Kim: O-o-h Child, Things are Gonna Get Easier...

L.W. asked me to share this post from my blog with you. God bless! :)

A little while ago I plopped down on my bed to have some quiet time, a bit discouraged and overwhelmed with all of the complex life stuff going on right now. When I opened my Bible this is the first verse I read:

"You were tired out by the length of your road,
yet you did not say, 'It is hopeless.'
You found renewed strength,
therefore you did not faint."
-Isaiah 57:10

That encouraged me so much, I just had to share.

I love how God speaks to us and reminds us of times past when we were in a situation and He saw us through. Just when we feel like things are hopeless, He gives us hope! He is so amazing, and I can't imagine life without His love and comfort.

Last March I was pacing my bedroom, trying not to worry about a new financial mess we were in and I was just in a funk. I was praying my heart out and on impulse I turned the radio on while I was still talking to the Lord. The first lyrics to drift out of the speakers were, "O-o-h, child, things are gonna get easier... o-o-h things'll get brighter..."* It made me cry. Our God sees us and He cares. He is SO good!

* Song originally by The Five Stairsteps, 1970.

Shannon: Precious

"And His eye sees every precious thing" (Job 28:10)

Last Wednesday, in his teaching on Psalm 116 --"I love the Lord, because He hears my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live"--Dave said, "In the deepest, darkest moment of our lives, God bends down near to the mouth of prayer." I've been thinking about that all week, loving the image of God's ear bent low to catch my whispers.

Then this morning I saw this picture, and those words from Job came to my mind. It all went together.

Know, today, ladies, that you are that "precious thing" upon which His gaze is fixed. Nothing you're facing, nothing you're struggling against, nothing that concerns you has escaped His eyes. And His ear is bent low to hear your whispers.

Laurie: Daughters

My Beloved Daughters,
You come to see Me, you won't be disappointed. Anytime you come seeking Me, you win. Line upon line, precept upon precept, come and discover all that I am. The nearer you desire to come, the more I will reveal. It is your choice. How much of Me do you want? Just enough to get by or do you want to dive in and swim in all I have for you? Daughters you are free to receive all of Me, come into My throne room and glean all you can hold, then come again, gather and carry the treasures I reveal. Distribute them to the world. Then come for more. I am never ending. I want the world to know Me. Come and know Me daughters, I have riches you know not of that I want to lavish on you to pour to a hurting world who cannot see Me. But you see Me, you have My Spirit. Come and let Me fill you. Come and seek My presence. You'll never be disappointed.

Shannon: Pray For the Harvest

Please forgive the duplicate from my blog, but I'm hoping we can get many prayers going up for Greg Laurie today and tomorrow.

We've been praying for Greg and Cathe Laurie and their family since the death of their son, Christopher, on July 24th. Below is a video of the message Greg shared with his church family (Harvest Christian Fellowship) just three days after Christopher went to be with the Lord.

This is aptly entitled "I Still Believe." The truth of our faith shines brightest in the darkest moments. Jesus is real to this family; I pray He is real to you too.

Please keep Greg in prayer tomorrow as he begins his Harvest Crusade. I'm sure the crusades are physically taxing under normal circumstances, but with his emotions raw and his heart wounded, he's going to need the strength that only God can give.

Pam: Keeping The Faith

“Run Sarah run! Go fetch Tommy from the barn, be quick about it. James, Aunt Margret is out in the garden, go see if she needs help getting in, I’ll meet you both back at the storm cellar.” She exclaimed to her children as she nervously scrutinized the ever blackening sky. The winds were picking up at a rapid pace; the twister was forming out on the horizon and would soon be here. Daniel came roaring up the dirt road, sliding to an abrupt stop, he jumps from the old but reliable pickup truck, helps Grandpa Tucker out, instructing him in a voice that needs to be elevated to hear over the now gale force winds to get to the cellar. Knowing time is short he runs to find his wife. She is quickly moving from the kitchen with an arm load of water, bandages and her Bible. “The Bradshaws, Stevens and Parkers were right behind me,” he shouts “are we ready?” She nods a yes then without further words they made haste to storm cellar.

Daniel stepped in to assist Jason and Joey, the 17 year old Parker twins and Mr. Parker hold steady the large doors that lift up allowing access to a room below where they would all be safe from the approaching storm. As the last person stepped down the stairs, Daniel followed him in securing the lock on the door behind him.

Twenty two people in all, old and young, sat around the poorly lit, dank room watching the dust trickle down from cracks in the pounding storm doors. Mothers stroked their children’s heads as they huddled close, shivering and whimpering with fright. Some prayed continuously begging God for mercy, some hummed hymns finding peace in the worship, and some just sat quietly waiting it out in wonder, knowing in time it would pass.

Relentlessly the tornado furiously crawled across the countryside slapping at the ground, ripping out fence posts, smashing large barns, pulling animals, semi trucks, and children’s toys up in its funnel, consuming anything and everything in its path, showing no mercy.

Finally when all was quiet Daniel warily climbed the steps up to the cellar doors cautiously pushing them against the light of day. One by one they silently crept out, each surveying the damage left in the wake of the storm. Then without hesitation they fell to their knees and thanked God for His mercy in safely seeing them through.

It isn’t always easy to understand the storms that daily whip down upon our lives. Why a tragic unexplained accident happens or your beloved family pet suddenly dies, or you’re left in a horrifyingly dark arena. One might ask “Where is God in this?” Well while grief and sadness are emotions we were given and are expected to feel, I would encourage you not wonder where God is, instead KNOW He is there! Know by faith that everything God does is perfectly planned. We may never know the why but we can most certainly believe God is not surprised by anything. God is always there to shelter us, to comfort us and to encourage us. God has put people in our lives, our church family to console us, to support us, and to rally together to pray with and for us.

We need to be alert and aware, the Bible tells us in 1Peter 5:8 Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him standing firm in the faith.

We need to remember we will suffer but suffering does not separate us from Christ. Romans 8:37-39 says, In all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lord thank you for these promises, thank you for the trials that strengthen us and fortify our faith in You Dear Jesus, please continue to encourage us to keep our eyes on You, Father, showing us the truth the light and the way.

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.

Kim: Jesus is Lord

As Mike and I handed out red construction paper to our kids in the first through third grade Sunday school class, excited voices piped up from around the room asking about what we were going to do. (How they love to make crafts!) We instructed them about how to cut a heart out of their paper, and they set about with little brows furrowed with determination. A few of them pleaded for another piece of paper. Despite our assurances that their hearts were beautiful (okay, Mike used the word “great”), they persisted, saying that their hearts were not big enough. We gave in as we exchanged amused glances over their heads.

When their heart specifications met their approval, we moved on to the next step. After each of them had a crayon in hand, we asked them what kinds of questions their friends might want to ask them about Jesus. Hands and innocent questions filled the air. “How tall was Jesus? What did He look like?” For each question, they drew a question mark on their hearts. Soon, their hearts were full of question marks, some scattered about, others drawn in a nice and tidy row. Next we taped springs onto the middle of their hearts, made of white strips of paper folded accordion-style. Then a graphic declaring, JESUS IS LORD!, was glued to the end of each spring.

As I knelt beside their desks helping them put the pieces together, I looked down at the handmade hearts in their little hands, filled with such childlike questions. Tears filled my eyes and I swallowed hard at the knowledge that one distant day complicated questions, painful questions would fill their hearts. When that day came they needed to know Who to turn to. I put a smile on my face and made my way to the front of the class and asked them to look at their hearts. Then I told them, “One day your friends are going to ask you questions. When they do I want you to think of these hearts. Even if your heart is filled with questions you don’t have answers to, remember that it's okay because you have Jesus in your heart. Jesus is Lord, and He knows all the answers.”

In the land of grownups, may this encourage your heart today.

“...For God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” ~1John 3:20b

Shannon: A Chance to Serve

I caught a little segment about Kathy Holmgren (wife of Seahawks' coach, Mike) early this morning. I've known from previous newsclips that she's very active in overseas missions and has missed many of her husband's games over the years because of trips she's taken to offer humanitarian aid. But this morning, they highlighted one of her local ministries.

Kathy, who has three health-care related master's degrees, works three days a week as a community health nurse (mostly for the homeless) at the Pike Market Medical Clinic. This morning, they showed her sitting cross-legged on the clinic floor, bathing and tending to the feet of a homeless man.

"I never feel more like a Christian than when I'm doing this," she said.

There was a beauty and a poignancy to the sight of Kathy bending over that man's feet that I'm not sure I can put to words. I doubt she knows the effect it had on those of us who watched.

Today, few of us will have an opportunity to bathe someone's feet. But all of us will have an opportunity to serve.

What might you do for Jesus today?

Shannon: From Kari's Blog

I read this on Kari's blog a few days ago and asked for permission to reprint it here at Joyful Life. I could so relate to Kari's thoughts--and Anne Morrow Lindbergh's (minus the cod liver oil :). I'm sure many of you will too.

Gift From the Sea-part one

I've been reading LOTS of books this year, mostly "self-help" type books. You know the ones, how to be a better whatever (fill in the blank with mother, wife, teacher, housekeeper, cook, Christian, etc.) I've also read several psychology books trying to learn more about narcissism and the impact it had on me as a child and how to overcome the past so I can live "a normal life" as an adult. But, the book that impacted me the most this year was Gift From the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. If I recall correctly, I was given this book as a teenager or young adult but I just didn't "get it" back then. I think one must have experienced a bit of life as a woman, mother, wife to receive its fullness. Reading it at 43 brought fresh insight into the author's wisdom. Mrs. Lindbergh is the wife of Charles Lindbergh, the famous aviator. Together they went through the tragedy of child abduction (their child was kidnapped, held for ransom, and eventually found dead back in the 1930s.) The book, originally written in the 50s, but so relevant for today, is her journal, of sorts, of time spent on the beach reconnecting with herself and with God, and finding that inner-balance that we as women so desperately seek. She uses the term "shedding" to describe how she must get to a simpler life.

From page 25 she writes, "I mean to lead a simple life, to choose a simple shell I can carry easily-like a hermit crab. But I do not. I find that my frame of life does not foster simplicity. My husband and five children must make their way in the world. The life I have chosen ... involves a house in the suburbs ... food and shelter; meals, planning, marketing, bills, and making the ends meet in a thousand ways. It involves not only the butcher, the baker, the candlestick-maker but countless other experts to keep my modern house with its modern "simplifications" running properly. It involves health; doctors, dentists, appointments, medicine, cod-liver oil, vitamins, trips to the drugstore. It involves education; spiritual, intellectual, physical; schools ... car-pools, extra trips for basketball or orchestra practice; tutoring; camps, camp equipment and transportation. It involves clothes, shopping, laundry, cleaning, mending, letting skirts down and sewing buttons on, or finding someone else to do it. It involves friends, my husband's, my children's, my own, and endless arrangements to get together; letters, invitations, telephone calls and transportation hither and yon."

This is SO my life and yet like Ms. Morrow I LONG for simplicity.

She goes on: "This is not the life of simplicity but the life of multiplicity ... It leads not to unification but to fragmentation. It does not bring grace; it destroys the soul."

"One learns first of all in beach living the art of shedding; how little one can get along with, not how much."

She speaks of shedding our vanity by living out of a small suitcase of clothing rather than a closet full. Shedding pride by letting go of our "Martha-like anxiety about many things." Shedding hypocrisy in relationships. Taking off the mask.

So what do I plan to shed this year--besides the few holiday pounds? I plan to shed the books about becoming a better anything. While it might help in the short term, I'm always left feeling unworthy or not good enough or worse, that I need "to do MORE." I'm letting go of the self-help and "how-to's." I feel a prompting to search for the answers in His Book. To sift what I have learned through the filter of God's word ALONE. If it's important for me to learn, the Holy Spirit will guide me in all truth. So, if I get the urge to "figure it all out," get a hankerin' for "what's new" in the library, or hear about the latest, greatest book on how to get closer to God, I plan to grab my Bible and a cup of tea instead.

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. ...if you are lead by the Spirit, you are not under the law (Galatians 5:1,18).

Fran: Whose child is this?

This post is a follow up to a conversation I had today. I figured I'd post it here though because so many of us feel inadequate for the task of raising our children (or grandchildren). I didn't write this, it's from my Mother's Devotional Bible. I remember how much it ministered to me when I first read it and I hope it blesses you as well.

Whose Child Is This?

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:21-28

Have you ever prayed Hannah's words as your own?

I have. Several times. Eagerly I've asked for God to take charge of my children. Out of fear that I might "ruin" them, I hand them over to Him.

But as I give my children to God, I often hear Him ask, "Do you really trust me with your children? Do you trust me to get them to school safely?"

"Yes!" I respond.

"Do you believe that I can guide them through an illness?"

"Of course!"

"How about deciding if they will marry - and who?"

"Better you than I!" I say

"Then do you trust me to select the very best mother for your children and for who I want them to become?"

We can be the mothers our children need because God divinely chose us for the job. Don't doubt it. He knows what He is doing.

And aren't we glad!

Additional scripture: Psalm 66:19-20, Proverbs 3:5-6

~

Me again! Proverbs 3:5-6 is my favorite verse, perhaps because I take it as a promise.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

How much more comforting can you get? :)

When I have those times where I am doubting myself, whether it's parenting, being a wife, serving in some capacity at church or whatever, I go back to that verse. I don't understand why He gave these children to me, but I trust that it was for a good reason. On the days when Psycho Mommy is here I really wonder (they probably do to!) but I trust that He loves them enough to have put them right where they need to be.

And you know what else? He loves me and knew I needed them too. They are a gift from His hand, a blessing in so many ways.

Trust Him to work through and in you to accomplish what he wills for their lives (and yours!)

Pam: I Love My Church

I have been asked several times lately when am I going to blog. What wisdom do I have to share? Well, I don’t know about wisdom but what I do know is I love my church! I cannot say it strongly enough, I LOVE MY CHURCH!

Our Pastor and his wife are the absolute best. They are not only extraordinary teachers but both have such an incredible love for the Lord. It’s totally infectious, and keeps you longing for more. But if that weren't enough we have an amazing worship team that blesses us Sundays and Wednesdays with heavenly music. We have the finest group of ladies around; these women are great friends whose energy and talents know no bounds. Plus we have a myriad of people who give selflessly each and every day of the year serving our church, serving our Lord.

But what I love most about our church is that it is family. Everyone genuinely cares about each other; all you need to do is attend one pot luck or fellowship after church to know what I am talking about. There is a camaraderie like no other. With this family comes unlimited care. If your car is broken down, they’ll get it fixed. If your fence needs mending, that’s not a problem. Laid up in the hospital? They’ll make sure you have meals. Whatever your need, they are there. Of course it goes without saying there is plenty of prayer to go along with that. It’s a safe and comfortable place to be.

I never had a lot of family around me growing up but I did watch that sizeable TV family, The Walton’s, and what I observed was that, like my church, no matter how busy their lives got or how many different directions they were thrown in, at the end of the day they all came together to sup and to share what was going on in their lives, lavishing their love on one another. I can't imagine life any other way. If you've not been there you should come see what I mean.

Now, in the Walton’s tradition ... Good night Deb, Good night Shannon, Good night Sylvia, Good night Cora, Good night Fran, Good night Kimmy, Good night Laurie, Good night Tarri, and the rest of my church family.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. ~Colossians 3:15-16a

Shannon: Kari's Post

Kari wrote an interesting post on her blog Thursday. It reminded me of the story of the missionary who was driving down a remote, pot-holed road (no, not my driveway ... but close) when he came upon an elderly man carrying a large bag over his shoulder. It was clear by the way the man walked that the bag was very heavy. Stopping his truck, the missionary asked the traveler if he'd like a ride. The elderly man nodded and climbed up on the truck's tailgate--but though he had accepted a ride, he continued to hold that large burden on his shoulder. He could have so easily let it slip from his back, and let the very thing that carried him carry his burden also.

Jesus came to die for our sins--yes. And He came to release us of the fear of the grave. But He also came to relieve us of our burdens. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-29).

I'm sure many of us can relate to Kari's post. Check out Burdens Not Meant to Carry.

Sylvia: In Him

Have you ever heard the expression, "God doesn't give you more than you can handle"? Well, I would like to know where that expression came from. It's not in the Bible, I can tell you that. Just recently that phrase was mentioned to me at different times by a couple of women who clearly had more than they could handle on their plates. They were believers so I was quick to add to their brave yet misguided statement, "IN HIM. God does not give you more than you can handle IN HIM."

I have come to realize that God invites and challenges us to lean on Him through the tough stuff that He allows in our lives. I have a few things on my own plate that I know I could not handle without the grace and wisdom and patience of my Lord because they are long term challenges. I am by nature a bullet biter. You know, one who gets in a jam and bites the bullet until it passes. Spiritually, it is a very unhealthy trait because it shows self-dependence and self-reliance instead of God-dependence and God-reliance. Victory over the difficulties that overwhelm us in our lives can only come by dependence and reliance on God.

Take for example the story of Gideon from Judges 6: Gideon's clan was the weakest of the tribe of Manasseh and he was the least in his father's house, meaning he had no authority, yet God called him to subdue the Midianites who had oppressed Israel for seven years. When they would come to raid Israel's crops, the Midianites were said to have been as numerous as the locust and without number, but God used an unknown man with no authority and gave him victory over them with just 300 men at his disposal. I would say that God had given Gideon a whole lot more than he could handle on his own and I'm convinced it is no different in our own circumstances and situations.

Consider Job, Joshua and the walls of Jericho, David and Goliath, Hezekiah and Sennacherib, and even Jeremiah who became so discouraged that he tried to quit! Consider the apostle Paul who was beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned and even stoned and left for dead. All were given more than they could handle, apart from their faith in God, as a testimony to us who would also struggle and have difficulties in our lives.

So when confronted with something that is more than you can handle in your life remember this: Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yolk upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yolk is easy and My burden is light."

IN HIM ladies. Never forget, IN HIM.

God bless you!