Flowers Pushing Through the Cracks

Photo used by permission from Ann VosKamp

My friend  and sister-in- Christ's son is dying.  Of course, we all are.  But his is so young.  So painful   So turbulent. And yet there are mercies.  There are cuddles and laughter. There tears of joy, and unbelievable pain.  There are dark nights of "routine"medical care that scare experienced nurses.  There are nights of questioning and doubt.  There are nights covered in blankets of comfort.    There are brothers, sisters, mom, dad, cyber-communities and the local church yearning for.......what?  His grace and mercy to abound.  For the halls of heaven to resound now and through eternity with praises for His glorious grace evidenced in the lives of the Estes. For the suffering to become vague memory in light of true wholeness.   A mystery that angels long to look into.  A founded- trust through misery, uncertainty, and heart-rending paths. 

 But we must believe, we do believe, that this light an momentary affliction....hey, wait a minute...this isn't light or momentary......but then Paul's afflictions weren't either.  There was rejection.  stoning, shipwreck. beatings.  hunger. threats. prison.  ....ok, maybe Paul has the right to speak here after all.....that these light and momentary afflictions will be nothing compared to the glories that will follow.  If the glories that will follow make all that Paul suffered seem "light and momentary" in comparison, how truly gloriously incomprehensible must they be!

Can you see the grace and mercy today?  If not.  Look into His face.

Because He Loves Me.

This book by Elyse Fitzpatrick is a life-changer.  And being rooted in the Father's love is essential for real joy.  I would strongly urge you to take part in this upcoming, online study!

Joy needs a Vacuum

"Live in a constant state of confidence in our God!" ~Eric Ludy

That is what it's about, isn't it?
Joy is the absence of certain things.  Fear.  Doubt.  Anxiety.  Pride. Self-protection.
It isn't just the absence of these things.
Yet, these things must be rooted out, denied, abandoned to give space for joy.
A vacuum must be created, so joy can flourish.

May God grant that I not only talk about joy
but live it.

Commanded to Praise, Kirk Cameron

"...when the scriptures state “Praise God”, it is not an option to consider whether one feels like singing praise songs. It is a command to remember and relate the praiseworthy deeds of God to ourselves and others. Just as “love your neighbor as yourself” is a command, so is “praise God” a command."

Read more: http://kirkcameron.com/2012/11/commanding-your-children-to-praise/#ixzz2DSTk9qUd

Walking Psalm-like through Difficulty

Rejoicing doesn't ignore the pain.  It is not plastic.  It is not inhuman.  Those "plastic people" that I so despised in high school which said all was well but were torn to a million sheds inside.

But it does hope in God.
And He is big enough.  He can handle our doubts, our fears, the fact we just plain loathe the circumstances.  He can handle our questions, even if voiced to others would sound so.....profane.

There is a pattern in Psalms.
Expression of who God is.
Complaint
Reaffirmation of the character of God and His working in our lives.

Try to follow that pattern when coming to Him with your deepest hurts, regrets, frustrations.

He loves you and understands.

And try out Sons of Korah, signing the Psalms.  These young men surely will help your hope in God to be renewed.

What if's

Today I have been given permission to repost a phenomenal meditation:

What if…

…things don’t change,
…you don’t feel better,
…the person who hurt you never apologizes,
…your dream doesn’t come true,
…people don’t understand you,
…you feel like you haven’t been successful,
…hard work doesn’t pay off,
…your family isn’t your closest ally,
…you feel unprepared for current circumstances,
…your loved ones reject Christ,
…your heart gets broken,
…life’s harder than you thought it would be.

You can choose to respond in Truth:
see the entire entry here

"You don't know what it is to rejoice in the Lord unless you are suffering"

I was listening to this little video while I checked this and that on the computer.
This literally stopped me in my tracks:

"I tell you you don't know what it is to rejoice in the Lord unless you are suffering....put your roots down in a way that you haven't done before....... Not the lack of pain, not the lack of grief, but the overwhelming glory and joy that comes up.  His hand upholds me....... its not about controlling your enviroment.  It's about controlling your allegiances."  Tim Keller
http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/10/how-is-joy-in-suffering

You see, I'd been experiencing some pain.  That internal type.  And while I am cognizant of this lesson the Father is teaching me on rejoicing, I'm barely crawling when it comes to practicing it.  And somehow, I was thinking that my pain immobilized my rejoicing.  Truly, it ought to mobilize it!