Choosing Joy

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

This passage used to seem more like a fairy tale than verses in the Bible to me. Who on earth can consider the multiple trials in which we have all experienced ‘pure joy’? Before we roll our eyes and skip over this passage let me share with you the most complete definition I have ever read defining joy. Years ago, I read Kay Warren’s book called Choosing Joy, Because Happiness isn’t Enough. Her definition of joy is ‘the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.’ And that is the core of joy – choosing it despite our circumstances.

Joy is the overflow of spiritual maturity and completion once we really embrace God's track record. Joy is cumulative and progressive as God proves Himself faithful in all seasons. Joy runs the race to the very end, while happiness constantly searches for another path. We are certainly going to face trials until we step into Heaven so why wouldn’t we choose joy understanding that our trials are not empty. Why wouldn’t we step into maturity and move towards completion in God? What does it look like when are living a life lacking nothing? It looks like the woman who despite her broken relationship fully understands that God is still in control of every detail. It is the man who has God’s assurance that provision will be there to carry him through the lean times. It is the parent that continues to praise God even while awaiting the prodigal to return…a settled assurance… a quiet confidence…a determined choice to praise God through it all.

Seasons come, and seasons go, and they are strung together with both beautiful days and heart wrenching moments. Most times we cannot control the hardships that crash into our lives, but we can walk through them with joy…pure joy as the author described. God promises that we will have everything we need to face any trial. In Him we will lack nothing, so with that truth we can take comfort and choose joy!

Revisiting Bethel

“God said to Jacob, ‘Get up! Go to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau’... ‘We must get up and go. I will build an altar there to the God who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me everywhere I have gone.’” Ge 35:1-3

The message continues from yesterday…we must consider where we have been before God shows us where He is taking us. Jacob, his wives and their children had settled in a land of foreign gods after leaving Laban’s land. They compromised their devotion to God by settling in a region that wasn’t God’s will for them. He intended for them to pass through the land, not intermingling and setting up life with its inhabitants. Finally, God said that enough was enough instructing them to gather their things and return to the original place where God had first revealed Himself to Jacob. He wanted Jacob to revisit the place where God’s mercy met his despair. It would only be once they returned to that holy spot that God would show Jacob his future inheritance.

Sometimes the very thing God wants us to do is the very thing we resist the most. Who on earth wants to revisit a time when our deepest despair was our companion? I have a place that immediately comes to mind where God ministered to me in one of my most heart wrenching times. It was my Bethel and I think about it every time I pass by that place. I don’t think on it for long because it still symbolizes a time when I felt most alone…when I could count on my fingers those who surrounded me in love and support. God showed me amazing things that have liberated me from lifelong attitudes that no longer benefit me. He began reshaping my heart and rebuilding my focus. He revealed Himself daily to me as I traveled through that season. I am in a great place now but realize the importance of ‘recalling my Bethel’ to fully grasp how far God has brought me. He is still showing me wonderful things for my future while continuing to work on my heart. Like Jacob, God couldn’t show me the beautiful things He had for me until my heart had been reworked. Like Jacob, God has been with me everywhere I have gone since that day of deep despair.

Where does this leave us? It leaves us with the truth that sometimes the answer to our prayers is ‘down the road’ once we’ve allowed God to transform our heart. It leaves us with the choice to believe in God’s best if we keep moving instead of settling in the land of bitterness…despair…discontent. Once we ‘get up and get going’ it can propel the power of God to move mountains, heal hearts, and resurrect dead dreams. I am sure all of you have your Bethels where your greatest despair met God's unwavering love and faithfulness. Those are the things worth recalling. Those are the times of God's best intersecting our worst. Keep your eyes on God because you have no idea the beautiful plans He has for your life. So get up...get going...and build those altars!

The Devil Made Me Do It

“As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, "What you are about to do, do quickly." John 13:24

Over the weekend I read a commentary about this passage. It was very interesting and enlightening when considering going through our tough seasons. It reminded me of the time when I was heavily involved with my father-in-law and mother-in-law during his illness. Beth had just been put in Hospice, Bruce had just had knee replacement, and my dad had just found out that his cancer had spread. I was already emotionally and physically stretched to the max. But on Super Bowl Sunday I got a call from my daughter who I could barely understand. She was sobbing uncontrollably and finally was able to tell us that her former boyfriend was killed in a motorcycle accident. They were making plans to reconcile. I remember feeling devastated but mostly questioning God as to why so much tragedy was happening in a small period-of-time.

This commentary made me think of that time because it stated that Satan knew Jesus was going to fulfill God’s will. He also had heard the prophesies no doubt and knew that the time was upon him. He knew that the victory of Christ would mean the inevitable destruction of evil, sin and death one day. He knew his time would be over one day, so all he could do was to make the event as messy, brutal and heartbreaking for Jesus as possible. To hurt Him would hurt the heart of God. Not only was he working through the leaders of the time, but he chose one of Jesus’ closest friends, Judas to betray Him. Through the taunting of fear Peter was left denying Jesus three times. Satan’s temporary effectiveness only lasted until the tomb was vacated!

Satan cannot take our soul as believers, but he can make our circumstances messy and heartbreaking for sure. He can encourage people to betray and reject us. He laughs in the face of someone abandoning us. It is the very reason we need to follow the example of Jesus. Satan’s fiery darts are temporary while God’s armor is permanent. When we walk through life trying to fend off the challenges we must remind ourselves that God is in total control. Jesus never allowed Satan to gain a foothold in His circumstances and neither can we. We must pray every day, constantly meditate on His word and surround ourselves with the community of Christ. Satan knows his time is short so as the Body let’s frustrate, irritate and make things as messy as possible by displaying love, forgiveness, mercy and grace.

A Moment in Time

"Then he appeared to James…” 1 Co 15:7

At first glance these words really don’t hold much weight but upon further consideration they show extravagant grace and loyalty to family…another beautiful example of Jesus. James was his half-brother growing up with Jesus. No doubt he was clueless about Jesus being the Son of God, the future Messiah. Growing up they surely participated in all the religious festivals during the year. Songs of Assent as they would start out on their pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the festival…the re-enactment at Passover of how God rescued their people from Egypt years before…the readings of past prophesies of the coming Messiah. Little did young James know that as he wrestled with his little brother, one day his little brother would wrestle with the world. I wonder as an adult when James began ridiculing Jesus, ashamed of his brother’s message of love to sinners and the message of God? There is even a passage that states, ‘When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, "He is out of His mind.’ Mark 3:21. We are told Mary was the only family member by Jesus as He hung on the cross. So, all this messy and dysfunctional history brings us up to this powerful moment. It is the only mention of their interaction after the resurrection. There are multiple passages recording the exchange between Jesus and the others but not this one. I feel like it is because it was too private…too tender…too sacred. Sibling to sibling...brother to brother...heart to heart. It wasn’t until the appearance of Jesus that James would finally fully understand that his brother was the Son of God. I can’t even imagine how raw his heart was when he heard Jesus call his name.

Jesus appeared to James with the mercy and grace of a Savior, not just a brother. This same Jesus who forgave the one who turned his back on Him forgives us when we do. This same Jesus who was wounded by the mockery of his brother healed James’ wounds of the heart, and will also heal our grieving hearts. The same Jesus who carried our family through the loss of our loved ones will carry me through future heartbreak. The same tenderness and undeserving love that James experienced that day is available to each of us no matter what we have done.

The extravagant and relentless love of Jesus…He also approaches us every day, in every season, and offers us the same Brotherly love He did on that day thousands of years ago.

“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." Matthew 12:50

From Song to Story

“One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at the table at Jesus’ side.” John 13:23

Last Sunday we visited the church that we attend whenever we are in Charleston. The pastor of this church is very funny, and we always look forward to attending. One of the things he pointed out on Easter is that this verse about Jesus loving this disciple was written by none other than the disciple. Pastor Surratt stated that John wrote 6 different times in his book the statement ‘whom Jesus loved’ referring to himself. After the initial discovery I kept thinking about John who felt it was important to point out throughout his writings that Jesus loved him. It is believed he wrote the Book of John most likely in his late 50's to early 60's after so much time had passed. We must remember John was most likely in his 20’s when he followed Jesus. Scholars agree that young John was a bit arrogant and a hot head a times. But serving Jesus changed his life and his heart. ‘Those characteristics of Jesus which John most appreciated were the Master's love and unselfishness. These traits made such an impression on him that his whole subsequent life became dominated by the sentiment of love and brotherly devotion. He talked about love and wrote about love. This ‘son of thunder’ became the ‘apostle of love.’ (Unknown author).

I can only imagine writing a book about my dad today 10 years after he died. One of the overriding things which I would write would be how much he loved me. The expression of love in my writings would be overwhelming for me to remember. The ink would spill from my heart into the words. I would write about the memories we experienced together. I would recall what a loving husband he was to my mother, and a wonderful father to four little girls. I would speak of his integrity in business and his sacrifice in service. I would spend a ton of ink on how he worked to bring small children who didn’t attend church to Christ. I might would even get as intimate as John when he spoke of leaning up against Jesus. The emotions would be a roller-coaster of joy, sadness, grief and gratitude all bundled up in my story.

So, what is the story we are writing about our relationship with Jesus? How would the Book of Brenda read, and how would your book read? Would it include how we walk with Him daily, and talk with Him honestly? Would there be pages dedicated to how we accepted our invitation to lean up against Him when we needed to be reminded that we were loved? Would we recall His goodness in our past times? One of the things for which I am grateful is that He knows the depth of love each of us feels for Him. He knows the depth of our intimacy with Him. I know that our stories with Jesus have not yet been completed. I’m certain that there will be times each of need to lean right up against Him. For you it might even be today. Jesus is for each of us the same man who lent His shoulder to young John. May we each write our stories with the truth that ‘Jesus loves us, this we know for the Bible tells us so!’

Revisiting Bethel

“God said to Jacob, ‘Get up! Go to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau’... ‘We must get up and go. I will build an altar there to the God who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me everywhere I have gone.’” Ge 35:1-3

The message continues from yesterday…we must consider where we have been before God shows us where He is taking us. Jacob, his wives and their children had settled in a land of foreign gods after leaving Laban’s land. They compromised their devotion to God by settling in a region that wasn’t God’s will for them. He intended for them to pass through the land, not intermingling and setting up life with its inhabitants. Finally, God said that enough was enough instructing them to gather their things and return to the original place where God had first revealed Himself to Jacob. He wanted Jacob to revisit the place where God’s mercy met his despair. It would only be once they returned to that holy spot when God would show Jacob his future inheritance.

Sometimes the very thing God wants us to do is the very thing we resist the most. Who on earth wants to revisit a time when our deepest despair was our companion? I have a place that immediately comes to mind where God ministered to me in one of my most heart wrenching times. It was my Bethel and I think about it every time I pass by that place. I don’t think on it for long because it still symbolizes a time when I felt most alone…when I could count on my fingers those who surrounded me in love and support. God showed me amazing things from that season that has liberated me from life long attitudes that no longer benefit me. He began reshaping my heart and rebuilding my focus. He revealed Himself daily to me as I traveled through that season. I am in a great place now but realize the importance of ‘recalling my Bethel’ to fully grasp how far God has brought me. He is still showing me wondering things for my future while continuing to work on my heart. Like Jacob, God couldn’t show me the beautiful things He had for me until my heart had been reworked. Like Jacob, God has been with me everywhere I have gone since that day of deep despair.

Where does this leave us? It leaves us with the truth that sometimes the answer to our prayers is ‘down the road’ once we’ve allowed God to transform our heart. It leaves us with the choice to believe in God’s best if we keep moving instead of settling in the land of bitterness…despair…discontent. Once we ‘get up and get going’ it can propel the power of God to move mountains, heal hearts, and resurrect dead dreams. I am sure all of you have your Bethel's where your greatest despair met God's unwavering love and faithfulness. Those are the things worth recalling. Those are the times of God's best intersecting our worst. Keep your eyes on God because you have no idea the beautiful plans He has for your life. So get up...get going...and build those altars!

Silencing the Tomb

“Set up road markers for yourself; establish signposts!  Keep the highway in mind, the way you have traveled…There is hope for your future…For the LORD creates something new in the land…Look, the days are coming.” Jeremiah 31:17-27

Yesterday was a glorious Easter day and our church didn’t fail to fulfill a wonderful celebration of the life of Jesus. It always amazes me how a fresh sermon on an old event can still move the hearts of people.  Most of us have heard the story of the crucifixion and resurrection for decades.  But yesterday the preacher mined a beautiful relic I had previously not considered.  He spoke of the things that the tomb tells us with my favorite being the following statement.   ‘What God has for our future will always be greater than anything we have had in the past.’  The empty tomb speaks of the ending of something, and the beginning of greater things.  The empty tomb tells us to look toward the future in hope because the past didn’t win! 

This morning it touched me that God led me to this passage.  It is so easy to look over the course of my losses allowing the tomb to taunt me.  The tomb tells me that death won in the battle between my loved ones and illness.  The tomb tells me that the dream I have tucked in my heart is still empty and void.  The tomb tells me that I’ve been robbed of certain blessings until I recall this:  Jesus has gone before me and has overcome the tomb!  Jesus has shown me repeatedly that the only stone rolled in front of the entrance is any unbelief.  He already has my path cleared and it is up to me to follow that path where hope prevails, and dreams are realized.  But, I must too remember this:  My Sunday is coming and so is yours!

 So, as I recall this beautiful hope for the future I will allow Jesus to be my road marker…my signpost.  I will keep the highway in mind of those things through which I have traveled…the beautiful joys along the path…the heartbreaking hurts of yesterday…and the faithful Light ahead of me that is making a new land in new days with a storehouse of blessings. 

Whatever you face today, keep the highway in mind and truly believe that what God has for your future is so much greater than the best day of your past.