Joy

New Life out of Tragedy

Barriers, Choices, Connections, Freedom, Joy, Life, Loss
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For the first time in my life, I feel like I belong in my family.

This unexpected thought came to my mind because of a tragedy in our family: the loss of my young cousin, Ashley, in Oregon. That day the temperature was 116 degrees, and it appears she succumbed to the intense heat.

Sorrow flowed through our hearts. As we wrestled with the reality of Ashley’s absence, God began to bring about changes in our family.

We craved to know how each of us was coping. More frequent communication and deeper expressions of love flowed between us. Since I live in Orlando, lengthy phone calls ensued and texts flew back and forth. I also expressed love for them through my cards and letters.

When I flew to Oregon to see them, we all gathered at Cary’s home. The sun was bright. Salmon and fresh-picked corn sizzled on Cary’s grill while we sat together in his beautiful backyard, surrounded by towering fir trees and summer dahlias. A beautifully-crafted waterfall produced a soothing sound as we engaged in easy conversation sprinkled with laughter. My heart soared.

The following week, I sat under the patio umbrella in Blair and Peggy’s backyard. We enjoyed a free-flowing conversation for several hours like three friends who were used to being together. A few days later, Justin and I met for lunch to share personal things that mattered to us. Justin’s text warmed my heart. “I had a great time catching up at lunch. I’m glad we were able to have that time together.”

The day before my flight back to Orlando, the unusual thought popped into my mind:  I feel like I belong in this family now. When I shared my feelings with Cary and Blair, they were puzzled. Both responded, “You’ve always been part of the family!”

That’s when I realized a deep change had taken place inside of me. When the others pulled me into their daily lives, I felt closer to them and more willing to express my feelings and emotions. In return, they became more open and honest with me.

Cary calls me once a week. Before I left town, Blair said, “Please keep calling me. I’m not good at initiating, but I enjoy talking to you.” Justin and I want to find a mutual time to talk together on Zoom.

This kind of closeness may already be a part of your family life; for us it’s a new era. God planned to bring new life out of our tragedy. Because of my personal experience, I understand in a deeper way why God gave us this instruction:

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.   1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

“Family togetherness” is at the top of my thanksgiving list. What will you thank God for this month? Post your comment below.

A Matter of Time

Connections, Faith, Hope, Joy, Life
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A pocket watch with roman numerals on a wooden table.

“God isn’t bound by time.”

Ron’s reminder cleared the confusion our group encountered during a recent Bible study. He added, “God knows and understands everything that has happened, everything that is happening, and everything that will happen. He is in control across all time and all space.”

God is not limited by days and nights like we are. With Him there is no beginning or end. He has always existed and always will.

The eternal God knew we couldn’t live in a timeless environment. When He created this world, He designed days and nights specifically for us.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The earth was formless and empty. . . .
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
And God saw that the light was good.
Then he separated the light from the darkness.
God called the light “day,” and the darkness “night.”
And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.
                            Genesis 1:1-5 (NLT)

Sarah Young, author of the devotional book Jesus Calling, imagined God explaining time to us this way:

“I designed time to be a protection for you. You couldn’t bear
to see all of your life at once. Though I am unlimited by time,
it is in the present moment that I meet you. Refresh yourself
in My company, breathing deep draughts of My presence.”
(June 27, page 186.)

“I divided time into days and nights so that you would have
manageable portions of life to handle.”
(July 15, page 206.)

Isn’t this exactly what we need? Have you ever said to yourself, “I’m so glad this day is almost over; maybe tomorrow will be better.”

Or the darkness of the night prompted you to long for the light of day when you could find someone to help carry your burdens.

Perhaps your brain was on overload. You decided to stop for the day and tackle your project again tomorrow after a good night’s rest.

These simple examples symbolize hope. When a new day dawns, God promises to help us cope with whatever situation we face. God never sleeps and is constantly aware of what is happening in our personal world.

I want to tell you how my personal world crumbled last month. Our family experienced the tragic and unexpected death of my 29-year-old cousin, Ashley Marie. Shock and sorrow enveloped each one of us.

Ashley was here, and in the next moment she left this earth. We are still here on earth, and we know Ashley is in heaven with Jesus, her Savior. As each day passes, though, we feel the reality of her absence more deeply. God is helping us face our sorrow and trust Him for each tomorrow.

Everything that took place in the past, or is being experienced today, or will happen in the future is one complete picture in God’s mind and heart. Somehow knowing that brings me comfort and deepens my faith. God is not in heaven counting days, or months, or years. He already knows when I will be there in heaven instead of here on earth.

The following song by Janet Paschal helped me better understand “here and now” and “there and then.” Whenever I hear her sing this song, it lifts my heart and creates a picture of peace and hope. Perhaps her words will soften any sorrow you may be experiencing.

It’s Not About Now
by Janet Paschal

She watched as they carried her baby away
She heard all the words when there was nothing to say
How could she stay here when her heart had to go
And keep on believing when she just couldn't know

It's not about now, it's not about here
It's all about then when there's nothing to fear
It's all about there where the mystery's clear
When then will be now and there will be here

He watched as his future just went up in smoke
And wondered if hope was some kind of cruel joke
Had the work and the planning, the sweat and the tears
Brought only failure and a jumble of fears

It's not about now, it's not about here
It's all about then when there's nothing to fear
It's all about there where the mystery's clear
When then will be now and there will be here

They'd only had such a short little while
To love and to heal and to learn how to smile
It didn't seem fair when she had to let go
Let him slip from her arms when she needed him so

It's not about now, it's not about here
It's all about then when there's nothing to fear
It's all about there where the mystery's clear
When then will be now and there will be here

Songwriters: Gaither Gloria L / Wright Woodrow W|
It's Not About Now lyrics © Gaither Music Co.,
Would He Write Songs, Hanna Street Music

Our loving God sees the eternal and forever picture of our lives in heaven. He wants us to be there with Him to enjoy His presence and see our loved ones. He made a way for that to happen by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins.

And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life;
whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.
I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.
                                 I John 5:11-13 (NLT)

If you’ve already asked Jesus to come into your heart, you know the peace and joy that comes from having a personal relationship with God. If you’ve not yet said “yes” to His invitation, you can do that today by saying a simple prayer of faith in your own words.

Accepting His promise of eternal life in heaven brings assurance that one day you will be with Him there. And when you’re there with God, it will seem as if no time has passed.

The Empty Tomb

Faith, Freedom, Hope, Joy, Life, Uncategorized
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The three women went quickly to the tomb with cloth-wrapped spices in their arms to anoint the body of their friend and Master, Jesus (Mark 15).

Wondering how they would remove the stone themselves, they were shocked to see it already rolled away. Uncertain what they’d find, they entered the tomb slowly and saw a young man in a white robe sitting inside.

He greeted them, “Do not be amazed; You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here.”

The man instructed the women to go and tell Jesus’ disciples and Peter that Jesus was going to Galilee and would see them there. The women fled from the tomb, “trembling and astonished,” eager to tell them the good news.

In John’s account (chapter 20), Mary Magdalene went to the tomb by herself early while it was still dark. Finding the stone rolled away, she hurried to tell Peter and John. They both ran ahead of her to the tomb and went inside. John relates that he “saw and believed.”

After the men left for their homes, Mary Magdalene stood outside the tomb, weeping. When she stooped to look into the tomb, she saw two angels, one sitting at the head and another at the feet where the body of Jesus had been lying.

The angels asked Mary, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

She replied, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

Turning, she noticed a man, who also asked why she was weeping. When she answered, the man spoke her name, “Mary.” The scales fell from Mary’s eyes and she reached out to cling to her risen Lord.

After this earth-shattering encounter, Mary ran to announce to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord.”

Can you imagine Mary’s heart bursting with joy and wonder? She’d just seen her risen Lord! Her sorrow of finding the tomb empty evaporated when she reaized He was alive!

  • What might you have thought when you saw the stone rolled away and discovered the tomb empty?
  • What emotions might have erupted inside you when the man in a white robe told you, “He is not here. He has risen.” Who would you have run to tell?
  • If you had been Mary Magdalene, what thoughts might have run through your mind when you saw two angels perched beside the burial cloths—a confirmation that Jesus was no longer there. What would you have said?
  • And what about when you recognized Jesus! What would you have felt, or said to Him, or done?
  • Who would you have run to, shouting, “I have seen the Lord”?
  • How might your life have been changed?

I can’t imagine what my life would be like, or what kind of person I would be today, if it weren’t for the empty tomb, the ultimate proof of Christ’s resurrection. Christ’s willingness to pay my debt in full, by being crucified on the cross, is the only way I am able to live in freedom. Because of Christ’s death, the veil was removed, and I gained access to His Father. My personal relationship with my Abba Father breathes life into my spirit and soul, and gives me strength to live each day for Him. He is the only One who can fulfill my needs, wants, and desires. No person and no created thing can satisfy the longings of my heart. God has provided a way for me to experience His grace daily and to live the kind of life He ordained for me. For the rest of my days on earth, I will sing of my love and gratitude to God for saving me.

On this Resurrection Sunday, and in the days that follow . . .

May we realize in a new and deeper way what the empty tomb symbolizes for us personally. Forgiveness for all our sins…past, present, future. Freedom to have a personal relationship with God without a veil between us. Privilege to bare our hearts to Him, sure of His understanding, forgiveness and counsel. Let’s joyfully celebrate the new life we have because of Jesus Christ.

May we also hear Jesus Christ commissioning us with these words: “Go and tell others.” We have a story of new life that others need to hear. It may be a neighbor, a service person who comes to our home, someone at the fitness center where we work out, a teacher, a coworker. People listen to stories. We have the most important story to tell. Everyone who is not living a redeemed life needs to hear that Jesus loves them and wants to know them personally.  

What does the empty tomb mean for you?

The empty tomb to the child of God means that
sin’s ability to keep us from God is empty,
death’s power to separate us from God is empty,
and anything in this world that could try
and keep us from knowing
the love of Christ in our lives is empty!
And it’s all because the tomb of Jesus is empty.
There is nothing that’s more valuable than
the emptiness of that place.

Mark Trammell

Mary’s Heart

Choices, Faith, Hope, Joy
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Hearing the song Mary Did You Know? always moves me to tears. Each time I try to imagine the emotions that swirled in Mary’s heart when the angel Gabriel presented the life-altering news that she would give life to the Son of God.

Have you ever wondered how Mary had the courage to respond to such a shocking message? She didn’t whisper a soft yes. She boldly declared, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me, according to your word.”  

The reasons why young Mary accepted her mission so willingly is beautifully described by Debby Thompson, who writes under the banner of Living With Eternal Intentionality®. With Debby’s permission, I’m sharing this excerpt from her December blog, “Mary Said Yes.” You may read the rest of her story here.

Mary said Yes to God—to His will, to His plan, to His call on her life. Her destiny was contained in her response, and I am astounded each time I read it (Luke 1:38)! How was this humanly possible for one so young, so innocent?

A closer look sheds lights on her faith-filled choice.

Mary said yes to God because she knew the Word of God.

Because she knew the Word of God, she knew the Person of God. 

And

Because she knew the Person of God, she was prepared to say yes to the opportunity of God.

Her song (Luke 1:46-55) is saturated with Old Testament teaching where she exclaims the character of God, the faithfulness of God, the power of God, even the priorities of God. The significance of her response is steeped in the significance of Scripture. And here the connective gem emerges:

Knowing her God and knowing His Word laid the foundation for Mary to say yes to God with pure, simple faith.

The God that Mary knew invited her into His plan, and Mary said yes. She chose to believe (Luke 1: 45). She chose to obey.


Friends, in this divine season let us look for ways to deepen our love for God and our knowledge of His Word. Then, like Mary, we will be able to say yes to whatever invitation God presents to us in the coming year.

Appreciate What You Have

Choices, Faith, Hope, Joy, Life
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What a great perspective for us to embrace this year, 
especially during this week of Thanksgiving.

I sometimes take things for granted, do you? Acknowledging what I have, however, helps me look above difficult circumstances, disappointments, and fears, and focus on God rather than myself. Being thankful, restores my hope for the future and softens the effects of uncertainty. The truth that makes the greatest difference in my life is that I belong to God. He knows my name, gives me what I need each day, and will never stop loving me. A lifetime will never be long enough to thank Him for the wonderful relationship we share.

Below are some other blessings that came to my mind. What blessings are on your list?

Family

I no longer have parents or aunts and uncles who are alive to love me and encourage me. But I am thankful for my nieces, nephews, and cousins who like to hear my voice, seek my advice, and express their love to me. They know I am there for them, and they fill my life with joy. Some are facing serious crises with their children. This is a fragile time, but I know God has placed me in their lives so I can bring their burdens to my Heavenly Father and ask Him to show them the way when there seems to be no way.

Steadiness

God gives me physical, emotional, mental and spiritual fortitude to accept and deal with whatever happy or sad events spill into my days. By relying on this favorite verse in Psalms, I am able to stay steady.

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord; with him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Psalm 16:8, NIV

Praying that your Thanksgiving Day will be memorable for you and your loved ones, in whatever way you celebrate.

Memory of Love

Faith, Hope, Journey, Joy
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You’re my favorite granddaughter!

My grandmother—affectionately called Grandmartie—showered me with love and filled empty spaces in my young life and into adulthood. She had that way about her.

My mother and father worked full time, which gobbled up much of their time.  Fortunately, Grandmartie lived close by.

I loved being at my grandmother’s house. Memories flooded my heart when I came across the pictures of me sitting on her lap, along with her dog Judy. And blowing bubbles on her back step with my brother Greig.

My grandparent’s spacious backyard place allowed room for Greig and me to play, and became the place of family gatherings when the weather permitted. How well I remember perching on their lawn swing, and leaning over the edge to let the juice and seeds of my scrumptious slice of watermelon fall on the grass.

Some days after school, I’d bound up her backstairs, calling “yoo-hoo,” a greeting I learned from her. The delight in her face when she saw me trot around the corner into the kitchen sent an undeniable message: “You are special. I’m glad you’re here.” Often, she’d ask, “Want me to fix you an eggnog?”

Quality time. That was her greatest gift. It didn’t matter what we were doing together. Her presence poured love, personal interest, security, and devotion into my heart. Her words and teaching built confidence within me that eventually overpowered my shyness.

After I went away to college and then ventured to California to begin serving with Cru, an international Christian organization, her influence continued. I looked forward to receiving Grandmartie’s personal notes, crafted in her beautiful, unique handwriting.

She believed in me and prayed for my future. My choice to join the staff of Cru brought her joy, because she had talked to me about Jesus from the time I was small. She knew I had stepped on a path where I would have the chance to help others know about Him.

After living and working in California for seven years, I accepted an overseas assignment with Cru in the Philippines. Soon I began receiving Grandmartie’s airmail letters relating her latest ventures and news of the family, as well as encouraging words and wise advice.

Then she and my mom began talking about traveling to the Philippines for my first Christmas. A wrinkle in that dream plan surfaced when someone knocked her off balance at the retirement home, and she broke her hip. Still she was determined to make the trip to see me. After six months of vigorous therapy, she boarded the plane with Mom. Her age? 86!!

Little did I know that my Grandmartie still had more years ahead to love and nurture me. Just short of 100, she left this earth to be with her Lord and Savior. Yet, her legacy of love has enabled me to become the woman she envisioned and the person God designed me to become. 

The greatest gift anyone can give us is love. What special person has poured love into your life?

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God;
and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” 

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Learn, Live, Hope

Hope, Journey, Joy, Life
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What has happened in your life so far this year?

Have you started pursuing one of your resolutions? Maybe you’ve taken a risk and tried something new. Perhaps you’re at a standstill, overwhelmed by your long list. Or you’ve check off one major thing and you’re smiling right now. If you allowed God to refresh you through a friend this week, you’re probably energized to take the next step. Undoubtedly, we’re at various stages in our journey.

I’ve adopted the above quote as my motto for this new year. Maybe it has resonated with you, as well. All of us lived yesterday in the best way we could. Yet, certainly we can learn from a decision we wish we hadn’t made, or a conversation with a family member or friend that didn’t go well, or the way we allowed fear to shatter our confidence in a certain situation. We can give all those things to God and learn from yesterday.

We’ve already lived yesterday, but now we can embrace the present. Today, let’s live in the moment, capturing all we can from each experiences and allowing joy to overcome even a disappointment. If we put our heart into whatever is happening in front of us, we won’t miss what God has prepared. How is today going for you?

We don’t know how tomorrow is going to play out, but we can have hope because God has a good plan for the rest of our future. Scary unknowns may be lurking, but we can let go of those thoughts, trust God, and return to enjoying today! If we belong to God, we are assured that He will equip us to handle whatever tomorrow may bring.

Learn, live and hope. Let’s contemplate these words today as we stand in the crossroad between yesterday and tomorrow.

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.
They are plans for good and not for evil,
to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11, TLB

Tend Your Garden

Choices, Freedom, Joy, Life
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“Gail, remember to tend your garden!”

Shirley is the kind of friend who sends me these kinds of alerts whenever she discerns I’m forgetting to pause and tend my own personal garden. To give myself permission to slow down and go someplace or do something that allows me to relax, recharge, and reflect. To rest in a way that restores my soul.

Little did I know that my summer project would create a perfect environment to help this happen more frequently.

My well-used white wicker porch set no longer beckoned me outside. My heart longed for some pretty, comfortable, and durable chairs as well as a matching table. Fully expecting an extensive search, the moment I stepped into the patio display of a nearby store, my vision came to life. The high back, glider/swivel chairs, with colorful pillows casually thrown on as a suggestion, as well as the perfect-size glass-top table, screamed “Gail.” The patio sale, that reduced the price by $50, added to the thrill of the find.

A comedy of errors ensued as my neighbor Pam and I placed the huge box in her truck, lugged the individual pieces to my patio, and began assembling the first chair…only to discover the plastic bag containing screws, bolts, and directions was missing. After picking up the crucial items from the store, and soliciting help from another friend, our DIY project finally came to a successful end.

After thanking Pam profusely, I prepared my lunch and carried it outside to enjoy my new, colorful oasis. While slowly gliding back and forth in the comfy chairs, I read my book and listened to the birds chirping. The flourishing fern, displayed in my large, cobalt-blue pot, brushed my soul with delight. Periodically, I drank in the beauty of the pink cypress tree, and flowers and foliage gracing the backyard beyond my enclosed porch. Without realizing it, two hours had passed. Smiling, I declared out loud, “Time stands still out here. I could easily stay all day.”

In what ways do you stop and tend your personal garden so you are refreshed, revived and ready to walk back into the various arenas of your life? Sometimes it only takes a pause.

“The music in a song isn’t just the notes.
It’s the space between them.
A song without rests, without timing,
isn’t a song. It isn’t music.” 

John Ruskin