Choose Joy

"True joy is not something that can be conjured up or willed. Joy exists apart from our control—we simply choose whether or not to enter in." (She Reads Truth - Fruit of the Spirit)

Joy has been coming up A LOT lately. The other day I read about Joy, the fruit of the spirit, in my Bible Study by She Reads Truth, "Choose Joy" was the title of Girlfriends in God (which I normally don't read but this one caught my eye), I'm listening to "Choose Joy" while I exercise and the name of the sock store was "Choose Joy" (ok, that last one might have been a dream).

Anywho, true joy exists apart from our circumstances. Happiness comes from circumstances, joy comes from a deep rooted confidence that God came to earth in the form of Jesus, lived, died for each of us to pay for the penalty of sin, rose three days later and is coming back. Joy comes from believing God is who He says He is. From rejoicing in GOD alone. 

For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;

at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

- Psalm 92:4, ESV

Joy is possible even in the storms of life. Joy persists even when life is hard.  The world cannot steal joy. "....joy is not a fruit of our work, our circumstances or ourselves. Joy is a fruit of God’s Spirit. It is a manifestation of who He is, a result of the heart-transforming power of Jesus Christ in us." (She Reads Truth - Fruit of the Spirit)

True joy is only possible through a relationship with Jesus. If you don't have that joy, and want to know how to get it, won't you let me help? Email me!

To Abide

Well, what I was going to write, is not what I am going to write. :) I was going to write about how hard it is to see our house being built from the sidelines (since the wheelchair won't work in the mud and around a construction site. Barry is getting me over the best he can, but there is only so much he can do). But in my quiet time this morning I studied about the fruits of the spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. 

I can only obtain the fruits of the spirit by ABIDING in Him. One of the definitions of abide, according to dictionary.com, is "to reside with". For His Holy Spirit to reside in me, to become so a part of me. I want to abide in Him so that I can have true joy peace and patience, despite seeing the progress of our house from the sidelines.

Progress and a Proposal

There is progress on our land! It went from this....

To this....

Yay! Progress! They are supposed to be starting to pour footers today (if it's dry enough). 

My proposal is this...I want to put scripture on the framing before drywall goes up. To do this, I need everyone's help. My sister-in-law suggested the scriptures be put on notecards so that whoever wants to participate can. The scripture notecards will then be laminated and stapled up to the studs before drywall is put up. 

I would like to cover each room with scripture! Please help by putting some scripture on notecards, telling me what room it belongs in and getting then to me. If you need my address, email me at lhwilliams812@gmail.com or get it to me another way. Thanks!

Yippee

I had my talk last Sunday...and it went great! It was such a God thing. I had peace going in to Sunday School and calmness the entire time. I shared my testimony the whole SS hour. After it was over, I kept thinking of things I didn't share and was beating myself up, but I stopped myself because I had given that time to The Lord. Through the Holy Spirit, what needed to be spoken was spoken. I do not need to fret over what I forgot to say. I am excited to see what the future holds!

"Wait"

"Wait" by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried.

Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.

I plead and I wept for a clue to my fate,

And the Master so gently said, "Child, you must wait!"

"Wait, You say? Wait!" my indignant reply.

"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!

Is Your hand shortened? Or have You not heard?

By FAITH I have asked, and am claiming Your Word."

"My future and all to which I can relate

Hangs in the balance, and You tell me to WAIT?

I'm needing a 'yes,' a go-ahead sign,

Or even a 'no' to which I can resign."

"And Lord, You promised that if we believe

We need but to ask, as we shall receive.

And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:

I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!" 

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate

As my Master replied once again, "You must wait."

So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut

And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting...for what?"

He seemed then to kneel and His eyes wept with mine,

And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.

I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.

All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.

You would have what you want -- but, you wouldn't know ME."

"You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint;

You'd not know the power that I give to the faint;

You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;

You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me

When darkness and silence were all you could see."

"You'd never experience that fullness of love

As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;

You'd know that I give and I save ... (for a start),

But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart."

"The flow of My comfort late into the night,

The faith that I give when you walk without sight,

The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked

Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST."

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,

What it means that 'My grace is sufficient for thee.'

Yes, your dreams for your loved ones overnight would come true,

But, oh, the loss! if I lost what I'm doing in you!"

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see 

that THE GREATEST OF GIFTS IS TO GET TO KNOW ME.

And though oft may My answers seem terribly late,

My wisest of answers is still but to WAIT."

Out of my comfort zone

The past two days have really caused me to commit to get out of my comfort zone. Before the stroke, I had to speak in front of people on average once a week. Now I HATE speaking in front of people. I can't talk fast, people can't understand me when I babble (which is a lot), I choke on my words sometimes. I feel really anxious about it. 

BUT the past two days I have been asked to be in a promo video at church for a Bible Study and to share my (God's) story in Sunday School. Seems like not a big deal, but I am nervous. 

The ONLY reason I have said "yes" to both is because I want to be a willing vessel for God to use. He has given me this story and it is His to use. I just need to ask Him for courage and strength to share it.