Running the Race of Joy (Rejoice! Part 2)

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:1-2

Discovering a vast amount of treasures in the study of the word rejoice, I will share more of what I’ve been learning this week. The overwhelming wealth of understanding never seems to stop.

For example, have you ever paused long enough in the morning to go out and view it’s birth? Have you taken the time to listen to the symphony of beautiful song surrounding you and truly gazing at the sky in all its glory?

“It’s a new day!” the birds cry out.

It is a new page in the book of your life. What will you do with each precious moment? Start by rejoicing in the Creator of this day.

More and more, I am seeing a connection between rejoicing in the Lord and putting my trust in Him. The birds do! Matthew 6:26. I rejoice in His promise to care for me. I rejoice in His goodness and love, His plan and purpose and even His discipline. When I am hurt, sad or cross it helps to know why I can rejoice always. And God apparently has given me everything I need to carry out this command.

I’ve also noticed that the times I LACK joy are typically times I am trying to control a situation or a person.

“Let me run their lives and then I’ll feel better, then I can rejoice,” I say to myself.

Generally, controlling others only makes me incredibly uptight, demanding more from them when they comply and angry when they don’t. That’s way too much joy power to give others!

Furthermore, when other’s around me lack joy, for whatever reason, it’s a steep climb to choose joy for myself.

I am learning that I can still absorb joy from God (always and forever), but in the presence of a joyless person, my glad heart doesn’t need to be arrogant: ‘hey, look at me’.

“I’m happy, you’re not. I’m better than you.”

No! Joy must carry with it an energy of compassion, love, service, listening and inwardly praying for those who are in a bad place. The process of rejoicing always when suffering is our place of residence, takes time and spiritual and mental work (at least this is my experience).

In fact, when the Bible talks about rejoicing, it can be, a lot of times, during seasons of tremendous trials and pain such as Jesus experienced in today’s passage. The cross was not a place of laughter and smiles. It was a place of affliction and cries for help.

Yet, Jesus saw into the future what this horrible but necessary event would bring, and it brought Him great joy to lay down His life for a lost world. We, too, though not always knowing what our suffering is about, can at the very least, acknowledge that God does know, and we can entrust our lives to Him, even in the pain.

Trials can actually become a reminder of God IN the trial – my reminder to rejoice in Him. In all things of my life, I want to find Him, and once I have found Him, it is my greatest reason to rejoice.

The truth is, I typically don’t think about having to rejoice when I’m in the good times. I automatically feel happy. It is in the unhappy times that I must think through what it means to rejoice. And this joy takes me to a more profound state of mind then does happiness.

If I were to take hold of my thoughts during the happy moments of life and remember that the reason for my bliss is only temporary, I might, even then, choose to go to the depths of true joy found only in the Father; for it is not from this earth that we receive the truest blessings.

The last point I am currently attempting to take deep into my heart is the knowledge that rejoicing is the opposite of taking offense. A super sensitive person is constantly angry or hurt about what others say or do. There doesn’t seem to be an actual heart-grasp of love, forgiveness and grace. Reoccurring offensiveness block our way to joy.

Father, open up the recesses of my soul to experience rejoicing always. As I do this, give me eyes to see the pain surrounding the lives of people I meet. Let me rejoice in the equipping you give me to show compassion, love and service. When it is my turn to suffer, open my eyes to see how you are directing others to help me make it through another day. Guide us all to a community to share our joys and sorrows. Thank you for the joy of your provision of friends and loved ones in our time of need. When all seems lost, help us to remember the joy of Heaven that lay before us (because Jesus made a way) and know that this is a reason to always rejoice. In Jesus name, Amen.

I am Sending YOU!

Now, go. I am sending you…. Exodus 3:10

In the Bible, hundreds of years after Joseph died, the Israelites were being cruelly treated. They had suffered for a long time under Pharaoh’s hand. But, the Lord heard their cry. And His way of helping them was through Moses.

Moses totally didn’t want the job. He voiced to God all his excuses. But that interaction ended when God told Moses that his brother Aaron would go with him.

The Israelites were so relieved when Moses told them God’s plans: “And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.” Exodus 4:31

Of course, Pharaoh made it even harder on the lives of God’s people, who then complained to Moses, who in turn complained to God.

But God had told Moses that this very thing was going to happen. He intended to show the Egyptians and the Israelite nation His wonders.

In all these things, I have two considerations:

1. He said to Moses, “I am sending YOU!”
Can you imagine being approached by God for such a daunting task as saving an entire nation? Though it boggles my mind to picture anyone saying no to God as Moses did, how would I have responded?

How do I respond to His callings today?

I pray for so many things to improve, succeed or be fixed. Yet, how do I know that God isn’t calling ME to be His vessel. How do I know when, where and how?

There is nothing I can do on my own. But, God is the one who has the ability and the power to accomplish these great things through me, so simple and weak.

Moses said no to God five times and each time God gave a great response. There was no excuse too big for the Almighty.

Sometimes, when we say no, God will find someone else. And sometimes He picks us for reasons beyond our understanding. He picks us and that’s the final word. There is no such answer as ‘no!’

I’ve been studying the life of Dr. Albert Schweitzer. I’m not at all sure I understand his theology, but I am very impressed with the life he lived among the African people he served. He said that “his life was his argument.” Instead of teaching about Jesus, he lived it. He allowed God to choose him. He became a doctor and helped these people have better lives.

As I look back over the years when Jesus walked this earth and how He gave His life for me, how else can I respond other than with a glad heart to be of service to my Lord? The sacrifices in my life are nothing compared to Jesus’ death on a cross. I want my service to cost me something.

My readings of St. Francis and his followers fascinate and draw my attention. They lived lives of such humility and discipline. They were trained to rejoice when they were reviled in the streets and to become troubled when praised for their piety. Their lives speak very much of the New Testament scriptures of how we are to live in this world. Yet, still these higher attitudes shock me. This is the kind of cost I think of when I want to serve the Lord and follow His ways. It is what I think of when I hear God calling me to a certain task or attitude.

2. The Israelite’s response to Moses touches my heart. All this time they had been worshiping the idols of the land. Did they even know who God was?

When Moses enters the picture, they learn about the one true God, and they do something which comes naturally to people who have known only pain and suffering their whole lives, they bowed down and worshiped God!

This is refreshing. It feels like the purest kind of worship there could be. They simply wanted to praise this God who had sent a messenger to them to let them know how much He cared.

Often times, I worship, but the worship feels forced, faked or like I’m not really into it.

I pray that my worship will have a sense that it’s the first time I’ve ever done this…I pray that my worship would be like the pure response of the Israelites.

Have you ever just fallen in a heap on the floor and praised God in tears of relief or pain? I want my response to the Lord to come from the deepest parts of who I am.

There was a time when Jesus met a crazy man. He lived in the tombs and couldn’t even be held down with chains. Jesus walked towards him, and the “impure spirit” within the crazy man cried out to God, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!”

A demon (actually many demons) plagued this man, but even those demons treated God’s son with reverence and respect, perhaps more respect than I give Him at times.

Surely I can learn to worship my Lord better than demons!

“What do you want with ME Jesus, son of the most high God?“

It’s a great question to ask Him.

How might God choose me as His vessel for His tasks with such a question as this?

Father, I long to be called by you, even to DO the very things I pray for. Yes, it would be uncomfortable, but I want to be ready when you call me for your purposes. Here am I send me. In Jesus name, Amen.

Uplifting, Gentle Responses

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

I love the word gentle.
It’s such a peaceful word. Whereas ‘harsh’ is simply, well…harsh!

Harsh typically comes out of my mouth before I have a chance to think. It’s a spur of the moment action that gives into anger.

Then, there are gentle answers which take extra self-discipline. I don’t always want to spend that much energy. I want the easy road to simply give into my feelings and the perceived injustice of the moment.

Last week, I gave a kindness to a person, and she said, “I know you don’t just do this because we’re family, you do this because you love me.” She was right.

However, it’s also true that I don’t heed scripture just because it’s in the Bible. I follow these because I love my Father, and I trust Him. I trust that giving a gentle answer is better than a harsh one, but I’ve also experienced it!

Gentleness is a way to preserve my joy. It is my job to refuse to let joy be robbed from me, even in angry situations.

Sometimes, I’m not honest with myself about my anger. I’m like, “I’m not angry, I’m just irritated or frustrated.” Yet, my reaction is defensive instead of truly including and listening to the other person. My reply gives away what is in my heart.

In fact, my reply generally has NOTHING to do with the topic of conversation that bothered me in the first place and EVERYTHING to do with my heart.

When receiving instruction or advice (unasked for) should I not respond with gentleness? Could our different views be respected instead of smashed by my ugliness? Might the ill-timed comment be covered with love instead of defensiveness?

Sometimes anger isn’t because someone did or said something, it’s because I am having a bad day.

Gentleness versus unkindness helps to stop my annoyance.

There is something humble about speaking gently. There is even a hint that gentleness originates in my mind. If I am gentle to the other person in my head, than I can speak gently to that person when things aren’t pleasant between us. If I allow unkindness to run rampant, most likely, at the first sign of conflict, my words will not be gentle.

It all starts with my mind.

Sometimes, I need to learn to speak gently to myself. I make mistakes, too. God’s grace is so broad, broad enough, even for me. Speaking harshly to myself when I’ve messed up doesn’t do one bit of good and typically does further harm.

Father, I love you and I’m so thankful for your words of wisdom. You are kind to me, even when I mess up. Your compassion overwhelms me. Your gentleness inspires me. Help me to be like you. May my words float upwards to the heavens to glorify your blessed name. In Jesus name, Amen.

Run to His Discipline

Prov 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

How does the Lord discipline me? Through frank words of others, illnesses, trials or consequences of my actions?

When ANYTHING negative happens in my life, one of my first thoughts is, am I being disciplined?

Some would think that was crazy, but the only other alternative seems to be quietly blaming others for all the terrible things in my life. Of course, I would never breathe a word of that to anyone, but blame is a huge curse to my soul. After all, it’s easier to tell myself that their honest but critical comments are about them, not me.

Another ‘disciplining’ moment is when more work gets piled on me than I think I can handle or when I have a night or three nights of little sleep.

When these moments happen, I stop and consider whose strength moves the work forward. It is not a time to dwell on my right to complain. It is my privilege to learn how to praise, even during the trials of my life.

As I keep moving through these thoughts, I’m sensing a severe love from my Father God and my tendency to back away in pride. How dare He allow these things to happen to me. Yet, without His discipline I would die.

The worst thing about this verse is when I see the terrible trials of those I love. I would do anything to take the unhappiness away. I would trade places if I could. There is no doubt that speaking words to them about God’s discipline at such a time, is completely off-taste and terribly judgmental.

So, the thoughts continue, and I wonder what kind of person I am to be going so deeply into today’s verse. But if I don’t think about such things, my spirit tells me ‘I’ have defined life, not as God sees it, but all turned around and upside down.

Being disciplined by God is a good thing, not bad.  It’s what a loving father would do to train the child up in the way he should go. Perhaps this verse needs to be a more welcomed and regular part of my thought patterns.

My flesh wants to speak out to the skies, “How dare you say that ‘I’ need discipline?”
Yet, every hour of every day I stand condemned. It is only by the blood of Jesus that I can be righteous before God. My sins call for so much worse than the good I am receiving daily.

When bad things happen to me, it’s not always about His discipline. It may possibly be an attack of the enemy just as well.

Either way, I may not always be able to discern between God’s discipline or the enemy’s attack, BUT I can glorify and lift His name high. I can praise Him.

There is a story in the Bible about a prodigal son. He experienced the consequences of his actions. But that wasn’t the main part of the story.

The point was and still is that the Father waits. We are all prodigal son’s and daughters. But the Father waits. We receive discipline and consequences, and He waits.

He paces the floor and walks out to the edge of the land. He shields His eyes from the sun and looks longingly to see if we are ready to come back. And when we do, He doesn’t talk about our sins or throw them in our face. He throws us a party. The main part of this story is about redemption.

Father, I want to run to you to accept your discipline. I don’t want to be left to my own devices. A child left to himself will die. It is a terrifying thought. Hold me close to you, Jesus. Help me to listen to your voice, even when it feels unfair or harsh. I want to grow up in your love. In Jesus name, Amen.