Do you ever feel that you get caught up in yourself? I sure do. Don't get me wrong--there are times when I think it's entirely okay. There are times when you really don't have anything to give to anyone else. I've been there. But sometimes I think I get stuck there.
Sometimes I have to force myself to do things for others. It's amazing, though--once you take that step, put in some extra effort, and do something for someone else--that's when you can actually feel a sense of accomplishment and purpose.
I didn't have a normal childhood. I was learning to cook and clean around 10 years old. My brother and I bounced back and forth between our home and our grandparents' home. We lived in constant fear and uncertainty of what the future held for my Mom's health. I never once begrudged my Mom, though. I love her so much, I would do anything for her, and our experiences gave us a close relationship that I would never trade for the world. But, it was still unfair. There were many days when I really didn't want to do the dishes or cook supper. I just wanted to be a normal kid.
I'm not exactly sure when it happened, but there came a time when the Lord spoke to me through this verse, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40, NIV). That was a defining moment in my faith. God showed me that He was calling me to serve Him by serving my family. For me, it wasn't about going out into a foreign mission field. It was about doing the dishes, the laundry, cooking supper, and just being there for my Mom in whatever big or little way that she needed me. That being said, it doesn't mean that I had a perfect attitude every day, but it sure made it easier.
I believe that we need to have that attitude when given the little opportunities every day. God has so many serving opportunities that are right in front of us--part of our daily choices. And yes, it often does take extra effort, and sometimes an attitude check. But it can be as simple as a phone call, an encouraging email, a visit, or bringing food to someone who needs it. If we have the attitude that we are not only helping another person, but serving our gracious Lord, it can make all the difference.
The other thing to keep in mind is that you never really know the scope of your influence. What may seem like a simple action can have a profound ripple effect. I look forward to chatting with God someday and finding out how my simple choices have ultimately affected God's Kingdom. However, as my wise friend Sherri H. pointed out to me tonight, it would be equally as scary to find out how something that I COULD have done, but didn't, may have had a negative effect. I'm sure that God will point out those missed opportunities, as well.
I'm so far from perfect in this department, but I really want to work at making it not all about me. In a perfect world, I would wake up every day and ask God what I could do for him that day. Since I'm not perfect, I'm taking it one day at a time, and working at making those choices. I just don't think that we should ever underestimate the value of our "simple" acts for others. Those ripples will echo into eternity.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Shore
The topic of Heaven is something that I'm really passionate about. And it's not just a grief thing. I believe it's something that every Christian should be passionate about. Randy Alcorn suggests that it's like planning a trip to Disneyworld. You would put a lot of planning into such a trip. Well, Heaven is going to be the greatest adventure of our lives, and yet most of us are not planning for it, we're not talking about it, and many of us are not even looking forward to it.
God willing, I may have the chance to lead a Bible study on Heaven this fall. I'm super excited about it, yet nervous, as well. In many ways, I feel so inadequate to lead something like this. And yet I know that God can take us and use us right where we are. I have been so, so blessed by learning more about Heaven, that it would be selfish of me not to share this. It's such an amazing hope!
I want to share with you a passage from the introduction of the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn (p. xx). They are some of my favorite words from the book (okay, I admit, I have many other favorites, too). I hope they help fuel your desire to get into this book.
Seeing the Shore
Perhaps you've come to this book burdened, discouraged, depressed, or even traumatized. Perhaps your deams--your marriage, career, or ambitions--have crumbled. Perhaps you've become cynical or have lost hope. A biblical understanding of the truth about Heaven can change all that.
In 1952, young Florence Chadwick stepped into the waters of the Pacific Ocean off Catalina Island, determined to swim to the shore of mainland California. She'd already been the first woman to swim the English Channel both ways. The weather was foggy and chilly; she could hardly see the boats accompanying her. Still, she swam for fifteen hours. When she begged to be taken out of the water along the way, her mother, in a boat alongside, told her she was close and that she could make it. Finally, physically and emotionally exhausted, she stopped swimming and was pulled out. It wasn't until she was on the boat that she discovered the shore was less than half a mile away. At a news conference the next day she said, "All I could see was the fog...I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it."
Consider her words: "I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it." For believers, that shore is Jesus and being with him in the place that he promised to prepare for us, where we will live with him forever. The shore we should look for is that of the New Earth. If we can see through the fog and picture our eternal home in our mind's eye, it will comfort and energize us.
If you're weary and don't know how you can keep going, I pray this book will give you vision, encouragement, and hope. No matter how tough life gets, ifyou can see the shore and draw your strength from Christ, you'll make it.
I pray this book will help you see the shore.
God willing, I may have the chance to lead a Bible study on Heaven this fall. I'm super excited about it, yet nervous, as well. In many ways, I feel so inadequate to lead something like this. And yet I know that God can take us and use us right where we are. I have been so, so blessed by learning more about Heaven, that it would be selfish of me not to share this. It's such an amazing hope!
I want to share with you a passage from the introduction of the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn (p. xx). They are some of my favorite words from the book (okay, I admit, I have many other favorites, too). I hope they help fuel your desire to get into this book.
Seeing the Shore
Perhaps you've come to this book burdened, discouraged, depressed, or even traumatized. Perhaps your deams--your marriage, career, or ambitions--have crumbled. Perhaps you've become cynical or have lost hope. A biblical understanding of the truth about Heaven can change all that.
In 1952, young Florence Chadwick stepped into the waters of the Pacific Ocean off Catalina Island, determined to swim to the shore of mainland California. She'd already been the first woman to swim the English Channel both ways. The weather was foggy and chilly; she could hardly see the boats accompanying her. Still, she swam for fifteen hours. When she begged to be taken out of the water along the way, her mother, in a boat alongside, told her she was close and that she could make it. Finally, physically and emotionally exhausted, she stopped swimming and was pulled out. It wasn't until she was on the boat that she discovered the shore was less than half a mile away. At a news conference the next day she said, "All I could see was the fog...I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it."
Consider her words: "I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it." For believers, that shore is Jesus and being with him in the place that he promised to prepare for us, where we will live with him forever. The shore we should look for is that of the New Earth. If we can see through the fog and picture our eternal home in our mind's eye, it will comfort and energize us.
If you're weary and don't know how you can keep going, I pray this book will give you vision, encouragement, and hope. No matter how tough life gets, ifyou can see the shore and draw your strength from Christ, you'll make it.
I pray this book will help you see the shore.
Friday, August 22, 2008
The Little Things
Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon out for coffee with my Mama, and my Mom's two best friends. One of the strange things that happen to you when you lose someone so close to you, is that you lose your connection to other people, like you Mom's friends, who were also very important in your own life. Thankfully, these are two of the truest friends anyone could ever hope for, and they have not just walked out of my life like they could have. We still get together at least twice a year so far.
Another interesting, but very sad, thing is that both of these women have also experienced their own profound losses within the past year. As if we didn't have enough in common from loving my Mom, we now have grief in common.
So, we sat there and cried and just enjoyed each other's company. I could so imagine my Mom in that circle with us. She loved, loved, loved going out for coffee or supper with her friends. I don't love restaurants the way Mom does, but these two friends were so amazing and frequently took her out. Whether they realize it or not, it was such a ministry of love to her.
I really enjoyed sitting and having the opportunity to reflect on Mom in the presence of others who truly understood her, and looked past the medical paraphernalia. They saw the person she was--so full of life and love. Mom, to the very end, was so very concerned about her friends. We were all anticipating their losses, without realizing that Mom would leave us soonest. Mom always gave so much love and support to her friends in their own situations, even though she was facing her own immense challenges.
One of the things that strikes all of us about Mom is how she enjoyed and appreciated the little things in life. I mean really, I have never met anyone in my whole life who was so easy to please. About a week ago, I asked Mama if she was always like this and she said yes. Mom was always so appreciative of a good meal and the smallest little gifts anyone would ever give to her. I think that some of that was heightened, though, as she became ill over the years. So many big things were taken from her, one by one, that I believe she gained a profound appreciation for the little things.
She loved Christmas lights, going for a drive and sightseeing, fireflies, the song of birds--especially the mourning dove, blooming flowers, magazines, doing crafts, sticky notes, fancy Kleenex, pens, the little Pepsi cans, anything miniature and cute, jewellery, anything shiny or sparkly, clothes, shoes, purses, recipes (or as she called them after her stroke--repicees), Tim Hortons, stuffed animals, angels, music boxes, desserts, music, her kids, her family, her friends, good food--the list could go on and on. Even the last meal I made for her, she oohed and aahed over, even though it was nothing spectacular. It was just so much fun to do things for her, and to give things to her.
And you know, it wasn't about materialism at all. There's a fabulous quote by Van Gogh, "The way to know life is to love many things." She really knew how to live. Life isn't about sitting around and waiting for the big things, because while the big things may be really great, they constitute such a small percentage of our actual lifetime. There's so many other days where nothing big will ever happen. We are given such few days here and now. We really need to stop and appreciate those little things, because we have been given SO much, all from the hand of God. And it is much more than we deserve.
I wish I was better at appreciating the little things. I tend to get wrapped up in the stress of everyday pressures. But Mom taught me so many important lessons about the little things. And I do not regret a single thing that I gave to my Mom--whether it was a tangible object, or the gift of my time. They are all precious memories that I cherish.
It's my daily resolve to try to live more like my Mom, appreciating one moment at a time, and each little thing that we take for granted. I know I'm not the only one who needs to work on this. I encourage you to take some time this weekend to step away from something you think you need to do, and to do something that really matters, like investing time in the life of someone you love. Life can change in an instant. You really won't regret the little things.
Another interesting, but very sad, thing is that both of these women have also experienced their own profound losses within the past year. As if we didn't have enough in common from loving my Mom, we now have grief in common.
So, we sat there and cried and just enjoyed each other's company. I could so imagine my Mom in that circle with us. She loved, loved, loved going out for coffee or supper with her friends. I don't love restaurants the way Mom does, but these two friends were so amazing and frequently took her out. Whether they realize it or not, it was such a ministry of love to her.
I really enjoyed sitting and having the opportunity to reflect on Mom in the presence of others who truly understood her, and looked past the medical paraphernalia. They saw the person she was--so full of life and love. Mom, to the very end, was so very concerned about her friends. We were all anticipating their losses, without realizing that Mom would leave us soonest. Mom always gave so much love and support to her friends in their own situations, even though she was facing her own immense challenges.
One of the things that strikes all of us about Mom is how she enjoyed and appreciated the little things in life. I mean really, I have never met anyone in my whole life who was so easy to please. About a week ago, I asked Mama if she was always like this and she said yes. Mom was always so appreciative of a good meal and the smallest little gifts anyone would ever give to her. I think that some of that was heightened, though, as she became ill over the years. So many big things were taken from her, one by one, that I believe she gained a profound appreciation for the little things.
She loved Christmas lights, going for a drive and sightseeing, fireflies, the song of birds--especially the mourning dove, blooming flowers, magazines, doing crafts, sticky notes, fancy Kleenex, pens, the little Pepsi cans, anything miniature and cute, jewellery, anything shiny or sparkly, clothes, shoes, purses, recipes (or as she called them after her stroke--repicees), Tim Hortons, stuffed animals, angels, music boxes, desserts, music, her kids, her family, her friends, good food--the list could go on and on. Even the last meal I made for her, she oohed and aahed over, even though it was nothing spectacular. It was just so much fun to do things for her, and to give things to her.
And you know, it wasn't about materialism at all. There's a fabulous quote by Van Gogh, "The way to know life is to love many things." She really knew how to live. Life isn't about sitting around and waiting for the big things, because while the big things may be really great, they constitute such a small percentage of our actual lifetime. There's so many other days where nothing big will ever happen. We are given such few days here and now. We really need to stop and appreciate those little things, because we have been given SO much, all from the hand of God. And it is much more than we deserve.
I wish I was better at appreciating the little things. I tend to get wrapped up in the stress of everyday pressures. But Mom taught me so many important lessons about the little things. And I do not regret a single thing that I gave to my Mom--whether it was a tangible object, or the gift of my time. They are all precious memories that I cherish.
It's my daily resolve to try to live more like my Mom, appreciating one moment at a time, and each little thing that we take for granted. I know I'm not the only one who needs to work on this. I encourage you to take some time this weekend to step away from something you think you need to do, and to do something that really matters, like investing time in the life of someone you love. Life can change in an instant. You really won't regret the little things.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Blessings in the Valley
I am always so blessed by worship practice. It's one of those things that can be difficult to get myself to for one reason or another, but when I'm there, and after, I just feel so blessed to have had that worship time. It certainly doesn't hurt that when I'm there, I'm surrounded by some of the most supportive friends anyone could ever have. : )
It can also be a really difficult time emotionally. Thankfully I kept myself together tonight, but that is certainly not always the case. Also thankfully, I know that I am free to let the emotions flow (thanks again, ladies). And if I'm truly worshipping, and truly singing those words to God, it can be difficult, because those words, though I believe them, can sometimes be hard to say. It's kind of like prayer. It's hard to really commit to giving things over to Him.
Of course, there's lots of encouragement that comes from worship, as well. It never fails to amaze me how certain lyrics can strike me on a particular day, in a different way than they ever had before.
For example, we sang the song Find Me in the River tonight. I've always loved the song and been touched by it, but tonight this particular line struck me: "But if the blessing's in the valley, then in the river I will wait."
God has a funny way of putting bits and pieces together. I've been thinking a lot about Psalm 23 lately. It's a passage that I was literally forced to learn as a young child, and so it's never been my favorite. And yet it keeps coming back to me, and ties into the song lyrics.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
For You are with me;
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Such amazing words. There is so, so much I could say about this passage, but at some point I have realized that I have been walking through the valley of the shadow of death this past year. The valley. The blessing is in the valley. Do you believe that? I really do. I wouldn't wish for anyone to experience the shadow of death on their lives, but as difficult as it has been, is, and continues to be, I have been blessed. I have a new appreciation for grief, and can better relate to others with similar experiences. It gives me a platform to be able to share my experiences, and to have others take me seriously. I have been given such a gift from God in being able to learn more about Heaven, as well. I would never have chosen this, but I can actually find thankfulness in my heart for having this experience.
Whatever the valley is that you may be walking through right now, I want to encourage you that there is blessing to be found. There's things to learn about God and His abundant mercy. There's appreciation to be gained for all that He has indeed blessed us with. And there's also eternal reward to be gained. For God wants us to store up treasure in Heaven. It is tempting to seek recognition here and now, because he has created us to desire recognition. Be assured, however, that what we do humbly in His name, and the things we endure in the valley will, without a doubt, be rewarded from God's own hand when we finally get Home. Those desires will be completely fulfilled and the blessings will flow abundantly. With no more valley. Isn't that exciting? I hope it's enough to get you through another day.
It can also be a really difficult time emotionally. Thankfully I kept myself together tonight, but that is certainly not always the case. Also thankfully, I know that I am free to let the emotions flow (thanks again, ladies). And if I'm truly worshipping, and truly singing those words to God, it can be difficult, because those words, though I believe them, can sometimes be hard to say. It's kind of like prayer. It's hard to really commit to giving things over to Him.
Of course, there's lots of encouragement that comes from worship, as well. It never fails to amaze me how certain lyrics can strike me on a particular day, in a different way than they ever had before.
For example, we sang the song Find Me in the River tonight. I've always loved the song and been touched by it, but tonight this particular line struck me: "But if the blessing's in the valley, then in the river I will wait."
God has a funny way of putting bits and pieces together. I've been thinking a lot about Psalm 23 lately. It's a passage that I was literally forced to learn as a young child, and so it's never been my favorite. And yet it keeps coming back to me, and ties into the song lyrics.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
For You are with me;
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Such amazing words. There is so, so much I could say about this passage, but at some point I have realized that I have been walking through the valley of the shadow of death this past year. The valley. The blessing is in the valley. Do you believe that? I really do. I wouldn't wish for anyone to experience the shadow of death on their lives, but as difficult as it has been, is, and continues to be, I have been blessed. I have a new appreciation for grief, and can better relate to others with similar experiences. It gives me a platform to be able to share my experiences, and to have others take me seriously. I have been given such a gift from God in being able to learn more about Heaven, as well. I would never have chosen this, but I can actually find thankfulness in my heart for having this experience.
Whatever the valley is that you may be walking through right now, I want to encourage you that there is blessing to be found. There's things to learn about God and His abundant mercy. There's appreciation to be gained for all that He has indeed blessed us with. And there's also eternal reward to be gained. For God wants us to store up treasure in Heaven. It is tempting to seek recognition here and now, because he has created us to desire recognition. Be assured, however, that what we do humbly in His name, and the things we endure in the valley will, without a doubt, be rewarded from God's own hand when we finally get Home. Those desires will be completely fulfilled and the blessings will flow abundantly. With no more valley. Isn't that exciting? I hope it's enough to get you through another day.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Celebrating Mom
Today is Mom's birthday. My heart is very heavy. There are no words to express how much I miss her. She has always loved birthdays and I just wish that I could celebrate with her today.
But because I can't, I thought that I would take a few moments to celebrate a bit of who she is. Notice, by the way, that I usually use the present tense when referring to her. My Mom has never stopped being--not even for a second--and she will BE for all eternity. I see no need to refer to her in the past, as if she no longer exists. She is just no longer here.
One of the things that I have grieved is the idea that people won't get to know who my Mom is. If I make new friends, I can't introduce them to her. And I just want so badly for people to know her, and love her, as I do. She is just so wonderful. Thankfully, I am confident that if you know my Jesus, you will get to know my Mom, as well. In fact, we have all eternity to get to know those that we ran out of time with now. Isn't that amazing?
In the meantime, I can give you a brief picture of who she is. She is one of the most stubborn and determined people I have ever met, in the very best way possible. Spunky is a wonderful adjective to describe her. For all the pain and suffering she endured, many were not aware of what she really went through. She nearly always had a smile on her face (I can't wait to see the size of the smile in Heaven). She always focused on the needs of others above her own. I ran into one of her dialysis nurses a few months after she died, and she told me that the last time she had worked with Mom was while she was pregnant. Mom was way more concerned about this nurse overworking herself in taking care of her, than she was with her own care. That is Mom. She made little care packages for the nurses. Every Christmas, she made ornaments for the people who took care of her. She is an amazing prayer warrior--IS--her prayers are now being spoken in God's very presence. She never wanted people to have to be burdened to take care of her, so she would try to be independent to the extreme, even though we loved to help. Even in her final months, she was reclaiming tasks that she had long needed help with. She loved to surprise me by coming home to a cooked meal. I was always so annoyed with this, because she tired herself unnecessarily, but she so needed to show her love to us. Of course, we know how much she loves us. That's why my heart aches so badly and I can't stop the ugly cry as I'm typing.
One of the interesting things that I have learned from reading the Heaven book is that in eternity, as part of live on the resurrected Earth, we will work. Sounds foreign, doesn't it? We so often think of Heaven as just a place of rest. But if you think about it, we feel most fulfilled when we have meaningful things to accomplish in our lives. God has work planned for us in eternity, as well. Work that will always be joyful and fulfilling, giving glory to God.
I can't wait to see what He has planned for Mom to do. I am sure He will say to her, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord" (Matthew 25:23, NKJV). My Mom's heart is enormous, her perseverance is astounding, and with a resurrected, healthy body, she will be so ready! He has so much planned for her, and for us, too.
For today, though, I hope that my Mom is having a restful birthday. It's her second one now in the presence of God. I hope her joy overflows.
Thank God, there will be more birthdays to celebrate than I can possibly count.
Happy Birthday, Mom.
But because I can't, I thought that I would take a few moments to celebrate a bit of who she is. Notice, by the way, that I usually use the present tense when referring to her. My Mom has never stopped being--not even for a second--and she will BE for all eternity. I see no need to refer to her in the past, as if she no longer exists. She is just no longer here.
One of the things that I have grieved is the idea that people won't get to know who my Mom is. If I make new friends, I can't introduce them to her. And I just want so badly for people to know her, and love her, as I do. She is just so wonderful. Thankfully, I am confident that if you know my Jesus, you will get to know my Mom, as well. In fact, we have all eternity to get to know those that we ran out of time with now. Isn't that amazing?
In the meantime, I can give you a brief picture of who she is. She is one of the most stubborn and determined people I have ever met, in the very best way possible. Spunky is a wonderful adjective to describe her. For all the pain and suffering she endured, many were not aware of what she really went through. She nearly always had a smile on her face (I can't wait to see the size of the smile in Heaven). She always focused on the needs of others above her own. I ran into one of her dialysis nurses a few months after she died, and she told me that the last time she had worked with Mom was while she was pregnant. Mom was way more concerned about this nurse overworking herself in taking care of her, than she was with her own care. That is Mom. She made little care packages for the nurses. Every Christmas, she made ornaments for the people who took care of her. She is an amazing prayer warrior--IS--her prayers are now being spoken in God's very presence. She never wanted people to have to be burdened to take care of her, so she would try to be independent to the extreme, even though we loved to help. Even in her final months, she was reclaiming tasks that she had long needed help with. She loved to surprise me by coming home to a cooked meal. I was always so annoyed with this, because she tired herself unnecessarily, but she so needed to show her love to us. Of course, we know how much she loves us. That's why my heart aches so badly and I can't stop the ugly cry as I'm typing.
One of the interesting things that I have learned from reading the Heaven book is that in eternity, as part of live on the resurrected Earth, we will work. Sounds foreign, doesn't it? We so often think of Heaven as just a place of rest. But if you think about it, we feel most fulfilled when we have meaningful things to accomplish in our lives. God has work planned for us in eternity, as well. Work that will always be joyful and fulfilling, giving glory to God.
I can't wait to see what He has planned for Mom to do. I am sure He will say to her, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord" (Matthew 25:23, NKJV). My Mom's heart is enormous, her perseverance is astounding, and with a resurrected, healthy body, she will be so ready! He has so much planned for her, and for us, too.
For today, though, I hope that my Mom is having a restful birthday. It's her second one now in the presence of God. I hope her joy overflows.
Thank God, there will be more birthdays to celebrate than I can possibly count.
Happy Birthday, Mom.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Home
Well, I finally finished reading "it" yesterday. If you don't know the "it" that I'm referring to, it's the book called Heaven by Randy Alcorn. You've likely heard me, at the very least, mention is sometime over the last year, if not practically preach a sermon about it. Lindsay jokingly said to me on Sunday that I should have shares in the book. It would be so true if what I desired out of sharing about this book was financial gain, but it has truly impacted my life in such a monumental way that I can't help but talk about it.
The first time I heard about the book was the day of my Mom's funeral. My Uncle had come over to visit. His wife had passed away from cancer just about exactly two months earlier. My Aunt was very well-versed in Scripture, and had read many non-fiction Christian books. This book was one that she had read and clung to in her last months. It was highly, highly recommended by her, and by my Uncle as well.
I didn't read it right away. But, I soon needed something to cling to myself. My heart ached for my Mom, and I was dealing with many aspects of grief, including grieving the missed future opportunities that had been taken from us. I needed a piece of hope. I didn't feel that the Bible spoke a lot about Heaven, and certainly had not heard many messages about the topic preached from the pulpit. I was interested as to what Randy Alcorn would have to say.
At this point, I should mention that Dr. Randy Alcorn has a degree in theology and biblical studies. He served as a pastor for fourteen years before founding Eternal Perspective Ministries. He has researched the subject of Heaven for over twenty-five years. He has revised his book several times when he has been met with criticism that he can find Scriptural basis to agree with. But, he is quick to point out that just because we haven't been taught something before, does not mean that it's not true (please read the book for more on his position).
So, I bought the book. I also bought this little "leaflet" that had 10 common questions about the topic of Heaven. It was a very, very condensed version of what was in the Heaven book. I sat down and read the little leaflet right away. To say that I was shocked would be an understatement. It put Heaven into such a real context that I was blown away. I quickly shared this with Mama and Pops as well (my grandparents). Mama, being understandingly cautious, read the leaflet much more carefully than I did, pausing to look up every single Scriptural reference. She has read the Bible many times through, and was shocked, as well. She was amazed at how much the Scriptures actually do say about Heaven, but it was just something she had never taken from those Scriptures before. I'm telling you, I was hooked, and I CRAVED more (the way it should be with God's word, yet so often isn't).
I started reading the big Heaven book (it's nearly 500 pages), and felt so overwhelmingly that God was speaking to me--that he was pouring out His promises to me. It was just filled with so, so much information that my heart longed for. It has been a really slow read--partially because it's so intense. There's so much information that I could only digest a little bit at a time. I think I also took my time with it because I didn't want it to end (now that I'm done, I'll just start right back at the beginning again). The rest of my family soon wanted to read it, too, but I just couldn't give it up, so I had to go and buy them each a copy, as well. Plus, I soon began to highlight and underline all over the place. There was just so much I didn't want to forget!
I want to be clear, though, that it's not about the book, it's not about the author, it's about God and His promises to me--the hope of a future beyond my wildest imagination. That's the whole thing, though--we are supposed to imagine Heaven, but for some reason, we aren't. Randy Alcorn presents the theory of Christoplatonism--the idea that we have spiritualized Heaven to the point where we actually believe that existing in a physical place is inherently evil. Think of the way the media portrays Heaven. It's all about fluffly clouds and an eternal church service in the sky. No wonder so many Christians are not looking forward to Heaven, and why they are scared of the idea of "forever." This is so totally not what God has planned. I have so much more to say about this, but I will try to be brief for today. My Mom is currently in the intermediate Heaven--a place that the Bible doesn't speak a great deal about, but I know that she is in God's presence, she is free of pain, and infinitely full of joy. She is resting right now. But God is planning more than that. See, He had a plan for creation at the beginning that included Him living in our presence (think of Eden). Of course, sin entered our world, and we now live under the Curse away from Him (with the exception of Him sending His Holy Spirit). But God has not given up on His original plan. He loves the Earth and will resurrect it one day, and He will resurrect all of us as well. We have one wonderful example of a resurrected body--Christ. Still himself in every way, but healed and perfected. God will resurrect all of our loved ones, as well, who have died knowing Christ. Those of us who have not gone to be with the Lord at that point will meet them in the air and God will transform our bodies as well. We will explore a newly resurrected Earth together. God will forever remove the barriers between the Earth and the Heavens. The city that He is preparing for us will be at the heart of the New Earth. There will be civilization, culture, music, food, and even work--all for God's glory. We will enjoy it all and be fulfilled beyond what we can imagine.
Think about it--this is what we were created to desire. We desire a physical environment. There is so much to love about this Earth. Walk down the street and look at all the beauty around you. Imagine all of that without the effects of the Curse--no weeds, no dirt, no cracks in the sidewalk, no decay--how incredible! The New Earth will be everything that we love about Earth right now, but so, so much better.
We also desire human touch and human relationships. I miss my Mom's hugs and I miss her hands. If I thought that Heaven was a fluffly place in the clouds away from our bodies, that would really diminish its meaning. I can hardly wait to see her in her resurrected body--complete with HER hands, not some hands that I've never felt before. And it's true--we really will be together again in a perfect world where death has been irradicated, and we will never fear being separated again.
Sound too good to be true? Welcome to God's true promises for you. If you truly believe in Christ and have accepted his gift of salvation for your sins, you really will live happily ever after.
We will be the place we were created for with the One who created us. We will be Home.
The first time I heard about the book was the day of my Mom's funeral. My Uncle had come over to visit. His wife had passed away from cancer just about exactly two months earlier. My Aunt was very well-versed in Scripture, and had read many non-fiction Christian books. This book was one that she had read and clung to in her last months. It was highly, highly recommended by her, and by my Uncle as well.
I didn't read it right away. But, I soon needed something to cling to myself. My heart ached for my Mom, and I was dealing with many aspects of grief, including grieving the missed future opportunities that had been taken from us. I needed a piece of hope. I didn't feel that the Bible spoke a lot about Heaven, and certainly had not heard many messages about the topic preached from the pulpit. I was interested as to what Randy Alcorn would have to say.
At this point, I should mention that Dr. Randy Alcorn has a degree in theology and biblical studies. He served as a pastor for fourteen years before founding Eternal Perspective Ministries. He has researched the subject of Heaven for over twenty-five years. He has revised his book several times when he has been met with criticism that he can find Scriptural basis to agree with. But, he is quick to point out that just because we haven't been taught something before, does not mean that it's not true (please read the book for more on his position).
So, I bought the book. I also bought this little "leaflet" that had 10 common questions about the topic of Heaven. It was a very, very condensed version of what was in the Heaven book. I sat down and read the little leaflet right away. To say that I was shocked would be an understatement. It put Heaven into such a real context that I was blown away. I quickly shared this with Mama and Pops as well (my grandparents). Mama, being understandingly cautious, read the leaflet much more carefully than I did, pausing to look up every single Scriptural reference. She has read the Bible many times through, and was shocked, as well. She was amazed at how much the Scriptures actually do say about Heaven, but it was just something she had never taken from those Scriptures before. I'm telling you, I was hooked, and I CRAVED more (the way it should be with God's word, yet so often isn't).
I started reading the big Heaven book (it's nearly 500 pages), and felt so overwhelmingly that God was speaking to me--that he was pouring out His promises to me. It was just filled with so, so much information that my heart longed for. It has been a really slow read--partially because it's so intense. There's so much information that I could only digest a little bit at a time. I think I also took my time with it because I didn't want it to end (now that I'm done, I'll just start right back at the beginning again). The rest of my family soon wanted to read it, too, but I just couldn't give it up, so I had to go and buy them each a copy, as well. Plus, I soon began to highlight and underline all over the place. There was just so much I didn't want to forget!
I want to be clear, though, that it's not about the book, it's not about the author, it's about God and His promises to me--the hope of a future beyond my wildest imagination. That's the whole thing, though--we are supposed to imagine Heaven, but for some reason, we aren't. Randy Alcorn presents the theory of Christoplatonism--the idea that we have spiritualized Heaven to the point where we actually believe that existing in a physical place is inherently evil. Think of the way the media portrays Heaven. It's all about fluffly clouds and an eternal church service in the sky. No wonder so many Christians are not looking forward to Heaven, and why they are scared of the idea of "forever." This is so totally not what God has planned. I have so much more to say about this, but I will try to be brief for today. My Mom is currently in the intermediate Heaven--a place that the Bible doesn't speak a great deal about, but I know that she is in God's presence, she is free of pain, and infinitely full of joy. She is resting right now. But God is planning more than that. See, He had a plan for creation at the beginning that included Him living in our presence (think of Eden). Of course, sin entered our world, and we now live under the Curse away from Him (with the exception of Him sending His Holy Spirit). But God has not given up on His original plan. He loves the Earth and will resurrect it one day, and He will resurrect all of us as well. We have one wonderful example of a resurrected body--Christ. Still himself in every way, but healed and perfected. God will resurrect all of our loved ones, as well, who have died knowing Christ. Those of us who have not gone to be with the Lord at that point will meet them in the air and God will transform our bodies as well. We will explore a newly resurrected Earth together. God will forever remove the barriers between the Earth and the Heavens. The city that He is preparing for us will be at the heart of the New Earth. There will be civilization, culture, music, food, and even work--all for God's glory. We will enjoy it all and be fulfilled beyond what we can imagine.
Think about it--this is what we were created to desire. We desire a physical environment. There is so much to love about this Earth. Walk down the street and look at all the beauty around you. Imagine all of that without the effects of the Curse--no weeds, no dirt, no cracks in the sidewalk, no decay--how incredible! The New Earth will be everything that we love about Earth right now, but so, so much better.
We also desire human touch and human relationships. I miss my Mom's hugs and I miss her hands. If I thought that Heaven was a fluffly place in the clouds away from our bodies, that would really diminish its meaning. I can hardly wait to see her in her resurrected body--complete with HER hands, not some hands that I've never felt before. And it's true--we really will be together again in a perfect world where death has been irradicated, and we will never fear being separated again.
Sound too good to be true? Welcome to God's true promises for you. If you truly believe in Christ and have accepted his gift of salvation for your sins, you really will live happily ever after.
We will be the place we were created for with the One who created us. We will be Home.
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Potter's Hand
I've been wrestling with today's post all day. There's a piece of me that desperately wants to delete it. It's like I'm scared that I'm perhaps taunting God, maybe even daring him to bring me more trials, just to see what I'm made of. That scares the junk out of me. Because sure enough, today has been a really difficult day, with some really garbagy issues resurfacing.
So, I've been really struggling. I was really touched by yesterday's message in church. There's so much that hit home for me, but one thing that stuck out is the idea that we are not supposed to be comfortable in this life. So true. More than anything, I would love for God to work out all the little details in my life, and live happily ever after. Of course, that's not the way it's going to be, at least not until eternity. It's really not the way it should be, especially as Christians. Stability brings complacency. We need to be reminded sometimes of the temporal, fragile nature of our lives here and now. It pushes us to have a correct perspective on the things that matter, and most importantly, convicts us of the urgent need to spread the message of God's gift of salvation.
I don't want the rain more than anyone else, but I have to work at coming to terms with the fact that my life no longer belongs to me. Christ bought me with His blood. His sacrifice on my behalf is incomprehensible, and I have nothing to give to Him as an offering of thanksgiving except for my life.
I'm not going to to delete the post, because then I will feel like the Enemy has won this round, and I don't want to let that happen. Does it scare me? Yes, of course it does. I am human, I'm a fairly typical type A personality, and I like to be in control. To give up control of my life is a pretty scary thing. And yet, I truly do want to be used by God. The fact is that the rain is going to fall regardless of what I ask God for. What I choose to gain from those experiences is up to me, and the grace of God. I anticipate it being difficult, but I do want to be the clay. "We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand" Isaiah 64:8. I give my life to the Potter's Hand.
Okay, humor me here. You knew it was coming. I've got to post these lyrics, too. : )
The Potter's Hand (Hillsong United)
Beautiful Lord, wonderful Saviour
I know for sure, all of my days are held in Your hands
Crafted into Your perfect plan
You gently call me, into Your presence
Guiding me by, Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord
To live all of my life through Your eyes
I'm captured by, Your Holy calling
Set me apart
I know You're drawing me to Yourself
Lead me Lord I pray
Take me, Mold me
Use me, Fill me
I give my life to the Potter's hands
Hold me, Guide me
Lead me, Walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter's hand
So, I've been really struggling. I was really touched by yesterday's message in church. There's so much that hit home for me, but one thing that stuck out is the idea that we are not supposed to be comfortable in this life. So true. More than anything, I would love for God to work out all the little details in my life, and live happily ever after. Of course, that's not the way it's going to be, at least not until eternity. It's really not the way it should be, especially as Christians. Stability brings complacency. We need to be reminded sometimes of the temporal, fragile nature of our lives here and now. It pushes us to have a correct perspective on the things that matter, and most importantly, convicts us of the urgent need to spread the message of God's gift of salvation.
I don't want the rain more than anyone else, but I have to work at coming to terms with the fact that my life no longer belongs to me. Christ bought me with His blood. His sacrifice on my behalf is incomprehensible, and I have nothing to give to Him as an offering of thanksgiving except for my life.
I'm not going to to delete the post, because then I will feel like the Enemy has won this round, and I don't want to let that happen. Does it scare me? Yes, of course it does. I am human, I'm a fairly typical type A personality, and I like to be in control. To give up control of my life is a pretty scary thing. And yet, I truly do want to be used by God. The fact is that the rain is going to fall regardless of what I ask God for. What I choose to gain from those experiences is up to me, and the grace of God. I anticipate it being difficult, but I do want to be the clay. "We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand" Isaiah 64:8. I give my life to the Potter's Hand.
Okay, humor me here. You knew it was coming. I've got to post these lyrics, too. : )
The Potter's Hand (Hillsong United)
Beautiful Lord, wonderful Saviour
I know for sure, all of my days are held in Your hands
Crafted into Your perfect plan
You gently call me, into Your presence
Guiding me by, Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord
To live all of my life through Your eyes
I'm captured by, Your Holy calling
Set me apart
I know You're drawing me to Yourself
Lead me Lord I pray
Take me, Mold me
Use me, Fill me
I give my life to the Potter's hands
Hold me, Guide me
Lead me, Walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter's hand
Bring the Rain
I've been wanting to write this post for a while now, and thought it was somehow fitting when I woke up to a dreary, rainy day. One of my favorite passages is James 1:2-3, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
While I wholeheartedly believe that trials bring blessing and build your faith, do we actually stop to embrace trials? Here's the more difficult question--would we actually ASK for God to bring us trials? While the easy "Sunday School answer" might be yes, in reality, it is very difficult for me to actually think of asking God to bring me more trials.
And yet, let's think about the rain for a minute. Why does God bring rain? Of course, he brings it to foster growth. The rainiest places on our planet are the greenest. More rain, more green.
And after the rain? The rainbow. The promise that He will never again destroy the Earth. He has never left us and never will. However much rain He chooses to bring, it will never be enough to destroy us, and He will always be beside us as we pass through the storm.
So, back to the question at hand. Can I honestly invite God to bring the rain into my life? Well, I want a more abundant life, both now, and into eternity. I want more of my Jesus. I'm really trying to embrace this current rain, and to find what He's trying to teach me, and to share it. I'm not really sure that I can say that I want more rain in my life right now, but I'm trusting that God knows best. And if that's what He chooses, and if that's what it takes to praise Him...Jesus bring the rain.
Bring the Rain by MercyMe (again, you can hear it on the playlist at the bottom of the page)
I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray
Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
While I wholeheartedly believe that trials bring blessing and build your faith, do we actually stop to embrace trials? Here's the more difficult question--would we actually ASK for God to bring us trials? While the easy "Sunday School answer" might be yes, in reality, it is very difficult for me to actually think of asking God to bring me more trials.
And yet, let's think about the rain for a minute. Why does God bring rain? Of course, he brings it to foster growth. The rainiest places on our planet are the greenest. More rain, more green.
And after the rain? The rainbow. The promise that He will never again destroy the Earth. He has never left us and never will. However much rain He chooses to bring, it will never be enough to destroy us, and He will always be beside us as we pass through the storm.
So, back to the question at hand. Can I honestly invite God to bring the rain into my life? Well, I want a more abundant life, both now, and into eternity. I want more of my Jesus. I'm really trying to embrace this current rain, and to find what He's trying to teach me, and to share it. I'm not really sure that I can say that I want more rain in my life right now, but I'm trusting that God knows best. And if that's what He chooses, and if that's what it takes to praise Him...Jesus bring the rain.
Bring the Rain by MercyMe (again, you can hear it on the playlist at the bottom of the page)
I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray
Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Time
I had such a wonderful long weekend. It was full of visits with family and friends. One visit was with my grandparents (my Mom's parents). It is so wonderful to sit there and visit with my Mama and Pops, who love Mom, and know her as well as I do. They are the only ones that I can really go to and let the tears flow as freely as they want to. One thing that Mama and I discussed has really stuck with me since our visit. She said that people keep saying to her, "Aren't you so relieved that Sheryl isn't suffering anymore?" Duh, of course we are. I would never, ever wish that kind of suffering on anyone. She continued, "If you put all that aside, the fact is that she's my DAUGHTER." It's true. No one should have to bury their children. No one should have to be without their Mom at the age of 27, either. I should still have my Mom for another 50 years or so. I need her.
As long as the world is under the Curse, time will be my enemy. I can't stop the days. I can't turn back the clock. And I couldn't buy any more days together with her if I had all the money in the world.
Right after my Mom died, I stood there holding her hand. It made me sick to my stomach to see that her watch was still ticking. It wasn't fair. My whole world had come to a grinding halt, and yet time was still moving along. Time takes me further and further away from when I was with her last. The other day I went into her precious jewellery box. I was so relieved to see that her watch had finally stopped. I don't know when it happened, but it made me feel slightly better.
Praise God that time will not forever be my enemy. In fact, if I stop to put things in perspective, the thief that we call time begins to lose a bit of its sting already. It's true that while I am alive here on the Earth as it is now, time will continue to rob me. While blessings may come along the way, time will continue to take my loved ones and it will continue to decay my own body. The part that helps me, though, is knowing that this is just part of the eternal plan. I am not living an isolated life with nothing to hope for. Because I've accepted God's eternal gift of salvation, I am already living my eternity. My Mom's life is not over. She continues to exist in God's presence, and one day she will be resurrected along with the Earth. I, too, will continue to exist after I take my last breath in the here and now. God has so much more planned.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
I don't know what the Lord has planned for me in the near future. I know the things that I desire, but I realize that God may have an entirely different plan for me. So often people read that verse with a very temporary mindset. They think that if God doesn't provide abundant blessings, financial help, or physical healing, that He has let them down. I, however, am working towards viewing my life through eternal lenses. Even if God were to choose to take everything away from me in the here and now, I would still have hope for a future. It's His promise to me. One day time will no longer be my enemy. God will restore time to its original purpose on the New Earth, once He has lifted the curse. Time will no longer be able to take anyone or anything from me. It will bring hope, prosperity, and a future that just keeps getting better and better.
Praise God for the gift of time as He intended it to be.
As long as the world is under the Curse, time will be my enemy. I can't stop the days. I can't turn back the clock. And I couldn't buy any more days together with her if I had all the money in the world.
Right after my Mom died, I stood there holding her hand. It made me sick to my stomach to see that her watch was still ticking. It wasn't fair. My whole world had come to a grinding halt, and yet time was still moving along. Time takes me further and further away from when I was with her last. The other day I went into her precious jewellery box. I was so relieved to see that her watch had finally stopped. I don't know when it happened, but it made me feel slightly better.
Praise God that time will not forever be my enemy. In fact, if I stop to put things in perspective, the thief that we call time begins to lose a bit of its sting already. It's true that while I am alive here on the Earth as it is now, time will continue to rob me. While blessings may come along the way, time will continue to take my loved ones and it will continue to decay my own body. The part that helps me, though, is knowing that this is just part of the eternal plan. I am not living an isolated life with nothing to hope for. Because I've accepted God's eternal gift of salvation, I am already living my eternity. My Mom's life is not over. She continues to exist in God's presence, and one day she will be resurrected along with the Earth. I, too, will continue to exist after I take my last breath in the here and now. God has so much more planned.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
I don't know what the Lord has planned for me in the near future. I know the things that I desire, but I realize that God may have an entirely different plan for me. So often people read that verse with a very temporary mindset. They think that if God doesn't provide abundant blessings, financial help, or physical healing, that He has let them down. I, however, am working towards viewing my life through eternal lenses. Even if God were to choose to take everything away from me in the here and now, I would still have hope for a future. It's His promise to me. One day time will no longer be my enemy. God will restore time to its original purpose on the New Earth, once He has lifted the curse. Time will no longer be able to take anyone or anything from me. It will bring hope, prosperity, and a future that just keeps getting better and better.
Praise God for the gift of time as He intended it to be.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Grieving
It's amazing how God leads us. He has led me to a few blogs of people who have been experiencing great losses. This poem was posted on one of the blogs, and it just speaks so well of the journey of a grieving person. I wish I had been able to post this a year ago. Praise God, much healing has taken place in my heart, but believe me, I am still at this place at times. And that's okay. I'm grieving.
Please Be Gentle
By Jill B. Englar
Please be gentle with me for I am grieving.
The sea I swim in is a lonely one
and the shore seems miles away.
Waves of despair numb my soul
as I struggle through each day.
My heart is heavy with sorrow.
I want to shout and scream
and repeatedly ask 'why?'
At times, my grief overwhelms me
and I weep bitterly,
so great is my loss.
Please don’t turn away
or tell me to move on with my life.
I must embrace my pain
before I can begin to heal.
Companion me through tears
and sit with me in loving silence.
Honor where I am in my journey,
not where you think I should be.
Listen patiently to my story,
I may need to tell it over and over again.
It’s how I begin to grasp the enormity of my loss.
Nurture me through the weeks and months ahead.
Forgive me when I seem distant and inconsolable.
A small flame still burns within my heart,
and shared memories may trigger
both laughter and tears.
I need your support and understanding.
There is no right or wrong way to grieve.
I must find my own path.
Please, will you walk beside me?
Please Be Gentle
By Jill B. Englar
Please be gentle with me for I am grieving.
The sea I swim in is a lonely one
and the shore seems miles away.
Waves of despair numb my soul
as I struggle through each day.
My heart is heavy with sorrow.
I want to shout and scream
and repeatedly ask 'why?'
At times, my grief overwhelms me
and I weep bitterly,
so great is my loss.
Please don’t turn away
or tell me to move on with my life.
I must embrace my pain
before I can begin to heal.
Companion me through tears
and sit with me in loving silence.
Honor where I am in my journey,
not where you think I should be.
Listen patiently to my story,
I may need to tell it over and over again.
It’s how I begin to grasp the enormity of my loss.
Nurture me through the weeks and months ahead.
Forgive me when I seem distant and inconsolable.
A small flame still burns within my heart,
and shared memories may trigger
both laughter and tears.
I need your support and understanding.
There is no right or wrong way to grieve.
I must find my own path.
Please, will you walk beside me?
Friday, August 1, 2008
Choosing Joy
So, yesterday was a year from the funeral. I've felt so many emotions this past year--from hysterical, to angry, to being so sad that it physically ached my heart. Yesterday, however, I had to fight the feeling of being numb. I remember feeling that way after her funeral, too, but worse. It just felt like nothing in life would ever be joyful again. People told us that slowly God would restore our joy. It was hard to believe at that point, but it was entirely true. It comes back in bits and pieces, sometimes in ways you don't expect.
This week the Holy Spirit has been whispering this verse to me: "The Joy of the Lord is my strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). I've really been battling this. I mean, I completely understand what it means, but whether I have claimed it as my own is something else. See, I believe there's a huge difference between happiness and joy. To me, happiness is something that is never guaranteed. In fact, I think it's a much bigger guarantee that we're bound to face heartache of some kind or another during this lifetime. But, the joy of the Lord is something that is a definite guarantee. See, God never changes. No matter how much stuff we go through in this life, He is still the same. What He's done for us, and what He promises us will never change. And one day, He truly promises that He will wipe every last tear from our eyes (Rev. 7:17). For that, I will continue to praise Him. I will choose to experience His joy and let it continue to strengthen me.
It's a new day, full of hope and promise. I'm choosing joy today. I encourage you to do the same.
This week the Holy Spirit has been whispering this verse to me: "The Joy of the Lord is my strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). I've really been battling this. I mean, I completely understand what it means, but whether I have claimed it as my own is something else. See, I believe there's a huge difference between happiness and joy. To me, happiness is something that is never guaranteed. In fact, I think it's a much bigger guarantee that we're bound to face heartache of some kind or another during this lifetime. But, the joy of the Lord is something that is a definite guarantee. See, God never changes. No matter how much stuff we go through in this life, He is still the same. What He's done for us, and what He promises us will never change. And one day, He truly promises that He will wipe every last tear from our eyes (Rev. 7:17). For that, I will continue to praise Him. I will choose to experience His joy and let it continue to strengthen me.
It's a new day, full of hope and promise. I'm choosing joy today. I encourage you to do the same.
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