Complete Joy

Sometimes we think joy is the laughter of a baby or the sight of spring's first bloom.

Perhaps you believe joy is making the final payment on that credit card or losing those last ten pounds (or the first ten pounds).

Maybe we imagine the joy of life without mental anguish, physical pain, and emotional scars.

The joy of the absence of betrayal. The joy of friendship. The joy of truth.

Friend, we want the joys of heaven. For those who love the Lord, that joy will be made sight one day.

But for now, where is the complete joy?

Jesus spoke with his disciples before his arrest to prepare them for the days ahead. He said "I am the vine and you are  the branches--abide in Me." He said, "If you keep My commandments you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in His love."

And then He said it ...

"I have spoken these things so My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete."

Oh, for complete joy.

Isn't it wonderful that we don't have to search for it? We don't have to wonder if joy is real.

The joy of Jesus is real. It isn't a buried treasure. He told us how we can have complete joy.

Keep His commandments. He said the two greatest commandments are to love God with all that we are and to love each other.

That's pretty daunting. I can't do that on my own. But if I abide in Jesus--pray, read my precious Bible, praise and worship Him alone, and listen to the nudge of the Holy Spirit when He says "Don't do that, do this. Don't say that, be quiet."

That's abiding and that's obedience. And when we are obedient His joy is complete in us.

There is certainly a fleeting joy in an innocent child's sweet smile and the twinkle in the eye's of a grandfather. There is joy in a pile of puppies and the embrace of a loyal friend.

But true joy. Complete joy. Joy that cannot be ripped from our hearts by anguish, betrayal, cancer, addiction, confusion ...

COMPLETE JOY that rests steadily and quietly---repeating the message "Everything will be okay, because our Father is in charge"--the joy that sustains us until the day our faith will be sight.

Oh, how He loves you and me.


Thank you, Haley White for lending me a pic of your #handletteringbyhaley.

My Mother's Moxie

Mom and I have enjoyed a few laughs and some great conversations recently.

I learned some great kitchen shortcuts this week while visiting with her. She showed me how to peel the perfect boiled egg and a fast, easy way to "chop" an egg. Did you know all you do is place a cooling rack above your bowl and push the egg through the metal squares? Genius, I tell you!

She thinks about her kids and grandkids a lot. She remembers things like teaching Abbie new crochet stitches and early morning phone calls from Dodie.

She smiles when hearing about the great grands--would love to cuddle Dolly and kiss the back of Micah's neck. Loves hearing Lilley and Sky shout "I love you, Granny!"

It seems the people she loves--Mike, her children and their spouses, grandkids, great grandkids, Trish, her sisters--they are all on her mind. Even as she appears to be sleeping, she is thinking of the people in her life.

I asked her if she is afraid to die. She is not. Because Jesus lives in her heart, she is secure in knowing when the time comes she'll close her eyes to this world and open them to see Jesus.

Her only concern is for the people she loves. She wants us to be okay. I reminded her, if God is powerful enough to save our souls, He is powerful enough to take care of each one of us until we are together again.

She added something to our talk the other day that is ringing in my heart. She said, "I just want to know I made a difference in this world."

Oh, yes, Mom, you have and continue to make a difference. From telling strangers in the Dollar Tree that God is faithful to crochet stitches that turn into gifts of love to kitchen shortcuts.

With a twinkle in her eyes, she listened as I reminded her of her moxie that lives on in her kids and their kids ... moxie that doesn't quit. Moxie that stands up and moves forward under difficult circumstances. Moxie that looks for a better way. Moxie that makes a difference.

I suppose she verbalized what we all really want in this life ... to make a difference.

While we have today, let's just do it. Be kind to strangers. Forgive those who hurt you. Leave a big tip.

Tell the people around you that God is faithful. Be bold and tell them He is powerful enough to redeem each soul that humbly bows and believes.

I'm so thankful for my mom. I'm thankful for great memories and wonderful talks. I treasure quiet moments.

And moxie. Yeah, I'm super happy about my mother's moxie.

These Things Were Allowed So ...

It's the biblical truth no one talks about.

Jesus gives us the answer to the why's of life in John chapter 9. But it's the answer we don't want to hear.

His disciples asked Jesus--Who sinned? This man who was born blind or his parents? Whose fault is it, Lord? Someone must be to blame.

And Jesus' answer? Neither. His blindness was allowed so that God's works might be displayed in him.

It was allowed--God didn't cause it.

The reason? So God's works might be displayed in him.

We want God to stop all the madness in the world. We pray for Him to intercede and make people do the right thing. Stop addictions, stand between people who fight with each other, say the word and remove what causes great pain.

We beg Him to keep the cells in our bodies from betraying us, turning into cancer that kills.

We pour our hearts out and even try to make deals, if He would just heal the ones we love.

We cry out to Him to help us understand.

What motivates us is right ... or is it? We just want peace and joy and happiness.

Do we want God to be glorified? Do we want His works to be displayed in us no matter the cost?

We don't want to hear that these things are allowed so God's works might be displayed in us.

I wrestle with this just like you do. I want God to display His works my way.

When your heart is broken, when you are lost in yourself, when you wish you could somehow run away from pain ... let it drive you to Jesus.

When you are sick and tired of sick and tired, when confusion has tied you up in knots, when your anger consumes you ... take it to Jesus.

We don't have to try to force the display of God's works in us. We don't have to figure out what that looks like or how it's done. No, that's all God.

All we have to do is turn to Him and not our own way of dealing with these things that cut the deepest.

But, how? It's a conversation. It's prayer. It's an open Bible and more prayer.

And it's praise. Praise? Who feels like praise when wounds are open and emotions are raw? Praise Him for what?

It can begin small--praise Him for the air you breathe, the sun, the trees, the moon and stars. Praise Him for the shoes on your feet, the milk in your fridge, the neighbors dog that wakes you up every morning.

Praise Him for the people in your life, your job, your home, and your favorite chair.

Praise Him because He keeps His promise to work in all things to bring good for those who love Him.

Praise Him and see how His works are displayed in you.

And never try to find the right words to say to those who hurt when there are no right words. Offer tears, prayers, hugs, and just be present.

One day, it will all be okay. This life that is a blip on the radar will move over for eternity. I believe in His saving grace. I believe everything the Bible says about heaven. I believe in His promises.

Oh, that God's works might be displayed in my life and yours.

My Prayer List Grows

This morning I sit and look at graduation pictures of my 4 amazing children.

A lifetime has passed, it seems, since high school days. 

And my prayer list grows.

I look at their pictures and I imagine the faces of the people they love, the people they have added to our family, and I often feel overwhelmed with gratitude for each one ... and my prayer list grows.

I learned from Tommy's parents how to love without lines. There is no defining line between my kids and the loves they have added to this family. We now have 4 sons and 4 daughters. And my prayer list grows.

I see more faces. I see the faces of 4 beautiful grandchildren. And my prayer list grows.

Sometimes, fear tries to creep into my prayers. The anxiety producing what ifs. Yes, even as I pray, worry tries to steal the joy brought into my life by these faces.

They are adults now. I don't know them as I once did. I used to know if they ate their vegetables, got enough sleep, said their prayers, and felt good about their day.

This morning, as I prayed for my children, those what if's tried once again to squelch my words.

And Psalm 139 sent peace and calm as I reminded myself of something you might need to be reminded of as well. 

God knows my children (and yours) from the smallest cell in their bodies to the number of hairs on their heads to the thoughts they share with no one.

He knows their fears, hopes, dreams.

He knows their faults, failures and shortcomings.

He knows what makes them laugh and what makes them cry.

He knows.

He knows.

He knows and He loves them. God's love for the people I love is greater and more complete and more powerful than I can even imagine.

What a wonderfully safe place for me to rest my heart! For even as my prayer list grows, He has already gone before me. 

While my knowledge is limited, for Him there is no what if.

I will praise Him for a long prayer list, for the precious faces of my 8 children and 4 grandchildren. I will praise Him for His grand love for each one. 

I will continue to pray for each one and trust the One who knows them best and loves them most.

And I will thank Him for a prayer list that grows.