Joy today

I’ve written before about grace today. But “joy today” just might save my life.

I’m living a chapter in my life in which God has made me feel that it’s autumn because I gotta let go of many things. Sometimes I feel it’s a good thing to be pruned by the wind, like the autumn leaves. But another side of me cringes because: What will I have to give up? Will I make it out alive? And then comes winter, what will I do then?

The autumn colors are glorious but the crisp cold air of change has been making me shiver these past two days. Fear of the unknown has been enveloping my mind, causing me to think things I’m embarrassed of. I’m afraid of the future and how I’ll fare in it. I’m afraid of not making the right choices. I’m afraid of moving away from people that I love dearly. I’m afraid of new things and of not being able to manage them.

Last night a red nose nestled my pillow and a bit of tears still flowed. I cried out silently. And as I warmed myself under my blankets, the words “Perfect love casts out fear” rang in my head. They’re from 1 John 4:18. And I could almost hear God tell me “hide in my love” after I had just said “I want to hide in a cabin forever!”

This morning I was translating a message by John Piper for my mom. And at some point I clicked on another message I had never read and found something perfect. Piper is talking about using acronyms to help him remember what he ought to. This is his description of one:

AIMS: For Christ-consciousness Throughout the Day

This is what I need all day long. Reminders of massive truth. If my mind is empty or worldly, my faith languishes. My joy in Christ weakens. I need truth. “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

My mind needs glory: “Set your minds on things that are above” (Colossians 3:2). I need to think on excellent praiseworthy reality: “If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8). But my mind drifts into banal and trivial things. And my soul shrivels.

What shall I do? I “will call to mind” amazing things about God (Lamentations 3:21). I will “remember” his all-gracious covenant (1 Chronicles 16:15). I will set my mind on “the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5). I will “consider his wondrous works” (Psalm 106:7).

How? Among other ways, with AIMS. Through the day I will pause and ask, What are your AIMS? And I will answer:

A Alive. I will call to mind the stupendous truth that Jesus is alive. (Luke 24:5–6)

“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”

I In. I will remember the breathtaking reality that Jesus is in me. (Romans 8:10).

“Christ is in you.”

M Mighty. I will ponder the all-comforting fact that Jesus is mighty. (Matthew 28:18).

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

S Satisfying. And I will savor the sweetness that Jesus is satisfying. (John 6:35)

“Whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

(Taken from Desiring God Ministries, found in "Santification in the Every-day life")

I’m imagining what will occur in me if I know and remember not just that Jesus is alive but that He is in me and He is mighty and He is satisfying. What a life I’d live! Definitely devoid of fear because while fear is human, He has not given me a spirit of fear for I have become his adopted daughter. Look at this awesome verse:

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15).

His children shouldn’t be afraid of anything. He’s the boss of the Universe and all things! Could it be then, that I am really afraid, not because He’s not in control, but because I question His love for me? I think so. And the rest of the "perfect love" verse tells me so: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love" (1 John 4:18).

While His love may prune me and send winds and storms to shake me, His love makes me strong. While in His love He may hurt me, like he wounded Aravis’ back in The Horse and His boy, He knows what is best for me and why He does it. He knows what I need to learn, where I need to go, with whom it’d be best that I get there and He doesn’t want me to be afraid. He comes to comfort me!

I just reread The Horse and His boy and if you haven’t read that book of the Chronicles of Narnia, then this might be quite unclear. I’d love for you to read it. If you love Jesus or wonder if God is real and about His dealings with your life, seeing He is God, that book is a beautiful and fun way to help us grasp the fact that God gives and He takes away, God blesses us and gives us hardship. He does both in love.

And so why does joy today save my life?  Because today I remembered, as I prayed through that acronym and my mind could see sunlight, that God doesn’t leave the key to tomorrow’s joy in today. If I’m fretfully looking for it today (which is all I could do, I can’t go to tomorrow yet), I won’t find it. What is in today is today’s key for joy.

So maybe I can be very afraid about the future, about how I’ll fare then, if I’ll be happy with my choices. But I can only know that true Joy is found in Jesus and He only gives tomorrow’s joy key tomorrow. But He has promised to give me today’s joy key today.

All in all, I hope reading this has helped you a little in dealing with fear, finding joy and remembering that He who is in you is alive, mighty and satisfying. Let’s swim in His love, as autumn leaves fall. 

Oh, Christmas is near!

The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others’ burdens, easing other’s loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas.—W. C. Jones

A mother’s love for her baby boy

A sacrifice to bring others joy

A father’s care for one not his own

A message sent from a royal throne

A seeming wrong that was turned to right

An angel’s song in the dark of night

A prophet’s vision at last fulfilled

A miracle because God had willed

A gift of love from a caring heart

A bringing together what was apart

A reaching out to comprehend

How another felt by a sincere friend

A seeking soul that journeyed far

To find a dream, to follow a star

A bridegroom claiming a bride as his

All these things are what Christmas is.—Ian Bach

This is the message of Christmas: We are never alone.—Taylor Caldwell

Somehow not only for Christmas

But all the long year through,

The joy that you give others

Is the joy that comes back to you.

—John Greenleaf Whittier

Whatever else be lost among the years,

Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing;

Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears,

Let us hold close one day, remembering

Its poignant meaning for the hearts of men.

Let us get back our childlike faith again.—Grace Noll Crowell

Darkness into light

I’ve found a refuge from life’s cares in Jesus,

I’m hiding in His love divine;

He fully understands my soul’s deep longing,

And He whispers softly, “Thou art Mine.”

Only Jesus! Only Jesus!

Only He can satisfy;

Every burden becomes a blessing,

When I know my Lord is nigh.

I’ve found a precious joy in knowing Jesus,

Never dreamed of in this world of woe;

No clouds, however dark, can dim the radiance

Of the heavenly light He doth bestow.

I’ve found a blessed hope divine in Jesus,

’Tis a Day Star ever shining bright;

It fills my earthly way with heavenly glory,

And it turns life’s darkness into light.

"Be joyful always"

I was lying in bed, reading a great book by Stormie Omartian titled: “Praying God’s will for your life”.
In it, I read “Be joyful always” (Thessalonians 5:16). Those words danced in front of me. As I thought about them, I smiled and started thanking and praising Jesus for how He makes me smile and causes me to sing and puts light in my eyes even in the midst of very trying circumstances! Who else can do that?!
I then looked over to my colorful quote box, I put my hand in and you won’t imagine what I found! It said:

“Do you know that I see every tear, I feel every heartache, I understand every trial? I understand it all, and I have the antidote too. So please don’t hesitate to tell Me whenever you feel a bit down, okay? I will send whatever will fill the void, and relieve that little trial or ache or unpleasant feeling –for it is My desire that you are happy each and every day. –Jesus”

Wow! I know He loves me but He makes me stand and stare in awe every time He lets me know once more!
Not only is He with us through all of life’s trials, but He gives us peace in the middle of the storm. When my heart could break into a million pieces it’s only Him who holds it together and helps me to believe that everything is in His hands and that He will work things out for our greater good. On top of that He goes out of His way to make me happy throughout the day. He always does so, it’s just that many times I fail to notice.

While thinking about this, I remembered that talking to Kevin last night my mom came over and told him: “It’s so good to see you smiling and happy!” To which Kevin responded with another of his adoring huge smiles and said: “There isn’t a reason to not be happy!”
Now mind you, Kevin was coming out of a fever right then and his nose was clogged. He can’t walk for the time being and has just been able to use his arm again after wearing a cast for 2 months. He’s away from his friends, he’s cooped up in his room, he can’t go out to work or help around the house like he usually does; and being the helpful, outdoor, people person, go-getter that he is, this would make it especially difficult and would be reason enough to wear a frown. But instead, Kevin chooses to smile, to be joyful always. He chooses to look at the fact that he’s with his parents and younger brother, he has true friends and loved ones who love him loads and are praying for him, he’s making the most of his time by pressing in on school. And he’s garnering riches and treasures from the cave of this experience that he knows he probably wouldn’t gain any other way. He walks with a happy tune playing in his heart, which then comes out of his lips and encourages many. He encourages me tremendously!

“Be joyful always” yes, Jesus tells us to be so but He never asks us to do anything alone.
It’s amazing that He gives us every reason possible to be happy and grateful. Feel your heartbeat for a few seconds. It’s rhythmic and beautiful. I’m sure you can have many other things to be joyful about. Jesus says that He loves you and has a grand purpose for your life. He says He’ll help you fulfill your dreams. And He won’t leave you alone, when everyone else walks out He stays there, as He always has, and gives you the courage to start again.
He doesn't just give us strength through the joy of the Lord, but He gives us the strength to be joyful always.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." -Nehemiah 8:10

Best interests at heart

From Jesus with Love

I have your best interests at heart. Everything that has happened to you, or will yet happen to you, or hasn’t happened to you, has all been according to My plan. You haven’t been forgotten, missed, skipped over, neglected, or any of the terrible lies that the Enemy might whisper to you. You’re right where I want you, and being in the center of My will is what will always bring you the greatest joy.

Simple and childlike

"I realized that my life was to be one of simple, childlike faith, and that my part was to trust, not to do. I was to trust in Him and He would work in me to do His good pleasure. From that time my life has been different, and He has given me that peace that passeth understanding and that joy which is unspeakable." -C.T. Studd, Missionary to China, India and Africa.

Smile

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though its breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through, for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
if you just smile

That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
if you just smile.

My friend in Panama is a hero cause of this, smiling even though his heart is aching. He keeps a smile, and with that smile he starts a joyous chain reaction, that reached me as well. I will sing this to myself tonight.

With new eyes

I feel like a little girl with new eyes.

Because I've got glasses with new lenses!
Everything looks sharper, clearer and even colors look brighter.
It reminds me how much I want a better, richer perspective.
Positiveness is so much better!

A very wise Vietnamese said:
"You can use your life in a very useful and intelligent way. You can very well transform negative energy into a positive energy that empowers you and makes life meaningful -and here Steph smiles real wide-." -Thich Nhat Hanh.

"Some people are unbelievably cheerful in the midst of difficulty or obstacles; others bemoan the slightest inconvenience. Those who look for the upside of any trouble are the ones who come out ahead in quality of life. And the radiance of their positive attitude sheds light on the paths of others." -Chloe West

To me, it's worth fighting to be one of those people.

"Were closer than you thought they were"

That's how I think this should be completed: ...you will discover love and happiness were closer than you thought they were.
But of course I'm by no means an authority on this subject.
I'm just a teen -winks-

Rail tracks of life

Life rides parallel rails of blessing and adversity.

I just loved this article so I had to re-post it~
“Why does life have to be a series of ups and downs?” one young woman put it. “Why can’t I just go from one mountaintop to another, from one up to an upper up?”
I understand her attitude, and I’ve shared it. The only difference is that I told myself, “I’m realistic enough to know you have to go down before you can go up again.” But I still kept looking for the peak experiences, even if I was willing to wait a bit.
But what if peaks and valleys aren’t the best way to describe life? What if God didn’t intend us just to endure down times so we could enjoy an occasional up?
Rick Warren, pastor and author of The Purpose-Driven Life, made an observation a couple of years ago that seems to describe the terrain of marriage. In a single year, his book reached the top of the bestseller lists and his wife was diagnosed with cancer. A mountaintop? A deep valley? Or something else?
“This past year has been the greatest year of my life,” wrote Rick, “but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer. I used to think that life was hills and valleys—you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth.
“I don’t believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it’s kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.”
For a train to make progress, it’s always in contact with both rails. Life rides parallel rails of blessing and adversity.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” writes David in Psalm 23, “I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” This songwriter of the Bible is describing a comfort and relationship that emerges only in the difficult times. In fact, the closeness of that relationship develops in the difficult times.
Likewise, as we mature in life, we begin to notice that joy and difficulty aren’t either/or. They coexist constantly.
“No matter how good things are in your life,” writes Warren, “there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.”
So maybe the purpose of life isn’t about always looking for the next mountaintop.
Joy and difficulty are an odd combination, but much of life is lived seeking one and avoiding the other. I used to think they came one at a time, like alternating currents. Now I realize they’re both present, all the time.
I’m developing eyes to see both simultaneously.
On our honeymoon, Susan and I chose the wrong day to spend at Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay, Florida. Shortly after we paid our admission and entered the park, a tropical storm moved in and dumped more than four inches of rain on us.
Within minutes we were soaked. Normally, the idea of spending several hours in sopping wet pants, shirts plastered to our skin, and shoes squishing water with each step, is not my idea of a good time. It could have been a miserable day.
But I was with the woman I loved, and she was with me! We took photos of each other splashing through puddles with our stringy hair arranged in crazy ‘dos. That was the first time in our marriage that I realized joy and difficulty could coexist. But it wasn’t the last.
In fact, it was such moments of conjoined blessing and adversity that prepared us for more challenging times. When we gave birth to a daughter, Mandy, who was severely retarded, whose condition made her unable to sit up, hold her head erect, or use her hands to grasp, we were again put to the test to see if joy could coexist with adversity.
One night I sat in a hospital emergency room, where we’d been forced to take Mandy after an extended seizure. I couldn’t make sense of the extent of Mandy’s suffering.
I thought, I never realized someone could suffer so much.
When she died within two weeks of her second birthday, I didn’t think I’d ever be totally happy again. The depth of grief was indelible. I would never forget her difficult and way-too-brief life with us.
But as Susan and I experienced the help and kindness of Christian friends, we learned that joy was still there. We knew moments of joy even in the midst of the pain. We were deeply grateful, for instance, for Sarah, a respite worker the state provided to help care for Mandy. She became a dear friend, and we stayed in close contact even after Mandy’s death. Now, years later, Sarah is helping plan the wedding of our oldest daughter. It’s not a carefree mountaintop experience, because we recognize the grief from which it came, but it is most definitely joy.
As Rick Warren said: “No matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ-likeness.
“You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems. If you focus on your problems, you’re going into self-centeredness, which is ‘my problem, my issues, my pain.’ But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.”
I’m glad that life isn’t just mountaintops and valleys, but that both joy and adversity are with us always. (Marshall Shelley is coauthor of Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham [Zondervan]. He and Susan have been married 23 years.)

Praise God for laughter!

Laughter is an audible expression or appearance of happiness, or an inward feeling of joy (laughing on the inside). It may ensue (as a physiological reaction) from jokes, tickling, and other stimuli. Strong laughter can sometimes bring an onset of tears or even moderate muscular pain; however, it is in most cases a very pleasant sensation.

Hahah! I also know that I love it!
Cheers!

“Laughter is the brush that sweeps away the cobwebs of your heart.” Mort Walker

“Laughter is an instant vacation.”

“Laughter is the closest distance between two people.” Victor Borge

“The person who knows how to laugh at himself will never cease to be amused.” Shirley MacLaine (smug grin on this one)

Praise God!

P.S. I love my mom's laughter. This post is in her honor -grins-

Ghosts on a december day

I just finished watching an episode of "Ghost Whisperer", it was the sweetest I've seen!
I had the most enormous smile going on, and then was really touched at some points. One of the those rare times when you get up from the couch warmed inside.
Besides there being a romantic little side to it, with a joining story where a romantic shy Italian tries to win over a certain lady's heart; there was a cute guy acting as "a bad boy", a man named William...You see, all this appeals to Steph's heart.
But in truth what was the best about it was that, as the story goes, this man, William had had a heart operation over 50 years ago -at the age of 16. He died for a few minutes and upon seeing his body under him (yes, I believe in ghosts), and all the nurses trying to revive him, he saw the doctor struggling so badly he had to be taken out of the surgery room, and died of a heart attack himself, thinking he had killed his patient and that he had made a terrible mistake in the surgery room. When the nurses brought William back to life, he realized how precious his life was, since it had also cost him the doctor's own life. So he determined to not waste one second of it.
Not waste one second of the precious lives we all have...
In the story, this man did all he could to "live life to the full". He was one of those old men with gray hairs and twinkling eyes, that you know are very healthy and look so youthful. I believe enjoying life ONLY brings benefits.
I know this is just a story...but the lessons it contains go beyond.
I think that all I want to say -since I just ruined a "Ghost Whisperer" episode for you (guilty grin) is:
Why wait for something drastic to happen, like having your life or that of a loved one in serious danger, or even lost, to realize how precious life really is?
I hope I realize how precious my life is.
Maybe you get to learn how to make the most out of life with time. But all in all these seem to be the basics: live (breath deeply, take care of your body, learn all you can), laugh (enjoy the pleasures -that's what God made them for. Haha, Smile!) and love (we won't ever live till we've loved and loved fully). And then, I think we'll have a great beginning once our time comes to leave this Earth.
A friend used to tell me a lot "Live life with no regrets" and then she'd draw a heart next to that saying. (I love you Teresa)
And so this is me at 5:30 pm, with cold hands, an apron on, bright eyed and with a great need to run away from the computer and finish my book for tomorrow's Language exam. Wish me luck.
P.S. I just saw a double rainbow! -smiles-
Last time I saw a rainbow it was January. Man, time goes by too quickly. -hopeless grin-

The happiest

If you want to be happy, be. ~Leo Tolstoy
Happiness is never stopping to think if you are. ~Palmer Sondreal

Cheerfulness is what greases the axles of the world. Don't go through life creaking. ~H.W. Byles

We are seldom happy with what we now have, but would go to pieces if we lost any part of it. ~Mignon McLaughlin, 1960

Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it.~William Feather

Some pursue happiness, others create it. ~Author Unknown
On the whole, the happiest people seem to be those who have no particular cause for being happy except that they are so. ~William R. Inge

Pleasure is spread through the earth

In stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find.
~William Wordsworth, 1806

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. ~Marcel Proust

If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get. ~Frank A. Clark

You cannot always have happiness, but you can always give happiness. ~Author Unknown

It's never too late to have a happy childhood. ~Berke Breathed

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder

"Enjoy life. There's plenty of time to be dead."
~Anonymous
If one only wished to be happy, this could be easily accomplished; but we wish to be happier than other people, and this is always difficult, for we believe others to be happier than they are.
~Charles Montesquieu

When you're really happy, the birds chirp and the sun shines even on cold dark winter nights - and flowers will bloom on a barren land. ~Grey Livingston
Happiness is a form of courage. ~Holbrook Jackson

Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy. ~Guilaume Apollinaire

I think this might be too much wisdom for one post -grins-
Many people know, they've really gone through it and have discovered, it's wonderful they share it with the rest of us. A toast to happiness! Pretend you have a tequila bottle, red wine, unromantic beer or whatever it is you'd like to drink right now. Take out the champagne, let's celebrate, we can be happy now.
I just remembered right now, that when someone is dying or knows will soon, there are simply no special occasions in their minds, no special occasions to wait for to do things. All we have is now, the past is past, nothing can be done about it, and we don't know what will happen in the future. So I'm happy now. You?
I'll head to bed. And fall asleep with a smile...if that doesn't happen, I know I'll wake up with one! :P

what I've come to believe

Laugh as much as you can and it'll keep you young forever. Smile and you'll always be beautiful.

Lemonade

-David Komic's creation