Joy JOy JOY

There. I figured out a way to get this blog in season without my dumb old pc that insists on remaining broken.

My stomach is growling and I have to punch the clock at 3 bells, but I'm here this afternoon to type that THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH. He truly does give me Living Water and I thirst no more because of it. I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart and this is why:

God is faithful. He is faithful to continue to wait patiently for me to look to him and listen for his instruction. He faithfully meets me where I am and gives me what I need for each day.

As you know, the winds of change have been messing up my hair. And my mascara has been a runnin'. But:

even though every single day I face things I had not anticipated I would face and every single day temptations greet me, either mildly or with great force and every single day the fallen, broken world presses in on me and makes life more difficult and complicated than it was originally designed to be, I've been learning this:

Every day I am called to fight what is wrong and give myself to what is right. Every single day I must humbly examine myself and commit myself to change- to uproot what is not good fruit and plant what is new and better. Every day I must surrender what I want to the better agenda of what God has commanded- to love my neighbor and my husband and my family in ways that are practical and specific. Every day I am called to love the other, who doesn't deserve it and extend the same grace that God has extended to me. Every day is an opportunity to build the other person up, to resist keeping a record of wrongs and to genuinely forgive. Every day brings the chance to lay something down in order to love.

Am I up to the task? No. I am weak. I cannot do it.

But God can. Weakness is the portal to strength. For when I am weak, I seek Him and he always has the very best idea of where I need to focus- where to find the peace and rest I crave. I find it in Him. With his help I can put someone else's needs before my own. I can forgive and love the undeserving. With my eyes on Jesus, I can put one foot in front of the other and keep on moving forward.

Paul David Tripp's book What Did You Expect has been totally awesome. Everyone should read it. Point of Grace has a song I've been lovin' lately: There is Nothing Greater than Grace- I recommend a listen.

My kids are gone. My house is big and too quiet. I don't know what to do next most of the time. But the sun is shining. The leaves are red and gold and orange! God loves me just the way I am and smothers me with neverending grace. The joy of the Lord runs deep and strong in my heart.

And I just turned 47- yesterday, October 8.

All I can say is- Thank you Jesus! Thank you!