The Gift of Joy

I'm drinking my coffee this morning out of a large mug given to me by Mom for Christmas. It is lovely, with a baby cardinal on it and a snow scene. Don't ask why there's a baby bird during the winter! That's not the point. The saying on it is, "The smallest wonders often bring the greatest JOYS."

That got me thinking about the joy that comes from the Lord. We know that joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit, which means it comes from God, the Spirit. One of the definitions of joy on dictionary.com is, "source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated..."

I wanted the definitions to include something about a deep down happiness that is much more than happiness. I wanted it to say that happiness is caused by externals, like getting a new sofa, a new job, a new home. Or an ice cream cone. But that joy is deep down inside, even when we aren't exceptionally happy or maybe even down right sad. Because, that's what joy means to me. That's how it was for me, even when my first husband of 28 years died.

That kind of deep down joy is a gift we are given as we walk this journey of faith. "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Jesus said that in John 16:33 but he prefaced it with, "I have told you these things (the things just prior to this verse), so that you may have peace (insert joy) IN ME. In this world you will have trouble..."

That makes me sigh and take a deep breath. It makes me joyful deep down in my being. I don't want to have trouble. Or suffering (NET version) but when I do - because I'm in the world - He wants me to have peace IN HIM because He has overcome the world. And He wants that for you, too.

In Habakkuk, the prophet was writing about a harsh judgement that was coming on Israel and he thought it wasn't fair. He had a debate with God and guess who wins. After God speaks, Habakkuk decides to trust in the Lord. He ends in Chapter 3 with:

"...I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength..."  Hab. 3:18 NIV

The text note of my Kindle NET Bible says of this passage, "Difficult times are coming, but Habakkuk is confident the LORD will sustain him. Habakkuk will be able to survive..."

I love that joy, the joy that comes from trust in the Lord. I don't always trust Him and lean on Him completely. And it's those times that I fear and worry - and don't have joy.  But when I can move back toward the Lord, knowing full well that troubles will come, and still take courage because He has overcome the world, that deep-down sense of well-being, peace, yes, joy, returns. I want to abide in that joy. I want to trust Him more!

Count Yer Blessings

Back when my 29 year old baby was about 11, I took him, my oldest son, and my oldest's very good friend to Sunshine Christian Music Festival for about 3 days. My youngest and I stayed in a motel room while my oldest camped on the festival grounds with others about his age. We had a great time and saw many greats like Stephen Curtis Chapman, Geoff Moore & the Distance, Whiteheart, etc., etc. My husband could not go with us that year so I braved the masses alone!!

The plan was to attend the last concert on the last night - which is always the biggie - get some sleep and head out the next morning, Sunday. But we all got the itch to head home after the last concert. Since I was the only driver I was dreading the late night, 5 hr. drive home, but was looking forward to my own bed and church the next morning. So we pressed forward. I loaded up with extra caffeinated soda and some No-Doz. My youngest was riding "shot-gun" (as the kids say) and the 2 older ones were VERY quickly asleep in the back part of the mini-van.

I was probably getting grouchy from tiredness and anxiety about the drive-in-the-dark, but my son was just getting started. He'd had lots of fun encounters with musicians and was soon on a roll, telling me every niggling detail. I was trying to be "not mean" but was trying to get him to SHUT-UP so I could concentrate and get us home safely. I (kinda) nicely suggested several times that I needed some quiet, and I needed a break, and I needed him to catch his breath.

You're probably already thinking what I couldn't come up with on my own. That his talking would give me something to think about and would be a tremendous help at that late hour. But I'm pretty dense sometimes. Eventually I heard deep down in my spirit, "His talking could help you." DUH!

So I decided to let 'er rip and we got home safe and sound - with son finally falling asleep about an hour before home.

How often do we, do I forget to be thankful for the blessings that God has placed within our family? Like that trait of your husband's personality that is really starting to annoy you but God meant it to moderate you (i.e. what you call tight-wad might be called thrifty, what you stew over "never expressing his feelings" might be called "steady" or "careful with words"). Or that child that seems so care-free that he never remembers to pick up after himself could actually teach you to slow down and have some fun with him. Or that child that is so much like you that you often butt heads. (That would be my oldest.) Or that mother, that mother-in-law, really anyone who you consider family?

We have so much for which to be thankful if we could learn to focus on the positives and try to minimize the negative. We do the opposite - minimize the positive and focus on the negative. I think that's human nature. That's why we need to lean on the nature of Jesus to help us learn to focus on the right things. I sure wish I had done that more when my kids were still under my wing.

Lord, help us, those of us who claim to be yours, to instruct our children with wisdom and kindness, but also to appreciate their individual personalities. Help us to teach them to channel their energy AND their personalities to serve you better, not changing who you've made them, but using who they are for your glory.

Here is said son, using a "mad skill"! Makes a mama proud
donit? (Don't even ask what his bubble medium is.)

Proverbs 31 Woman, Yet Again

It's Mother's Day, 2014 and I'm wondering if any mother is ready for yet another take on the Proverbs 31 woman. As for me, I've never really taken too much of it to heart because it always seemed like an impractical goal to strive for, or not to bother striving for. But for some reason, I have recently had a sort of an epiphany regarding the virtues of the woman described there. So I thought I'd try to put into words some of the possible lessons from Proverbs 31:10-31 - and why that passage might actually be worthwhile taking to heart.

A lot of the passage is pretty obvious, like a virtuous woman is good to find. If she is of noble character, her husband can trust her with money, with the children, with the good operation of the household and even with management of her time. ~gulp~  (I believe that I'm a "virtuous woman" - more some times than others - and that I usually look to the good of our home and money. But time management has become more of a challenge as my children have grown up and needed me less. So, by that definition, am I virtuous??? hmmm!   I"m thinkin' the Lord doesn't think time management is an "impractical goal to strive for." Rather it is very much worth striving for.  But I have already digressed.) So, a husband can completely trust his wife to look to the good of him, the family and their home.

The wool and flax of verse 13 was necessary for the woman of the home at the time this was written to see to clothing her family but not so much now (although I like the prospect of obtaining wool and flax - I've been very good at obtaining it.)  :) Nowadays, we might read it something like, she is willing to be thrifty in clothing her family and is happy to work with her hands to accomplish it. And is willing to find good food and feed her family as well as she can, even rising early to prepare sustanence.

The servants are way out of most or our leagues (and from a totally different time period). But we see that the virtuous woman is kind to her servants rather than harsh, so I think we can surmise that she is compassionate.

In vs. 16 she carefully plans for her purchases, uses the money she has earned by the fruit of her hands and buys wisely. Few of us have a need for a field or have the room for a vineyard (Although, if we bought a field we would have room for a vineyard! hmmm), but we can manage our available money wisely and use it to benefit the entire household.

She works with eagerness and energy and puts her best efforts into what she does, confident that she has done her best and produced quality, either physically or otherwise). I guess she doesn't sleep.  :) Or maybe, more likely, she doesn't waste time and is willing to work into the night to complete a task.

The tasks mentioned in vs. 19 gets back to the wool and flax, which could be, again, clothing her family OR could be that she uses her skills to earn money AND/OR uses her skills and efforts to help the poor and needy. We can all certainly do more of that in one way or another.

Her family is warmly clothed, even for winter time. But, and this is something that many in my generation have likely struggled with - at least I have - having expensive clothing.  This woman makes them, even for herself.  And then she wears them! But we must keep in mind her generosity with her servants and the poor. However, it would seem from this verse that nice clothing goes with a woman who looks to her family and herself.  :) I think that people, especially women, are made to love beautiful things and that comes to light here.

Her husband is highly regarded, probably virtuous as well, and she supports his efforts by her efforts. She uses the flax and the distaff previously mentioned to make fine linen garments to sell. She apparently does not weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9) And because of her efforts she can be confident about the future. This is interesting because we are encouraged, and rightly so, to not put faith in our efforts for the future but to trust in the Lord. There must be a healthy balance of both.

She is wise and uses her tongue only for help and instruction. And does not waste time. I can certainly use work in this area and maybe you can, too.

Her husband and children think there is no one in the world as good as she is. Oh, that we might live before our families in such a way that they would think that of us. It is our choice whether we make that so or not.

This description of a good woman ends by reminding us that beauty and charm will not be ours for all our life but living to please the Lord can be with us for our whole life. Her good works will speak for her. And then her family is told to appreciate her accomplishments.  I like that part.  ;)

So really, this woman's characteristics are not out of our reach if we look at it through the eyes of our time in history. Pleasing the Lord; taking care of our families with wisdom, strength of instruction and love; managing our money, resources, skills and TIME with wisdom; being charitable and compassionate; and uplifting our families with loving support rather than harshness and nagging - those are attainable characteristics.

Father, please help each of us ladies, to love more, manage wisely, give generously, and grace all we meet with kindness. Especially those with whom we live day-to-day. For your glory. AMEN