Tag: Joy

  • Sooner or later we discover that life is a series of highs and lows.

    Each of us would choose the highs and toss out the lows. If we could.

    Blog. Pensive woman. 11.17Everything reminds us it's the season to rejoice, but perhaps right now it takes all we've got just to get through the day.  

    Looking back brings sadness.

    Looking ahead brings fear.

    Some may be waiting out results of medical tests, our own or someone we love. Or we know what the tests reveal–and wish we didn't.

    Or it could be job loss. Marriage problems. Strained relationships with family members. The uncertainties of aging. The anxiety that rises in our throat every month as we total up expenses.  

    Hardest of all is the grief after a loved one dies. People talk about "closure," as if one shuts the door and that's it. Not true. Hearts thankful for happy memories can still ache, still feel empty. Even for Christians.

    Silence is not always golden.

    Whatever the cause we ache to feel joy once again

    Despite what we see around us, some of us may not feel much like giving thanks or singing "Joy to the world."

    Yes, we know hard times come to all of us,. Knowing that doesn't help much.

    Perhaps we blush to remember times we told others in pain that the Lord helps those who help themselves. Now it's our turn–and we've tried. We may have prayed until our throat went dry and scratchy.

    Maybe we've given up because nothing changes. 

    Ever since Eden we live in a messed-up world 

    That's plain to see, yet God in the Bible assures us that trouble does not mean God stopped loving us. He never will.

    The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."    Jeremiah 31:3-4  NIV

    "Everlasting." Love that has no beginning and no end. 

    Another verse well-loved by many promises everything that happens to us has a purpose, one way or another.
    And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose.    Romans 8:28  ESV

    What could be "good" about a hard time?

    Try these, for starters:

    • We may not know the answer to that question for awhile, but God does.
    • It may be good, even though it does not feel good to us.
    • Without a doubt every challenging experience will stretch us and change us.

    Do I like this process? Not at all. I want my life to be smooth as a mountain lake at dawn.

    Over the years I've learned not to blame God for causing my problems. Does He allow them? It seems so, but always to teach and grow me, not to beat me up and then walk away. 

    This leaves us with the obvious question to ask ourselves: How will I handle this?

    We can fight the situation and complain and grow bitter. Or we can grow stronger. We can become a person with more empathy and understanding for the pain of others.

    Always, the choice is ours.

    The Pilgrims show us how to live

    Paintings of that first Thanksgiving show the artists' concepts of the scene, but none can depict the emotions of that day.

    When we look on happy settlers and friendly Native Americans gathered around a huge table loaded with food we assume joy ruled the day. After all, the year's bountiful food supply was safely stored away for winter so they could rejoice and be glad.  

    What isn't shown is the deep grief that shadowed that first Thanksgiving gathering.  

    The Mayflower left Britain loaded with 110 passengers and crew. By that first Thanksgiving about a year later, only 50 people survived. Only three families that boarded that ship remained intact.

    And yet they thanked God.

    Instead of getting stuck in mourning what and whom they lost, they turned their eyes and their hearts to what remained–and gave thanks to God.

    What if we took our cues from them?

    Whatever our situation may be, we, too, can entrust our lives to our Father's loving care and be at peace. 

    We can rejoice and celebrate what is.

    How do we do that if at the moment, our joy has dwindled and our hope has dried up? Still we can wrap ourselves in the unfailing warmth of God's love for us and be comforted. 

    This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.  Psalm 107:1  KJV                     

    Inward peace and joy do not depend on things going right for us. They flow out of knowing for certain that Jesus loves us. His Spirit is with us, every moment of every day.

    Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."    John 14:23  ESV

    As the old advertising slogan told us, "It's what's inside that counts" 

    My friend, you have all you need to deal with whatever comes. Today. Tomorrow. Always.  

    How do we get through the weeks ahead?

    • Breathe–and rejoice that you are able to  
    • Refuse to keep reciting that familiar list of "What ifs" 
    • Let yourself feel joy because you know who's really in control

    And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   Philippians 4:7  ESV

    For each of us, lasting joy and peace that come from trusting Jesus is the gift that we can rely on. Whatever the day brings.  

    So let us give thanks to the Giver. Let us rejoice and be glad!

    Lenore

    Can we thank God in our hard times?

  • Here we are, with 2020 bearing down on us. The end of another decade.  What will we do with it?

    I've loved Christmas since I was a little girl singing and "saying my piece" for the Christmas Blog. Lighted star. 12.13program. I love the wreaths and the lights and all the happy frenzy.  

    Touching hearts and connecting. Remembering. Missing loved ones no longer with us.

    One minute it's laughter and hugs, the next it's tears. In this season all our emotions are right there at the surface. 

    Very soon we'll pack away the tenderness and the trappings of Christmas and get back to the business of life.

    Boxing up the tree and tangibles may make us sad, but that's all surface stuff. What we'll miss even more is setting aside our tender feelings and our willingness to be softer, more giving of ourselves and our time. 

    Why bother with Christmas lights and decorations?

    We never know how our Christmas gestures and traditions may touch someone's heart.

    Every year I think of another time, another place, when someone's Christmas star was just what I needed.

    At the time we knew we'd be moving on, but for a few years we had no clue where my husband's job would take us. To me it felt like waiting for the other shoe to drop.

    (Did I mention I'm not so good at waiting?)

    Each December 1st someone on a far distant hill would put up a lighted Christmas star so large I could see it clearly as I turned off the freeway and headed the mile or so toward home.

    Almost every time the sight of it would bring me to tears. Tears of gladness that despite all the commercial hoopla someone, somewhere, still cared about the Christ Child and the star that brought the shepherds running to Bethlehem.

    Tears of doubt and self-pity, too, I confess. I wanted to know what came next and I also knew I couldn't, so at last I'd ask God to give me patience and peace as we waited. 

    Somehow, by the time I reached home seeing that star would calm my heart. Most of all, it reminded me that Jesus Christ was born to bring us peace. 

    Even me.

    Even in the midst of not knowing.

    Truth is, none of us ever knows what comes next

    Our lives can be turned upside down in an instant. Most of us have lived it at some time.

    All it takes is a letter. A phone call. An unexpected–or expected–diagnosis or a test result we didn't want to hear.   

    You've heard that saying, "Life is fragile. Handle with care."

    The better maxim for us Christians would be, "Life is fragile, but we're safe in God's loving hands." 

    Our times are in his hands, remember?  (Psalm 31:15.)

    We can count on the One who knows the future

    Let's not pack away our joy along with the "Christmas stuff."

    Yes, we live in turbulent times and life may seem discouraging and dismal at times. Still, by this time most of us have figured out that we find what we look for. 

    Let's look for what's good instead of being on alert for what's wrong.

    Let's remember who we are–and more importantly, who God is.

    A verse to post on our mental bulletin boards and live by every day

    There's a reason why this Bible verse has been treasured for centuries:

    "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."       Jeremiah 29:11-12  NIV

    How about taking those words seriously as we start each new day?

    I can't think of a better way to keep the joy and peace of Christmas in our hearts 24/7, can you?

    Trusting along with you,

    Lenore 

    What if we took God at his word, every day of every year?

  • Around this time of year, as we look at our To Do lists, I expect some of us long for a "shot of Christmas," to get us energized.

    I don't have a magic potion, but this YouTube should do the trick. You may have seen it, but if you take time once again, I promise you'll find yourself smiling by the end. 

    Are you smiling?

    Some of us have been hearing or singing Handel's Messiah for years, especially Hallelujah. Not so many know the story of how Handel came to write this glorious music.

    Picture the scene. It is the summer of 1741, in a small house in London. Discouraged and miserably in debt, 56 year-old George Fredric Handel considered himself something of a failure. Not long before he had given what he thought of as his farewell concert. Then a friend passed on a libretto based on the life of Christ. Its writer hoped someone could write music to go with his script, all of it quoted from The King James Bible. 

    Handel, a strong believer in Christ, read it through and was deeply moved. So on August 22nd, he set to work composing. After that no one saw him except the servant who faithfully brought him food, then every day removed the untouched tray.

    One day the servant opened the door to find his employer with tears streaming down his face. Handel said, "I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself."

    GeorBlog. Handel. 12.10 -thumb-400x501-9945ge Frederic Handel uttered those words just after completing the movement that ever after has been known around the world as the Hallelujah Chorus.

    He wrote the entire work in an amazing 24 days. In that short span of time Handel not only personally inked each note of the four-part vocal score, but also the music and every instrumental part for the orchestra. (If you've sung the Messiah, you know just the choral arrangement plus piano accompaniment runs to more than 250 pages.) Whether we call it genius or divine inspiration, for more than two centuries this piece of music has been performed all over the world.

    Handel died April 14, 1759, eight days after his final performance where he conducted his mansterpiece, Messiah. If you visit Westminster Abbey in London, look for his statue. He's shown holding the manuscript for the solo that opens part three of Messiah, "I know that my Redeemer liveth."

    It seems to me we can draw some lessons for ourselves. At the time, Handel would have been considered elderly and people around him considered him finished. So did he. It seems he never said, "Well, I can't do that because . . ." Maybe we, too, need to set aside our labels and our familiar thinking and step out in faith. Otherwise, who knows? We might miss out on doing something great.

    As for getting in the mood for Christmas, I know what I need to do. I need to take my eyes off how much I have to do and focus on what Christmas really means. The Joy-Giver is just as capable of giving meaning and joy to our work as He was back in Handel's time. Sure, our "tune" may be small, but the world around us needs to hear it. So let's smile and give thanks, then go for it!

    Comments?

    Here's to letting our JOY show in this most wonderful time of the year,

    Lenore

     

    Need an injection of Christmas spirit? Find it here . . .

  • Isn't it easy to look at someone else's life and think they have it easy?Blog. grass with white fence. 5.10

    You've heard that old saying, "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence."

    Here's what never gets said, "Yes, but you still have to mow it."

    I confess. Early on, I spent a lot of time looking around at other people's lives and thinking, "If only … ."

    Maybe you're familiar with that swamp, the one filled with, "If only my life were easier. If only I were a better _____ ." Etc.

    I could have filled in that blank with at least a dozen ways in which either my life or I could be "better." After awhile I got older and smarter and recognized the obvious. No one lives an "easy" life and no one is perfect. Every one of us deals with stresses and problems and difficulties in relationships.

    Some people think daydreaming is harmless and costs nothing. Not true. While we have our heads in the clouds we miss out on the day and the life we actually inhabit.

    It's good to stop and now and then and take stock. Try making a list of what's good in your life. Oh, and forget "perfect." Concentrate instead on what's "good."

    I discovered it helped to pretend I was someone else, a reporter, perhaps. What would I write about the woman in the mirror and the life she lived? 

    I used that list as a starting point for giving thanks to the Giver every day or so. By the time I worked my way through that list I'd be adding to it. 

    You can guess what happened, can't you? That little exercise became a habit, a way of thinking about my life. Each time I read it and thanked God for these blessings, I felt more blessed.

    Before long when I realized I was happy. I liked myself better, too.

    Did anything change about my life? Nope. Only my perception. And that made all the difference.

    Like so many others before me, I learned the truth of Proverbs 23:7, as translated in the King James or Revised Standard Version. Here it is, slightly paraphrased.

    As a [woman] thinks in [her] heart, so is [she.]

    So, dear reader, here's my challenge for you: Try it for yourself. Then share your findings with the rest of us by using the comments form below.

    Blessings and joy,

    Lenore

     

    Looking for happiness? Take a fresh look around

  • I confess. I have Christmas cards and letters still waiting toBlog. christmasholly9. 12.09 be mailed and gifts to be wrapped. (And please, could we not talk about my list of neglected everyday chores?)

    If you're sharing this uncomfortable boat with me, you may be thinking, "Now if I can just get through Christmas…"

    That's a trap. As soon as we do that we rob our days of the joy that comes with reading letters from friends and thinking how to please the people we love. I think it's time for a vision adjustment and a transfusion. (Sorry, I can't produce an extra five or six days…)

    Pause for breath and let's drink in some energy for our spirits:

    Probably the reason we all go so haywire at Christmas time with the endless unrestrained and often silly buying of gifts is that we don't quite know how to put our love into words.  Harlan Miller

    It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself.        Charles Dickens

    This is Christmas: not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols, but the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift, the Christ.     Frank McKibben

    Take Christ out of Christmas, and December becomes the bleakest and most colorless month of the year. A. F. Wells

    The Light that shines from the humble manger is strong enough to lighten our way to the end of our days. Vita-Rays 

    God rest you merry, lovely readers. Let us rejoice-in-the-midst of the rubble all around us. That same Light will power our personal "energy cells," one day after another.

    Question for you: What's your biggest hurdle in this wonderful Christmas time?

    Lenore

    Are you running out of steam before Christmas?

  • I saw Santa yesterday, but this one didn't look like the pictures you see. First I saw his decked-out van. If I had the presence of mind to remember that my fancy-schmancy new cell phone has a camera, I could show you what I saw. Blog. christmas_lights_truck-12048.12.09This will have to do. 

    Imagine a nondescript old gray work van, elaborately decorated from stem to stern with roping of fresh evergreens. The roping extended down from the roof over the hood, too, plus battery-operated Christmas lights. Small stuffed animals adorned every door handle. On top stood a figure of Santa Claus, maybe eighteen inches tall. After I parked on the other side of the row of cars and faced this marvel, I sat staring in fascination, wondering what and who…

    That's when the driver walked up.

    As he stuffed papers in the back pocket of his well-worn blue jeans, he smiled, then rubbed his forehead. For that moment I got a good look at the grizzled, fifty-ish man with leathery skin. He stood tall and skinny and wore an old, plaid wool shirt, jeans, a red wool cap with ear-flaps drooping and battered work boots. Then he climbed into his van, slammed the door and threw the truck in reverse. Only then did I understand he was Santa.

    That's when I could see that the back of the van was crammed with toys, from top to bottom. They even peeked out from the passenger window side of the van. All I saw through his rear window was packed-in toys. Clearly, this Santa was making a delivery and sooner or later, many kids would be whooping with delight.

    Then this morning's Sacramento Bee ran the story of an 82-year old Santa, a woman who watched a television show about the homeless and started knitting. Because of her talking to friends, who talked to their friends, a network of older individuals picked up their needles. Now this Santa can deliver hundreds of hand-knitted caps, scarves and to our local Loaves & Fishes.

    Christmas brings out the best in all of us, doesn't it? As individuals and through our churches, we collect food and pack baskets. We reach out through countless charity organizations that bring joy to children and families. Our sensitivity radar picks up and we glimpse needs we were blind to before.

    There's a special joy, I think, when we give a gift and don't identify ourselves. Part of the fun is knowing a secret. Sometimes we even hear the recipient(s) speculate about who might have done this. That's when we get to practice keeping a straight face.

    Here's the question: Do you know any Santas like this? Or have you ever played this part?go

    Why not share that joy with the rest of us? (Just go to "Post a Comment" and follow directions.)

    In the midst of the wonderful Christmas bustle, may you feel the Light of Christmas,

    Lenore

    I saw Santa yesterday, but…