Goodness

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Hey there, Beauty. How are you doing?

If we were having a real conversation or passing by in the store, how many of you would have answered, “Good”? And how many of you would have just been saying that from habit?

The word ‘good’ and all versions of have been worn down, used out of context, used incorrectly, and honestly, don’t mean very much in our society. But when you stop to ponder what is good, and who is good, and I mean really ponder. You can find yourself spinning in a web of questions far beyond the basic “good vs evil” that almost instantaneously comes to mind.

Good is neither great nor terrible. At first thought it doesn’t appear to be elaborate or profound in describing anything. But as I began to pursue goodness as a piece of the Fruit of the Spirit, I found that it is quite wonderful.

Scripture is absolutely littered with goodness.

Psalms 119:68 You are good and do only good; teach me Your decrees.

From the very beginning, it was good, all of it. Genesis 1

Just about every other Psalm talks about God’s goodness.

Proverbs itself is an entire book in the Bible devoted to teaching how to live a good and righteous life.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

The Gospel, or Good News is the very foundation of the Christian faith.

To be good is, as the original Greek puts it, to be inherently good. From the depths of your life, from your heart, right down to the core. Enter in, my all time go to verse, Proverbs 4:23, Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. If we desire to live a “good” life, then we must be certain that what we are putting in is good. And where does goodness come from, except the Lord. I believe that the Bible backs up this statement tenfold.

Take some time to really reflect and meditate on what is good, who is good, why is good.

Upon my own time meditating on goodness I discovered that it’s not such a colorless word. It’s really quite extraordinary, because simply put, God is good. He is good all the time. And for me, any word that is used to describe God is anything but bland.

May His goodness be reflected in your heart and life.

Patience

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It’s often joked about in Christian circles not to pray for patience. We say this for our own comfort because we know that when we ask for a trait, God often teaches us through object lessons. And because we’re being honest with ourselves, we know we don’t want to be put through a trial for something like patience.

We totally make excuses for having a lack of patience. “What’s the big deal I get agitated in traffic? Everyone does.” “So what I tap my foot in irritation and sigh audibly when someone is taking too long to order their coffee? It’s not as if they heard me anyway.” “It’s no big thing if I’m a little short with the cashier; after all, can’t she see I’m in a rush!?”

Hitting close to home? Jog your memory of how you are impatient throughout your day? (And, yes, I would say getting frustrated with technology counts).

These seem like obvious, no brainer impatient moments. Your “typical” impatience.

So then, if there is a typical impatience does that mean that there is an atypical impatience? Or perhaps it’s an impatience we don’t fully understand nor often recognize.

Impatience with God.

At the core of impatience I see a lack of grace and a lack of trust. A heartitude (attitude in the heart) as my husband and I tell our daughters. When we have a lack of patience with our situation we ultimately are saying we disagree with or don’t trust God. I make this conclusion because there is a level of peace that happens when we are fully trusting and relying on God that can ease all those daily agitations and annoyances and issues.

This is so hard!

Have you ever prayed for something for so long and not seen any answers in the way that you’re praying? I have. For years I have prayed and seen essentially nothing. Or at least, what I perceived as nothing. No answer from God, maybe one step forward but then two steps back, no lasting positive change. Can you say disheartening!?

I came to a place where I was impatient of waiting for change; I became angry with God; I wasn’t trusting His process.

I have learned that when I am feeling impatience in situations I’m generally focused on the world portion not the spiritual portion. I’m focusing on my own time table and not trusting in God’s.

So what should we do when we have reached impatience, when we stop trusting, when we have forgotten grace? Lean in. Bring whatever it is you have to God. Even if it’s as little as, “God…” Remember that He will use faith the size of a mustard seed (which isn’t much bigger than the period at the end of this sentence) to move mountains (Matthew 17:20). Hang in there girl, I’ve been there, and God does hear even when all seems gone, lost and hopeless.

Here are some verses to meditate on:

Romans 5:3-5

Galatians 5:22-25

2 Peter 3:9

Psalm 40:1

May our God, who is always good, dwell richly in your heart, dear sister.

Depression Sucks

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Life is hard. Life without Jesus is even harder. 
I’m a believer, for sure, 100%! Jesus is my Lord. But I don’t always live that way. Sin easily creeps in. Lies begin to penetrate the Armor He has given me. 
How is it that someone can go from such a strong foundation in the Truth to crumbling under the weight of life? How is it that someone can be so sure of God’s calling to wanting to throw in the towel? How do we get so lost from the path that God is leading us on? What is it that causes us to detour? 
How is it that I have ended up in a pit of dark depression when I have walked in His great peace, His beautiful truth, and unfailing love? How did I become so focused on everything except Him? Why am I back in this wretched place; I thought we conquered this once and for all, God.
I may never know the answers to these questions. At least, perhaps, not this side of eternity. 
This is the beginning of a post that I started back in May. God knew where I would be today, writing about that very abyss I had been avoiding over the last year or more…
Several times this year I have been taken to the edge. The very edge of what looks like a black abyss. A place where there is no hope, no peace, no joy. Not death. At least not physical death. Perhaps crossing over the edge could have led to a slow spiritual death. I will never know, because my God is a good God. He is faithful to answer prayers and bring us to place of hope and healing. As a friend reminded me, “Joy comes in the morning. It may not be the next morning. But it may be the morning of whatever season you’ve just come from.”
God is good. (All the time. He never changes). And He is good at being God. It is I who has changed. So where have I gone wrong? 
This is a question only Holy Spirit can answer, and I’m not going to find the answer in my Pastor, or my friends, or my husband. No. This answer needs to come from the Author and Perfecter of my faith, the Finisher of my Salvation, my Rock. My God.
Have you ever come to a place like this?
Remember the Truth. As hard as it may be to stand at all today. Remember you are can stand with His strength, on His truth, and on solid ground.
For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of the darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken’ struck down, but not destroyed…
(2 Corinthians 4:6-9)
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.
(Matthew 11:28-30)
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
(1 Peter 5:6-7)
For me, I know the His Truth. But I haven’t been living in that Truth. And life circumstances made a storm great enough that I found that black abyss. But God is good, and He is bigger than any storm I will face.

Joy

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An apology is first and foremost necessary: I am deeply sorry for my lack of writing. Sheri and I had planned to do a post every week this summer to offer y’all encouragement, but that hasn’t happened, and it’s my fault. Moving, then not moving, then moving again, pregnancy (first trimester has been awful), and life has sidetracked the mission that God has given us. I ask for your forgiveness and pray that I may be more focused.

Fruit of the Spirit: Joy

Let me tell you what! 4 months ago I could have written a book on joy, but the last couple months with the way that my life has been going…well, joy has been lacking.

As some of you know, I struggle with depression. I’ve lived in it and with it for longer than I haven’t. But over the last few years I really went to war with the enemy. Claiming back the ground that my Savior died for. No longer would I be dictated by feelings. No longer would I stand for the lies that swirled in my head. No longer would I be a victim to the enemies schemes. I was in a battle for my life! It was a long hard year (or more) of constant inner work. But I can stand before you today and say, “I am free. Because my Jesus said I am free indeed!”

This process of trusting God in ways I had never before, having great faith when I wanted to give up, and choosing to believe what He says about me is true led me to discover, that just like love, joy is a choice.

Joy is completely determined by your proximity to God.

The sheer joy I feel pulsing through my body when I’m doing the Lord’s work is not only contagious to those around me, it’s confirmation that I’m doing what He has called me to. When I can find joy in God’s Word after an argument with someone close to me, I know that it’s because my heart was longing to be close to Him. When someone looks at a snippet of my life and wonders how I could possibly be standing under the weight of that which I carry (whatever that burden may be at the moment), I know it’s because my joy is not determined by my circumstances. My joy is my salvation (Psalm 51:12).

Joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

In His presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11).

God’s character brings us joy (Psalm 63:7).

God created you and called you to His name with a shout of joy (Psalm 105:43).

Joy is healing (Proverbs 17:22).

When we abide in Him His joy is in us, and that joy will be whole and complete (John 15:1-11).

I have also discovered that joy is not happiness. They are not the same thing. Joy is a choice, happiness is a feeling and feelings are fleeting. Joy is not determined by your circumstances, whereas happiness is. Think about it. You’re happy when you get a compliment, but then you stub your toe and that happy feeling fades with the pain. Of course, we have experienced that happiness can last for more than a mere moment; I assume that when you buy your first house, along with anxiety, fear and dread there is some amount of happiness. Which I will also assume can last for days. (Obviously, we haven’t bought our first home yet…in the process of…).

As a believer in Jesus Christ, you already have joy abounding, because it’s a fruit of the Spirit. You may just need to make some changes in your life to experience it (more). What works for me is not going to work for you. But I do believe that for everyone-young, old, man, and woman-your proximity to God determines the amount of joy you will experience. I know this from personal experience, and as you can see from the Scripture passages above, the Bible says it too.

The takeaway:
1. You already possess joy as a believer
2. You’re proximity to God determines your amount of Joy
3. Joy is a choice
4. Joy is not dictated by your circumstances

My prayer is that the eyes of your heart would be opened to understanding what true joy is. That your relationship with Christ would flourish, and in that newness with Him you would experience and forever crave the joy that He gives.

What have you found to be the most joy inducing activity or action or thing in your life?

For me, it’s simply being in the presence of the One who loves me. Whether that’s through singing a song, writing, studying His Word, serving or something else entirely. Being with Him gives me the greatest joy I have ever experienced. A joy that cannot be taken away.