Joy in the Journeys

       Have you ever looked back on the past to consider something you did or said, and couldn't believe it?  But yet, there it was, in black and white.  Sometimes I do that with my writing. Today I came across something I wrote about two years ago. Funny, how I still seem to struggle with the same areas in my life.  My foolishness, my frame of mind, my arrogance, my temporary loss of passion for the things Jesus has called me to do.  Here are the words I wrote then....perhaps you are feeling somewhat the same as me?     " When my hands, soul and heart are tired of trusting those who let me down, Jesus I give You everything. When I see what a hypocrite I am, how lost I feel, and I fail to go in the direction You have called me to, please bring me down to where I need to be...at Your feet.   Take all my passion for temporal things and all my lies about who I think I am because I never knew what freedom was until you rescued...

      For me,  finances have been tight, as I am sure they are with you.  This a difficult and trying time we are in. I found about a year ago that I had to take on a job after not working for five years since my retirement.  I was hoping to be able to quit this job early this year, but I have not been able to.  Ugh. I have been unable to give as much as I had been.  This is breaking my heart as giving is what I love to do.  I have been disappointed in myself and have felt that the Lord is disappointed with me, also.  Just at the right time, my pastor spoke on  2 Corinthians 9: 6-15 which says that each one must give as he has decided in his heart to give.  Well,  initially this confirmed my guilty feelings.  But, wait!! He went on to say that these verses are not about money.  The word heart here means understanding grace.  The Lord doesn't care about how much money I make....He cares about my heart an...

Today ,   I have been listening to music, which is always a blessing for me.  Some of the songs caused me look back over my life and see where I was and where I am today.  Coming up from the ashes, where my life was filled with  e mptiness, to feeling that emptiness filled with Jesus Christ,  I see that I have had a front row seat to His faithfulness. He has always been there, even when I felt He wasn't.  Psalm 8:4 says, "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?"  I don't know why He loves or cares for me, but it is a fact. I know I don't deserve it, yet all He has to offer is ALWAYS available to me. How thankful I am and what peace it gives me to know, no matter what, He is there and He is enough. How about you?  Have you experienced this peace that passes all understanding?  Do you know what it means to be on Jesus Christ's side? To work for Him?   I Corinthia...

   I am all about my personal accountability, but I don't always stand true to this.  Many times in my life have I thought I have fooled my friends, co-workers, acquaintances, Jesus, only to find out they knew all along what was going on.  Silly me for trying to play a magician and focusing on a disappearing act with myself.  Ugh.        During this stressful time in our world, I have been trying to evaluate and re-evaluate my position on life, where I stand on issues, where I have stood in the past and what road I want to head down.  The other day I was listening to David Phelps, who used to sing with the Gaither Vocal Band.  The below song struck a nerve within my heart, so I thought I would share it with you.  Food for thought......  I can fool my closest friends I can fool my loved ones too I can fool myself but then Lord, I know I can't fool you I am walking wounded, broken I want back the joy I knew I need so...

Last night I had the wonderful privilege of viewing a Danny Gokey free concert on Facebook.  One hour of Danny Gokey!!  Life could not have been better.  As some of you know, music is my life.  Since early childhood, my life has been moved, challenged, and changed by music, to see life differently.  I have been motivated in my relationship with Jesus Christ to grow and change.  This is was last night’s concert did for me.  Now, I am going to give credit where credit is due.  Danny shared some thoughts that I want to share with you, simply because his words (or should I say God’s words) moved me.  He spoke of the Scripture verse in Jeremiah 33:3, “call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known”.  Great and mighty things! Oops….I thought I knew anything I don’t know about you, but I feel I have not used my recent “stay at home” time as productively as I could h...

I work part-time at a hospital, and although I do not work in the front lines, it is difficult.   The other day was exceptionally tough. On my way to my office, I saw hospital staff leaving in tears, yelling in their cellphones, generally angry and stressed.   So much turmoil for 6:00 a.m.   I didn’t ask questions, deeming it inappropriate.   For the next four hours, I heard the Flight for Life landing five or six times, bringing in those who were too sick to come to the hospital themselves.   I heard that the lack PPE equipment continued, more things were being done to handle the deaths and some of our staff, who has been helping sanitize PPE’s, was in tears about the things they heard during the late night/early morning hours.   I was at a loss for words.   So, I prayed. Prayed for medical staff on the front lines, for those COV19 testing, for those holding hands of people who were so sick staff didn’t know if they would survive, for the familie...

A friend recently asked me if I thought I had lost my joy, I guess because life has been difficult for me for awhile and for the world.  I thought about it and replied "no, not my joy but perhaps a bit of my happiness".  You see, happiness depends on my circumstances, joy depends on my relationship with Jesus Christ. I recently read an article in  Just Between Us  magazine. It spoke of kick starting one's joy. I Thessalonians 5: 16-18 states to rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances because this is God's will for us in Jesus Christ. So, I have made a conscience decision to do this.  I listen to music, sing out loud, listen to the Bible on YouVersion, I tell others about what God is doing in my life, and pray (for my church, for others, and myself).  I  journal about what He is doing and has done in my life in the past; His goodness, grace and faithfulness.  I marvel at His timing, making this article availab...