Joy Challenge - Day 27 - Confess/Repent

I am a good confessor. I don't find it difficult to admit my failings and failures. The definition of confess is: "to tell or make known (as something wrong or damaging to oneself); to acknowledge (sin) to God..." I can do that.

It is that other word that I seem to struggle with - repent. That definition is: "to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life." I find that infinitely more difficult.

It isn't the "big sins" where I find repentance, true repentance, a struggle. It is those "little" besetting sins that send me spiraling downward. If I had a nickle for every Monday I have declared with great conviction, "No more gluttony. I start a healthy, balanced diet today." I would have a healthy bank account. Sometimes it even lasts for weeks or months, but inevitably I cycle back into bad eating habits.

Self-control is the big one for me. It shows itself most often in the way I use my time. Oh how I struggle with this one. It has been a life-long one. These days it most often takes the form of too much time on the computer. As a matter of fact, I could have looked back into my archives and just copied and pasted this post from any of several I've written exactly like it over the past three years I've been blogging.

Over and over again I've promised the Lord that I would use my time more wisely. As with the diet, it lasts for a period of time, and then I am right back where I started. Not the Lord's idea of true repentance. I am so thankful for His patience and forgiveness.

I am spending far too much time reading posts and commenting. I look through my bloglines and try to trim it down to a more reasonable size - and I cannot bring myself to do it. In fact, I keep adding as I meet new people who fast become new friends. Add to that the newest perk I've incorporated - Facebook - and I can quite literally spend hours on the computer. Just the other day I had so many things to do, but I let myself stop for "just a minute" to check email. An hour later I was still in front of the screen. The rest of the day I scrambled trying to catch up and do all the things I needed to do - even having to rush through my Bible Study to get it done on time. I felt guilty and discouraged.

The new lap top has made it even more convenient to spend time on-line. I can sit on the couch in front of the tv and read and write for a long time. The books sit unopened on the coffee table, the knitting project languishes, the piano sits silent. It is more than time for true repentance.

So....I will be spending less time on the computer. One of my other weaknesses is the need for approval (that one isn't quite as easy to confess) - and I worry about hurting someone's feelings if I don't comment on their blog. That's what makes it hard for me to cut back. It's silly really, because I know very well no one gets offended, and I know I have to do this. So forgive me if I don't comment as often or visit every day.

It is an amazing thing that when you do the thing you think will be so hard, it suddenly doesn't seem so bad at all. Guess what - there is JOY!!

I know it won't be easy for me. I am trusting that where I am weak, He is strong. I want to use my time, a very precious commodity, in the way He leads.

Blessings,
Linda

picture:flickr lil_latina5's photostream

Joy Challenge - Day 26 - Joy in Gratitude

"WE DON'T SEE IN ORDER TO GIVE THANKS; WE GIVE THANKS IN ORDER TO SEE."
James MacDonald

Continuing to find joy in thanksgiving:

- time spent with our children and grandchildren


- a beautiful, peaceful ride on country roads

- safe travels over thousands and thousands of miles for our family this past month

- for mourning turned to laughter

- a letter that brought such encouragement

- the quiet strength of my Mom

- forgiveness

- time spent studying the Word with precious friends

- cool, rainy days

- the joy of worship music

- time to do the things I love doing

- delicious grapes - so good with extra sharp cheddar cheese!

- butterflies

- words of encouragement

- my comfortable little arm chair and foot stool - my quiet place

- the smell of freshly laundered sheets

- good food, conversation and laughter as we sit around the kitchen table

- my church family

- for the joy that comes with having a grateful heart

Thank You Father, for all these things and so much more. You pour out blessings from Your great heart of love. We love You Lord.



A visit to Ann's quiet place will bring you to the gratitude community. Please join us.

Blessings,
Linda

Joy Challenge - Day 25 - Forgiveness

I am running the race - strides even and strong - going forward with strength and purpose. Then it comes, and I stumble and fall taking myself out of the race to sit miserably on the sidelines.

I am not a literal runner. A brisk walk is much more my speed. I am, however, a runner in this race called life. I run not in my own strength, but in the grace and strength the Lord supplies. There are seasons when I run like the runner of my dreams - strong and steady. The path is straight and smooth, and I feel as though I can easily go the distance.

As long as I keep my eyes fixed on the goal I do well. It is when I begin to look over my shoulder at the places I have been that my gait begins to falter. I see the things of my past, the terrible sin, and wonder how I ever thought I could do anything of any value for the Lord. Before long, I am so consumed by past mistakes I have taken myself completely out of the race - and the enemy sits on the sidelines and sneers.

I have learned, ever so slowly, to stop looking back. I have taken Paul's words to heart:

"...I focus on this one thing. Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God ,
through Christ Jesus, is calling us."
Philippians 3: 13,14

Paul confessed that he was not perfect, but he pressed on. The lie the enemy whispers into my heart is that I have made so many mistakes I can never be of any use to the Lord. It is just that - a lie. My perfectionist, approval-seeking little heart is so easily seduced by that falsehood. The Father can take this cracked, flawed vessel and make of it something useful and beautiful in His eyes. The sins of my past, the sins of today, the sins of all my tomorrows are covered by the blood of Jesus. I belittle His sacrifice when I don't embrace that.

So with joy - I run.

"Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.
Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin."
Romans 4: 7,8

Blessings,
Linda

picture:flickr by Running in Suffolk

Joy Challenge - Day 24 - Prayer

I raised my hand to say I wanted to ask Jesus to come into my heart when I was just a little girl. I was given the priceless gift of a Christian home and the benefit of a lifetime of teaching. Even with all of this, I have always struggled with prayer. I think, as with so many other things in my life, I was making it much harder than it was ever intended to be. I read the books, listened to the teachings, and picked the brains of other Christians I admired.

I was forever beginning new seasons of my prayer life only to stumble and fall in a short period of time. Other things would infringe on the time I had set aside, and I would find myself prayerless once again. Or I would begin to feel as though it was all rote - repeating the same things over and over again. I would feel discouragement setting in - as though I wasn't doing it "right."There were times I failed so miserably I couldn't pray. Just when I needed it most, I turned away.

I have gone back to the beginning. Back to being a little girl who had absolute trust in her
earthly father - knowing he would always love me and always take care of me. Bringing that same "knowing" to my relationship with my heavenly Father. It comes with the understanding that His love for me compels Him to want to spend time with me. The thought sometimes just takes my breath away. This great God waits for me to come and just spend time with Him.

And so I come - just to sit at His feet and talk. I offer up a prayer before my feet hit the carpet in the morning - a prayer of blessing and protection for my loved ones. Or I whisper to Him as I go about my day. I have lots of time when I walk - time to intercede and time to listen to what He is saying to my heart. For this very simple girl, it is a good beginning to a deeper prayer life. It brings a deep sense of joy.

"In the morning, O Lord, Thou wilt hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to Thee and eagerly watch."
Psalm 5:3

"I love the Lord, because he hears my voice and my supplications.
Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live."
Psalm 116:1,2




For more posts on prayer visit Ann's blog.

Blessings,
Linda

Joy Challenge - Day 23 - Thanksgiving with Joy

"Joy begins to flow when you stop focusing on the glass half empty but instead on the glass half full by giving thanks to God.
Your urgent duty is to respond in gratitude to all that God has done and is doing for you. To be grateful is to recognize God's hand on everything that touches your life. Every breath you draw is a gift of His love; every moment of existence is a gift of grace, for it brings with it other immense graces from God."

from my Bible Study "Lord, Change My Attitude" by James MacDonald

I am thankful for:

- the joy of worship

- the gift of laughter

- friends who come before the Lord on our behalf

- the way all of creation seemed to explode into glorious bloom after the rains - even though the season is nearly over:
flowers in the little garden by the garage that are more abundant and vibrant than I've ever seen them before
beautiful butterflies making a sudden appearance - the back ones with sapphire blue decorating their wings are especially beautiful
vivid green everywhere we look - where once it had been brown and dry
small ponds filled once again

- a church service that took everyone's breath away

- little granddaughter proudly riding her bike - all by herself!

- abundant supply - always - God is absolutely faithful.

If you would like to be part of the Gratitude Community, please visit Ann's blog and join us. There is something that happens to your spirit when you begin to give Him thanks.



Blessings,
Linda

Joy Challenge - Day 22 - A Joyful Hymn of Praise

"LORD OF ALL TO THEE WE RAISE, THIS OUR JOYFUL HYMN OF PRAISE!"

Blessings,
Linda

Joy Challenge - Day 21 - Laughter

It was a perfect day to wander down country roads, swim in the river, eat out on the picnic table, ride bikes with little granddaughters and just be with family and friends. The sun was shining, and there was a cooling breeze.


We arrived thursday morning and drove to the little cabins nestled among the huge oak trees.



We walked down to the river after lunch. We have not recovered from the drought yet, so the water was not as high as it usually is.







It was just right for little girls who love to swim.



They had fun watching Daddy swing out on the rope and dive into the water. It was even more fun watching Mommy try to get up her nerve to give it a try. We sat in our lawn chairs on the other side of the river, cameras poised waiting to capture the big moment on film. However, she decided discretion was the better part of valor ......



We ended the day with a rousing game of badminton. There were actually four of us on a side. We are not exactly professional caliber players and laughed so hard we could hardly stand upright.

There was joy all around us - in the beauty of creation and the time spent together. The best part, for me, was the laughter. What joy to laugh until the tears rolled down my cheeks - when not too long ago they had been tears of sorrow.

"Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; Thou has loosed my sackcloth and girded
me with gladness;
That my soul may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to Thee forever."

Blessings,
Linda
Psalm 30:11,12