Joy for the Journey

    The other day I heard a commercial that started by asking, "if you could make one phone call  to Heaven, what would you want to ask God."  We have all probably at some point had questions on our minds that we would like to ask God.  Most of us have had circumstances in our lives that we just could not understand.  We press on and put our trust in the Father knowing that His plan for us is perfect.  But what one question would we ask if given the opportunity?  My first response reminded me of a young child's question from the backseat of a car on a lengthy road trip.  I would ask God, "when will we be there?"  How  much longer will it be before we stand face to face with our mighty Creator and kneel at the feet of Jesus our Savior?  I have a happy life and want to accomplish much more while on this earth, yet my soul longs to be with Jesus.  The apostle Paul said that he learned to be content no matter what his circumstances were.  We must find peace and contentment as we dwell in these earthly tents.  But I believe that we can also live with our eyes so focused on eternity that we have somewhat of a homesick feeling.  The closer that we draw to God and the more time we spend in His presence, the more we feel like strangers in this world.  So how much longer...only God knows.  Keep pressing on and keep your eyes focused on eternity.


Judges 5:21 "...March on, my soul; be strong!"

2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Philippians 4:11 "...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."

Philippians 3:13-14 "Brothers, I do not consider myself  yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Psalm 84:5 "Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

     Only in Jesus is there true peace.  He came that we might have life in abundance and live above the worry and stresses of this life.  The Lord has not promised that we will not face struggles, in fact, He tells us that "in this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)  So through Him we can have abiding peace and joy no matter what we face in this life.  Peace and joy are ours...we just have to take hold of them and embrace them confidently as children of God.  Be blessed and refreshed today as you press forward in His strength!

I can face the waves, for I trust the One

who made the ocean.

     The Lord has promised not to forget us.  As parents we never forget our children.  Even when we are separated by time or distance, we never forget about them.  God's love for us is far greater than the love we have for our precious children.  At times when we find ourselves in circumstances beyond our control and nothing seems to be going well for us, we may wonder if God has forgotten us.  When difficulties persist, it can seem like He has disappeared from our lives.  But in Isaiah 49:15-16 we are assured that He remembers,  ...I will not forget you!  See,  I have  engraved you on the palms of my hands..."  The very hand of God has your name engraved on it.  I have often seen the quote that says, "If God had a refrigerator door...your picture would be on it."  How true!  You are so special to God and His thoughts are on you!  Nothing goes unnoticed, no tear goes unseen and no pain you experience slips by Him.  He is a God of the small stuff, the big stuff,  and the in between stuff.  Rest today in the knowledge that God's thoughts are on you, His arms are enfolding you and His hands are holding you.  Trust Him and be not afraid.  You are never forgotten!












Isaiah 49:15-16 - Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before me.

Psalm 48:14 - For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.

Matthew 28:20 - ...And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

   Each morning as we awake we are presented with a fresh supply of God's blessings.  In the Old Testament book of Lamentations we are told that His mercies are new every morning.  Great is His faithfulness!  Psalm 68:19 praises God our Savior who daily bears our burdens.  We may still be dwelling on our situation or problems, but God's willingness to bear our burdens is there for us every single day.  If you  tried to grab your worries and cares back from His able hands as yesterday waned, then as you rise this morning cast your cares on Him again and start fresh.  The psalmist reminds us that each day is made by God and that we should rejoice and be glad in it.  
     Life is best lived one day at a time.  Start each day thanking God for His blessings specifically, as many as you can think of:  His mercy, grace, love, peace, joy, protection, faithfulness, etc.
That well known 23rd Psalm ends with the words, "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life..."  Today is a new day and it is all we are guarantied. Remember that our faithful Heavenly Father has equipped you today with everything you will need.  He will give you strength, courage, peace and more as you need it.  Today is a new beginning and you are fully equipped to make it a great one!

Daily
Our faithful God in Heaven above looks down on us with lavish love
He lifts our burdens and those awful cares,
 each one of them He daily bears
When we awake in a worried haze
He sends us peace for each of our days
Today requires courage in great supply
So we lean on the Lord and on His strength rely
Every morning He blesses us in so many ways
His mercy will follow us all of our days
Whatever we need we daily find
as we kneel at His throne one day at a time
May each morning bring word of
His unfailing love
His goodness and mercy from Heaven above
And may we remember that all will be fine
As long as we take one day at a time
    by Lisa Williams

Psalm 68:19 - Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

Lamentation 3:22-23 - Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Psalm 42:8 - By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me---a prayer to the God of my life.

Isaiah 65:24 - Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.

May our daily lives be the answer to someone else's prayers!

  Can you believe that it is 2009?     It seems like yesterday we were welcoming in the new millennium.     Time marches on but it is never too late to start living "happily ever after".  And it is never too late to allow God to work in your life and do extraordinary things in you and through you.
     God can take the ordinary and do extraordinary things you never could have imagined.  Scripture is filled with examples of ordinary people and things that God used to accomplish amazing things.  In John we read of a  boy who had five small barley loaves and two small fish.  Jesus used this simple lunch to feed five thousand people and perform a wonderful miracle.   The Bible tells of a widow who gave all she had which was two small coins, and the twelve apostles who were ordinary men when Jesus called them to follow Him.  An ordinary situation can be transformed into an extraordinary event through the power and love of God.  
     The new year may just seem like another ordinary year, but God can make it an extraordinary time of your life.  It can be the best year you have ever had no matter what your circumstances are.  You are already an extraordinary blessing in my life.  Have a great New Year!





Psalm 84:5 - And how blessed all those in whom You live, whose lives become roads You travel. (The Message)

Psalm 118:25 - This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Isaiah 12:5 - Sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things...

Psalm 18:32-33 - It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.  He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;  He enables me to stand on the heights.

     Yes, my friends, God is doing extraordinary things in you and through you.  He can make each day  the best one yet.  May 2009 be the most extraordinary year you have ever had.  To God be the glory!

October, 2008 Joy for the Journey Newsletter

     "...the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit."  Romans 5:5  Think back over your journey with the Lord and contemplate the many ways you have changed.  The closer we are to God and the more time we spend in His Word and in prayer, the more changes we begin to notice.  Has your heart softened toward people that you held a long time grudge toward?  Do you surprise yourself at times when you stay calm and peaceful in situations that once would have made you very angry?  If you are wondering how that has happened, just read Romans 5:5.  Through God's Holy Spirit He has filled your heart with His love and it just can't stay contained.  It is shed abroad wherever you go.  The more we draw near to our God, the more uncomfortable we feel in the world.  You may squirm now when you hear the Lord's name used in vain or cringe when you hear unkind words spoken.  Yes, the Lord through His Holy Spirit is transforming you into His likeness.  God is creating a masterpiece in each one of us and He will not stop until the day of completion.  Don't you just love the new work that the Potter is creating in you?  I think you are terrific!  Keep growing and glowing!!!

 

A Change in You

I've really seen a change in you and I like what I see

Your soft and gentle spirit make quite an impression on me

Every time I see you, a smile on my face just appears

I feel so much better whenever you are near

For you show me kindness and lift me up when I am feeling down

You turn my thoughts toward things above and point me to higher ground

Often I've wondered how could anyone ever grow so sweet

But I know that it's all the time that you've spent at Jesus feet

You feed on God's Word and talk to Him every night and day

And now I know that it's the love of God that makes you act this way

His love fills every corner of your great big heart

And that love shines everywhere you go and never will depart

You are more and more like Jesus and you're growing all the time

His love is shed abroad in your heart and it has spilled over to mine

by Lisa Williams

II Corinthians 2:14 - But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the frangrance of the knowledge of Him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

II Corinthians 3:18 - And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

John 14:23 - Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.  My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

James 3:8 - Come near to God and He will come near to you.

 

Keep Growing and Glowing!

 

Joy for the Journey

Vol. 32 July, 2008

How I love to read the writings of the apostle Paul. One of my favorite passages is Phil. 3:13-14 (NIV). It says "...But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Notice the word and phrase "straining" and "press on". There words indicate action and to me they imply intense action. Isn't this the kind of Christian walk that we want to have, actively striving for the prize for which God has called us? Instead of straining the King James Version uses the words "reaching forth". The Greek word for this means to stretch forward. I picture a runner making that last stretch to reach the finish line before his competitors. We need this kind of straining on our spiritual journey. It needs to involve effort and focus to seek that which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus. Life can distract us and make us lose our focus. It is so easy to get caught up in trying to make ends meet or raising children or beginning a career. But in His sermon on the mount, after a discussion of our material needs, Jesus said "But seek ye first His kingdom and His righteous- ness, and all these things will be given to you as well." So press on, Dear One, and set your eyes on the prize.

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Philippians 3:12-14 - Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

II Corinthians 4:16-18 - Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Keep pressing on!