Category: Blog Post

Amid the overflowing piles of laundry, the ever constant dirty dishes in the sink, and the overwhelming demands of life in general we often lose sight of the joy that we possess in Christ. We allow our focus to zoom in on all that is before us, losing sight of what lies within us.

“These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11

Looking back at the words prior to this passage we see that Christ gives us the “directions” whereby we can live a “life full of joy“.

1.)  We are to abide in Christ and to bear fruit through Him, not of ourselves because without Him we can do nothing. (John 15: 5)

2.) We are to remain in His word, coming before Him with our prayers which He has promised to answer. (John 15:6-7)

3.) Everything that we do should be done to glorify the Father, bearing fruit for Him. (John 15:8)

4.) We are to remain in Christ’s love, keeping His commandments which command us to love God with all our hearts, minds and soul. (John 15:9-10)

5.) We are to love others, seeking to bring them to an understanding of the love of God through salvation. (John 15:10)

“Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:3

We have a constant supply of joy available, living water for the renewal of the soul. In God we can find the path of life and experience the joy that He has available for us.

” 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

Christ sits at the right hand of God, every ready to make intercession for us with the Father. Regardless of what situation or set of circumstances that we might be facing we can find joy in coming before our Heavenly Father rejoicing in Him.

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:18

“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy because though defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” Psalm 5;11

No matter what we might face, or who might stand against us, we can trust in our Father and experience fullness of joy in Him.

“And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation.” Psalm 35:9

Amid the chaos that we face daily, we can focus our  hearts and minds on Christ through time spent in His word; holding to the promises that have been given to us that we might have “a life full of joy” in Him.

Every where we turn they are there standing right in front of us needing so much more than we take the time to give. At the grocery store we rush about without a second glance, pumping gas we neglect to see the person standing next in line, we bustle here and we bustle there as moments tick by and souls slip off into eternity right before our eyes . . . and yet we do not see.

“They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it” Job 4:20

Do we see them? Right before our eyes a world is perishing, slipping off into an eternity without so much as a glance we make. Our hearts are full with this and that without regard for the soul with eyes staring back at us longing for just one word, one word of acknowledgment . . . one word of hope that points them to the one who heals all and longs for us to see as he sees, a world that needs a Savior. 

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:35

Do we see them? Do we hear their hearts cry? Oh that we might see them. Please Father give me eyes that see !!!!

“They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” Matthew 20:33

Do we see them starring back at us with eyes in desperation . . . longing for a glance . . . a simple word of hope . . . a message of a Savior who died to set them free!!

Throughout my childhood, I valued the opinion of my father  . . .  I strove to make him happy and to see him smile. I sought out opportunities to capture a few moments of time in which I could hold his complete attention and share a moment that would belong to only the two of us. I treasured those moments, but as much as I sought out these opportunities, I spent an even greater amount of time trying to become that which would make my mama proud. Even at an early age I sensed within my mama a strength that I knew existed, but one that I did not understand. Her inner strength was something that I sensed, something that early on I knew I wanted to achieve.

“Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” Proverbs 31: 25

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. ” Proverbs 31: 28

As a child I knew that my mother although inwardly strong, outwardly had a weakness within her body that inhibited her from doing many of the things that she would have like to have been able to do. I sensed her frustration and watched her struggles, but I never saw her give up. She simply would not give in, even when it would have certainly been much easier for her to just let life progress as it seemed determined to do. Even though she did not understand the weakness that grew within her body, she fought it. She did not accept “no” and did not allow “I can’t” to take up residence in her vocabulary. I remember watching her fall, only to see her pull herself back up and try again. I internalized all of this and found the desire within me to be as strong as my mother one day. It would take years of watching her as she dealt with a life of difficulties that would have caused so many others to give up the fight, to come to understand the strength she possessed as a characteristic I knew I wanted to possess. In her outward weakness I saw the true depth of the inner strength she possessed and it become something that I wanted more than anything else. I wanted to be strong, I wanted to possess what I saw inside of my mother. This became a pursuit of so much more than just that of inner strength.

“That he would grant, you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.” Ephesians 3:16

It wasn’t until later in life that we would discover that my mother had the disease known as MS, a diagnosis that would provide so many answers and explanations for all that she had faced for so many years. It spoke of the great inner strength and determination that she had within her that had enabled her to fight as long and as hard as she had throughout my whole lifetime. Her fight was a testimony to the source of her inner strength. The inner strength that she had lived as a living testimony that resulted in one of the greatest lessons I ever learned from my mother. The lesson of the true source of our strength.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” II Corinthians 12:9-10

Today as I look back over my life and the life of my mother, I see her true price so much higher than that of the price of rubies. I see that within my life I was able to find the strength to live amidst circumstances that might otherwise have caused me to falter along the way. I see that by watching the true meaning of inner strength and the source of that strength in the life of my mother I was given the ability to develop inner strength that enable me to become who I am today, “no” and “I can’t” weren’t part of my vocabulary. In moments when I found my life crumbling around my feet I knew where to go for the source of true inner strength to pick myself back up and put the pieces of my life back together. Because of the strength I saw in the life of my mother I have been able to achieve a life far greater than the price of rubies. Happy Birthday Mama . . .  Please know that your price is far above rubies, and because of your life and the strength that I have watched in you through your life . . . . I came to possess an inner strength through the source of all strength and I have a life with a price far above rubies !!  I love you so. . . upon this Earth, you are my hero !!!

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. she girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” Proverbs 31: 10-31

In reflection of the past year and contemplation of the new year, I asked myself the question . . . “What will be my driving focus in 2017? ” What would I change about 2016 if I was able to erase and redo? As I look back and gaze forward, I find that my answer would be that I might “Be Still” and “Let God Move Forward”. In all of my reflection backward I see a clear pattern of my successes and failures in 2016. All of my successes can be found to have started with quiet, still moments of time listening to God and waiting for Him to move; while all of my failures stem from moments of rash decision in which I was the driving force behind the resulting wreckage that occurred.

“For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept; then had I been at rest.” Job 3:13

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

In 2017, I want to sit still and see what God will do. I want to pause and learn what He has to say to me, so that He might be able to work through me. I want to wait for Him to move, watching as He orchestrates the notes that will set to music His perfect plan in my life.

“Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.” Ruth 3:18

In 2017, God has a plan for me . . . He has all of the pieces in place, He knows all of the connections that need to be made, He has complete control of every situation that I will face. It is in His plan to bring about His perfect will in and through my life, if only I am still.

“Ye shall not need to fight in this battle; set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.” II Chronicles 20:17

“For I know the thoughts that I have toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

In 2017, I want to “sit still while God moves forward”.  I want to remove my thoughts from the equation and see His thoughts as they unfold revealing that which pleases Him in and through my life.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55: 8-11

In 2017, I want to spend more time sitting still . . . waiting quietly for God to work through me. I want to see His plans as they unfold, having complete confidence that in Him and by Him all things can and will be accomplished just as He has purposed . . .  Sitting Still While Moving Forward.

“The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.” Isaiah 14:24

“Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth: even in him.” Ephesians 1: 9-10

“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man that thou visitest him?” Psalm 8:3-4

As we enter the Christmas season thinking of all the family and friends that will visit, I paused as I reflected on this verse in my devotion this morning. The thought that God actually visits with us caused me to pause. The creator of the heavens, the master whose fingers put the moon and stars in place, he actually takes the time to visit with us.

“What is man that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? And that thou shouldest visit him every morning and try him every moment?” Job 7:17-18

As I think of all the preparations that we make with the coming expectation of visitors to our home, I find this verse forming the question within my heart, “What preparations have I made for God to visit?” Have I spent time examining my life to see what areas need cleaning up, looking for the areas that need to be addressed in preparation for his visit? When he visits me, what will he find within the corners and stairways of my heart?

What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? Job 31:14

When God visits me, what will he discover as he enters the hallways of my heart and explores the rooms of my soul, will he find that I have spent time in preparation for his visit? Or, will he find cobwebs where there should have been active service, dust where there should have been moments experiencing the cleaning power of his word. Will the embers of my prayer life be lit with the fires of burning compassion for the needs of others around me? Will the crevices of my life be filled with unconfessed sin or will he find a heart freshly clean through the power of his forgiveness?

“Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.” Psalm 89:32

I began to examine my heart and seek to come before him mindful of all the areas of my life that needed to be explored in preparation for his visit. I wanted to examine the hallways of my heart and the rooms of my soul; clearing out the cobwebs in the corners, dusting the areas where I had faltered in searching his scriptures, rekindling the fire within my soul for the needs of those around me. I began to prepare for when God visits.

“Behold I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord God of hosts: for thy day is come the time that I will visit thee.” Jeremiah 50:31

“The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.” Proverbs 19:23

“Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation.” Psalm 106:4

“Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing: I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” Psalm 17:3

“Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.” Job 10:12

As I spent time visiting with God, I found my heart and soul renewed, I found myself reflecting less on the hustle and bustle of the season with less thought to all the things I still had left to do. . . . I began to reflect on the meaning of when God visited us through the true picture of Christmas, when God not only visited us, but came to us through the birth of his son.

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:23

So amid the hustle and bustle of the season, lets not get caught up in the turmoil of all that we have to do in preparation for family and friends that will come to visit, lets reflect upon the true peace of what it means in the story of Christmas when God visits  . . .  lets reflect upon the gift that was given through the birth of Jesus . . . “God with us”. In that we will discover the true peace of the season, the lights and the ribbons will hold an entirely different perspective for us as we prepare for when God visits.

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people. And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David” Luke 1:68-69

 

We fret and we stew wondering why God hasn’t moved in our lives. We go through the motion of greeting each new day in the same routine frame of mind with little expectation that today will be any different than the day before. At night we close our eyes with little thought to how it might have all been anything more that it was, each today becomes yesterday and tomorrow becomes today in the same rhythm of mundaneness. In the back of our mind sits the ever present notion that somehow tomorrow will be different, yet the cycle continues day-in and day-out with no evidence of  change in our lives. We restrict our lives to a never ending existence of wandering in a desert wilderness of our own making.  When just beyond the grasp of our limited prayer life is the promised land, a land of joy and fullness of life that God has promised to those who will ask of him.

“. . .  ye have not, because ye ask not.” James 4:2

“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full.” John 16:24

We are the only limiting factor in our lives. We have not because we ask not.

“For everyone that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth: and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Luke 11:10

The problem lies in our unbelief, our lack of faith in what God has promised stifles the life that we could have today.

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22

No only do we have the promise of what we ask for in prayer, but we have the promise of receiving abundantly more than we ask or think.

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20

We fail to focus upon the power that worketh within us. Our lack of faith limits our ability to see the impossible become possible in our lives.

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:20-21

But, because we ask not we continue to lack that for which our soul longs . . .  a life of promise, a life that makes a difference, a life that will matter 100 years from today !!!

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16

Ask of Him today . . .  seek Him with your whole heart  . . .  recognize the power of His might . . .  and believe in the possible !!!

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find: knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matthew 7:7-89

 

 

When the way is unclear and the path ahead is unknown, when we do not understand where to turn or how to move forward; we need to remember that it is God that goes before us. He knows the way, he has already walked this way before. He will never leave us alone, he will never forsake us and he will never fail us.

“And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

When the way is unclear and the steps we should follow have not been revealed to us, we can rest in the promise that he has a plan for our lives. God has called us for a specific purpose and he has chosen us as his servant for the path that he has set before us. Nothing takes God by surprise. He clearly sees each step ahead of us before the next one becomes visible, he alone is our strength. We should never fear because he has promised to be our God, to help us and to hold us. 

“Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:9-10

When the way is unclear and the trials of life become heavy upon us, we need to remember that he knows the way. As we trust in him to lead us through, as we learn more of him and his promises each day our faith will become stronger shining forth as gold.

“But he knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10

 

When the way is unclear and the heaviness upon us becomes almost unbearable, we need only to look to God.  He has promised that it will only last for a season and in that season we can rejoice, knowing that through the refining of our faith he will receive honor and glory.

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” I Peter 1:6-7

When the way is unclear and uncertainty sets in, he has promised to instruct us and to teach us the way. Our ability does not lie within us, but within him as he guides us in the way that we should go.

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Psalm 32:8

When the way is unclear and we struggle to find our purpose, we need to be reminded that God has saved us and called us for “His purpose“. We need to focus on him and his purpose for our lives rather than one that we might chose for ourselves. Our life purpose was formed in his mind even before the world began, only God knows the way before us that will bring us to the fulfillment of his calling in us.

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which, was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”
II Timothy 1:9

When the way is unclear and we seem to lose our place, we need to focus our minds on him and the work that he is doing in our lives. We do not have the ability to perform a good work, that can only be accomplished through allowing him to do his work in and through us. Nothing within us is good, it all comes from him. He is making his plan perfect within us and in him we can have confidence. 

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

When we come to the realization that it is not in our power to achieve his plan in our lives, surrendering to him and allowing him to do his work in us; then and only then will we become what he intended us to be. The fact is that we do not need to clearly see the path ahead, we simply need to clearly see the one who goes before us; “then and only then will the way become clear for he is the way“.

“And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6

“A man’s heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

“For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy names sake lead me, and guide me.” Psalm 31:3

“For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even unto death.” Psalm 48:14

“To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:79

“But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29

“And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” Psalm 9:10

Each day passes one into the next and I find myself engulfed in the struggles that each one brings my way. The weariness settles in and zaps the joy of my soul. I lose the ability to see God even though all around me his presence is evident in even the smallest of moments; the radiant colors of the falling leaves, the bluest sky against the purest white clouds, the laughter of a child or the smile of a stranger. All of these and so much more He offers me as He reaches out to me “that I might know Him”. That I might come to realize him for who he is, that I might see the magnitude of his power, that I might remember just how mighty he is and that he can take each struggle and turn it into a victory . . . “That I May Know Him”!!

“Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him”. Deuteronomy 4:35

Oh that I might know him and remember him for who he is, the Creator of all life, the Master of the Universe. How is it that I so soon forget and lose sight of all the wonders he has brought to pass in my life.

“But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?” Galatians 4:9

How soon I forget, how soon I return to that from which he brought me. Oh that I might truly know him !!!

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” Philippians 3:9-10

Sometimes there are moments when there are no words that can be said to make things feel better. Moments when nothing makes sense and our whole world comes to a complete stop as the rest of the world continues to race around us. These are the moments when we feel very small and insecure, these are the moments during which we find ourselves lifting our hearts heavenward seeking the comfort and strength that can only be found in our Heavenly Father.

“When I would comfort myself against sorrow my heart is faint in me.” Jeremiah 8:18

” Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” Isaiah 40:28-29

” In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.” Psalm 18:6

“Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” II Corinthians 1:4

He is our strength, He is our comforter, when we do not have the words to utter . . . He hears our heart’s cry . . . He has promised to comfort us through all of our hurt and all of our uncertainties. When words aren’t enough our Heavenly Father is there!!!!

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 1:4 

Having the opportunity to see my son in his service to God through leading songs of worship and praise and listening to him as he taught from the Word of God in Sunday School this weekend will always be among my greatest treasured memories 🙂 I miss him daily, but seeing him fulfill the purpose for which God created him in His service enables my heart to return to Virginia with an even greater sense of peace and joy 🙂 I am truly BLESSED for God has heard my prayer and has raised within Elliott the heart of a man of God !!!! 

“For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:” I Samuel 1:27