Laugh

Yesterday, if you are keeping up, I shared how important it is to accept Jesus and start your walk of faith now, not later.  It was a "Come to Jesus" post and we need those sometimes.  Today, today I want to lighten things up just a little and just look at life.  The humor and the joy we can find in life.  The moments that make us laugh.  Laughter is good for the soul.

My Grampa Foster had a sense of humor and could see the fun in everything.  No matter how boring the chore might have been or how frustrating the task at hand was, he found laughter and joy.  That is just who he was.  I'm like him, I see the glass half full, not half empty.  I try to spend my time looking for those moments that will make you smile and laugh as opposed to spinning my wheels in frustration and negativity.  My husband, Chris, he will tell you, I'm goofy and silly and I make him laugh daily.  And yet, he would have me no other way. 

God wants us to have fun in life.  God desires us to have a happy soul full of laughter and joy.  He even tells us in Proverbs 17:22 (MSG), "A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired".  Now who wants to walk around bone tired when you can walk around happy, full of life and just overflowing with joy?

And not only is laughter good for our own souls, it is so good for those around you.  Eugenia Price

once said, "Wholehearted, ready laughter heals, encourages, relaxes anyone within hearing distance.  The laughter that springs from love makes wide the space around it-gives room for the loved one to enter in.  Real laughter welcomes, and never shuts out."  How many times have you been in the company of someone with a great laugh?  Someone who just loves life even in the darkest of moments, they find joy.  And then you found yourself smiling along with them?

Are you an enthusiastic Christian?  You should be.  Why?  Because God gives us grace to live courageously.  God gives us moments and opportunities to see the good and embrace the joy.  You can either count your disappointments or you can embrace your blessings.  A heart full of joy and laughter starts with our attitude.  Are you seeing the glass as half empty or half full?  Are you focusing on the struggles or singing through them and trusting God?  What are you allowing your mind to focus on? 

"Laughter dulls the sharpest pain and flattens out the greatest stress.  To share it is to give a gift of health."- Barbara Johnson  In these current days where we are around our people everyday, I encourage you to find the laughter.  Find the silly and the goofy in the simple things.  Look for moments to laugh.  And don't just giggle but laugh!  Laugh so hard that you feel it all the way down to your toes.  Laugh so hard that your sides hurt.  Laugh so hard that tears are rolling down your face from pure joy. 

Live courageously and take time to just enjoy life.  God has stopped the world for a reason.  Look for the moments of joy and share those moments with those around you.  "If you could choose one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor."- Jennifer Jones.

Go on....LAUGH!


Father, thank you for giving us moments in our days to see joy.  Remind us to not be overcome by our disappointments and frustrations but instead, let us continue to trust You.  Thank you for loving us enough that you have filled us with opportunities to have laughter in our day.  Help us to share that joy and laughter with those around us.  Let us be a people that lives for joyful moments!  Amen

Jesus OUR King

I know for many of you that do look for this blog each day, you are probably wondering where I was Saturday?  Well, with Easter being the way it was this year, I was intentionally not posting this weekend.  I posted on Good Friday and then I just wanted to sit in the Silent Saturday and Rejoice in Resurrection Sunday but today, today I want to just share Jesus my King with you all.

I don't know where you are in your faith walk or if you even have one but I just feel led this morning to just share Jesus with you.  After celebrating Easter at home yesterday, many of you who would have normally gone to church, missed out on that opportunity to just be built up in Jesus.  And each time I sit down to blog, I ask God to make these His words, not mine.  So today God wants you to hear that He loves you.  He is waiting for you. 

Yesterday, my family watched one of our former churches from Savannah, Ga.  It wasn't that we didn't want to be with our church, but since Easter looked different this year, we decided to worship with some friends through the online church service Compassion Christian Church offered.  It was so great.  Chris and I both enjoyed seeing Pastor Cam standing in front of the lake where we gave our lives to Jesus.  We were baptized together in that lake with the gators.  What joy we felt seeing it
again and remembering our day of baptism and resurrection from our sins.

Pastor Cam talked about why people sometimes don't follow Jesus.  One reason he mentioned is because people don't have all the answers.  News flash, you won't get all the answers until you jump in with Jesus.  And some answers, you won't get until you walk with Him in heaven.  That is part of faith.  In Hebrews 11:1 (NIV), it tells us that, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see".  Having faith means that you don't have to have all the answers but you do have to trust God. 

Then Pastor Cam went onto the second reason people don't follow Jesus and that's because they feel they aren't good enough yet.  He used a perfect analogy for this that I want to share with you.  In today's hospitals, people are dying from Covid-19.  Doctors are trying to get a vaccine created to help all of us from this horrible virus.  But if you were laying in the hospital and the doctor told you, I have a shot for you, it will make you better, you wouldn't say No.  You wouldn't argue that you weren't "good enough" for that shot yet so to wait until you were.  That shot is medicine!  That shot could save you from the virus.  Now put Jesus in that picture.  Jesus is the medicine that cures all.  Jesus is the ultimate healer, great physician, our comforter, our protector, our risen Savior.  Why on earth would you say no to the medicine that can heal you and save you?  Why on earth would you wait for you to be good when it is through Jesus that we are saved, sealed and seen as righteous by God?  It just doesn't make any sense because we will never be good enough on our own.

One of my favorite verses that I have hanging in my home is this, “Come now, let us settle the matter,”says the Lord.“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson,they shall be like wool".  Don't you see friend, when you accept Jesus as Lord, you are released from the sin you carry.  You are found righteous and God sees you as white as snow because Jesus has already made the sacrifice for you that you could never make.  You will never be good enough, that's not how this works.  God desires you to walk with Him.

When my now 20 year old was 12, I remember a conversation we had.  He, like his mother, is a perfectionist.  We both own it, we try not to let that OCD side win but we come by it honestly.  Hello, we are Jennifer and Matthew and we are perfectionist!  But I remember Matthew coming home from school and just the frustrations he was having with homework and making friends and just his little 12 year old life with filled with frustrations and irritants.  And I remember him saying," I just can't do it Mom, I'm not perfect".  And out of my mouth came Jesus.  I said, "Matthew, you aren't supposed to be perfect, you are supposed to be obedient.  Can you walk on water? ", to which her replied "No". 

Do you see my friends what I was trying to explain to that little guy?  God hasn't gifted us perfection, for the only perfect person to walk the earth was Jesus.  God knows we can not be perfect and without sin.  But God (oh my favorite two words in the Bible), But God knows our hearts.  He knows we are going to fail and yet, through the sacrifice of His Son, we are seen as perfect, sinless and loved.  God doesn't expect us to have it all together and be perfect, God expects obedience and He expects us to bow before Him humbly asking for forgiveness of our sins.  And when we do that, He forgives and He forgets.

Don't waste another moment not knowing Jesus our King.  There won't be a perfect time when you have your life all together.  There won't be a perfect time when all your questions are answered.  The time is drawing near when Jesus will come back for each of us.  And you have two choices on where you will spend eternity.  With Jesus in heaven or not.  Friends, I urge you, don't waste time.  Don't wait. 

If you don't have Jesus in your heart, I encourage you, right now, wherever you are to ask Him into your life, into your heart.  Ask Him to forgive you of your sins.  Ask Him to welcome you home.  And he will.  The moment those words leave your lips, your new life WITH Jesus starts.  The moment you welcome Him into your heart, you will feel a peace that only Jesus can provide.  The moment you welcome Him into your life, the past is forgotten, erased, forgiven and your new life and faith walk truly begins.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:6-9 (NIV)

Impassioned

Today is Good Friday.  This is the day that Jesus was crucified on the cross alongside sinners even though he had no sin.  He carried the sin of the world on his shoulders so that God's plan could be complete.  A plan to save His people from death.  A plan to provide a way for His children to be seen as righteous and clean.

I sat all day thinking about "I" words.  Immanuel.  I Am.  But Impassioned jumped off the page when I saw it.  Impassioned means passionate, ardent, fervent, fervid, showing intense feeling.  The meaning of impassioned makes me think about the moments before Jesus was arrested in the garden.  Jesus went off to pray as the disciples kept watch.

"Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

    Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is                             possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  Matthew 26:38-39

Even as Jesus knew the hour was coming where he would be handed over by his betrayer, he still cried out fervently to God.  He was impassioned in his prayer to his Father.  And even though Jesus knew what God's Will for his life was, he still cried out one last plea. 

"After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.  I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.  And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.  John 17:1-5

Jesus was overcome with emotion because of the sin he carried for us.  He was overcome with emotion because of the sacrifice He had to bear.  And do we acknowledge that sacrifice the way we should?  Are we impassioned by what happened to Jesus?

"From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.  About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)...And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:45-46, 50-54

To the very end Jesus remained impassioned for His people.  Even the sinners on each side of Him, he prayed over.  Even as He was hanging on that cross, we were on his heart.  There was never a moment where Christ did not trust God's plan and purpose.  So as we sit here in these scriptures on this Good Friday.  I want you to be reminded about how much Christ has given for you.  Open your eyes and see the love your Father has for you and then thank Him.  Praise Him for the gift of eternal life He has provided. 


Lord, thank you for Your sacrifice for our sins.  Thank you for living a life so impassioned by love for us that You would die on a cross for our eternal life and forgiveness.  As we sit and are reminded of that walk You took to the cross, let us be overwhelmed with love and gratitude.  The work You came to complete is finished.  Thank You Lord for defeating sin and death so that we may live eternally with You.

Holy

Easter and Holy Week have always been my favorite holiday to celebrate.  The walk to the cross, Christ's sacrifice for us, His death and then resurrection have always refreshed my soul.  Just the entire sacrifice is just overwhelming to comprehend.

This year, Easter is going to look very different for all of us.  Instead of having the opportunity to dress in our Sunday best and join together in our churches, we are going to be huddled around our TV's or computers watching in our homes.  Instead of fixing a big Easter dinner for our entire family, we are going to be eating with just those in our homes and maybe "face timing" with family.  Instead of family egg hunts and egg dying, there will be quiet moments.  But just because we won't be celebrating in church, does that mean that the day is not holy?

Definition of holy : exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness.

Holy doesn't mean we have to be in our churches to celebrate the holiness of Easter.  Holy doesn't mean we can't acknowledge that Christ died for our sins in our homes due to this pandemic.  Holy does mean that we exalt Christ in all ways at all times.

Chris and I have talked about our Easter this year.  We've shared some frustrations and have discussed how we want our Easter to look.  We desire normalcy like everyone else but we all have to adjust our expectations.  The last few Sundays, as we've done church at home remotely, I'm sure that you, just as our home, have sat around in your PJ's.  You've watched while you enjoyed your morning coffee or breakfast and kept it really casual because you were at home.  Who could see you?  Hair a mess, mismatch pajamas, coffee breath, who cared right?

But what if this Sunday, you got up like you were going to church.  What if you took time to shower, fix your hair into something not representing a messy bun and put on clean clothes.  Not fancy mind you but something other than pajamas and a ratty t-shirt.  What if you enjoyed Easter Services without the distractions of your phone, breakfast, coffee or anything else that pulls you away from God and instead spent time in the moment.   What if we treated our remote Easter service as a true worship service full of the holiness that Christ's sacrifice truly is?

In our home this Sunday, we will be showered, breakfast will be over and we will be ready to just sit in the presence of God.  We are choosing to be intentional and less relaxed this week.  Not because the other weeks didn't matter but because it's Easter and it is the celebration of Christ's resurrection to save us from sin and death. 

"Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness."  1 Chronicles 16:29

Just because we are enjoying our Easter remotely this year does not mean that Christ is no longer at the center of it.  This is a true opportunity to live out your faith in Jesus in front of your family.  Gather together Sunday morning.  Spend time creating new moments this Easter and above all, never forget that Christ is the reason we are free from death, free from sin, and welcomed into everlasting life with Him.

"...and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection."  Luke 20:36

Savor this new opportunity to just be still this Easter.  Embrace the loss of hustle and bustle and just sit at the feet of Jesus celebrating the new life he has given to each of us.  Spend time thanking Him for this gift of eternal life.  Even though we are not IN our churches this Sunday, we ARE the church regardless of where we are.  Make Easter holy.  Be intentional.  Be present.

If you don't have a church family online, I encourage you to find one and be a part of a service this Easter Sunday.  I promise you, you won't be disappointed.  I pray that you are guided by God to just the right remote service that will refresh your soul and open your eyes to the holiness of Easter.

Here are 2 churches that we currently or have belonged to.  If you don't have a church family, check out these remote services this Sunday.  I look forward to worshiping with you.  Happy Easter.

People of Hope Church

Compassion Christian Church


Father, we so want to be with You and with our fellow Christians in our churches this Easter.  We miss our church families and our time to be together but Lord, I pray that all of us would look at our remote services as an opportunity to just be with You.  Let us find moments this Easter to see you in a new way.  Let us honor Easter by keeping it holy in our homes.  Lord, You are the reason behind our celebration.  Let us not get carried away with egg hunts and bunnies but instead turn our eyes to You who has sacrificed Your life so that we may be free from sin and death and live eternally with You.  Amen.

Generosity

Ok, before you even start scrolling on past let me just say, I know we are currently dealing with people out of work, people with loss of pay and people just trying to make ends meet.  I get it, trust me, it's hitting my home too.  But before we get all defensive about money, let's just sit for a minute in what God wants for us and our finances.

In 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NIV), God tells us,  "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

God loves a cheerful giver, a generous giver and those who are generous will reap generously.  I know what you're thinking, how can I give when I don't know how I'm going to pay my bills.  Well, there's an answer, But God.

I remember several years ago, when my husband and I made it a priority to tithe and give to various charities.  My Gramma and I had a conversation and I remember saying to her that I couldn't believe how I felt we weren't paycheck to paycheck anymore.  I was just amazed at how once I opened my finances to God, how he blessed my home through that obedience.  Since we have begun tithing, God has continued to give us what we need when we need it.  My Gramma said it was the same for their household.  Now, I'm not saying that we have become millionaires by any means but we have been so richly blessed by our obedience to give even when I wasn't sure where that giving was coming from.

And in these current days, there is no bigger reason to give.  Our churches and religious organizations are closed.  There is no offering basket being passed around or sitting at the door.  Our churches and organizations are completely dependent on its people to continue to give online or through other ways. 

Mind you, I'm not telling you that you have to give all you've got.  I understand.  I've been there.  But I encourage you to continue to contribute and give something.  Not only is it good for our church and organizations but it is good for your soul.  Often when we spend time helping others, our situations don't look so dire.  "God is ready to show you not only His pleasure, but His approval."- Joni Eareckson Tada.

God has promised us abundance.  God has told us in John 16:24 (HCSB), "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name.  Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be complete".  Ask. Ask for what you need.  Ask God to show you where you can trim from the edges and step out in faith and generosity.

One of the Pastors at a church we attended in Georgia once said, "Don't give God your leftovers, give him complete access to the best of the meal".  Don't wait and see what is left at the end of the bills and then decide what you will give to God.  Instead, make God your first priority.  I can attest to the blessing that comes from doing just that.

So in today's current world, don't give up hope.  Ask God for guidance in your giving.  Ask God for guidance in managing your finances.   Don't think that just because the doors are closed that there isn't still a Kingdom need.  God loves a cheerful giver.  Be generous.  Be trusting.  And if you step out in faith, God will pour out blessings.


Father, I know that so many of us are struggling right now with finances and jobs and unsure on how we are going to pay just the essentials.  But Lord, You have promised us that if we give, You will provide.  Let us open our eyes to trust You.  Let us not forget about our churches and religious organizations and the needs that the Kingdom has.  Father, I pray that I have pricked a heart  to be generous just as You are generous with each of us.  Amen.

Flawless

As we are preparing for Easter, I can't help but be taken to Isaiah 53: 2-12 (NIV).  Bear with me for a second but I really feel like I just need to sit right here in these verses.

"He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. 

 He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.  

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.  Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.  

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.  

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 

 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth, he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

  By oppression and judgement he was taken away.  Yet who of his generation protested?  For he was cut off from the land of the living, for the transgression of my people he was punished.  

He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.  

Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.  

After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many and he will bear their iniquities.  

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.  

For he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors."  

I find myself every Easter season sitting in these verses.  And the word Flawless has come to mind.  Jesus bore our sin and was sinless, he was flawless.  He died on that cross for us who are full of sin, full of ugliness, full of flaws.  And yet, he doesn't expect perfection from us, His children, but instead desires obedience and love.

Jesus, our perfect and flawless lamb has provided everlasting life to each of us.  Our flaws are the

scars we carry with us as part of our testimony of just how great our God is.  How our God never leaves or forsakes us.  And that perfect and flawless love is offered to every one of us. 

God had a perfect, flawless plan to save us all from the sin that we could in no way atone for.  Jesus, his flawless Son.  His perfect love poured out onto us, flawlessly completing the atonement for each of us.  And there is nothing we need to do to earn that, it is freely given once you accept Jesus into your heart.  Perfect and flawless love.

As we begin our walk this Holy Week, let us not lose sight of the perfect lamb that atoned for the sins of each of us.  Let us not look at our flaws and wonder if we are good enough but instead embrace the love that God has for us that provides us to look flawless in His eyes.   "So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow- of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth-and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10-11 HCSB

Lord, we can not thank you enough for Your sacrifice for us on the cross.  You are perfect and flawless.  And even though we are full of sin and flawed, when You look at us you see righteousness and love.  Let us open our eyes to You this Holy Week.  Let us not forget the power of the flawless plan that God created so that we may live an everlasting life with You.

Encouragement

If I'm being honest, today's title is meant just for me.  I need encouragement.  Let me just say that my day got high jacked pretty quickly first by an argument with my 20 year old son and then 32 text messages, 3 voicemails and 45 emails later I had the overwhelming feeling in the pit of my stomach that I wasn't going to live up to the expectation.

I'm a get 'er done type of person.  I don't like to let people down and I most certainly do not like to drop the ball.  Today, well, today was NOT my finest day.  Today was a reminder to me that I can not do all things in my strength but rather in God's. 

I just hate it when our days go beyond what we think we can control and yet, do we really ever have control?  I mean, look at our world today, there is NOTHING within our control.  We are all banned to our homes to try to keep everyone around us healthy and safe.  And some days, some days I just need some encouragement.  Don't you?

God designed us to need people around us that build us up when we need it.  People to walk alongside us when we can't walk alone.  People to do life with.  I'm not talking about the people we live with, I'm talking about those people who aren't related to you but would do absolutely anything for you.  Those people that a mere phone call or text and they spring into action whether that be prayer, an encouraging word or material things.


God tells us in Hebrews, "And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works".  We are supposed to be concerned for one another for the exact purpose of building one another up.  We should be surrounding ourselves with people in our lives that want the very best for us.

Today alone, in my most frustrating moments, I had at least six friends build me up and remind me of the purpose behind the chaos.  I think that is one of the most beautiful things in christian friendships, how we build each other up.  Our people we do life with are gifted to us by God.  As he tells us in Galatians 6:2 HCSB, "Carry one another's burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ".

How remarkable that God loves us enough to give us people to help carry our burdens.  And let's be honest, some burdens are bigger than others but we never have to carry them alone.  Friendship is important to me and I don't let just anybody into my inner soul.  But true friends always lift up and never tear down.  True friends cause us to refocus beyond ourselves and look at how Christ desires us to live.  True friends always speak truth into our lives. 

I've learned about Paul this year in my Bible Study and if you have never read any of the letters by Paul or any of his books of the Bible, I encourage you to get on that right now!  Paul is a true redemption story and he amazes me at how he always, always relied on God.  And his truths are so timely for us today.  In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come our of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (vs.29 NIV)

So as I sit here and look back over my day, I can see glimpses of moments of encouragement through my people.  I can see the love in their words that while I had a not so great day, God still loves me.    I can see the moments they are reminding me that they too have walked a similar path and came out ok.  I can feel the "love you's" even though we can't see each other right now.

So I encourage you, if you don't have your people, find them!  Once we are all cleared to go back to church, jump feet first into a small group.  Get involved in a Bible Study.  Get you a tribe you can call your own.  And then do life with those people so that they can build you up when you need some encouragement.

"Encouragement is to a friendship what confetti is to a party."- Nicole Johnson

Go find your people and get to getting with your party.  And to my people that walked with me today, that built me up when I felt low and who loved me through my uglies, I just want to thank each of you.  You know who you are and I am blessed to have every one of you in my life.


Father, I know that regardless of how my day goes, I am blessed because I am Yours.  You have created us to have people in our lives that build us up and Lord, I pray that if people reading this today do not know friends like this that you would guide them to their people.  I thank you Lord for the friendships in my life and for the way that you have surrounded me with people who will love me through it all.  Let us always have words of love and encouragement for each other.  Amen