FINDING THE J.O.Y.

If I could paint "joy" it would look like this

We’ve heard the acronym before. But it’s time to revisit it. It says that our focus should be:

• Jesus
• Others
• You

In that order.

Jesus. Jesus set aside his divinity for my sake. Gave up his glorious place in heaven temporarily to come to this small blue planet twirling in the dark sky. He became a helpless infant in order to share in our experiences and teach us how to live. He suffered a horrible death and took upon himself the full wrath of God so we don't have to.

Others. Jesus’ second commandment is: love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus showed us how to love others. By spending time with others; giving them our ears, our hands and our hearts, sharing Jesus with them.

Paul reminds us of this focus in Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.

You. It’s easy to put ourselves first. Not so easy to put ourselves last. Often our frenzy is fueled by fear—of feeling overwhelmed and under prepared. Luke 2:8-10 reminds us of the very first Christmas.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

When we become fearful; feeling like we’re never going to get it all done; when the joy starts slipping away and the gotta do’s poke their way to the front of our brains, it’s time to stop and fear not. Then it’s time to do what the angels did: sing a song of joy.

Once we focus on Jesus first and others second, we may be surprised how the third slips silently into place...

...enabling us to sing a song of J.O.Y.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please remind us that when we want JOY in our lives, we must put Jesus first. Help us to find the only true joy that is because of you. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? How can you find joy today?

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Today’s post is part of the Christian Writer’s blog chain. This month, our theme is “joy.” Please visit my friends’ blogs by clicking on the links in the right-hand column.

SWEET PEAS & DAISIES

Every month has a birthstone. Every month also has a birth flower. April has two flowers: the sweat pea and the daisy. And they both remind me of Jesus.

I’m an April baby. I’ve always preferred the sweet pea as the flower for April. It is sweet-smelling, colorful and lacy as it dances in the spring breeze. And because it symblizes happiness, it reminds me of Jesus, who is the source of our true joy.

But as much as I like the sweat pea, the daisy reminds me more of Jesus.

The daisy symbolizes innocence and certainty. No matter my past. No matter my sins. No matter my struggles; when I repent and receive Jesus, I am purified. His forgiveness washes me clean; purifies my soul. I am born again; innocent in his eyes.

I have this understanding as a sure certainty. I know through faith that Jesus died to redeem me; to make me acceptable; to purify me through and through.

I like to imagine sitting with others at Jesus’ feet as he holds an enormous bouquet of daisies. He would pick each petal and drop it softly on our heads, repeating, “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

Because he does not know how to say, “I love you not.”

Happy birthday to everyone born in April. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminders in nature of your character and your love for us. Thank you that every petal on every flower tells us of your love. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Who do you know who has an April birthday? Would they enjoy this post?

See the links to the left for other posts about past flowers of the month.

EN GARDE

Today’s post is the seventh in a series about putting on the full armor of God. Ephesians 6:17 Take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The pen is mightier than the sword.  

There is power in words. The universe was spoken into being by God. How much mightier is His word than a mortal sword! 

A stick of iron that is sharpened becomes a sword. A blunt sword is still a valuable weapon—good for hitting and whacking. But a sharp sword is better. We can sharpen our swords (understand the Word of God) better when we sharpen them in the company and with the help of other Christians.  

Proverbs 27:7 tells us: As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. 

We can gain better understanding when we read, meditate on, study and discuss God’s word in communion with other believers. Our swords—whether blunt or sharp—can be made sharper and therefore more powerful—when sharpened at the local sword sharpening shop of believers. 

We do this not simply to be able to spout scripture. But because an understanding and application of God’s truth at a soul level, builds us up, fortifies our faith and guards our minds and hearts in a proactive way. And perhaps builds up, fortifies the faith and guards the minds and hearts of other believers also. 

• When feeling afraid, we can recall: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. (Psalm 23:4) 
• When we are in despair, we can recall: Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (Isaiah 51:11) 
• When we need protection and safety, we can recall: You, LORD, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked. (Psalm 12:4) 

The photograph of the sword at the beginning of this post is one of several “fantasy” swords hanging in my daughter’s room. It’s a thing of beauty.  

When I imagine the sword of the Spirit, I don’t think of a heavy, bulky club. I imagine a sword—intricate in detail, carved with depth of beauty, elegant in its enormous power.  

Except that God’s sword isn’t a “fantasy” sword. It is real. Grab hold. 

PRAYER: Thank you God for your Word. Thank you Jesus for leaving the Holy Spirit to live in us, allowing us to equip ourselves with your armor. Holy Spirit please protect us inside as well as out. Please help us dive into your Word to better arm ourselves against evil. Amen. 

WHAT ABOUT YOU? If you were making a movie, what would the sword of the Spirit look like?

HEADS UP

Today’s post is the sixth in a series about putting on the full armor of God.

Ephesians 6:17: Take the helmet of salvation

When he was 16, his motorcycle was barely tapped by a car. The cycle tipped over; his head landing on a curb.  

Today he’s a 50-year old man. If only he’d been wearing his helmet, who knows how bright his future might have been?  

When we think of the day we leave this earthly life; will we say “If only I’d worn my helmet of salvation”? 

The helmet of salvation is the fifth piece of God’s armor Paul tells us to put on. It protects our “right thinking” and helps us take every thought captive, to focus not on earthly desires, but on the things of God.

 
That’s hard, trying not to look at things that tempt us in the world. There are lots of types of helmets, but when I think of the helmet of salvation, I picture one like this replica from the Crusades [ArmorVenue.com]. The cross of Christ is front and center; bolted in place from the top of our head to the bottom of our chin.

More than that, the only way to see is directly through the center of the Cross; where our vision cannot be distracted. Like blinders for a horse running a race.

We, too, are running a race. That race Paul talks about, running a race of faith with Jesus.

If we wear, not blinders, but a helmet of salvation—focusing fixedly on Jesus’ saving grace and on where he leads us, how much easier will the race be? How less distracted will we be by the people around us; the crowds; the hot dog stands and ice cream vendors?

I, too want to see the world with the focus of Jesus. Through the cross of redemption. My throughts protected. My mind armed with the salvation that comes from Christ. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we love you so. Thank you for the protection you give us through your salvation. Please protect our minds and remind us that—whatever comes—we ultimately have salvation through Jesus. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you wear the salvation of Christ like armor?

STANDING FIRM

Today’s post is the fourth in a series about putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:14).

Stand firm then…with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

 

Roman warriors didn’t wear boots. Rather, they wore studded sandals like these replicas and then protected their lower legs with metal or leather greaves. Later, soldiers adopted boots as part of their armor.

Most Bible versions don’t mention a type of footwear in Ephesians. But many people refer to this portion of God’s armor as the “shoes of peace” or the “boots of peace.”

Stand firm then…

Paul reminds us that when we put on the armor of God, we are to stand. Not lounge comfortably, wearing our fuzzy slippers. We are to stand.

You gals who have taken a step onto ice, wearing 4” heels know the peril of simply standing. You guys wearing new dress shoes and stepping onto wet linoleum know the peril of simply standing. It’s hard to stand firm if you’re wearing the wrong shoes.

 

…with your feet fitted

We’ll be able to stand and move better if our footwear fits. Without proper fitting shoes, our feet blister. Too small and we limp. Too big and we trip.

Just like our faith. Too little and we limp along. Too much of ourselves thinking we know it all and we're likely to trip.

Without securing our properly-fitting shoes, we are not ready to stand. Much less are we ready to go where He sends us. 

…with the readiness

God can do all things in heaven and on earth. But lots of times, He uses us to get things done. With the Holy Spirit living in us, God is right there directing our actions. We can be God’s hands and feet in this world, accomplishing His purpose; fulfilling His plans.

If we are to be His feet, then, we should be ready to go where He sends us. Part of being ready is putting on our boots. Boots that are fitted to our feet with readiness. 

…that comes from the gospel of peace. 

Paul reminds us that we are to wear the “boots of peace.” Jesus is the Prince of Peace.” Therefore we should live a life like Jesus did.

But Jesus wasn’t always peaceful. He stood up for what was right and was ready—whip in hand—to make other people pay attention.

The United Nations sends out soldiers and calls them a “Peacekeeping Force.” Our police are referred to as “Officers of the Peace.” Sometimes peace is something we have to fight for. Or march toward. Or stand up for. All that peacekeeping requires us to put on the boots of peace, fitted for us by God.

And in addition to being peace keepers,we are also to be peace makers. One of Jesus’ beatitudes was: Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called Sons of God. As a child of God, I like that.

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One day, we get to slide into them golden slippers and walk all over God’s heaven.

Now those are boots of peace!

Meanwhile, wearing our boots of readiness from the gospel, we can first stand firm and then run Paul’s race with Jesus.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please put your armor on us. Please fit our feet with the gospel of peace so that we can stand firm and be ready to go where you send us, protected by your armor. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Did your mamma wear combat boots? Do you?

BUCKLE UP

Today’s post is the second in a series about putting on the full armor of God.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist ( Ephesians 6:14)

I’ve reached that point in life, when the clothes I love best are baggy shirts and elastic waist pants. I swore I’d never wear elastic waist pants. But that was when I was younger and thinner.

One of the things that’s so great about elastic pants is that your pants stay up all by themselves. You might have to tug and readjust, but you never have to worry that they will end up down—when you get up. No need for a pesky, uncomfortable belt.

Back in bible days, folks didn’t wear pants. They wore tunics—giant sheet sorts of things. Then to keep the big mass of fabric out of the way, so they could move and work, they wore belts. Sometimes those belts held tools. Sometimes weapons.

In Ephesians, Paul encourages us to put on the full armor of God. And the very first piece of the armor he mentions is God’s belt of truth.

Other, more scholarly writers will point to God’s Commandment # 9 “Thou shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” (Deuteronomy 5:20) They’ll point out that, living a Christ-like life means living truth; abhorring lies.

Let’s take that as a given. We shouldn’t lie. Looking further, Paul gives us four instructions here in Ephesians 6:14:

1. Stand firm. Don’t worry that your pants will fall down or that everything will get in the way. With Jesus, we have confidence.
2. Buckle it. Don’t just hold truth against your body; don’t tie it with a slip knot. Buckle it. Make it secure.
3. It’s a belt of truth. A belt of truth keeps the big mass of lies out of the way, enabling a person to move and work. And truth is a weapon that can be used to fight the evil one’s lies.
4. Wear it around your waist. Don’t just attatch it to your pinky where it could slip off. Rather, buckle it around your waist. Attach the very center of you—to Jesus.

Most importantly: the truth IS Jesus. Jesus is the truth, the way and the life. What better way for God to protect us—to arm us—than if we wear Jesus?  

Remember the 1960’s TV jingle? Buckle up for safety. Everybody buckle up.

Seatbelts used to be annoying. Inconvenient. Uncomfortable. But after 50 years of wearing seatbelts, they are no longer a big deal. Now I buckle up even when I drive from one end of the shopping center to the other. The fact that I drive is another matter entirely…The point is that I buckle up.

I’ll probably wear elastic waist pants the rest of my life. But that doesn’t mean I don’t need God’s belt of truth buckled securely around my waist. A belt of truth might feel annoying sometimes. Or inconvenient. Or uncomfortable. But it will keep me secure.

And—just like a seatbelt—I’ll get used to it. Hopefully, I'll get so used to it that I will feel uncomfortable WITHOUT it.

Everybody buckle up!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please protect us by helping us into your armor. Help us today buckle the belt of truth—Jesus—securely around us and those we love. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? What does the belt of truth mean to you?