Belief in God's love {our fuel for the joy battle}

Weary in many ways, we walked into the church service yesterday and were greeted by a group of precious elementary aged children singing Jesus Loves Me. It had been so long since I'd heard those words, or rather, since I'd really listened. Their sweet introduction led the congregation into Tomlin's worship song with the same title, and I fought to hold the tears back. Sometimes life just feels like a fight, and without the proper fuel and armor, we are left naked in the battle. I was fueled by that simple reminder of God's love, and ironically, didn't hear much more of the service because I was not feeling well. God knew that, of course.

In her new book, Fight Back With Joy, author Margaret Feinberg drills down to the source of the joy we all long for, especially as we face trials: 

What is the genesis of this joy? I believe that, at its core, joy emanates from the abiding sense of God’s fierce love for us….When we embrace this love and cultivate an awareness of it, our hearts are filled with joy. Such awareness strengthens our resolve that no matter the fight, we face it confident that God is with us and for us. When we fight back with joy, we no longer size the character of God according to our circumstances, but we size our circumstances according to the character of God and his great affection for us… When we fight back with joy, we embrace a reality that is more real than what we’re enduring and we awaken to the deepest reality of our identity as beloved, joyful children of God."

I couldn't agree more! I have fought this battle to embrace God's love. In fact, it's at the core of my story. Letting go of my perfectionistic tendencies, and finding my hope and help in Christ, rather than my own abilities, has changed me body, mind and soul. No longer must I find my confidence in what others think of me, my achievements, or any other shaky ground. The firm foundation of God's love is the basis for the joy I experience now, and that can never be shaken.

I am a firm believer in the holistic nature of our body, mind and spirit, and passionate about encouraging women (and men) to pursue health and vitality that will encompass every part of their being. Joy is no small part of this pursuit towards wellness. The author knows this quite well, as she details in her book. She chose JOY to lead her fight against a cancer diagnosis, and surprised many at what a profound impact that choice made. We are not guaranteed health and wellness simply because we follow Christ, however, choosing to fight for joy can be one part of the remedy that leads us back to health in body, mind and soul. 

God finds delight in us, and delights to show up in our daily mundane schedule, often in remarkable ways. I have experienced the delight of this daily joy hunt over the last few years, and have seen what a profound impact that has had on every area of my life, health, relationships, and faith. Are we looking for God to show up? Are we creating, gathering, and spreading joy? This is part of 'cultivating an awareness of God's love', as mentioned in the quote above. I'd argue that self-care is part of that cultivation as well (but more on that in another post.)

Many of you may not believe that joy is a struggle for me, as I'll most likely greet you with a huge smile and a big hug, and have been told on numerous occasions what a joyful person I am. Hearing those comments brings ME joy, because it doesn't come easy. For any of you who have faced painful trials, you know the real depth of darkness they bring. I am not a stranger to that darkness. Perhaps you are in that place now, whether it is brought on by physical issues, life circumstances, or a struggle of faith.

It is so easy to give in to despair when life is hard, instead of seizing the day or rejoicing in the Lord, as the Word commands on numerous occasions. A former pastor often reminded us to avoid the Eeyore - Christian mentality (Eeyore is the pessimistic, stuffed donkey friend of Winnie the Pooh, if you're not up on children's literature :). In the words of C.S. Lewis, "Joy is the serious business of heaven." Our response to what life throws us will not only affect our lives, but those of onlookers. But don't take my word for it... pick up Feinberg's book, and dive into the meat of her search through hundreds of Scriptures on joy.

As Feinberg says, "Joy is more than a feeling; it's an action. We don't just sense joy; we embody it by how we respond to the circumstances before us." If you're facing any kind of darkness, or know someone who is, I'd highly recommend you pick up this book! Let that be your first action in the fight for joy. And then join me (and the author) in spreading that joy everywhere you go... it's contagious and irresistible!

Find Fight Back with Joy on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Or click here for the 6-session DVD Bible study, sure to encourage and inspire!

When a hard story is the best story // keeping your heart alive to hope

Sweet friends. You've stopped in again to let me open up my heart and share the good news of the Gospel in the midst of our brokenness. Perhaps you've seen bits and pieces of the story the Divine Author has written across the pages of our one flesh life this year. The job loss, the weeks of travel, the moments of joy and reconnection with family, the darkness of losing a mother I never knew but gave me so much in Paul, the renewed desire to give our lives fully to vocational ministry, the desire for little ones, new and unexpected callings, moving a-g-a-i-n, and the unforgettable brilliance of Grace in the midst of it all. It has been an uphill, tearful, and yet joyful season. I am quickly reminded of the Cross as I write, the Story of Grace in the midst of darkness, as the story His followers thought should be written one way had a dramatic, painful, and yet gloriously eternal and necessary twist. It was the hardest and best Story ever to be written.

Perhaps you are living a hard story, a painful story that you never wanted and would gladly write yourself out of if you could, yesterday. I know. I've been there. In some ways, I am there. And yet, it's in these dark and confusing moments where we find the deepest Grace, the most profound connections with those we love, and the most dramatic growth possible. There's no other way to move forward sometimes, except through the darkest valleys. We all live for the happy days, the days when life 'makes sense' (at least to us). We see the wicked flourish, the unlikely prosper, the ungrateful and selfish expand their broken families endlessly. Disease abounds, governments make unwise decisions, women make choices that bring death and not the freedom they crave.

And yet. Or rather, but God.... This masterful HIS-story maker and life-story production manager is at work writing an epic story through our brokenness. He is turning the effects of the fall, our sin and the broken systems in which we live into something glorious, beautiful and breathtaking. If you are written into His eternal playbook as His adopted child it's happening in your home, closer yet, in your very heart. Pretty amazing, I think!!

But it hurts. It really hurts. Some days, who am I kidding, most days, it is easier to distract ourselves from the pain with anything that works... could be something harmless, could be something damaging and deadly. You know what your go-to method is. To be clear, finding ways to lift our hearts and bring us joy in good and godly ways is not to be denied. In fact, we are called to rest and allow our hearts space to breathe. God often allows pain to heal our hearts. The pain could be a result of our sin choices, the sin of others, or the brokenness we daily face because of the fall in the Garden (See Genesis 3). Life just doesn't work the way it was meant to. Are there good and healthy ways to keep our hearts alive but at the same time not ignore the deeper work going on within us?

What happens to our hearts when life hurts? Does our heart stay alive to hope or does it slowing stop beating? Do our relationships die or do they grow stronger? Do our callings become stronger and more obvious, or do our dreams slowly die? This is where the battle lies, and the enemy wants nothing more than to turn our hearts to stone...to kill, steal, and destroy the life that is growing within us as we are daily renewed in Christ. How do we fight for our own hearts, and the hearts of those we love to keep beating with purpose, joy, conviction, and intentional focus on Gospel living?  There are never easy answers. At least I haven't come up with any! But looking to the ancient paths given by our Maker are the surest ways to lasting hope and joy. May I humbly encourage...

~ The Living Word. Ingest it in small amounts, big amounts, listen on audio, read online, read the old-fashioned hardbound, read it in Spanish or Greek. However you can get His words into your soul, please DO. The Psalms bring me relief in hardship like nothing else. Read good Christian books, fiction too!

~ Pray & confess. With a friend, as you shower, as you cry, give kisses, wash dishes, or wish the day would end. Pray honestly, one word at a time if needed.

~ Be thankful. There are apps, there are notebooks, you can text it to your friend, or post it on FaceBook, or across the sky. But thankfulness will breathe life into your otherwise dreary day as few other things will. Ask God to help you when you're not thankful, and thanking Him for the Grace He gave on the Cross is a good place to start.

~ Honesty. With your spouse, a friend, yourself. There's no need to look pretty when life is messy. I've tried it - with horrible results!! I like the Day One app for a place to record my thoughts and prayers.

~ Care for your temple (Romans 12:1-2). Sleep, eat your veggies, take a walk or yoga class. Taking care of yourself, even when you don't feel like it, will reap huge dividends. I find that taking care of myself physically and emotionally reminds me of my worth in Christ. You are worth the effort, friends! But - ahem - dark chocolate might help too!

~ Give yourself extra grace. Being hard on yourself when life is hard is just...pointless! But we all do it. God is looking at you with deep compassion even if you've made bad choices to get you where you are right now. Beating yourself up in the midst of your struggles will just compound the difficulties.

~ Fellowship. Hold onto friends and family. Tightly. Look for every chance you can to spend a moment together with someone you love, whether on the phone, over coffee, a movie night, doing chores, whatever! Don't be afraid to reach out to someone new - I'll bet he/ she needs a friend as much as you do, and sharing your struggles honestly will open up more of your heart as well as theirs.

~ Look to eternity. If you are His child, all pain and tears will pass away, and our joy in Christ will far outweigh the pain and suffering of this life. I know very well how hard it is to wrap your mind around this truth, so ask God to help you live with eternal hope. Preaching it to myself as I type!

~ Find rest in the fellowship of His suffering, knowing you will never face the depth of pain and sacrifice that He bore for your sins, but that He is also a gracious High Priest who understands. He will meet you there, in deep and profound ways.

I recently started reading The Hardest Peace and have been so deeply moved and impacted by Kara's words. One point in particular that blessed me immensely are her comments concerning Proverbs 1:33, and the promise that as we rest in Him, He will remove not the disaster, but the dread of the disaster. Fear causes us to live in agony as we imagine the impossibility of future circumstances (often not imagining the God of Abundant Grace with us there!) But He will keep you in perfect peace as you turn to Him, as you walk the ancient paths... slowly replacing fear of pain, with faith in the One who suffered the deepest pain.

Fighting for our hearts,

Ruth

Suffer well, live well

  

  In the last 5 weeks, we've been in 13 different states, as Paul candidates for various pastoral ministry positions. (We're not done!) We've enjoyed visiting with churches and spending time with several family members and friends along the way, but because the length of the trip was very much unexpected and several stops were added along the way, I've had to adjust my expectations several times (which is not my forte). I like being in control of my life, or at least having the allusion of being in control.  :) I really miss our cute little home in Florida, our friends, and church...and having your own space and schedule is certainly hard to let go of for an extended period of time.  I'm learning to take James 4:13-14 seriously!

In some ways, I've traveled this path before: the unknown and winding path, the fears lurking around every corner, and the insecurity of what the future holds... Walking a path of uncertainty feels strangely familiar. It's almost like a recipe that you've cooked several times before, and though you might add different spices each time, or some other interesting variation, the main recipe stays the same. What's my recipe for hard times? James 1. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Psalm 18, 23, and 40. Worshipping, praying and crying with friends. Choosing thankfulness. Eating too much chocolate. Extra naps and walks and yoga. But sometimes the oven is turned up a little hotter or your capacity (pan size) for the difficulty might be different, etc. Sometimes you cook with friends, sometimes alone (most of life is better with companions). Thankfully, God is a great chef and no matter what He throws in the mix, it eventually turns into something beautiful. Silly analogy? Perhaps. However, considering the fact that I haven't always enjoyed cooking, it's a miracle that it's now one of my favorite activities. The same can be said about seasons of hard times in my life.  I'm certainly not eager to see them come, and just like you, I'd rather life be comfortable, but each trial brings with it particular joys that looking back, I'm glad I didn't miss out on.

 “An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.” ― G.K. Chesterton


For a wedding gift, a dear friend wrote the quote above in a blank journal, that I later used for a thanksgiving journal. No quote could have been more appropriate for the journey of marriage we've been on together. I think it's easy (and quite natural) to consider trials an inconvenience. Look a little closer at another word in that quote - 'considered'. This same word is in James 1, which, to be honest, has not always been one of my favorites. I know, I know, that's a terribly un-Christian thing to say, but James 1 used to really rub me the wrong way. It is a hard truth to wrestle with, this assertion that it is largely in my control how I experience trials. Notice I did not say, whether or not I go through trials, or what they might look like, but how I experience them. I can be miserable, or I can choose to 'consider them pure joy.' I can choose to 'consider them rightly.' What does that even mean? I'm sorry to say it is probably not the answer you want, and it will require work. Certainly work that God will empower you to do, but it comes down to the battlefield of the mind. This means choosing to think rightly about our trials in the light of who we know God to be, rather than judging God's character in the light of difficult circumstances. {Read more by clicking on the Calm my Anxious Heart image above right - affiliate link}

This definition from the Webster's 1828 Dictionary is very helpful (wonderful dictionary reference): CONSIDER, verb transitive [Latin , to consider to view attentively, to sit by; to sit. The literal sense is, to sit by or close, or to set the mind or the eye to; hence, to view or examine with attention.] 1. To fix the mind on, with a view to a careful examination; to think on with care; to ponder; to study; to meditate on. 

In essence, when we are going through trials, we must fix our eyes on things that are good, true, and lovely, namely the perfect character of Christ, as being a loving Provider, Protector, Savior, Friend, Warrior, Sympathetic High Priest, One who daily intercedes for us at the right hand of God and promises to NEVER leave or forsake us. He is allowing each trial because He loves us; He is not standing far away, judging us, laughing at us, or wondering if we will choose a certain path. He knows how we will respond, and He knows at exactly which temperature to place the 'oven of life', to produce the results in us that He desires and knows will help us in the eternal sense. If we fix our eyes on the storms around us, like Peter did, we will sink every time. Easy to say, you might be thinking, harder to do. And right you are! I certainly am no expert in this regard, but what I will say is that the fruit flowing from this mental discipline of choosing to focus on GOD and His promises, rather than the trial, is so rewarding. You will find yourself gradually choosing this narrow path more than the easy, oft-travelled path (which eventually leads you into a pit of despair). Trust me, I've been there too many times!  Enter Psalm 40.  :)

Bringing this back to a wellness focus, we see that there is a good and right way to suffer. A way to struggle through life bearing the fruit of righteousness, rather than hardened, bitter hearts.  Research shows that bitterness can lead to so many health problems, not the least of which being anxiety, depression, a weakened immune system, broken relationships, and a diminished view of our own worth and God's love for us. We see the rewards of responding to life's storms with wisdom in Proverbs 3:5-8. Notice especially verse 8: "It will bring healing to your bones and refreshment to your body." I'm certainly not saying that A (doing the right thing) always leads to B (feeling better physically, mentally, spiritually), but as we see with generally following the wisdom principles in Proverbs, choosing to trust God and respond to Him in faith does often lead to positive overall wellness, joy, and peace. This is a never a guarantee this side of heaven though, and certainly not dependent on your level of faith or God's favor in your life. Many people suffer with health problems their entire lives, whether they have been living in wisdom or not.  But doing everything in our power to live healthy, whole lives is something that often (not always) brings favorable results.

As challenging as it might be for you to begin the process of capturing and redirecting your thoughts, the short and long-term benefits are certainly worthy of consideration (there's that word again!). You will find yourself more regularly filled with joy, and your faithful Shepherd will be right beside you, cheering you on, lifting you up when you fall, and lightening your load when it is more than you can carry. Remember those friends we were cooking with earlier?  They will carry you to Jesus if needed, I'm sure. :)

Many blessings of peace and joy...

Ruth

**For further reading, consider Jen Wilkin's study on the book of James.  I'm only just starting, but so far it's excellent!

   

Praise the Hope Giver {Day 9}

Living hope-full is not natural.  I can tell you're not surprised to read that!  I'm sure you've had numerous things this year, month, even today, that have threatened to steal your joy.  I've felt it too.  But sitting on the other side of a rough situation and talking that over with a friend has reminded me that God is always at work, even when we don't see it.  He is behind the scenes - fighting for your joy!  And often, those hard circumstances that you are trudging through will bring you to the beautiful mountain-top views that you crave.  Not always, but persevere long enough, and you'll see the sun rise over the darkness.  

Life is so similar to running a race, and I always appreciated when my family, friends, or coaches stood on the sidelines and reminded me, "You can do it!" or "Go for the finish" or "Get this girl at the end"!  Often, that exhortation at just the right time pushed me to dig deep and pass another runner or two.  So can I do that for you now?  Will you keep pushing through, trusting that there is hope in Christ even when all seems dark?

Hebrews 12:1-3 reminds me that my hope to persevere is found by keeping my eyes on Christ: 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Alive - Natalie Grant song and video

We praise you Jesus, for you are the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)!  You are able to overcome any situation that burdens us.  We praise you for the hope we have in You, regardless of what storms we are facing.  Thank you for the cross!  Amen.

Today is a day to choose...JOY.

Hello friends,

For various reasons, I've had a few days of late in which I've really needed to practice what I'm preaching (check out my recent letter at Letters to My Sisters...).  I've found some resources that have helped me in the battle to choose joy, when there is no desire to do so:

Daily Audio Bible app
Piper's Solid Joys Devo and app
31 Days of Praise

Contemplative Prayer by Bjorkland


I hope some of these resources will be helpful to you as you fight through your own discouragements and disappointments.  The enemy is real, but He who is in you is greater!

**The books above are affiliate links...

Many blessings my friend,

Ruth

The embrace of the Master

source

Sitting down to journal today, after realizing some anger, bitterness, and demands in my heart....

"Lord God, You owe me nothing, and yet You give me everything.  I owe you everything, and have nothing to give.  I wish praise and thanks naturally came to my lips.  Forgive me for my negativity, anger, despair.  I often look at my circumstances, and not to You.  You are able to do all things, Lord..."

As I sat and thought of the many times God has pulled me from a miry pit, this picture came to my mind...

"It is a blessing that I can lift my eyes from the pit, to the blazing sunshine of your face that is looking down on me.  I know you have compassion on us, as we struggle in many ways...and I see you reaching your hand down to us, your mighty right hand.  Lord, we call on you everyday...but perhaps we are asking for the wrong things...?"  

"We ask for wisdom, for vision, for children, for vocational success, for health and salvation for our families...and I see a tear fall from your eye as we push you away (Oh, how you long to gather us like chicks under your wing!)  Your tears wet the parched desert of my soul, and I see clearly.  The mirage of Grace is now the feast before me.  You have invited me to dine with you.  It's not an ordinary feast--no meat, cheese, vegetables, fruit or wine.  No, I see platters of contentment, goblets of joy, baskets of thankfulness and hope, bowls of peace."

"I listen as you tell stories of our Father, how He has carried so many out of the miry pit where I once lived.  I feel the warmth of Your smile as you fill the lamps with the oil of the Holy Spirit.  You take my grimy robes, and I unwrap a gown that glimmers with your glory.  You come to my chair, take my hand, and lead me to the marble dance floor.  The music and dance are unfamiliar, and the spins and dips take my breath, and fears, away.  The pit seems miles away; nothing can convince me to return to that place of death.  I follow your gentle, but firm, lead and realize that I am no longer lost, simply lost in the embrace of my Master...."

Lose yourself in His love, my friend. 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Blessings,
Ruth 

Seeing Amidst the Pain

Source

I'm seeing things in a new way.  The trials, they still press in, but I'm seeing the purpose in it all (praise God, I'm finally learning!)  Seeing God's purpose in pain is a not something that comes easily for me.  And I'm guessing it's not easy for you either.  I'm not sure if that is just because of our human nature, desiring comfort over pain, or if it is because the pain is often so unexpected, or some other reason, but nonetheless, we all feel it.  I have a friend at the summer camp where I worked during college summers, who always said, 'don't waste your pain.'  Another way of thinking about that is, 'learn to see with God's eyes.'

God sees us.  In fact, His eyes roam throughout the earth to strengthen us, those of us who are fiercely devoted to Him.  Seeing like Him.  Suffering like Him.

Seeing with God's eyes is also a choice.  Choosing to see the good in a situation, choosing to see things we can be thankful for, rather than seeing only the pain, the frustration, the disappointment.  We must fix our eyes on Christ, and that (as I'm sure you know) takes a whole lot of spiritual muscle.  The author of Hebrews uses the word 'fix'.... not only does it imply that we have to use lots of effort, but it also makes me think that our eyes need 'fixing'.... (my interpretation)...our eyes must be healed, just like the blind man's eyes were healed.

Choose to see today.  Choose to see with God's eyes today.  He is choosing to see you with the eyes of Calvary.

Blessings
Ruth

**Join me every Friday for Gypsy Mama's Five Minute Friday link-up!!

Who I Am in Christ: Justified by Grace through Faith

It was early 2005.  A series of unfortunate events, brought on by genetic chemical imbalances, this fallen world, and my own weaknesses, and I found myself in a place I never would have imagined.  I was unable to work, unable to pay my bills, and very, very discouraged.  Imagine my elation when I got a call from family, and then friends, that both were willing to take me in for a while as I got back on my feet.  It was nothing I could have deserved, but still desperately needed.  And all I had to do was admit my need, renounce my confidence in my own resources, and accept the gift that was being offered to me.  

This experience was the first in a line of gracious events that showed me a crystal clear picture of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Namely, that I did not have what it takes to save myself.  Have you been there?  Have you come to the end of yourself and realized your own need for Christ, apart from your abilities to justify yourself?  I pray you did not need the lessons I learned (the very hard way), but I'd imagine God has spoken to your heart in similar ways.  I learned that my identity is not found in my own abilities or achievements, but rather in the finished work of Christ on the cross.  I had known all the Sunday school answers up to that point, but the heart knowledge of extravagant grace paired with my own depravity had escaped me.  I was miserable, but not broken or contrite (to steal a phrase from a friend).  The gift of grace slowly drove me to repentance and the lowly spirit that is of great worth in God's economy.

Though the sacrifice of my friends breaks down in comparison to the Grace of God's sacrifice, there were many similarities.  There was grace through faith (Romans 11:6) and the gift was not of my own efforts, it brought deep peace (Romans 5:1), I escaped the consequences of my own choices (Ephesians 2:1-10), and I was given mercy (1 Tim 1:16).

May we continually come to the end of our own resources, so that we may know the true wealth we have in the riches of Christ's love for us.  I will leave you with this song...

...and my gratitude list, on this Multitude Monday:

~grateful for the sacrifice of Christ
~grateful for the Body of Christ that reached out to me
~thankful for the awareness of my own depravity, that sends me running to Christ
~thankful that my sweet husband is safely home from his trip

Be encouraged, the price is paid for you!

Ruth

Christmas Hope: Painted on the Scene of Despair

I hope you enjoyed your weekend celebrations!  Here is my latest letter...

Cheer and hope is in the air this season, as we all flit around giving gifts and taking in the Christmas lights and sights.  But on that cool night in the Bethlehem inn, there was hardship, discouragement, and I’d bet there were even moments of despair.  Mary had been given a joyous task, but I am certain it was a chore to take the journey away from home, quite pregnant, to give birth to the Holy Child, Jesus.  And Joseph had his moments of discouragement and despair, I am sure.  His beautiful betrothed was with child…and before he had the vision to let him in on the what was happening, I can only guess that he was losing hope, having planned to ‘to divorce her secretly’, Matthew 1:19, HCSB…if my wedding had been called off, after all the excitement of planning and preparation, I’m sure I would have been feeling lots of despair.  Even the time in history God chose to paint the landscape of the Nativity Story was a dark one.  The governmental powers and challenges were tense, the rebuilding of the temple was slow and not nearly as grand as the previous one, and there had been no revelations from God for hundreds of years.  [source:  my knowledgeable former-pastor husband]

Finish reading here, on the Letters to My Sisters site....