I’ve had migraines for as long as I can remember. My mom and I have a running joke that “it’s not really a migraine until your brain’s having a baby!”
All in Joy
Joshing Around
My nephew, Josh, was always a prankster. He was the class clown in school. He provided entertainment for his family. He initiated fun adventures with his friends. He had “a smile his face couldn’t contain,” as his brother noted.
Joy
The joy of Christmas. I’m just not feeling it! Instead, I feel the weight of programs, projects and plans; of school, schedules and sickness; of my own aches, anxieties and angst. Where is that joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8, KJV)?
Joy is Strength
Do you seek joy? I do.
I mean the joy that is blessing and happiness in life.
Then don’t miss this truth…
Joy Full of Christmas
A recent social media response from our daughter’s friend encouraged me.
Now, a mother of teenage children of her own, she recalled how she enjoyed being in our home when she was a child, and especially remembered the “Joy Jar” on the kitchen counter.
Joy to the World…the Son provided purification
“Joy to the world! The Lord is come.” Having created the universe in the beginning (1:2), and having sustained all things in the meantime (1:3), Jesus did precisely what He had come to do. He came “to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found.” The curse of original sin had most certainly left the proving ground of mankind’s soul a thorny mess that only a Savior could uproot. So the Son came to earth and provided purification for sins. He paid our penalty in full. Now that’s a reason to joyfully sing!
Joy to the World…God speaks
The joy of Jesus’ birth seems to reverberate through Hebrews 1. To my mind it underlines “Joy to the world! The Lord is come”. God spoke in the past, speaks now, and will continue to speak—God, the great “I Am” of forever.
Joy to the World…the LORD is come!
It’s the beginning of December ladies, and the carols are ringing out loud and clear. “Joy to the World” keeps running through my head:
“Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King!”
Worship and Blessing
A glorious day for all involved – the ark of God had come to Jerusalem. King David and the Israelites’ joy at that event inspired a worship experience like no other. Burnt and fellowship offerings, singing, instruments, and words of praise highlighted their day.
The Majesty
“Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8 begins and ends with this celebration of God’s majesty. Nestled in between we find a verse about the praise of children. Have you ever listened to a child or children sing about Jesus? What an uplifting sound!
The Mystery
Anxious and excited both described my feelings on our grandson’s first day of kindergarten. My daughter relayed he had gotten up early and they had made it to the front of the drop off line. He delighted me by face-timing me while they waited in the car.
Eleven Songs to Lift Your Mood and Your Faith
Sometimes you just need a little good music to pull you out of the blahs. Here are some of my favorites. Dancing is optional — but I highly recommend!
The Sounds of Silence…to the glory of God!
I don’t know about you ladies, but when life’s distracting noises bombard my senses I best regain my equilibrium in the wonders of creation. There, the voices that declare God’s glory ring loud and clear.
Whatever
My principal asked me an opinion question. I really disagreed with the answer I knew she waited for so I said, “Whatever!” Of course, I immediately realized how rude I sounded and apologized profusely.
Cracker Box Christmas
My grandmother loved to give everyone in the family Christmas gifts. As much as possible she made them by hand. She might make house shoes, hot pan holders, or doilies. She might even go so far as to buy a pair of socks for each of the guys.
Jars of Clay…relief from our enemies
Esther is another example of a woman in crisis, albeit of a different kind. More precisely, all the Jews in the vast Medo-Persian kingdom ruled by Xerxes were in dire straits and Esther was the only one who had any hope of getting the ear of the king. You see, Haman held a grudge against Mordecai, Esther’s adopted caregiver, because he refused to bow down and honor him (Esther 3:2). So Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes (3:6). He persuaded Xerxes: “They do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them” (3:8). The date was set to annihilate all…on a single day (3:13).
Laugh!
How unattainable this verse seems now as we have walked through the first month of a new decade. We have already watched unkindness and uncertainty continue to flourish in the political situation in our country. Homeland disasters occur so often that it doesn’t phase us as much when our flags are flown at half-staff. Cultural demise continues to grow while people are grasping for avenues of inner peace from a variety of sources.
Of Redwoods and Rivers and Sand Dunes
How then shall we live, you and I, in the amazing grace of the Branch (Jesus) from the stump of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1)? That’s the big question. It all began with the tree of life (Genesis 3:9); it will end with the tree of life (Revelation 22:14). In the interim, in this life, how indeed do we function like the trees planted by the streams of water that we now are, in Christ?
Side by Side
My heart soars when I watch a certain young man joyfully assist the worship minister rehearse with the choir before entering the sanctuary. His body bends over his crutches, yet he stands as if his posture was perfectly straight. His face reflects the joy and love of Christ with an unguarded smile. His eyes look to Heaven as he sings. Christ’s radiance on his face inspires me every time I see him. This man is famous to Jesus. Jesus is famous to this man.
The Simple Things: Remain
Perhaps you have heard of the My One Word experiment, designed by Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen to encourage you to live—really live—by the word you pick for the year. Well, look no further. In the first ten verses of John 15 Jesus uses the word remain eleven times, in multiple combinations of: remain in me and I will remain in you; remain in my love; let my words remain in you. Seems to me ladies, we need to take the hint from Jesus and remain in Him.