The Apostle Paul said, "Be Joyful, Be Constant, Be Hopeful, Be Always Rejoicing, Be Anxious for Nothing ..." There's a whole swarm of "bees" in his teachings. What do bees do besides be bees? They pollinate! How do we pollinate --- by spreading the word of God --- by being all these things through Christ who gived us strength. Then, when we are being joyful, constant, hopeful, and not worrying, we spread the joy of the Lord everywhere we go. Others see and rejoice or ask us where we found such joy then God grows new converts and stronger believers and plants new seeds of blessings that continue long past our "beeing" here on earth! So "bee" ...
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Saturday, July 21, 2012
God of hope, joy & peace
The last few days have been an adventure you might say. An adventure in learning, accepting and trusting in God --- our God, the Lord God Almighty --- who gives us hope and joy and peace, no matter what we see around us. This is what I've learned. (I sure hope I've learned it. LOL)
"No matter what we see, no matter what we hear, no matter what it seems is happening all around us, we can be comforted by this assurance. When we trust God, He makes everything work together for our good." I know that may sound glib to some and like "Christianese" to others, but it's really true.
If the enemy means it for our harm, God will work it for our good just like Joseph told his brothers "What you intended for my harm, God meant for good." If it's God working in our lives, then we know He always does what's best for us and all those involved.
So, no matter where the situation arises or whether it's God or our enemy creating it, we can know with confidence and true hope that either way, it will work out for our good.
Be assured! Stand strong! Take courage! Believe and be filled with joy and peace and "abound in hope" by the power of the Holy Spirit!
And by the way ... thank you for your prayers!!!
Hugs,
Joy
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Yesterday, I had this particular scripture in mind, John 14:27. I wanted to do it in calligraphy so I looked it up in several (15 or more) different Bible translations to see which one I wanted to use. I read and re-read the scripture and the surrounding text over and over. I couldn't choose one.
I picked up my calligraphy pen and started to write. Moments later, the words that you see in the above picture came out.
Although, I used a font here instead of hand written calligraphy, the message remains the same.
Enjoy! Invite Jesus' peace to surround you and concentrate on loving Him.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Listen! Creation is telling about our Creator!
The heavens tell about the glory of God.
The skies announce what his hands have made.
Each new day tells more of the story,
Each night reveals more and more about God’s power.
You cannot hear them say anything.
They don’t make any sound we can hear.
But their message goes throughout the world.
Their teaching reaches the ends of the earth.
Psalm 19:1-4 (ERV)
Friday, July 1, 2011
A BIG BITE OF CHEERFULNESS W' A HELPING OF HUMILITY
“A big bite of cheerfulness with a helping of humility” --- This phrase is what I woke up with running over and over in my mind this morning.
Praise God! For starters: I’m alive! That’s a major plus.
Yesterday, I was foolish --- very foolish! After reading about “wisdom” in the Proverbs and praying for God’s help with the same, I proceeded to take my bicycle on a ride to the post office.
It was supposed to be one of the hottest days of the year, possibly making it up to 116° before the day was finished. My plan was to leave home before the heat began and to return before it got really bad. Here in Arizona, that meant 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
By the time I was out the door, it was past 9:30. I made my trek to the P.O. stopping only every half mile or so to re-hydrate.
Once my business there was complete, I sat down to have a snack of grapes and drink some more water.
Now, here’s where “folly” (foolishness) came along. I saw that my water was over half gone. I thought, I’ll go to the store up the road a ways and get a refill on my water. “No,” I felt inside. “Go straight home.”
Again I reasoned, “But there’s no other place on the way home to stop and get water.”
--- Why do I argue with the Spirit of God when He tries to help me, to give me wisdom? ---
Once more, I felt constrained, that I should simply go straight home. So, on I proceeded to the store up the road. I shopped around, got some veggie snacks, got my water refilled, took a break, visited another store, then decided to come on home.
The ride was less than pleasant. The stops for water more frequent. The heat much more intense and draining. I finally arrived home around noon, at least an hour later than I’d planned.
Triumphantly, I called a couple of folks to let them know I’d arrived “safe and sound” so as to alleviate any concerns they might have had. Then, I settled in to business at my computer and a big snack instead of downing more water.
By one o’clock I was so sick. I was nauseous and hot and dry, very dry. I didn’t even want to drink because my stomach was so upset.
I prayed and asked for God’s forgiveness and e-mailed my oldest daughter to pray. Then, took a cool shower and went to bed.
“Dear God, why hadn’t I listened to You, to Your voice of wisdom. Please forgive me for pride and foolishness, for thinking I knew a better way. Forgive me, please, for not simply obeying Your instruction.”
All I wanted was to be forgiven. Rest was intermittent. My chest hurt, my head ached, my stomach was sick, and my muscles were cramped. I prayed that the Lord would keep me alive for the sake of my husband and my daughter who was about to be married, but I left the decision up to Him.
--- God is good! ---
I rested the remainder of the day, re-filling with a glass of water every time I got up.
Sometime in the night God restored me to health. Praise His name forever and ever!
So today, I awoke with instructions to take a “big bite of cheerfulness and a helping of humility.”
• God is still on the throne.
• He is loving and kind to all who call on Him.
• He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• He is holy and pure and desires only the best for each of us.
• God deserves all glory and honor and praise because He is God!
• Praise His holy name!
Dear Lord, thank You for forgiving me of my sins of foolishness and pride, of thinking I knew a better way. Thank You for loving me and for loving those I love. Thank You for answering prayer each and every day. Thank You for restoring me to health and humbling my spirit before You. Thank You that You can even use our foolishness to teach us to trust in Your wisdom and Your word. You are good and Your loving kindness lasts forever. Amen! Praise Your name!
Praise God! For starters: I’m alive! That’s a major plus.
Yesterday, I was foolish --- very foolish! After reading about “wisdom” in the Proverbs and praying for God’s help with the same, I proceeded to take my bicycle on a ride to the post office.
It was supposed to be one of the hottest days of the year, possibly making it up to 116° before the day was finished. My plan was to leave home before the heat began and to return before it got really bad. Here in Arizona, that meant 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
By the time I was out the door, it was past 9:30. I made my trek to the P.O. stopping only every half mile or so to re-hydrate.
Once my business there was complete, I sat down to have a snack of grapes and drink some more water.
Now, here’s where “folly” (foolishness) came along. I saw that my water was over half gone. I thought, I’ll go to the store up the road a ways and get a refill on my water. “No,” I felt inside. “Go straight home.”
Again I reasoned, “But there’s no other place on the way home to stop and get water.”
--- Why do I argue with the Spirit of God when He tries to help me, to give me wisdom? ---
Once more, I felt constrained, that I should simply go straight home. So, on I proceeded to the store up the road. I shopped around, got some veggie snacks, got my water refilled, took a break, visited another store, then decided to come on home.
The ride was less than pleasant. The stops for water more frequent. The heat much more intense and draining. I finally arrived home around noon, at least an hour later than I’d planned.
Triumphantly, I called a couple of folks to let them know I’d arrived “safe and sound” so as to alleviate any concerns they might have had. Then, I settled in to business at my computer and a big snack instead of downing more water.
By one o’clock I was so sick. I was nauseous and hot and dry, very dry. I didn’t even want to drink because my stomach was so upset.
I prayed and asked for God’s forgiveness and e-mailed my oldest daughter to pray. Then, took a cool shower and went to bed.
“Dear God, why hadn’t I listened to You, to Your voice of wisdom. Please forgive me for pride and foolishness, for thinking I knew a better way. Forgive me, please, for not simply obeying Your instruction.”
All I wanted was to be forgiven. Rest was intermittent. My chest hurt, my head ached, my stomach was sick, and my muscles were cramped. I prayed that the Lord would keep me alive for the sake of my husband and my daughter who was about to be married, but I left the decision up to Him.
--- God is good! ---
I rested the remainder of the day, re-filling with a glass of water every time I got up.
Sometime in the night God restored me to health. Praise His name forever and ever!
So today, I awoke with instructions to take a “big bite of cheerfulness and a helping of humility.”
• God is still on the throne.
• He is loving and kind to all who call on Him.
• He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• He is holy and pure and desires only the best for each of us.
• God deserves all glory and honor and praise because He is God!
• Praise His holy name!
Dear Lord, thank You for forgiving me of my sins of foolishness and pride, of thinking I knew a better way. Thank You for loving me and for loving those I love. Thank You for answering prayer each and every day. Thank You for restoring me to health and humbling my spirit before You. Thank You that You can even use our foolishness to teach us to trust in Your wisdom and Your word. You are good and Your loving kindness lasts forever. Amen! Praise Your name!
Friday, October 22, 2010
"Miss Abby"
Here's a story that I felt like the Lord gave me before I got up last Sunday morning. Enjoy!
__________________________
She was approaching marrying age. She was beautiful --- “show-stopping” gorgeous. She had kept herself chaste. She was a pure delight! Soon she would belong to someone.
She had hopes and dreams. She sang as she went about her work. She wanted children, a dozen of them --- maybe more! They would be joyful, jubilant, strong and true, fit for the service of the king! She already had names for some of them picked out and tucked away in her heart.
News came! She was chosen and swept away to the king’s palace herself. She was given every spa treatment the palace could offer. Her clothing was made to fit only her and constructed of the very finest fibers. Finally the day came. She was presented to the King.
He was old now, very old. She had been sought out by his very best advisors for a purpose --- to keep him warm when he slept.
She lay there awake. She was still, on the outside --- but inside, full of energy and questions. “Why God?” she whispered --- unanswered prayers, unfulfilled hopes. She would never have children, see their smiling faces, hear the word “mama.” She would not know the joy of being one man’s one wife, the thrill of living and comfort of growing in years and companionship with her life’s partner.
It had all been sacrificed --- offered on the altar and she didn’t even have a say. The sadness started to wash into her like the rising tide. She withdrew a little, then caught herself.
“No! I have many things to be thankful for,” she thought. “I live like a queen. All my needs are met in abundance. I only have one task to perform and that’s simple enough. I’m well-respected. No one could ask for more, …”
Then it caught her eye, a tear on the old man’s cheek. She stared at him in the half darkness. Many nights she had lain there hearing his sleep noises, groans of pain when he turned, a light snore, a jerk, a caught breath indicating a disturbing dream. She watched him.
He had been a mighty warrior and a well-loved king. He had led the men to battle and fought for them while they fought for him. He was a humble shepherd boy that had come to shepherd God’s chosen people, and he did --- he cared for each of them from the least to the greatest with equal concern. He was a man after God’s own heart.
She was filled with compassion. His hair was white now and thinning. His musculature had shrunken mercilessly from age. The renowned king now shuddered trying to keep his bones warm.
He opened his eyes. Tears of "knowing" rolled down to his wrinkled chin. He smiled and gently reached over to touch her cheek.
“Abishag,” he said. “I appreciate your kindness. I know your sacrifice. I may be old now, but I was once young, full of ambition and expectations too. You have given up everything in order to care for me. It won’t be for naught.”
Weeks went by. Then months. Some time later the old man died, but not before she knew him more intimately than anybody else had, not physically, but uniquely as his closest companion. She was with him every waking hour, ministering to his every need.
He told her of his life and loves, heartaches and hopes, children, soldiers and wives. Most of all, he told her of a God who cared for her more than any human could --- One who wanted only the best for her and loved her no matter what --- a God she could trust!
As she walked through the palace courtyard, the children ran to her. “Miss Abby,” they called. “Tell us a story.” She sat down on the bench in the courtyard that she came to every day. The servants’ children and even some of their grandchildren crowded in to hear what Miss Abby had to say.
For years she taught the children there. The eldest ones grew and new ones came along. She taught them about God. “Our God is a god even kings can trust,” she would say. “He cares about everybody from the least to the greatest. He knows each of your needs. He knows your hopes and dreams, your disappointments and your failures. He’s intimately acquainted with your tears as well as your joys. He rejoices over YOU with His love. One day, He has promised to send another King from the line of King David. He will wipe every tear off all of our faces. He will shepherd us in His fold and take us to live with Him in His kingdom forever. Praise God! Hallelujah for He reigns for ever more!” The children cheered and hugged her as she rose and started to walk away.
“Thank You, God!” she whispered in prayer. “You have made the barren woman a happy mother of children. You’ve turned my sorrow into joy and I’ll dance in Your kingdom forever and ever. Amen!”
… Then, she twirled and skipped away!!!
Some references in scripture came from 1 Kings 1:1-4, Isaiah 25:8, Isaiah 54:1, Psalm 30:11-12.
__________________________
She was approaching marrying age. She was beautiful --- “show-stopping” gorgeous. She had kept herself chaste. She was a pure delight! Soon she would belong to someone.
She had hopes and dreams. She sang as she went about her work. She wanted children, a dozen of them --- maybe more! They would be joyful, jubilant, strong and true, fit for the service of the king! She already had names for some of them picked out and tucked away in her heart.
News came! She was chosen and swept away to the king’s palace herself. She was given every spa treatment the palace could offer. Her clothing was made to fit only her and constructed of the very finest fibers. Finally the day came. She was presented to the King.
He was old now, very old. She had been sought out by his very best advisors for a purpose --- to keep him warm when he slept.
She lay there awake. She was still, on the outside --- but inside, full of energy and questions. “Why God?” she whispered --- unanswered prayers, unfulfilled hopes. She would never have children, see their smiling faces, hear the word “mama.” She would not know the joy of being one man’s one wife, the thrill of living and comfort of growing in years and companionship with her life’s partner.
It had all been sacrificed --- offered on the altar and she didn’t even have a say. The sadness started to wash into her like the rising tide. She withdrew a little, then caught herself.
“No! I have many things to be thankful for,” she thought. “I live like a queen. All my needs are met in abundance. I only have one task to perform and that’s simple enough. I’m well-respected. No one could ask for more, …”
Then it caught her eye, a tear on the old man’s cheek. She stared at him in the half darkness. Many nights she had lain there hearing his sleep noises, groans of pain when he turned, a light snore, a jerk, a caught breath indicating a disturbing dream. She watched him.
He had been a mighty warrior and a well-loved king. He had led the men to battle and fought for them while they fought for him. He was a humble shepherd boy that had come to shepherd God’s chosen people, and he did --- he cared for each of them from the least to the greatest with equal concern. He was a man after God’s own heart.
She was filled with compassion. His hair was white now and thinning. His musculature had shrunken mercilessly from age. The renowned king now shuddered trying to keep his bones warm.
He opened his eyes. Tears of "knowing" rolled down to his wrinkled chin. He smiled and gently reached over to touch her cheek.
“Abishag,” he said. “I appreciate your kindness. I know your sacrifice. I may be old now, but I was once young, full of ambition and expectations too. You have given up everything in order to care for me. It won’t be for naught.”
Weeks went by. Then months. Some time later the old man died, but not before she knew him more intimately than anybody else had, not physically, but uniquely as his closest companion. She was with him every waking hour, ministering to his every need.
He told her of his life and loves, heartaches and hopes, children, soldiers and wives. Most of all, he told her of a God who cared for her more than any human could --- One who wanted only the best for her and loved her no matter what --- a God she could trust!
As she walked through the palace courtyard, the children ran to her. “Miss Abby,” they called. “Tell us a story.” She sat down on the bench in the courtyard that she came to every day. The servants’ children and even some of their grandchildren crowded in to hear what Miss Abby had to say.
For years she taught the children there. The eldest ones grew and new ones came along. She taught them about God. “Our God is a god even kings can trust,” she would say. “He cares about everybody from the least to the greatest. He knows each of your needs. He knows your hopes and dreams, your disappointments and your failures. He’s intimately acquainted with your tears as well as your joys. He rejoices over YOU with His love. One day, He has promised to send another King from the line of King David. He will wipe every tear off all of our faces. He will shepherd us in His fold and take us to live with Him in His kingdom forever. Praise God! Hallelujah for He reigns for ever more!” The children cheered and hugged her as she rose and started to walk away.
“Thank You, God!” she whispered in prayer. “You have made the barren woman a happy mother of children. You’ve turned my sorrow into joy and I’ll dance in Your kingdom forever and ever. Amen!”
… Then, she twirled and skipped away!!!
Some references in scripture came from 1 Kings 1:1-4, Isaiah 25:8, Isaiah 54:1, Psalm 30:11-12.
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