More Than Enough

Is it difficult to find joy in EVERY situation? When difficulties come, it can be challenging to see the joy, but that's when God makes Himself more known and we can find the joy that is in Him if in nothing else.

But it can also be challenging to find the joy in the mundane. Today I worked through the stack of mail that had built up on my desk over the past couple of weeks. It's one of my "favorite" times, when I pay everyone, when all those bills come due.

God has made Himself known to us this past year in this regular task. Each month we have enough - more than enough - to pay what we owe. We have lacked for nothing. I think back more than a year ago when we needed a car...and we found one just right for us at the just right price. We have received surprise gifts when we needed them (and even when we didn't).

And today, as I was transferring money online and writing checks, I received a call with a new assignment - additional work that will pay for our future needs. God is the God of more than enough. His grace superabounds over sin and over selfishness. Even in times of uncertainty, He never fails. He is more than enough.

Today's Joy: I have what I need...and even more.

Take a Breath

I've been a freelancer for a while now. It's still hard for me to shake the thought of working 8 to 5 - or a reasonable facsimile of that schedule. In my mind, I need to get up, eat breakfast, and jump into work. I end up working a variety of hours at a variety of times but still feel like I'm shirking if I'm not working in the middle of the day.

Today I decided to give myself time. I slept in a little late. I took my time through the morning routines. I watched a favorite show and even had a nap. Today I found joy in time for rest - literal and figurative.

God has been teaching me all during 2018 about rest. A key verse for me has been Matthew 11:28. If Jesus calls for us to rest in Him. I have not learned as much about rest as I could. I'm still keeping this verse as a focus for this year. I'm learning to give my anxiety to Him - to rest my mind on Him instead of worrying about things.

But I have not always been as good about resting physically. If I take any time off from working, I still think about it or feel guilty about it. Today I felt like I had to just stop. I didn't approach my computer until this evening. I didn't think about work or feel guilty about not working at that moment. I want to be responsible and to fulfill my work assignments. But I also want to enjoy the season I'm in right now. It's a freelance season - a season when my time is flexible. I want to rest in where God has me and what God has called me to be at this moment. I will enjoy and not put additional stress on myself. (And I will meet those deadlines!)

Today's Joy: Rest - and don't stress about it.

Source of Joy

Something I've noticed in the past few months - my attitude, based on feelings, can change quickly. I can feel happy and relaxed and connected...and then that's easily derailed by an off-hand comment or a perceived slight or an inconsiderate driver. I set off on this journey in January with high hopes and good intentions. And yet, here it is only the second day, and I began to wonder if it would really be possible to find joy each day.

Last night I read something that caused me to fret. I thought about it last night and again this morning. I put it away and refocused. I laughed and joked with Cindy and began feeling more upbeat again. Then something else careened in and brought me back into a less joy-filled state.

I thought about this and about my finding-joy journey. I knew that today would be spent at home, working and so forth. So I wondered where I would connect with joy today, where would I find joy if my mind kept focusing on other things.

Then I read in my devotional materials: "You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to 'go out' in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don’t know what God is going to do next." (Oswald Chambers)

I was hit between the eyes. (He often hits me there so I'll pay attention.) Joy isn't something I encounter or manufacture. Joy is in God. (I know this but God has to reteach me all the time.) If God is present, joy is present. I don't look for something to give me joy or help me achieve joy; I look to Someone for that.

I kept reading, this time in Psalms 107. I found these verses already highlighted for me: "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a murmur, and the waves of the sea were hushed. They rejoiced when the waves grew quiet. Then He guided them to the harbor they longed for." (Psalm 107:28-30)

We call to God. He stills the storm (around us or in us). We rejoice! He guides us to our destination.

Today's Joy: Not in circumstances but in the one who holds those circumstances.

Joy in the New

I like new things. There's something exciting and, yes joyous, opening up something for the first time.  What I like most is new office supplies. I don't know why but I love going into the office supply store and browsing. I enjoy opening up a new notebook with all the clean pages and using a new pencil with its sharpened point and smelling those new crayons as I slide open the lid. So many possibilities to fill the blank pages and wear down the crayon tips. So many ways the pencil can get used down to a stub. There is joy in the new.

Today is a brand new day. I know that there's nothing particularly different on this day - just a turn of the calendar. But January 1 seems the start of something new, full of possibilities. What great things could be done or discovered or explored in this new year!

I think we could even refocus that down further. Each day is a new gift, full of possibilities. Each day we open our eyes, God has given us a new gift to be used to glorify Him and to learn more about Him.

Today's Joy: A new day - how will I write on it?

Joy in January

This holiday season has been a difficult one for me - for several reasons. But the bottom line is that it has seemed rather bland and flat. Well, I've been bland and flat in my spirit.

I have been moved by music and I still marvel at the story of Jesus coming to earth as a baby. I have heard children talk about the story and give me new insights. I've heard 3-year-olds tell me about the angels and the shepherds: "Glory to God!" "Don't be afraid of me!"

And I've also seen accusations and mistreatment and hurt and confusion. I've had sadness at things that have happened this past year in our family. And the truth is that we live in a world where sin is active and thriving.

Last week I was reminded again to look for the joy in each day and each situation. God brings joy, deep abiding joy. So for the month of January, I am going to seek joy each day. I'll post here daily what joy I find.

To God be the glory! Joy to the world! His Son has come!



(A final note: My idea for this is based on a friend's commitment to post thankfulness each day. I am grateful for her giving spirit and for the journey that it will lead me on.)

Living Forward, Understanding Backward

When November 3 came around, I thought about what I was doing on that date last year, following an ambulance and waiting at the hospital. Now memories--past posts--pop up on Facebook related to the times in the hospital and Cindy's recovery. I cannot help but reflect over the past year and where we are now.

This journey with God is lived forward but understood backward.

Looking back we see the twists and turns, we see the helping hands, we see how one thing led to another thing. For us, I see that it would have been extremely difficult for me to be available for Cindy this past year if I had a 8-to-5 job...and near impossible if I was teaching in a school classroom. Our journey that started several years ago prepared us for this past year. I'm able to work from home easily; Cindy has been able to get back to her work with limited mobility; scheduling 100s of appointments was easier with a flexible schedule.

Looking back I can understand more about the road we've traveled. There are, of course, things I don't fully get yet and may not this side of eternity. But I see God's hand at work in our past travels.

But we must live forward, anticipating what is coming next. The past lies behind us and can inform us. But the future is where we are moving and we can step boldly into it knowing that our Sovereign God is there, leading and directing.

So what does that mean for us?
--God is sovereign. He is in control.
--We can trust God even if things seem difficult or out of control.
--God's ways are often beyond our understanding. (He is God; I am not.)
--What is contrary to what "we want" may be the better thing for us.

Do I understand all that has happened in the last year? No. But I trust the one who does know.

We know that all things work together for good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

What Are You Really Seeking?

A familiar story in the Bible is Jesus feeding a crowd with only a small amount of food. A large crowd had gathered to listen to Jesus' teaching. The day had grown long and meal time approached. Jesus asked His disciples how they were going to feed all the people. They located one small boy with a small amount of food. Jesus thanked God and broke the bread and fish to distribute it. The food filled 5,000 men plus women and children. With leftovers! (John 6:1-13)

We tell this story to children and teach it among adults. It's an important story about God's provision and Jesus' power. But do we remember the "rest of the story"? (Sorry, Paul Harvey.) In John 6:15, we read that Jesus withdrew into the mountains because the people were going to force Him to be the king. Okay, we know that God's plan for Jesus was different than becoming an earthly king...but there is something else going on here. Further in the chapter, we discover what.

The crowd discovered that Jesus and His disciples are gone. They searched for Jesus and eventually found Him. Jesus responded to their questions: "You are looking for me because I fed you. You should be looking for that which satisfies eternally."

Jesus and the people discussed more about this--bread for now verses bread for eternity. Jesus told them: "I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again." (John 6:35) Jesus teaches them more about who He is and what He is doing. The result? Many of the followers could not accept what He said and deserted Him. (John 6:60) Jesus was not really what they were seeking.

We've been seeking things since we began this journey. And, recent events have led us to seek other things. But we've learned that most of all, we need to be seeking Jesus and that which will bring God's glory.

Listening to the radio the other day, I heard the song "More Than Anything" by Natalie Grant. (Apparently God continues to direct our radio station to play what I need to hear at a certain time. I hope the other listeners don't mind all the songs that I need!) Natalie Grant sings these words:

Help me want the Healer, More than the healing
Help me want the Savior, More than the saving
Help me want the Giver, More than the giving
Oh help me want You Jesus, More than anything

Too often I think I want the answer, the healing, the gift more than I want Jesus. The crowd wanted the bread (earthly sustenance) more than the Bread (eternal life). Throughout all our journey - and especially in recent days - God has continued to show me that I need to be pursuing Him. Not a particular path or a particular trait or a particular knowledge. But Him.

May we want Him, seek Him, more than anything else.