Joy, Kindness, Lemons, and Music

I am days behind but don't want to give up on the challenge.  So I hope this counts. . .

Joy:  God is not after our happiness.  He is after our joy!  Many things make me happy - beautiful weather, lakes, reading, knitting, a great walk.  There is something deeper, more abiding, than mere happiness.  Joy. Joy is knowing that no matter what happens, it comes through the filter of our heavenly Father.  It is the confidence we can have in Him and His sovereignty.

Kindness:  If our joy comes from the Lord, can't we be kind?  Oh I think we fall short so much on this - we are too selfish.  Kindness is a gift from God - and it is a choice.  And sometimes we have to draw on a well of kindness and make that choice when we get. . .

Lemons:  Friends of mine have gone through divorces, deaths in the family, car breakdowns, undiagnosed diseases, car wrecks, abuse situations, and premature birth.  And this all happened in April (not within the same family).  I don't even like answering the phone!  How does one comfort and encourage in some of these situations while the tears are flowing uncontrollably?  With kindness.  By holding on to the faith that the God who made the lemons is also the author of our joy.

Music:  This year I am reading daily about hymns - old, new, familiar and unknown - as my devotional and quiet time.  It is amazing how often the "hymn of the day" is perfect for whatever situation has presented itself.  And for that day, I truly have a song in my heart and head.  That hymn - a special word from God - gives me a deep joy, kindness to face the lemons that may get tossed my way and in the way of my friends.

Goodness

So I am not terribly creative on this one.  It is the word that kept coming to mind as I thought about great, gigantic, glorious - goodness.  The kind of goodness that only comes from a good God.  Why not think about that on an Easter weekend!

This is a day late, I know.  We have had a glorious good weekend with all of the family - lots of laughter and chatter and food and fellowship.  Now we are settling in for the evening, and I didn't want to completely miss G-day.  I hope for all of you that your weekend was full of goodness!

E is for. . .

what?  I kicked a few things around in my head: Elephants, evergreens, ewwwww.  No good.  Then it came to me. . .

. . .E is for Everyone!  Everyone in the A-Z challenge.  Everyone in the world.  Everyone we will meet and talk to today (by the way, today is fun at work day!  Who knew?)

Back to everyone - that reminds me of something Jesus said - He pretty much covered the "everyone" concept when he talked about who among us are blessed:

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

 "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

 "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

 "You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

 "You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

 "You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

 "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

 "You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

Isn't that everyone?  Including you?

Doubt

Yesterday I seriously doubted that I could finish work on time to post my ramblings about doubt.  My doubts were confirmed when I didn't finish until late.

Which brings me to my contemplation of doubt: I started a new job about 6 weeks ago.  The first two weeks seemed pretty typical of a new job start - then the doubts started.  What was I thinking when I took this job?  Why did I think I could do it?  It involved a lot of technology - not my strong suit - and fear and doubt moved in on me.  This week the doubts and uncertainty have begun to disperse and a pattern is falling into place.

We all have doubts - about ourselves and situations and life.  One thing I will never doubt: God's love for me.  No matter what, He is in control - of the new job, of the world.  Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God knows the plans He has for us and they are plans to prosper us and not to harm us.  In the midst of doubt, I will claim that promise.