Posts Tagged ‘joy’

The Joy of Freedom

May 27th, 2011

Last night  I brought my oldest home from school and he realized that between now and next Wednesday night, the only thing he had to do was to take one test and go to church on Sunday morning.

What freedom!  I anticipate the that the joy he will feel as he finishes his last exam today and understand that he is free (for a while) from the confines of school and homework.  Oh, the joy of being able to do whatever he wants with no projects or major commitments hanging over his head.

There is so much joy in freedom.  I treasure the days when I am not handcuffed with a day full of schedule meetings.  We yearn for the simple days of vacations when we have no one telling us where to be and what to do. ( let me pause and reflect… oh only 18 more work days!!)  And our spirits compel us to look for something that set us free from the curse of the daily toils, and when we find it- oh what joy.

 16-18Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him. (2 Corinthians 3:16-18, The Message)

As we enter the Memorial day weekend, be so thankful for those who have come before us to fight for the freedom that we enjoy in this country.  And with that also remember how that freedom facilitates access to the the spiritual freedom that comes from the Christ.

Share it!  You are free to!  Woot Woot!!

Making Others Better

April 13th, 2011

Man its tough.  Trying to understand that at times your only purpose in life to to help others.  The selfish impulses that are woven deep inside of us want to take over and push the others out of the way. However, when you are able to swallow pride, develop some patience and provide assistance to others it always seems better in the end.

I know that when I do that I am a better spouse, father, and co worker.  So what is it still so difficult to not just chuck those people to the wind and move on with out them?  Casting aside a personal agenda for the sake of other seem so fundamentally wrong when we examine ourselves, yet is is the cry of the Christ.

16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:16, New International Version, ©2011)

and there’s this

25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. (Matthew 16:25, New International Version, ©2011)

So, today, I am trying to figure out how to lose myself, how to give up on my personal agenda and how to make the others that I am blessed to be around better. Any ideas?

On Notice

March 30th, 2011

Last night I was listening to the JJ Heller’s song “Love Me” while I was streaming K-Love Radio in the hotel room. It’s a very nice song with a very emotional plea in the chorus:

Who will love me for me
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me
‘Cause nobody has shown me what love
What love really means

So, of course I started thinking about these words, not that I was dwelling on these thoughts from a personal perspective, but it did strike me that this song describes some of everyone’s basic needs. The more I thought about it, the more I started thinking about my daily life and the number of peeople I may have a chance to impact as the person who shows love.

Take a moment to consider the people around you – the people you deal with everyday. Who will you notice? Who will you see as a person created by God placed in your path today by the creator of the world? That seems to change the way we will interact with each and every person. It seems that maybe we will want to love them for them, and not what they may or may not have done for us.

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4, New International Version, ©2011)

Overtaken With Joy

March 23rd, 2011

March Madness continues tonight is full force, even though my bracket is kaput. Speaking of basketball, have you seen this video from this Spanish basketball game that has been circulating the Internet?

Although the end of this game is quit speculator, its the audio commentary that makes this clip – so make sure you have your speakers on. Even though you probably can’t understand a thing he is saying, unless like American Idol star Laura “you speak one language and that language is Spanish”. Anyway, despite the fact that you can’t probably are not sure exactly what he is saying, the emotion, raw and uncut at the end of this game comes through loud and clear. He is clearly overwhelmed, awe struck and full of joy.

I have to wonder when was the last time that I was presented with anything that produced so much joy that I was overwhelmed like this guy?

This was just at a basketball game, consider how others reacted when then encountered the Savior of the world

26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” (Luke 5:26, New International Version, ©2011)

8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man. (Matthew 9:8, New International Version, ©2011)

Maybe today is a day to stop and consider the awe inspiring gifts you have received.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29, New International Version, ©2011)

As You Once Were

December 22nd, 2010

Yesterday one of my liberal minded, utopia seeking college student friends, whom I dearly love,  posted on Facebook about some political things going on in Nashville.  Without going into all the gory details, I have to say that I spend a better part of the day thinking about how to tactfully post a response to his somewhat condemning post.

My thoughts quickly traveled to Ephesians however, for it is here that the writer of this letter lays out some very profound and yet simple ideas for those who wish to follow the Christ.

You see, my friend was calling out the way sin has been categorized to a point that some is acceptable and some is not. However, the letter the the Ephesians clearly calls out all sorts of dark behaviors and groups them in the same pot.  Then there’s the real kicker.  It’s not a condemnation for having had these sins in your life, but an impetus to move past them:

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)

All of us have sinned. All of us continue to make mistakes.  All of us are so dependent on the grace the oozes from our Lord.  However, we are still admonished to move toward the light and to leave the other things in darkness.  The Message version of this brings home the point in a very contemporary way:

8-10You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it. Ephesians 5:8-10  The Message (MSG)

So, we need to leave the darkness behind, and move towards the light – transformed by the grace and love of Christ. As you battle the darkness in your life remember this admonishment. And as you deal with others steeped in the battle with darkness please remember that “you were once darkness” but now “you are the light”.  Approach them with the grace and love bestowed upon you.

Oh, and isn’t this just another reason to live a life of joy?