Joy in the Journeys

I recently heard the phrase "prepare the day for us and prepare us for the day" as a wonderful way to start one's day.  I thought that was a wonderful idea and decided I would start doing that.  Weeks have passed. So, have I done this?  NO!  For me, not doing so is two-fold: changing the focus from myself to Him first and making the conscience decision to "just do it". When change is needed, we get to decide what kind of person we’re going to be and what we  value. Will we embrace change positively and allow growth to happen?  This is a wonderful  useful question and one that I have considered frequently.  With Jesus Christ, our lives are  different and changing every day, if we allow it. Question is, do I want to be growing and different in my walk with Him? Sometimes I wonder.  My life verse is Psalm 40:8, "I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart".  Sometimes I get side-tracked and forget this.  Somet...

       Some people do well with change and some don’t. What is the difference between those who can handle change and those who can’t? It comes down to what we value. Some of us value our own ambition and self-preservation more than Jesus’s mission. If personal comfort is our goal in life, we will fight against change. However, if Jesus is our ultimate treasure, change becomes an exciting opportunity.      In Acts 6, the apostles make a tough leadership decision that affected lots of people. Some people probably responded positively and others probably responded negatively. When change comes, we get to decide what kind of person we’re going to be and what we value. Will we embrace change positively and allow growth to happen?      The apostles realized that without a drastic change, the gospel would not reach the world. Because the early church was willing to change, “a large number of priests became obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7). ...

Does Jesus really care or understand?  Allow me to share a story with you.....   Let me begin this way. There have been questioning times in my life where this question has come to the forefront of my life.  How about you?  It nags and nags me until I start feeling guilty.  Then I feel guilty that I feel guilty and am questioning.  What a merry-go-round!!    About a year ago I  went through this game (if I dare call it that).  There was a time that I wondered how my rent would be paid because of a massive amount of unexpected bills.  First, I was mad. Then anxious and fearful. THEN, I decided to take it before the Lord.  Why do I generally take it to the Lord as the last resort?  A big hmmmmm....   At the time I had a part time job valet parking at a local hospital.  You would think that tips would be good; not the case.  One day I picked up a car to deliver it to its owner.  She had a Christian ra...

       Each new year brings with it, for me, a time of self-evaluation and goal setting.  As I have evaluated last year and the first months of 2020, I find I am not happy with some areas.  One such area is my spiritual growth and walk with Jesus.  I have found myself trying to fool my closest friends, loved ones, myself and Jesus.  How silly, trying to fool Jesus, or anyone for that matter. I am only fooling myself.  I imagine Him looking at me and saying, "now Susan, what are you doing?"  This year I have been broken and sometimes briefly lost my hope and joy.  Life brings hardships and challenges.  How we face these makes all the difference between a life of anger, resentment, weariness, fear, OR thankfulness, joy and a realization that Jesus is in control and nothing touches me except those things that have passed through His nail scarred hands. Jesus can fix the messes I find myself in.  I learned a long time ag...

            I recently took a spiritual gifts assessment after many years.   The results gave me my three top gifts, one of which was evangelism.   I scoffed a bit at this one because I usually think of those with the gift of evangelism as being missionaries or people who go door-to-door talking with people and handing out tracts.   Or, perhaps, someone who drives around in their car with a loud speaker blaring out “Jesus saves”. Many you have done some of these things.   I know I have.   I don’t usually think of simply sharing my faith as evangelism.   You may think this too.   However, this morning changed my view.          I just had to get out of the house so I decided to drive to a local coffee shop early this morning.  I took my Kindle with me to do some reading and enjoy the weather.  I decided to sit outside – no one was there.  I had been reading for...