Choose Joy Anyway

Yesterday morning I had a wonderful prayer time with the Lord.  Upon finishing my time of prayer I wrote a devotional and posted it on my blog.  It was all about being joyful about the restoration that Christ has performed in your life.  It was from Nehemiah and how the children of Israel celebrated their newly built wall!  You can read more about it here.

I did just that in the quiet of my house and on the pages of my journal.  I thanked the Lord for restoring and renewing me and committed to letting others see and know of my joy throughout the day.  I closed my Bible & my journal and went to the laundry room to get my workout clothes to go for my morning run.

I quickly realized it was raining, so in my head I thought, "I'll just stay inside and lift weights instead."  But upon opening the laundry room door, I found water everywhere!  We live in an old house and occasionally find leaks in strange places.  The laundry that was hanging clean (from the day before) was now dripping!  ARG!!!

I quickly rescued the other clothes that had not yet received the rain.  Needless to say, by the time all was saved my workout time had passed.  It was now time to get the day going towards breakfast & school.  I wanted to forget my committment to be joyful and just lash out!  But I didn't.  I kept my cool and focused on the verses I had just read.

In fact, as I was beginning to stew about the rain and the laundry (that I'm now going to have to RE-WASH) I thought about the women in Jerusalem that day.  The day they were all standing around the newly constructed wall - celebrating and praising the Lord for His restoration.  I wondered if they were experiencing similar things as I had just encountered.

Something like:

"I know we have to be at the wall to sing - but dinner is not ready and we can't find our son's sandals!"

or

"Yes, I will be there with a smile on my face and I will thank our God for bringing us home... but we're still unpacking and I can't even find a decent dress to wear!"

I know this isn't written in scripture, but somehow I think something like this could have been possible.  And yet - all we read about it how they took time to show their joy.  So in my moment of frustration - I decided to chose joy instead.  And this is what the power of Christ looks and feels like!

How do you choose joy on days like this?

How do you stop yourself from sinking and rise above instead?

How do you choose joy no matter what's around you?

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Restored Joy

I love my quiet house in the morning.  I can actually hear the AC pouring through the vents, I can hear the trees as the wind gently blows through them outside my window... these are sounds that I don't hear during the hustle & bustle of my day.  It's during these quiet few moments that I can also hear God speak to my spirit.

This morning, I saw a really short but meaningful verse in Nehemiah.  It's all about joy & restoration.

Nehemiah 12:43 (b) (ESV)

 ...And the joy of Jerusalem 

was heard far away.

Okay, let me give you a little bit of context & background here.  The exiled children of Israel have been allowed to return from Babylon back to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple & their city.  Nehemiah has led the charge to rebuild the wall of the city and it's finally complete.  Choirs have been positioned at every corner of the wall and they are praising and rejoicing that God has delivered, rebuilt, and restored their home & their people.

As I read this verse, I got a visual of many Israelites singing and truly being joyful that they had finally made it home and were free to worship their God!  They worshiped and praised the God who delivered them - who restored them.

This verse inspired me to truly praise God and be joyful for the restoration He's provided for me as well.  I think far too often we pray for God to heal us, to rebuild our brokenness, to restore our homes and then when He does - we just go about our day, as if all that were a normal every day occurrence!

The children of Israel took massive amounts of time and energy to be joyful for their restoration.  Check out Nehemiah and you'll see the detail that was put into praising God for the deliverance He provided them.

This morning, I let my Lord know that not only am I grateful and joyful for the rebuilding and restoring He has provided - but that I want it to be "heard far away!"  Not for my sake... but so others can see what a great, loving, compassionate God I serve.

Now I know that I'm not going to stand on a city wall... so what does this look like for me, in my neck of the woods, in 2010?  I believe that smiles go WAY further than we think.  Do I "look" joyful to those around me?

Also, do I share, in small & big ways, that once I was lost and now I'm found?  When those around me share with me how they are hurting do I give them the living water that will truly heal them?  Or do I just tell them I'll pray for them and go about my busy day?  I want my joy to be heard so it can lead to life!

Have you been restored or rebuilt lately?  

If so, then let your joy be heard!  

If you're still waiting on restoration - let the story of the Israelites give you hope!  Not only had their home been destroyed, but they were taken as captives to a whole other country - for years!!!  And God still brought them home, rebuilt their place of worship, reinforced their city walls and renewed their joy!  He can and wants to do the same for you!

First Day of School

Wow!  What a morning this has been!  The first day of First Grade!!  Jordan woke up super excited about her first day of school!  While she was excited about her new classroom and another great new year at her school, there was a comfort level with this year that she didn't have last year. 

Last year was her first year in a new school, in a new city & state... but this year, part of her excitement was about seeing all her friends from Kindergarten.  Orientation was last week, so she knew exactly where her desk was and who would be sitting beside her.

This year was different for me as well.  Last year I remember sitting next to her at her sweet little table and trying not to cry as I noticed how nervous she was about this new school.  This year - me and some of my favorite Mom-friends stood at the back of the room - snapping pictures and catching up ourselves.  While we watched our daughters lavishly pass out hugs and giggles as they did the same - catching up and showing off their new school supplies and being giddy about how they had the same school box!

I'm now at home with my sweet little 3 year-old son, back on the potty training schedule and settling back into our "school normal" - as Jordan put it this weekend.

I wouldn't be the proud Mommy that I am if I didn't share with you what our morning looked like...

Jordan before we left for school

Jordan with Daddy - before school & work (notice JP sneaking in the background)

Jordan with Mommy - before getting in the car to leave

Jordan reuniting with her Kindergarten friends!

Jordan at her new desk! (notice the card that reads, "God loves Jordan")

One final Good-Bye hug from her little brother...

I can't wait to see what this year is going to bring us all!  Congratulations Jordan!

His Words Sunday

I'm really enjoying making my Sunday blog solely about His words - and not mine.  Today I want to give you His Words about His church.  His church is made up of His people and He wants desperately for them to gather together and to meet with them (us) collectively!

Psalm 26:8 (ESV)

O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where Your glory dwells.

Today, I pray that you find yourself taking in the holy habitation of the Lord in corporate worship!  I believe that He knows we will find His strength for our daily life, when we come together with fellow brothers and sisters in the faith.

I know you will experience His glory there with them!

I'm Here

Last night I concluded a Ladies Bible Study on the Names of God. It was a FANTASTIC study by Kay Arthur, Lord I Want To Know You. I must admit, my prayer life will never be the same! Now I know that I can call on Jehovah-jireh, when I am in need of provisions. I can call on Jehovah-raah, when I need my God to lead me to greener pastures. I can call on Jehovah-sabaoth when I need God to lead the charge against my enemies. I love being able to call on Jehovah-rapha when I need his healing balm of Gilead.

I could go on and on here. We studied 16 different names of God (from the Old Testament) in just 6 weeks. I'm so proud of all of the ladies that attended in person and those who followed online at Studying His Word.

But what I came away with last night is a name most precious to me. A name I can say when I'm not sure what's around the corner. A name I can cry out to when it feels like God is being silent. A name I can be comforted by when it appears that God has let me fall.

(to continue reading click here)







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What would I do without her?!

Whew!  Yesterday was "one-of-those" days!  I'm so glad it's in my rear view mirror this morning!  No need to rehash the details, but it was full of parenting, scheduling, finance, shopping, ministry, cleaning, exercising - pretty much you name it - I dealt with it.  And the crazy thing - not all of it was even bad - it was just full and loud!  Do you ever have those kind of days? Please tell me I'm not alone here!!!

At the end of the day, instead of brooding over it all, I decided to call a loyal & trusted friend... my Mom!  Not only did she offer great advice, and help me put the craziness in proper perspective - but she made me laugh!  When I started the phone call I was frustrated and exhausted, and after we said our good-byes, I was bounding up the stairs - renewed and refreshed for storytime with the kids - and I didn't even look for the shortest book on the shelf - I read them a new book!

What can I say about my Mom?  I love her so much - and am learning more and more as I age, what a great woman she is - she is a great mother, a wonderful friend, a loyal servant to the Lord, she sets a great example to me on how to be a wife, she's literally a missionary at her place of business, oh my... I could on and on - and no - it's not her birthday or even Mother's day!

I want to suggest something for you all... call your Mom!  Make it regular.  Years ago, (I can't even remember who started it or when it began) but she & I started talking on the phone every Saturday.  This has made the difference in our relationship!  It's made the difference in my sanity some weeks!  I don't miss a Saturday with her.  In fact, my husband has even begun asking - "How was your time with your Mom today?" - every Saturday.  He sees the difference in me when I spend time with my Mother.

I know not all of you may have a good relationship with your Mother, or some of your Mothers may no longer be living and for you my heart aches.  I don't know what I would do without mine.

For the rest of you, commit today to just give her a call - out of the blue - and just do life with her!  I'm sure you would make her day - and she might just make yours as well!!!

Tell me...

what special thing do 
you love about your Mom?!

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Magically... or Automatically?

Here recently my 6 year-old daughter has been discovering the wonderful world of “what happens automatically” in the car.

How did this exercise come about?!

She loves to lock her door and wants to do so IMMEDIATELY upon getting into her seat. I explained to her that her door will lock automatically when the car gets to a certain speed and she doesn’t have to worry about this small little task.

Another one is the car radio. She wants to ensure that I’m going to turn on the music, IMMEDIATELY! Again, I have explained to her, that her beloved music will come on automatically upon cranking the car.

Just when I thought we had the concept of automatic features mastered - she asked me a question that I have not been able to get out of my mind. It has such a beautiful illustration of our relationship with Christ that I just had to share it with you all.

(to read the rest of this... visit Allied Moms!  It's found under Encouragement for the Day)