42 and Joy-filled!

Birthdays.
Some love them, some loathe them.
Some celebrate them, some hide from them.
Some get excited, some get disappointed.
Some even choose to lie and say they didn't happen.

Yesterday was my birthday.
I turned 42. That is a truthful age. Honest!
This is my favorite picture from my time celebrating my milestone...warning its a "selfie"...or an "usie"...a picture taken on a cell phone!

You may not be able to tell why I love this picture so much. Allow me to share what I see and feel when I look.
I see joy. Inner joy.
I see the joy of a wife who loves her husband. (He deserves an applaud! He arranged this special day with a dear friend of ours who shared hospitality, love and good cooking!)
I see the joy of a mom who is so excited her children are present in her life.
I see a change.
A change you may not notice, but I do.
The change is the JOY in my heart that now spills out in my smile and my wrinkled nose!
It hasn't always been there, though I have always wanted it! I just spent time chasing the wrong things to get it!
Now I chase Jesus! Well I don't have to chase far, He's always near!

He created me and never left me. I am His marvelous work and so are you!
Not one day of my life is a surprise to Him.
He knew the birthdays I would spend without joy and those I would spend with joy overflowing and He works everything together for good! He is good.
He is the treasure of my heart and because of Him I treasure other things more fully.
My family, my friends, yes.
But also with great joy I treasure sisters!
Sisters in Christ.
Other women who see Him and need Him. I treasure YOU!

 

I'm 42 and one day old.
I have joy in my heart. The joy of a Savior!
And each day I enjoy sharing that joy with others!
I pray you have that JOY also! If you don't can I say a prayer for you today?
Father,
You amaze me. You stir my  heart in ways that no other can. You pour blessing upon blessing. I stand in awe of your love, your patience, your gentle and quiet ways. Your strength abounds and it is present for us all. Thank you. Lord, I know someone today needs your joy. They need you because they are lonely, they are hurting, they are lost. I lift them to you. Not even knowing their name, I lift them. You know them. You knitted them together, you know each hair, each heart and each tear. Nothing about them goes unnoticed to you. Lord, let them feel your love, let them see your blessings. Place someone in their life today that is willing to share your joy with them. May your family be added to today! I will rejoice in new sisters!
Amen

If you need a place to fellowship with other women, explore God's word, share prayer and experience joy with sisters we invite you to Faithfully Fit! Click around our blog and see what we are all about. Hopefully you will notice that "whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we do it all for the glory of God!" (1 Cor. 10:31; emphasis mine)

~Jodie

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him" Psalm 28:7

 

Joy in the Laundry, Really!

A text received from my husband..."Washing clothes. What is your saying? Joy in the Laundry?"

I'm married to an "Army-man". He's not always away from home, but this night he is and he's doing his own laundry.
I reply, "Yep! Are you feeling the joy?".
"No. Missing home.".
That tugs at my heart!

I wake up today and strip the sheets off the bed, knowing only one side is really in need of washing, the other side has been missing it's normal occupant (and I have too). But alas, there is laundry to be done so here I go! My thoughts go back to the text. I have become fairly well-known for saying there is JOY IN THE LAUNDRY.
It brings a smile to my heart when others remember.
But what is it really all about?

Well unfortunately for years I spent time moaning and groaning over piles of dirty laundry that needed to be washed, dried, folded, ironed and put away. I mean really there were loads upon load and I never seemed to be able to catch up. There were days that it seemed to consume me as I would tug the dirty clothes to the basement, load up the washer and then turn on the dryer repeatedly to fluff the clothes I meant to fold the day before. It seemed worthy of complaint. But somewhere along the way I saw a blessing overlooked. Little arms and legs were running around in those clothes each day spilling jelly on their shirts, playing in mud puddles, drooling ice cream. And those little arms and legs were attached to sweet little blessings that were mine! (Now those big clothes belonging to my hardworking husband were also a blessing, but I thought you may get warm fuzzies if I showed you my little blessings!)

And while their little clothes with big messes turned to big clothes with bigger messes they were still blessings filled with joy to be treasured!

 

I wrote these words in an email sent in February 2012:

 "I have gone from despising the mounds of dirty clothes that need washing to enjoying my time folding the fresh loads falling out of the dryer. What happened to my distaste for the dirty, stinky socks and underwear? I began to look at the chore as an act of love toward my family and well, not a chore."

 

There is Joy in the Laundry!

 

And there is more, more to my Joy in the Laundry. There is Jesus!

Jesus stands ready to wash loads and loads of dirty laundry every day.

Our laundry.

We approach his feet, stinky and unclean.

He reaches out and removes the dirt and grime of sin.

He makes us clean.

An act of great love.

Not a chore.

A gift of love.

 

 

"Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness" Psalm 51:7-8

 

So when the piles seem endless...(like this pile to be ironed that has been waiting over a week), don't worry, don't complain.

Look for the joy.

Look for the blessings.

 

 Spend more time here! Jesus doesn't mind if you are wrinkled! And if you throw that load in the washer before you sit the machine will be working for you while you enjoy sweet moments in the Word...finding JOY!

 

Joy in the laundry!
I just can't wait for that Army-Man to get home so I can wash his clothes!
~Jodie



Passionate Pieces

It's funny how God pieces things together sometime.

Recently, I had a thought.
I wondered what would my life look like if my passions were the same as Christ's passions? And furthermore, what if my burdens were His burdens. I didn't want to lose my thought so I quickly wrote down two words in my journal, "Passions/Burdens". From that point on I began seeking to see what God wanted to speak to me about these two words.
It did not take long for me to see God piecing together things.
First, I felt God saying to me, "Be passionate for Me. You have been passionate about many things in life and good things have come from your heart's desires but focus on your passion for Me and see great things flow for Me."
It's true. I have been passionate about many things. I was passionate about college and pursuing my nursing degree. Then I was passionate about getting a nursing job and learning all I could about my new profession. I was passionate about becoming a mother. Passionate about being a good mother. Passionate about helping in church and in schools. None of these are bad but without Jesus being my first passion they were always lacking something. These things are out of order without Him first.
I heard God say, "Let me be first."
God continued to show me His wisdom.

It's funny how he pieces things together sometime.

While attending my son's high school graduation services a high school student delivers her address to the audience and speaks about her pursuit to find her passion. And it caused me to reflect back to when I was in high school. I believe I did the same thing as this graduating student. I looked for my passion. I remember being passionate about different subjects of study and different topics of debate in my classes and then, well, you have the list already. Nursing school, career, motherhood, ect.
Often Jesus was in the mix. But was He my passion? Did I share His passions? Were my burdens His?
And God did it again. In that funny way He put a another piece together for me.
I sat out on my patio and studied a Sunday school lesson and then somehow I ended up turning to the book of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah.
And there I became engrossed in the pages describing the King's cupbearer and His determination to restore a wall....His determination to do God's work....His determination to pray for God's people.... His determination to stand firm in the face of adversity....
His passion for God. His burden for God's people.

God said, "linger here and learn from Nehemiah".
God is still showing me the pieces.
I am digging deep. Paying careful attention.
Sitting at His feet.
Listening, lingering. Learning.
May my passion be Christ. May my burden be His.
~ Jodie
Lord, Let my passion be Christ, let my burden be the Lost. Let me be eager to share my passion with those I am burdened for! Amen

His Princess!

I want my daughter to know that she is a princess!
Not just my princess.
Not just her daddy's princess.
A very special princess to a very special prince.
This past week we had prom preparations going on at our house. I have a son who has been to a prom before and a daughter who was going to her first prom. The preparations for my daughter were quite different then with my son. For my son we bought the ticket and rented the tux. The time total was less than 30 minutes! For my daughter we tried on dresses, shopped for shoes, went through 4 or 5 dress fittings, looked for jewelry, make-up and on and on. On the day of prom my daughter and I had a regimented plan of attack for getting ready that started well before the prom started! My son went fishing, came home, showered and dressed. AND don't get me started on the difference between dad's response to his daughter going to prom verses his son...let's just say she may not realize it, but she is his princess.
When it was all said and done my daughter looked lovely.
I wanted her to feel like a princess.
She looked like one to her mom. But she looked like one to me before she had her pale blue beaded dress on.

My heart was just touched at how lovely she looked, but as the night went on I had a prayer on my heart.
Lord, I pray she knows that she is your princess.
Everyday. All the time. To the One King. To Jesus.

Last year my daughter attended our annual women's conference with me. I was filled with joy to have her beside me singing, praying, taking in the Word. I spoke at the conference about beauty. The beauty that God sees in all of us. How we should use His Word as our mirror and not look into the world's warped mirror.

 

 "All beautiful you are, my darling. There is no flaw in you."~ Song of Solomon 4:7.  

 

I know my daughter heard the verse, knows the verse (because she reminds me when I am feeling less than beautiful) and now I want her to live the verse!

 

This year my daughter will attend our annual women's conference with me again. I am so thankful to have this time with her. This year I will speak about having an overflowing cup for Christ. A cup flowing with his love and his word. The more we sit with Jesus, the more we will realize that we are all a princess to Him.

We are loved.

We are cherished.

We are His.

His Princess!

Can I take a moment to encourage you to come and bring your princess with you also? It promises to be a special time. All the lovely ladies of the land should come! (For conference details look under the tab, This One's for the Girls, Yesterday and Today and Forever)

Blessings,

Jodie

Lessons in Radiance: Mary (Mother of Jesus)

And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers." 

Luke 1:46-55

Mary was nothing special. Really. When we meet Mary we find her in the town of Nazareth. Today's equivalent would be... the middle of nowhere. Even Nathanael said " Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (Jn 1:45-46) when Philip told him the he had found the Messiah and that he was a Galilean from Nazareth. She was a young girl (yes, a teenager) who was pledged to be married to Joseph, a carpenter. She did have some illustrious ancestors..but so did Joseph. They were both of the bloodline of David but Joseph's line was a bit more prestigious as his family came through the royal line of Solomon while Mary's came through  Nathan, one of David's other sons. She was just an ordinary girl who was loved by an extraordinary God. Just like me and you.

Most of us know the story. Mary is just hanging out waiting to get married...because that is what you did. When, poof an angel comes out of heaven to let Mary know that she should not be afraid but that she is going to have a baby. Mary is a little confused being that she is not married yet and asks in wonder how this will happen. The angel replies through the Holy Spirit she will give birth to the Son of God. And Mary says "Let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38).

WHAT?!?

Oh, that I could be as ordinary as Mary!

See in that very moment without hesitation, without question, without doubt...Mary willingly and graciously submitted to the will of God. She knew the embarrassing and difficult position that she was going to be in, the fingers that would be pointed, the possibility of death...but she never hesitated to put her life in God's hands. And then she sang!

I love music and I love the praise and honor and glory that Mary gives to God and to Him alone in Luke 1. I love that in the middle of her "crisis" (well that's what we would call it) that she praises God, shadowing scripture from the Old Testament (see below for further study). She is such a great example to us all. Mary teaches us that God makes us radiant. Mary teaches us that with God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37). Mary teaches us that we are blessed because of God. 

I love the song "Who am I?" by Casting Crowns...here are some of the words: "Who am I? That the Lord of all the earth would care to know my name (Isa 43:1), would care to feel my hurt?(2 Cor 1:3-5) Who am I? That the eyes that see my sin, would  look on me with love and watch me rise again? (Rom 5:8)." I am learning daily who I am and I am reminded through this song that God answers "Not because of who you are, or because of what you have done; but because of who I am and because of what I've done..you are mine!"

~ Donna

For Further Study:

Luke 1:46 - see 1 Samuel 2:1, Ps 34:2, Ps 35:9, and Isa 61:10

Luke 1:47 - see Isa 12:2, Isa 45:21

Luke 1:48 - see 1Sam 1:11, Ps 102:17, Ps 136:23, Genesis 30:13, Mal 3:12

Luke 1:49 - see Ps 71:19, Ps 126:3, 1Samuel 2:2, s 111:9, Isa 57:15

Luke 1:50 - see Ps 130:11, Ps 103:17, Isa 51:8

Luke 1:51 - see Ps 89:13, Ps 98:1, Isa 52:10. Ps 89:10, Gen 8:21

Luke 1:52 - 1 Sam 2:6-8, Job 34:24

Luke 1:53 - see Ps 107:9

Luke 1: 54-55 - see Ps 98:3, Isa 44:21, Mic 7:20, Ps 105:6-9

References: "Twelve Extraordinary Women" by John MacArthur

Looking up

Looking up.
Most of my life I have looked up to people. I am short...just kidding.
I have admired many. Been jealous of some (if I must be honest).
Looking up means something different to everyone. Thankfully, for me it means looking up to Jesus. But is hasn't always meant that...read back to the jealous comment. My prayer is that this post will help others look to Jesus first and always.
When I was little I looked up to my great-granny. She was able to slow down life for me. When I was with her she gave me her full attention and did things to make me laugh and feel special. She let me drink Coke from a bottle while sitting in her chair reading books. She didn't even get mad at me when I spilled my Coke on the carpet by mistake. We picked up pecans together for countless hours and I enjoyed every moment because she let me help. When she fried cornbread she would make me an extra large piece for me because it was my favorite and when she popped popcorn (the old fashioned way) she would take the lid off the pot and let the kernels pop out because it made me laugh. She drove to church every Sunday and was just a joy to be with; I looked up to her.
My neighbor held a special place in my heart. Her name is Miss DoDo...and that is true and not to be funny. Her back door was always open and led straight to the kitchen. She fed me many a cake, cookie, and meal. I admired all she did, keeping a clean and lovely home, playing piano at church, laughing with all us girls as we were in her home all the time. She never seemed to tire of us being there. Rain or snow, the door was still open. She just took our shoes off and hung our socks to dry. I learned to swim at an early age because she and her husband took me along to the pool. To this day when I see her she puts a smile on my face. I look up to her.
After becoming a Christian I looked for others to look up to, to learn from, to be like. It's that last part that created trouble in my heart and mind and I didn't even know. It was not until much later in life that I realized as I was looking up to other people I was forgetting to look up to the one who needed the first and most consideration. My father in Heaven, my Lord, my Jesus. His Spirit indwelled within me and I rarely stopped to consider this amazing gift. I was too busy seeing others with great joy in their heart and all their "ducks in a row" and I wanted to be just like them. I was comparing myself to them and compromising myself and my relationship with Christ and achieving disappointment rather than Joy.
God wants us to have mentors.
He does.
Titus 2 teaches us how God would have women to mentor one another.

   "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

Titus 2:3-5        

 

But God always desires our hearts first love to be Him, as we are His.

Even before our good works for Him the Lord desires our love. This is demonstrated when He speaks to the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:2-4.

My life has been filled with women to look up to. I could name a dozen others. But where I got off track was when I was looking to them and not to God. I was looking to them so much and trying to achieve a stronger relationship with Christ through them and that, my friend, led me astray. Our upward gaze should be focused on Jesus. Those he sends our way to mentor us are not to be placed before the Father. Most likely, a good and honest mentor will be quick to let you know that they will disappoint but the Father above will not. The dictionary defines mentor as "a wise and trusted counselor or teacher". When you search for a Christian mentor search for one that puts the Lord first in her life. Look for one who admits her failures and shares how she learns from them. Look for one that always points you to Christ, through her words, through her actions, through her wise counsel. As you look up to her remember your first love, the Lord. And also remember the grace and forgiveness that He gives to you. It is an example of the grace and forgiveness we are to give to others.

Looking up.

Consider those two words today.

Are you taking time to look up to your first love....Jesus?

Spend time today evaluating your personal time that you give to Christ. Time in the Bible. Time in prayer. Time sitting quietly to listen to the One who is waiting for you to look up to Him.

Blessings~ Jodie

God in the Manger - a few thoughts for Christmas

On several occasions, I have read a fictional story by Max Lucado called "Cosmic Christmas". It's a story about what it might have been like the night that Jesus came to earth. It speaks of a "war" between God and Satan, with Satan doing everything in his power to prevent Christ from being born. But then while reading Ann Voscamp's book "The Greatest Gift", she made mention to the Revelation Nativity which is found in the 12th chapter of Revelation verses 1-17 and I was intrigued to find out that maybe Max's story wasn't too far fetched....

 A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.  And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.  The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.  Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.  They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."  When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.  The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time,out of the serpent's reach.  Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring--those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Tonight as you celebrate with your family the coming of Christ I pray that you look on it in a different way. The celebration of Christ's birth was a "war" between God and Satan. As Mary was preparing to push and give birth, Satan was waiting to devour Him. But as He crowned, He was seized and thrust to the throne being crowned the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! And then after one last attempt, the darkness of evil was thrown out of heaven and defeated! All is calm, All is bright!

You see, even Satan knew what Jesus' coming to earth was going to mean. The greatest enemy to God - one of His fallen angels -  knew what God in a manger meant to the world. But the difference between us and Satan is that we can rejoice in His coming! Tonight, remember that God fought a battle for you and He won. He is our Knight in shining armor and has defeated the dragon! He loves us more than anything and He sent His one and only Son to prove it!

Merry Christmas! Joy to the World!

~Donna

Let every heart prepare Him room ~ A Christmas gathering with pupose.

It all starts with a prayer to share the joy of Jesus with others

And.................a messy kitchen

 

Each year leads to Christmas.
Month after month, it leads to Christmas.
January, February, March, April...we wait for December. Somewhere around July we think...6 months until Christmas. And October rolls in with pumpkins and leaves we think...it's almost here...where did the year go...it's just about Christmas. And you blink...December.
Last year we started the tradition of a Faithfully Fit Christmas Gathering. Not a party. Not a meal. Not a gift exchange. A gathering. A time filled with love and purpose. Bring glory to the Lord. Fill our hearts with His word. Share the JOY of Christmas. And this year the tradition continues.
We pray.
We plan.
We invite.
We shop.
We pray and plan for all that God has in store. It is always more than we imagine. Because that is God. He is more than we can imagine. More than we can ask.
Months before we set the date. Months before we make the plans. The unique thing about this year...it's moments before that God gives the message and then moment after moment He answers prayers faithfully! He is so good.

I often ask for the message many moons sooner than I receive the message. But I have learned that in the hour that I need the message God will provide. All He asks is that I make a place for Him to dwell and then He does the rest...in His perfect time.

Trust and obey, for there is no other way.

You know the rest.

 

The message is received and we wait for the Joy to fill the hearts of all who come to receive.

 We love the details, the decorations are thoughtful.

The atmosphere is set to draw the senses to the Savior. Prepare a place. A place for others to enjoy, but more importantly, a place for God to enter. A place for God to radiate His love to his children. A place for others to see and feel the Joy of Christ. We pray the words of the angel who spoke to Mary many years ago...let the Holy Spirit come upon us and let the power of the Most High overshadow us.
After much prayer we open the doors and we wait for the Lord to answer...because He will. We pray for a sister struggling with depression to come...she turns down the invitation...at first...then calls later to say, "what time". We pray for a car...a family in need...hours later, it is provided. We pray for a daughter and trust in His care. We pray for a business having technical difficulty, later, we find that moments after that prayer all systems were restored. We pray. He answers. We make a dwelling place and He dwells. Faithfully. He dwells.
God with us. No truer three words.

The door greets...we wait. One by one the rooms are filled with cheer and laughter. The kitchen is bubbling....

Our taste buds watering and the oven is cooking slow...only I know that God is seeing if I can rise to the occasion. Can I handle the pressure of all not going just as I planned? Can I trust in the truth that God has plans beyond my plan? Can I trust in the truth that I do not need to produce, perform or perfect for the Lord to be powerfully present?

I trust.

I trust.

I stand firm. Knowing that my labor is NOT in vain.

 

Words flow forth...the Word is our guidance...we pray for the Lord to fill the space. The space we create within ourselves. Let us be a dwelling place for the Lord. Just as Mary was willing...let us be equally willing to make a room for the Lord within us. Let us trust that "His Kingdom will never end"! Let us be a dwelling place.

Trust. Without fear. Willing and wanting.

Let us simply become a dwelling place. Knowing that when we make room for Him we make space for others. Once we make space for Him he is able to fill that space with gifts overflowing from His love. And those gifts will then flow freely out of us and into a lost world that needs Him...desperately.

We open a space. We make room.

Then we sing, because we want every heart to prepare Him room.  

We light and pass candles. We share the light with one another. We share the Joy.

The Joy of Jesus.

Let every heart prepare Him room!

 

And heaven and nature sing!

Joy to the World!

Blessings this Christmas, blessings ~ Jodie

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." ~ Luke 1:38

Pure Joy Awaits

All around me there is pain.
Friends reaching out for prayer because there is pain.
There is physical pain. Emotional pain. Real pain.
We suffer loss, we suffer trials, we suffer pain.
And yet, there is joy.

Verse after verse.
Truth after truth.
Promise after promise.
There is joy.

The sun rising painted the sky purple and pink today as I read:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

 

I recall the first time I let that verse soak in at a women's event hosted by my church. Wendy Blight with Proverbs 31 Ministries spoke and tears ran down my face. I remember wondering did I come here to feel pain? No. I wanted JOY. I looked at my friend next to me who also had tears. I leaned near. "There has to be joy, right?" There was. But I had to tread through the pain, right smack through it to get the JOY. I needed to deal with the real pain to consume the pure JOY of Jesus.

 

There are trials that overwhelm us, trials that create pain but the Joy of Jesus is greater. Greater. Stronger. Pure.

 

Today alone a call for prayer that a tumor will be removed from a sister who desires children in the future. Whisper a prayer.

Today a call for prayer for a father who is in pain from debilitating cancer. A daughter hurting for her father asks for comfort. Whisper a prayer.

Today an email for a father who just laid to rest his bride and now is hospitalized and being tested for cancer. Whisper a prayer.

Pain. Real Pain.

 

The sun rises pink and purple and I say, good morning God. I say prayers to the One "who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20) and I trust that He who endured the pain of the cross for me has pure joy awaiting me today.

 

He has joy for you also. He endured the pain because of His love for us that we may have everlasting life. Now that is pure joy.

Rejoice with me ~ Jodie

Yes, Lord!

Three women standing in a parking lot.
All different. One in her thirties with small children.
One in her fifties with grandchildren.
One in her forties with teenagers.
United by Christ.

Three women standing, talking, laughing and one says, "Did I tell you about the service I attended"?
The other two listen intently.
At this service the pastor starts and says, "YES, LORD. He says, YES, LORD; yes, Lord; yes, Lord." For half an hour the pastor says, "Yes Lord" in every way that it could be said.
And all that were listening were in agreement. They echoed back, "Yes, Lord".

The two listening stare wide-eyed. They even laugh at the thought of a thirty minute, two word, repeated message. In jest, they lift arms and say, "Yes, Lord".

And then the end of the message is shared.
After 30 minutes and all those being led to a united agreement the pastor prays.

"Now that you know the answer Lord, tell us the question".

I can hear the pin drop now.
The chills as they realize the point.
A spirit of willingness.
A spirit of YES. Yes, Lord.
No matter what the call; no matter what the question.

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

Psalm 51:12

 

 

The two in the parking lot listening to the third agree. Yes, Lord. Yes, we must be willing no matter what the call; no matter what the question. No matter what the impossible looks like, it is possible for YOU.

 

Three women standing in the parking lot.

All different.

Part ways...united in Christ.

Ready to say, "Yes, Lord"!

 

Is your spirit willing? Willing to say yes, Lord? No matter what the call?

Christ sacrificed His life for you and I.

Consider the answer you will give to whatever question He may ask you today!

 

~because He lives! Jodie

 

"Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts." Isaiah 26:8

 

Stumbling to Stand

Today I stumbled across a familiar verse of scripture, one we have used in Faithfully Fit. I sat to spend time with Jesus and I stumped my toe on the Word he placed in my path.

Ouch. Had I really forgotten so soon after committing the verse to memory? Perhaps.
Perhaps because I banked it as a memory, rather than making it a heart commitment.

I READ. The devotion laid before me, then chapter two of Philippians.
I SEE. Jesus before me in these verses.
"he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant"

"he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!"

All this, without complaining, He did. Washed the feet, walked the miles, feed the thousands. Without complaining. Listened to the doubts, the ridicule, the accusations. Without arguing. All the way to the cross without complaining, without arguing. Jesus.

He had love, love with a goal.

Do I have a goal? While I am stumbling in this world to stand, do I see the finish line?

His goal, to show God's love, that all may see, know, trust and have eternal life.
I go back to the verse that stumped my toe. I look before, I look after.

"for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶ as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain."

God does the work, yet I must be reminded not to grumble.
And the gift, see the gift....To be children of God, to shine for Him. To shine for Him in a warped and crooked generation.
Timeless...as chemicals are being used against His children and those without Him are perishing daily. His Word is timeless.

If I must stumble to stand, let me stumble on His Word.

Without a grumble or an argument, let me do everything for Him.

For His glory, that others may see,
Jodie

A Jog Around the Track

A cool fall night. I stretch and wait for a friend to arrive. A jog around the track is in order.

It was a long day. Housework, office work, volleyball game, meetings...I really just wanted to crash.
Thankfully my friend said, "I am sitting here, dressed and ready". Just enough encouragement to keep me headed to the track! My body needs this, my mind needs this, it is good.
We hit the track full speed ahead, a few brisk walking laps to get the juices going. We commence to talk. Isn't that what all ladies do around the track? She has been in a place I am now entering, she offers an ear, kind advice, encouragement. We pick up the pace.

We push to run. We are training. There is a race the end of this month and we are slated to participate. We push to run. We continue our conversations. Talk of children, school, fundraising, God. We don't overlook God. Not tonight. In fact, most of the time when I am near this friend the talk does not overlook our Jesus. I smile at the thought.

We lose count of the laps; each one happy to take the others count when it is higher than their own. We continue the talk until the last sprint when we just push to run as hard as we can and then we slow down to just breathe. We almost leave. But there is more pressing on our hearts and so we talk a moment more. Isn't that what all ladies do?

I listen. It's a trained attribute for me. I must remember to listen. God places wisdom before me and I must listen. I hear. I get excited. I understand. The night ends with one Jesus girl saying to the other, I find He speaks to me over and over. Yes, Yes! He does. He speaks because we are listening. He speaks because we knock. He speaks because He said He would and we are in a relationship with Him! Right where He is...in the Word. We open the Word and we look there, we enter into prayer and we hear Him speak.
A cool fall night. I am now sweaty (beautiful). I am encouraged. I feel invigorated. I am thankful for a friend. I am thankful for Jesus. I am thankful for a jog around the track.

Jodie

If you are in need of a friend, encouragement, prayer, wisdom from the Word....Faithfully Fit has what you are looking for....all ladies are invited to join us!

"My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God,

namely, Christ"

Col 2:2