Words

I love words...

- like a painter loves colors
- like a musician loves notes
- like a sculptor loves clay...

I love words because they instruct, encourage, challenge, and inspire.

I love rearranging words, combining words, and studying words.

I love it when God gives me His words - whether for an email, a journal, a poem, a chapter or a story.

I love the ancient words God gave His people centuries ago that are still blessing my life today.

And in those rare moments when there are no words, I love The Word - who knows all words, sees my heart, and loves me still.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." -John 1:1,14
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waiting...

I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
-Psalm 27:13-14

Lead Me

I realized this week that many times I feel "driven" to do something, like there's this pressure to do it now, no excuses - to take action, to accomplish a task, to complete a project.... But with my limited energy, there are a lot of things that I have to leave undone.

As I was praying about this, I believe God showed me that when I'm feeling "driven" to do something - that's probably coming from my flesh (sinful nature) or from the world's pressure. But when I'm feeling "led" to do something - that comes from God's Spirit and from my Shepherd.

I think this explains why I can do the very same task and sometimes feel stressed out about it, while other times I feel at peace and empowered to do it.

I don't want to be someone who is "driven" by my own voice or the noise of the world. Instead I want to listen to the Shepherd's voice and follow where He leads, knowing He will always enable me to do what He leads me to do.

I guess these days of limited energy are my "practice" time, learning how to listen and follow His leading in so many little ways. I pray I'll be ready for the day He leads me out of this little pasture into the broad fields beyond.


Lord, teach me to listen and follow. Lead me, faithful Shepherd.


"The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of His sheep...the sheep listen to His voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice." -John 10:2-4

Good books

I've been enjoying reading a lot of different books lately.

A.W. Tozer is probably my favorite author, and I recently finished his book, "Pursuit of God," which is excellent. It's the kind of book I need to re-read at least once a year.

But I've also been reading "Seeking The Face Of God" by Gary Thomas and it's amazing! I read it several years ago and thought it was good, but I think I'm more ready now to appreciate its full impact.

He quotes many of the Christian classic writers, such as Fenelon, John of the Cross, Thomas A Kempis, etc. These Christians wrote centuries ago, yet they have so much insight that is lacking in our modern Christian culture.

So far the chapter topics have been things that are somewhat rare today - joyful surrender, cultivating the quiet, the value of humility, the sweet side of suffering....

I've been so moved, encouraged, convicted, and instructed by this book! If you can, I encourage you to get a copy and read it prayerfully. It's a feast for the soul.


I thank the Lord for godly men and women who put in the hard work, prayer, sacrifice, and perseverance necessary to write encouraging books!


What are you reading right now that is promoting change on the inside of you?

A Blessing

When I was in college I went on a mission trip to Northern Ireland. One of my teammates had an interesting habit. Whenever anything difficult or bad happened, she'd just smile and say "What a blessing!"

* We get a flat tire - "What a blessing!"
* It pours rain - "What a blessing!"
* Our van was broken into and wallets stolen - "What a blessing!"

At the begining of the trip, most of us rolled our eyes whenever she said this. But gradually it began to affect us. By the end we were all saying it with her!

When I got home, I continued this habit...for a while. But eventually I reverted to my old habits of complaining or frustration. Ocassionally the Lord would remind me of this phrase and I'd try again to use it.

Then today I realized something - Jesus never had a bad attitude!
- not when He was mocked or persecuted
- not when His disciples did stupid things
- not when the Pharisees tried to "trap" Him into saying something wrong...

Jesus always had the perfect response to every situation. Maybe that's because He knew His Father is in control of all things. And living in the Father's care is always a "blessing."

Now, through Jesus, we have the same privilege as Jesus - to live in God's perfect care, love, acceptance and favor. Everything that happens to us comes through His gracious hands. And we even have Jesus living in us!

We have everything we need to be able to lay down our bad attitudes and to say at all times, in all things - "What a blessing!"

Will you join me? Let's start a "blessing" revolution! =)

"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another." -John 1:16
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Overflowing...

Lately I've been learning more about how powerful gratitude is. It seems it's the best remedy for just about every negative thought or attitude.

Maybe that's why God said to "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess. 5:18)

Obviously thankfulness helps us combat complaining and grumbling. But I've also been seeing it work for -

- impatience: instead of wanting something NOW, give thanks that God knows the perfect timing for me.

- a critical spirit: rather than picking apart some thing or someone, thank God for it (or them) and for how He's working in and through it (or them)

- sorrow & grief: when my heart is breaking, thank my Father that He knows my pain, that He is my Healer, that my sorrow is only temporary because one day He will wipe away all my tears.

- worry: instead of fretting about things I can't change, give thanks that my Heavenly Father is in control of all things, and that HE can change anything!

These are just a few of the ways I've been trying to practice gratitude lately. I know it's so simple, I've heard it for years, but I thought it was just something I SHOULD do.

Now I think I'm finally beginning to see what a precious gift it is. Not that it's always easy, but when I do give thanks, it always brings good results in my heart and mind. Like God said in Psalm 50:23:

"He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.”

Giving thanks honors God, but it also prepares our hearts for more of Him.

The passage about gratitude that continues to stand out in my mind is Colossians 2:6-7:

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

I don't want to just give thanks at meals or when someone reminds me I should. I want to OVERFLOW with thankfulness!

Lord, make it so. Amen.

Whatever you're experiencing today, I pray you'll have a joyful Easter, OVERFLOWING with gratitude to our Lord Jesus for His love and power!

Blessings,
-Joanna
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