children having fun.

“God, mark us with grace
    and blessing! Smile!
The whole country will see how you work,
    all the godless nations see how you save.
God! Let people thank and enjoy you.
    Let all people thank and enjoy you.
Let all far-flung people become happy
    and shout their happiness because
You judge them fair and square,
    you tend the far-flung peoples.
God! Let people thank and enjoy you.
    Let all people thank and enjoy you.
Earth, display your exuberance!
    You mark us with blessing, O God, our God.
You mark us with blessing, O God.
    Earth’s four corners—honor him!” Psalm 67 MSG

That’s what this Psalm says to me – Children having fun! “Let all people thank and enjoy you”.

Enjoying God, and all He has done, like a child enjoying all the splendor of the changing seasons.

I pray that today we will all be childlike and experience the wonders of the day and be filled with joy and thanksgiving.

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