JOY

 

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5 (NKJV)

What is Joy

Joy is something different than happiness. Happiness is dependent on outer stimulus.

Joy comes from the LORD. It is a byproduct of being with Jesus, of working with Him.

At the time of Christ’s birth the sky filled with angels who spoke to the shepherds. The angelic host told them, “And the angel said to them ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:9-11,ESV)

The word Joy appears in the New Testament at least 18 times.

Curtis Zachary in his book, Finding Soul Rest ¹, points out that joy is a byproduct of something else. God answers our prayers, and we feel joy. We receive a special present and we feel joy.

What brings you joy?

The things that bring me joy are as follows:

* Seeing the sunshine through my living room window in the mornings.

* Getting a good night’s sleep.

* Seeing a rainbow after a summer shower.

* Receiving a phone call from a friend.

* Being greeted with a smile at church. We must always thank Him for giving us joy.

* Receiving long prayed for answers to prayer.

                                         

___________________

1. Finding Soul Rest by Curtis Zachary, Kirkdale Press, Bellingham, Washington © 2010.Page 88.

June Reflections

Road Trip              

 My husband is from the south central part of our state. His family moved up here after this junior year of high school. That class has a reunion just about every year. This year, he decided to go. We only stayed for part of it. We had a very nice time. However there were some he didn’t get to visit with. 

Father’s Day

Roger came up for part of the weekend. I had to choose not to attend anopen house for a lady from church as she turned 99. He family had an open house at her home. Also, a lady in our church lost a sister and the family had a memorial service at church. I had been in contact with her several times during her sister’s last days. I contacted her and let her know that I couldn’t attend the service.

Street Repairs 

 Our street has been getting repaired since June 7th, the people doing the work are doing it “piece-meal”. They are patching places that a utility company created in an updating of their service to their customers. The latest project is replacing areas of sidewalk, repairing drive-way approaches, and paving the street where the original company had to dig up the street. 

Vacation Bible School Preparation

We have a new Children’s Ministry Director this year. We got a very late start in planning. We created our own theme and recycled decorations. More about this next month. 

Pastor Rick and Cheryl

At the end of June, Pastor Rick formally went on a Medical Leave. This as their decision. They talked to medical people and to those in our Conference. When he told the congregation, he said he would be working on getting back to where he was (100%) in the next eight to twelve months. In the meantime, we will still have Pastor Stephen Ellis as our pastor. 

Writing 

 I have not done much writing this month. I didn’t feel up to doing any. Please forgive me for this. Time just seems to slip away from me. I am now writing a column for our church newsletter, actually passing on information from the conference prayer network to the congregation.

Where are Our Eyes?

As I look at the world, both secular and Christian, I see a lot of turmoil. I have come to expect this from the secular world. Even then, those in that sphere try to hide their thoughts and make those watching believe that all is as it should be.

Right now, I see and hear of things transpiring among Christians that cause me to wonder, "Where are their eyes?" Are they looking at themselves or are the truly looking to Jesus and seeking His guidance.I

I cannot give particulars, nor do I want to.  When we give our hearts over to Jesus, we ask Him to guide us through the issues that come up in our lives. 

On several different occasions, I have heard people say, "COVID really changed how we respond to others, or how we do things." We need to get our eyes off COVID and get our eyes back on Jesus. I am just as guilty of using excuses for not doing what God has intended for me to do in following Him.

I know He will forgive me. I just hope I can forgive myself.

Trusting Him

 

candidlychristian.com 

Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, But he, who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.

Psalm 32:10 (NKJV)

We say we trust God, but do we? Sometimes don’t we mouth those words to those around us and deep inside we think, “I know what I am doing.”?

Recently, I woke up in the wee hours of the morning. We were taking a daytrip to a reunion of the class my husband would have graduated with had his family not moved away from there.

I noticed something about my vision. It was not good. The next few weeks were going to be busy ones for me. I give a Children’s Moments message at church one Sunday a month. I was planning to do preregistration for Vacation Bible School for three Sundays in a row. We had to prepare for this event in the meantime.

Add into this mix my getting my donated items ready for the Church Rummage Sale, which comes the end of Father’s Day week. Plus, how was I going to get to church on Sundays and to Bible Study on Thursdays?

All these dates were running through my mind as I lay there trying to go back to sleep. Suddenly, God planted my WOTY, word of the year, TRUST, in my mind.

I focused on that precious word and fell back asleep. When I woke again, I checked my vision and saw that it was restored to where I could see pretty well.

My main concern was how was I going to get done what I needed to do? Get decorations for my VBS preregistration-registration table. How was I going to get my donations to the Church for the rummage sale? I didn’t think I should trust myself driving and my Hubby shouldn’t be driving when he hasn’t been able to get the proper sleep he needs.

Add to that the Zoom meeting I needed to attend for our Conference Prayer Network. Also, my printer seemed to have a mind of it’s own.

So far, God has taken care of most of these needs. God knows my needs and I have to trust Him. I have to praise Him for his help and guidance through these issues.

Come and Hear

 

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He has done for my soul.

Psalm 66:16 (ESV)

Words written to the choirmaster

The psalmist invites those who know God and respect Him to gather and listen as he conveys a special message to them.

Do we, who live in the 21^st Century share good news when God blesses us? Or do we just keep that news to ourselves?

Sometimes, we forgo the good news and relate the sad news and the ugly news of the world to those around us.

Some of us well-meaning Christians repeat things we hear and should not do. My parents called this “Carrying tales”.

What has God done for our souls?

* He saved us from sin.

* He gives us each day as a gift.

* He guides us through each day.

* He protects us from harm.

* He listens to our prayers.

* He answers those prayers as to what is best for us and for those for whom we pray.

Declare Praise

 

                        

worldhistory.org

I will declare Your name to My brethren;

In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

You who fear the Lord, praise Him!

All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,

And fear Him all you offspring of Israel.

Psalm 22:22-23 (NKJV)

Words of David

David tells God that he, David, will firmly speak His Name to his fellow worshipers in the middle of the gathering of His people.

Do believers today have that kind of freedom? Some groups still practice giving testimonies of praise. When I hear people say God helped them through a trial, it encourages me.

David advises those who fear (respect) the Lord to praise Him, even if we can only praise God for the things we have taken for granted-the everyday things.

He tells those descend from Jacob to glorify God. We are to lift God up and let Him be who He is meant to be.

The shepherd king also tells those who are descendants of Israel (Christians are grafted into this group.) to deeply respect God for all the things He has done for us, His unworthy children.

We are made worthy of His love and care because of Jesus.

May Reflections

 

httpstanbooks.com/

W.I.P. (Work in Progress)

I have a project I started recently. It is rather involved. I am changing my wardrobe from winter to spring/summer clothes. I am also getting some of those clothes ready for a rummage sale at church. In order to get them ready, I need to clean them-some are machine washable, some are dry-clean only.

The rummage sale is scheduled for Jun 20-22. I sorted the items into piles and got some ready to take to the dry-cleaners and to the laundry mat. This may take awhile.

In the middle of all this, Roger was planning to come home for Mother’s Day. But he wasn’t feeling well. So, we planned on him coming home the following week.

In the late afternoon on Mother’s Day, our phone rang, the person calling was a woman who, due to her health, no longer is able to attend our church. A friend of her’s was being admitted to the hospital located down the street from our home. She asked me if I could go down and check on this friend. The friend is one of the church’s congregants.

I was able to go down there on Sunday evening and on Monday around noon. Tuesday and Wednesday were not good days for me. I called and checked on my ill friend.

Thursday, I went to Bible Study and set out the prayer vigil sign-up sheets before we had our time of study. After the study, I called the lady who has stayed with our sick friend to find out how things were.

Update: Progress stalled.

VBS Planning

Our Children’s Ministries Director has dates for VBS.We will have VBS on July 8^th, 9^th and 10^th. We are creating our own theme and will decorate accordingly. We are planning to reuse some of the decorations from past Bible Schools. Our Children’s Ministries Director is new this year and has not done this before. His name is Steve; please pray for him.

Weekly Bible Study

I decided at the first of the year to start attending the Thursday morning Bible Study at church. Between the January and Februry weather, needing a plumber on a Thursday, and both of us being sick, I finally go to attend the first week in May. I enjoyed the fellowship as well as the study.

One thing the Bible Study does is from time to time send cards to the shut-ins, to those missing, and to those on the church staff. Also condolence cards to those who have recently lost a loved one.

They did a special project last Christmas that this year they opened it to the whole church. We were given a new pillow case and asked to purchase small items as we find them and fill the pillow case with these items, things children would like, for Christmas. The items will be available at a school’s food pantry and at our church’s food panty in December.

At the end of each Bible Study session, we receive a small card on which we write our names. A gentleman takes them up and he allows us to choose one card. We pray for that person for a week.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day slipped up on me this year. Have not gotten things done that I planned on doing. (Man makes plans but God calls the moves.)

School’s Out, etc.

At the end of May, our city schools will be out for a two month summer vacation. One of the ministries in our city is already collecting school supplies for the upcoming year. One of the men at church works in this ministry. We, as a church have been asked to donate school supplies to this effort.