Joy and Strength (Christian life and music)

I know this sounds nuts.  How can suffering bring us joy?  I mean, we suffer when we suffer, right? Not as Christians. God even redeems our suffering, so great is His reach. The Bible tells us over and over, in various Scriptures, to rejoice in our suffering and trials.  Why?  Because it brings about character and hope in us, lasting spiritual fruit and maturity. And character and hope bring us the good stuff - the joy that does not disappoint. Some of the most precious times I have felt the Lord's Presence the most were in times of suffering.  Remember, He is near to the brokenhearted, to bind up their wounds. He is near to us in our weaknesses. He comforts us in our sorrows. It's not like we need to seek out pain and suffering!  The Lord knows the perfect dosage of suffering to mete out to each of us to bring us into His joy more deeply, awareness of His Presence, so that we grow into His likeness.  Too little, and we get "flabby" and lazy in our growth.  Too much,

It is very tempting to give up in the heat of the battle.  Walking away, or giving up, is the easy way out.  And the relief it offers feels great at the time. But!  As Christians, we are called to persevere and fight the good fight!  I wish it weren't so, but the truth is that the Christian life contains spiritual battles galore! What you need to know when it happens: - there is a lie from the devil at the root of it - Jesus always provides the strength to endure when we look to Him to see us through it - there are rewards on the other side! - since Christ is all-powerful and already won the battle over the devil, we can face every battle knowing that with Christ in us and on our side, we too have the victory!  - the more you go through the battles, the more aware you become of the enemy's tactics and therefore can see it for what it is - you will feel anxious and riled up in your emotions because the enemy attacks our feelings and emotions, but wage war through prayer and wors

When we are in the thick of it - being tempted to give up, walk in the flesh, doubt God - this is when we are called to practice patience. The meaning of patience in this case is long suffering.  God knows that we suffer when tempted.  Remember, He was tempted by the devil in the desert and it was no fun!  But Jesus resisted the devil by knowing Who He was and by knowing and speaking Scripture.  Jesus was not passive in this and neither should we be. Verse 4 in the King James translation reads, "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire , wanting nothing."  The purpose of the trial is to produce patience in us which makes us whole.  When we are whole, we are healed, "wanting nothing." Why does it have to work this way?  I have no idea.  And trying to deny it or fight against it only causes great turmoil and stress. Isn't that the way?  We are tempted.  We feel rotten.  We are uncomfortable and not at peace in that moment. Now here

I know that God has a sense of humor.  Or the ironic.  Or both. The song on my list to practice today on Day 2 of this journey, was "All is Well."  I needed my own song today to convince me of this.  I wasn't feeling that "all is well."  At all. The a/c is broken and it isn't getting fixed until tomorrow (hopefully - of course, the fix-it place made no promises!).  This has been causing me great anxiety, even though we're managing to stay comfortable because we're still getting cool air blowing out of the vents, if not reconditioned air.   Anyway, I sat down and sang, There's a state of mind Where all is well All is well I wanted to get into that state of mind but it was a battle.  I was focused on the problem instead of Jesus, in whose Presence all is always well. But I practiced nonetheless!  It's good for my self-discipline muscles. Tomorrow, "Always You" is on the docket!

Even when you don't see results. Even when you want to give up. Even when things are getting worse. Even when you don't believe. Even when you are tired. Even when you doubt Even when you just want to escape. Even when it seems hopeless. Even when you've had enough already. All of these situations and feelings are when we need to keep on praying and seeking the Lord.   Praying in season and out of season means that not all seasons are alike. Is your horrible "season" just going on and on with no seeming end in sight?  This can be very wearing and stressful on the mind, body, and soul. I don't know why some seasons seem to take forever.  Especially when you have the faith that the season could end with a snap of God's fingers. "Why isn't He answering my prayer?" you ask.  "What is He waiting for?" I don't have an answer for you.   But I do know that we are to keep asking, keep knocking, keep believing, keep seeking, keep, keep, k

This is another song that is a part of my musical, "Knowing God."  It is based on Philippians 3:14.  Enjoy!  Sheet music available here .  

How do you take things off the "back burner" of procrastination and doubt? Well, the best way I know to stop putting off something is to just do it!  That is not new advice!  We've all heard that before.  So why, then, don't we just do it ?   Effort, energy, being decisive - these are all things that we decide to do. Have faith!  Believe that it is possible to finish that project or assignment from God!  He wouldn't have told you to do it if you weren't able.  And if you still don't think you're up to task, ask Him to come along side you and empower you to get to work and finish! We're all fighting the blues a bit more these days, what with being in quarantine and just the plain weirdness of it all, how our lives have changed as a result of this pandemic.  And it is still happening. Now more than ever we need our resolve! See this as a huge opportunity for good!  Take the extra time you may have on your hands and do  something with it! I am a big b

You want escape.  You want the easy way out.  And who wouldn't?  You've prayed and prayed and still no relief.  You even fasted.  You have the faith.  You believe God implicitly. And still your prayers go unanswered. You start to believe that it is not God's will to heal your loved one.  Years have passed.  Still no end in sight. What happens to our faith when our most heartfelt, fervent prayers are not answered when and how we like? I have found that I either get more persistent - pray more often - or I am tempted to just give up. "I guess it is not God's will to provide in this way."  How do we seek God and believe He has the best in mind when He allows a painful situation to continue? During His earthly ministry, Jesus healed everyone who believed in His healing power, who believed in Him.  Over and over we read in the gospels where He says, "Your faith has made you well."  (Mark 5:34) Or "According to your faith, let it be done to you."

Have you ever gone through a crisis and when it was over think, "Finally!" only to meet with a new crisis?   Just when I think the bad times are behind me, something else pops us to try and derail my composure.  It is frustrating, to say the least. I whack one proverbial mole only to find another one popping up. Where is the rest?  Where is the peace?  Why is God allowing trial after trial in my life? God promises us calm in the midst of the storm.  He promises peace not as the world gives - not through the "security" of money or possessions which deep down we know are here one day, gone tomorrow.  His peace is powerful.  His peace is permanent.  It calms emotional storms within us. When will it all let up?  When will your own struggles end? I wish I could tell you that it will let up soon.  Very soon.  But I know that we will all be "whacking moles" probably right to the very end - either the end of this earthly life or until Christ returns and takes us u