Unspeakable Joy

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

I don't remember precisely when I prayed for the Lord to grant me mirth, but I do know when He answered it. You see, I am not one who laughs easily. In part I think it is because as the youngest child in the family, I was often teased, and the butt of others "jokes". My family was also very "punny". Something to this day often that still makes me wince. I have learned to appreciate puns more now as an adult, but growing up I would often groan when someone shared one. Being married to someone who finds humor in almost everything has been challenging over the years as well, so I asked God to help me.

The day I recognized God had answered my prayer was not a particularly joyous day, other than recognizing I had been able to laugh at a situation. We were still in the process of helping my husband recover from his broken neck and the fires that destroyed our daughter's house, and had us evacuated for nearly a month. Power to the area was still very spotty. We had lost power several times in the month, which meant the pump to the well went out. Repairs were being made and we had a generator so not all was a loss. But I was feeling quite stretched. When our landlord stood at our front door and told me the power company would be shutting off the power for an extended period, I could read the expression on his face that he hated being the bearer of bad news.

And then it happened.

I laughed.

I laugh even as I write this.

It was the answer to my prayer for mirth.

Even though it felt as though the gates of hell had been opened up and we were being bombarded by things that could easily steal our joy, I was finally able to laugh in the face of adversity.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that God was, and is, completely in control.

That knowledge brings me immense joy.

Now it's not to say that I laugh at every situation. I don't. But there is an unspeakable joy within me that has grown much stronger over the past 18 months. Months that have been immensely stretching.

As I look over the events that brought me to this place, I could choose to wallow in the frustration and fear of what we experienced. It will definitely be a moment in time that won't be quickly forgotten. But instead of viewing it through the lens of despair and angst, I choose the bright lens of hope in God's faithful plan that He works all things together for our good and His glory.

I choose joy! 

Don't back down when facing giants

"No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgement You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me," says the LORD." Isaiah 54:17

Have you ever read chapter seventeen of 1 Samuel?  If you haven't I strongly recommend that you do so.  It is the amazing account of the shepherd boy David going up against the giant Goliath. An entire army of soldiers were terrified of Goliath, but David, a youth, was not, because he knew where he got his courage and strength.  In verses 34-36 he tells King Saul "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." And in verse 37 he explains why he has the courage he does: "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine."

You see, David knew it was the LORD who protected and did battle for him. Further on in the chapter after King Saul had tried to clothe David in the armor of his soldiers, David quickly realized they were not useful to him, and took them off. (verses 38 and 39) He then prepared himself with the tools he had used when guarding his father's sheep; his staff, five smooth stones form the brook, and his sling. (vs 40)  But most importantly as he went and stood before Goliath, who "disdained him, for he was only  youth." (vs 43) David stood firm and told the giant why he would have victory over him. "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's and He will give you into our hands." (verses 45-47 italics added for emphasis)

As I write this, my husband who is still recovering from a nasty fall, is watching Fox news and the reports of historic flooding in Michigan and other problems that are currently plaguing our nation, and the world. It seems that every day some new crisis arises. At the same time I am listening to "See a Victory by Elevation Worship https://youtu.be/jEK6_rz26z0. Now I don't know all the spiritual state of being of those who report the news, or the singers in this group. God alone does. But what I do know is the news on the television can be upsetting, but this song helps me not to be overcome by the ginormous amount of bad news. It empower me to the battle of life we are currently engaged in.  The lyrics remind me that the battle belongs to the LORD and that there is power in the mighty name of Jesus. Quite honestly, I need every implement of courage in my hand that I am able to hold.  For David it was five smooth stones, his staff and his sling.  For me, it is a daily saturation of God's word as I study, praise songs that help me keep my focus fixed on the LORD's face, and prayer, oh so much prayer.

We're living in a pretty crazy time right now. But we're not the first set of believers to do so.  Every generation faces giants.  The question is, are we going to back down and run or stand firm?

I choose to stand firm.  Feet firmly planted in the hope, the knowledge, the peace and confidence, that God is in control and I can trust Him.

I pray you will find the same strength.

May God receive all the glory.

Peace in the midst of chaos

"You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trust in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength." Isaiah 26:3&4


I was so excited. The water filling my washing machine was finally flowing freely. Something had been blocking the cold water line for some time, but today it was filling without a problem. Gleefully I put in a full load and walked away, rejoicing that with this load, I had managed to finish the last of my laundry for the week.

I then went to get something to eat for my husband who is recovering from a nasty fall. He's been home from the hospital for less than a week. The vertebrae in his neck have been fused and, by God's grace, he was not killed or paralyzed. He isn't going to be able to be as active as he's been in the past for awhile though. The lift chair (a gift from a friend) has become the place where he will spend a great deal of time until his neck heals and he regains his strength.  We have a long road ahead of us, but we are adjusting to our new normal.

As I headed into the kitchen, the news on the TV droned on the about all that's going on with the Corona virus pandemic.  I adjusted my attitude as the news anchors discussed the quarantines that are being lifted in some states and not in others, and all the other less than cheerful bits of information. Closing the refrigerator door, I noticed water on the floor.  At first I thought maybe something had spilled.

When I looked closer I realized it was flowing freely from the laundry room, and rapidly headed towards the dining room.

My washing machine was filling to overflowing.

Rushing over to it I pushed the button to make it stop, but nothing happened. I then lifted the lid in hopes of making the water stop, but to no avail. My canvas tennis shoes soaked because of the amount of water on the floor, I finally managed to get the water turned off behind the washer.  All the while water is heading towards the dining room and the laminate floor. Quickly dashing to the bathroom, without slipping and breaking MY neck, I grabbed towels and blocked the flow of water from reaching the dining room.  I then got the squeegee and began pushing water out the back door.  Dale apologized for not being able to do more to help, and called our landlord, who is also our pastor and friend, and lives a half mile down the dirt road from us. He quickly arrived to help, and said he would secure us a new washing machine as quickly as possible.

As he was leaving, he asked if we'd gotten notice from PG&E (our power company). When I said no, he made a face that was a mixture between apologetic and pained. The power will be shut off tomorrow for several hours so the power company can make repairs to their lines.

And then I laughed.

Seriously.  I laughed, and I am laughing now as I am typing this.

Not that any of this is funny, but there is a certain ridiculousness about all of it, that makes me laugh.

It's like the enemy of our souls is doing everything he can to throw discouragement in our pathway, but he's failing...and that makes me laugh with joy.

Have I faced moments of discouragement and fear? Absolutely!  It's been a rather difficult year on many levels.  This is just another jagged place that we'll get through.

But the thing that is most amazing to me in this, is how these last two things (the washer and water and no power tomorrow) have simply made me laugh, rather than cry.  There is something enormously comforting knowing that NONE of this happens without God's knowledge or permission.  It's almost like He and I are sharing the most intimate joke about how futile it is for the enemy to keep trying to steal my joy.

You see, my joy is not based on circumstances.  If it were, my life would have been turned upside down years ago.

My joy is based solely on the hope I have in Jesus Christ.

He has promised He will never leave or forsake me and I believe Him.  I don't always understand why things are happening, but I know that there is a purpose and a plan in everything God does.
He never says "Oops!"

As I told Steve (our pastor/landlord) as he was leaving the house, I always look for the picture behind the window. I know there is more here than what we see.


God is still at work. He's in control. Good can come out of even the most frustrating or troubling circumstances. My kitchen floor is SUPER clean now. (lots of water can make that happen).  My heart is cheerful (always a good thing).

And I had something to share with others about how awesome God is, which is always the best thing.

May your troubles be light, and at the very least, may they leave you light hearted and cheerful.
Have confidence in God's plan. You too can have peace in the midst of chaos.

Blessed Assurance

Blessed Assurance

 a poem by Amy D. Torres 

When the peace that I've been feeling is suddenly slammed against the wall,

as I get my bearings, on the Lord Jesus's name I call .

The raging tempest of the storm

makes for wild and rolling seas, 

but rather than try to stand on my own, 

I fall quickly to my knees.

"I need You Lord,  please help me!",

is the cry I speak.

He is the only solution,  

the only answer I will seek.

And at the time the howling winds

are shrieking at their fiercest,

deep within my soul I hear God's voice 

reminding me of His nearness. 

"Do not be afraid,  My child. I will never leave you.

There's nothing you encounter 

that I won't see you through.

You trust Me when there's light around

you can trust Me in the dark.

Nothing the enemy throws at you

will ever diminish the spark

of the flame of faith I'm growing in you,

I will make it brightly burn.

There's nothing you ever need to do,

My grace you cannot earn.

You can rest within the tempest squalls, they rise and fall at My command.  

Be reassured and comforted child-

Nothing will ever snatch you from my hand.

                             ~°~°~

Psalm 56:3 "Whenever I am afraid I will trust in You."

#thevelveteengrandma #blessedbeyondmeasure #prayerispower

What do I do with my crown?

"I will go to the king which is against the law, and if I perish, I perish." Esther 4:16

Are you familiar with the story of Esther? If not I encourage you to take time to read the book in the Bible named after her. She is definitely a heroine worthy of remembrance. The line quoted above is when she had been advised of an evil plot, and after asking for prayer coverage, she was heading to speak with the king without being summoned by him. It was a noble and courageous act as it could mean her death to approach him without having been invited into his counsel.

I was thinking about it this morning while considering current events. Sometimes it is necessary to be bold and courageous in the face of situations that are unjust, but in taking a stand there is the grand possibility of becoming a target.  It is good to be wise when speaking up, because "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1), and "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." (Proverbs 25:11) I am very confident that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) but knowing when to be silent and when to speak, (Ecclesiastes 3:7) can be challenging.

Therein lies my dilemma.

You see, I am fiercely protective of those I love and have to keep a tight rein on that fierceness.  I know God is working all things together for our good and His glory. He is trustworthy and has a perfect plan for each one of our lives. I also know He has reminded us repeatedly throughout Scripture to "fear not".  Two of my favorite verses address fear."Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41;10) and "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear," (1 John 4:18)

So what does all this have to do with what to do with my crown?

A lot.  As a princess warrior I know my first responsibility is to my King, the Lord Jesus Christ. I am called to serve in a right manner that brings glory and honor to Him.  As I was wrestling with the frustration over how much fear is being generated by the media over this whole Corona Virus/Covid19 issue, the fierceness to protect began to rise. Knowing how easily that fierceness can be misused I immediately began girding myself with the full armor of God (for greater detail about our battle and tools see Ephesians 6:10-18). While doing so, the question arose in my mind. What do I do with my crown? And in the same moment I asked, it was answered. I am to lay it at His feet.

I serve Him with devotion and joy, and gladly surrender my total will to His command. I am His child.

I quake only slightly as I fasten on the garment necessary to do battle against the foe, the dragon of fear, that threatens those I love.  Strapping on the breastplate of righteousness, I feel the energy of God's courage begin to course through my being. I wrap the girdle of truth around my waist, and doubt flees. I put my feet firmly into the gospel of peace, knowing God's holy word is my foundation. I pick up the sword of the Spirit, confident He will do battle for me, and as I place my crown at my Savior's feet, I can now put on the helmet of my salvation. There is nothing I need to fear because God is always with me.  Breathing a deep sigh of confidence, I pick up the shield of faith and take my stand. The victory is mine for the battle belongs to the Lord (1 Samuel 17:47) I lift my eyes to Him and wait for His command. It is only His will I desire to do.

I will praise Him because He alone is worthy of praise. No matter what may come, I choose to keep my eyes on Him, and follow Him wherever He leads. I am fearless in His perfect love.

To Him be the glory now and forever.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Inescapable truth

"Behold, I tell you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." (Isaiah 25:8) "O Death, where is your sting? (hos. 13:14) O Hades, where is your victory."

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (bold added for emphasis) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 15:51-58

As of this writing we are one week into a state wide shelter in place. Many things have transpired in the past seven days, but the most evident is the fear that is beginning to rise in the nation as other states respond to the coronavirus. Watching the news last night as another city faced the effects of the shelter in place, my heart broke for a woman who was obviously consumed by fear. And as I was typing just now, I received a text from a friend asking for prayer for someone who had suffered a heart attack because of stress.

We may be experiencing a pandemic, but the greater problem is the fear that is gripping so many.

I admit, I have had to do daily battle against the enemy of fear. My choice weapon is praising God for the knowledge that nothing comes to us that hasn't been filtered through His hand or without His knowledge and permission (see the first chapter of Job). I bathe my mind with Scriptures that reassure me of God's Presence and peace. One of my favorite right in the middle of 1 John 4:18 now  "Perfect love casts out fear."   There is no more perfect love than the love of Elohim, our Creator, who provided us the ability to have an intimate relationship with Him through His Son, and the Savior of all who will accept the gift of grace, Jesus Christ. It is the knowledge of His great love for us, for me, that keeps drawing my eyes towards Him and away from the stormy sea of doubt and fear. (check out who is the Master over the storm in Mark 4:35-41)

Having said that, I will now return to the purpose behind why I decided to write today.

Here is an inescapable truth. Unless the Lord Raptures us (and it could happen in our lifetime) we're all going to die. Our physical existence on this plane (earth) will come to an end.

Our life as we know it on earth will end, but our souls will continue on into eternity. The question is, where will you spend eternity?

I have assurance because of my relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6) It is a confidence that no storm will be able to shake. I don't fear dying, because I know God has prepared a place for me and I will rest in peace when that day comes.

Now dying is a whole different scenario.

I get it why people are scared. The passage between life and death is unknown. Suffering is often a part of the process for many...and none of us like to suffer.

I would love to go as one of my great-grandmother's did.  The story goes that the family was gathered around the dining table eating, and she looked around and told each of them that she loved them, laid her head down on the table and was gone.

That's pretty awesome.
 
Now I don't remember the exact circumstances of my other grandparents deaths, but I do know they faced it bravely, confident we would see one another again. One of the songs my grandfather Van Winkle picked to be sung at his funeral was God be with you 'til we meet again.  I still tear up a bit when singing it. I miss him.

Daddy had been ill for awhile when his heart simply stopped. Not a heart attack. It just quit beating.The doctor said he had never seen anything like it.
Mom was hospitalized with pneumonia, but passed quietly with her children around her. She was so ready to join her husband of over 50 years.

The bottom line...I don't want to enter heaven screaming as I try to hold on to this life.

I don't know when or how I will die, but I do know I will leave this world and enter the arms ofJesus. When I think of the glory and the beauty of that, nothing scares me.

All this to say, if you're afraid of death you might need to examine why.

"For the wage of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life with Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

Do you know Jesus personally?

If not, today would be a good day to invest in getting to know Him. Check out the book of 1 John for starters, especially verse 9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Remember the wage of sin is death, (see above) and "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 
Yet there is good news and hope: "But God demonstrates HIs own love toward us, in while we were still sinners Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

The offer is open to any who are willing to receive: "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give your rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." ~Jesus as recorded in Matthew 11:28-30

Are you tired, stressed out, fearful?

Take your eyes off the storm and fix them on the Savior. Open up your heart and your hand and invite Him in. Allow Him to lead you through the temporary place of this earthly life and into the joyous celebration of eternal life with Him.

I am praying for you.
                                                              ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
For those of you who know Jesus as Savior, the time is now to be bold in sharing the joy you have in your relationship with Him. Tell your story loud and clear. Help others to know Him too. May God richly bless each of you. To Him be the glory for now and evermore.

The Velveteen Grandma: In times like these...

The Velveteen Grandma: In times like these...: "Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgements. Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing can m...