In a little less than an hour from my writing this, Ben and I will be heading to the wake of a young woman from our church. She was only 36 years old and had endured a lifetime of health issues. She had even faced death once before when she needed a double lung transplant and in the twelfth hour a donor was found. You would never know she dealt with so much though by talking to her or by being around her. She was radiant in every way and illness was not something you would associate with her unless you knew her story.
When Ben and I met Jess and her mother close to fifteen years ago, one of the immediate first impressions we got was just a deep sweetness about her. She was genuinely kind, genuinely joyful, and genuinely hopeful. More evident than anything else however, was the fact that she genuinely loved God and sought to honor Him in everything she did. She was deeply loved and admired, and set an example of unshakeable faith in the face of adversity. Even those of us who weren't in her inner circle of friends, couldn't help but be permanently impacted by watching her faith walk.
Hundreds of people joined together across the country and likely around the globe, in this last leg of her race and faithfully prayed for another twelfth hour miracle. We had seen it done once.... surely we would see it again. When I saw the post about her passing from her husband, just minutes after he wrote it, I couldn't help but cry. I know she's in heaven and healthy again and worshipping, but from a purely selfish standpoint...this world needs more Christians like Jess...our loss of her is truly Heaven's gain.
As I sat processing the realization that she was gone, I had an intimate conversation with Holy Spirit and asked Him to speak to me through scripture and give me something in that moment of sadness. As always, He was faithful...and He brought me to a chapter of the Bible, in a very specific translation. He told me this was her P.S. to all of us....and as I read it, I understood why. As a creative writer, I removed the verse numbers and I want you to read this imagining two distinct voices, the voices of those here left behind, and her voice as she steps into eternity.
I encourage you to think of your loved ones who you've lost that you know you will get to see again when you get to heaven, and think of this as the P.S. at the end of their life's letter as well....and be encouraged by it like I was.
Isaiah 12
The Voice translation (VOICE)
US: In the face of such grace that day, you will thank God.
Taste of His goodness; see how wonderful the Eternal truly is. Anyone who puts trust in Him will be blessed and comforted.
I love Autumn. It's so beautiful here in New England...although....it's usually far too brief as we jump from sweltering heat and oppressive humidity right into bone chilling wind and cold. It seems like just as the trees are finally all starting to look beautiful together...whoosh....super winds and rain pull them all off and we have months of bare, dull shades of gray and brown. Today I stood looking out my office window, to a cluster of trees on the other side of the parking lot. The sky was a vivid bright blue with clusters of fluffy white clouds mixed with clusters of fluffy dark gray clouds. Some of the trees were completely bare, some were covered in leaves of bright red or bright yellow, while others were still fully bright green and lush. It was windy too and I watched trees, bushes and tall grasses moving back and forth in the same direction the clouds were moving across the sky. Even though the sun wasn't visible, beyond the cloud shadows it made it's presence known with golden white light that rested on random things here and there.
A popular little thing that us Christians say sometimes is one person or group will burst out with, "God is good all the time....." then another person or group will respond back with, ".....and all the time God is good." It's an encouraging rallying cry, that can find the Christians in a room full of people faster than a light switch can be flipped. People smile and get excited...think of it kind of like a spiritual fist bump.
The very thing we need as a rallying cry as we go through difficult seasons seems to be absent most of the time....at least for us Western Christians. Maybe that's one of the differences between us and our persecuted brothers and sisters throughout history and around the globe....we have an addiction to comfort.
Paul sang in prison, Stephen prayed for those stoning him, 40 martyrs of Sevaste willingly chose to freeze, bare naked in the middle of a lake rather than take the easy way out, Germanicus, Polycarp, Bonhoeffer, Elliot....and many more endured horrible things in their lives....far beyond just the normal crummy life circumstances we deal with. The ones I mentioned actually died for their faith....horribly cruel deaths...yet every one of them believed God was good ALL the time. In one of my favorite documentaries by Darren Wilson there is one sweet spirited man, that I just adore, who shows the scars of cigarette burns on his torso from being tortured for his faith. Yet he still cries tears of joy from the passionate affection he feels for how good God is....ALL the time.
God is good all the time.....ALL the time.....there is no hiatus...there is no vacation....there is no stalemate....there is no busy signal....and there is no failure to launch....God is good A-L-L the time....even when life is overshadowed by clouds of trouble....even when winds of change and harshness blow....even when seasons go from lush to stark.....even when warmth turns to cold.....just like the sun was still shining behind those clouds today as I looked outside...God is still good no matter what we face in life....and if we look for Him...we will be able to see His bright golden white light resting on things as we move along...reminding us that He has never left us alone and soon the clouds will pass.
I've always believed that joy is a choice and I still do. In my opinion, joy and happiness aren't the same thing and you can definitely have one without the other. Happiness doesn't exist in a bad moment....but joy actually can.
Happiness is a state of being..or in other terms...the natural flowing side effect of a good experience. Sooooo.......what determines if the experience is good or not? Well, that comes from each individual persons own definition of what they like or dislike. For example, I dislike snakes, but my husband likes them and can and will pick them up and enjoy holding and looking at them as if he's holding and looking at say.....a kitten. In that moment he's unbelievably happy....me.....not so much. Similarly, I really like the experience of shopping and can literally spend hours wandering through racks and aisles looking for bargains. In that moment I'm euphorically happy....Ben....not even close..he's in chest gripping dread thinking of what I could be spending or even considering spending.
Consider the photo of a person in a bright yellow bathing suit smiling at an under water camera with bubbles coming from their nose for someone that may trigger great memories of a tropical vacation and lots of laughter and adventure......good experience = happiness. For the person sitting next to them however, that exact same photo may trigger horrible memories where they couldn't breathe under water...or fear of the unclear water behind them that could be hiding dangerous things.....bad experience = unhappiness. How about the public announcement of a pregnancy or an engagement? For some those things are wonderful and happy because they've had good experiences, while for others those things can cause deep sadness, feelings of inadequacy, and even depression because they long for things that have yet to be fulfilled. A photo of a loving couple sitting in a romantically lit restaurant staring into each others eyes longingly may make one person's heart go pitter patter with feelings of romance.....while another feels disgust as they look for wedding rings and wonder if they are having an affair. Happiness is not an across the board given....it's subjectively based on our experiences or perceptions.
Joy, however, well...it's more than an event...it goes deeper than that....it's a little more abstract....it's an essence....an essence of being one way in spite of things being another way....and it usually requires our cooperation.....it's a purposefully made choice. How though do we choose joy? How do we envelope that essence? It starts with us deciding WHERE our joy comes from.....what is our source. I mean dissecting the raw REAL source we draw our definition of joy from. Does our joy come from the fleeting and completely imperfect things this life and other humans have to offer...or does it come from something else? If our definition of joy is based on life circumstances and people....then we've unintentionally and unknowingly tied our definition of joy in with our definition of happiness. If that happens....our joy will always fall short and we will always be on a roller coaster ride based on how our day or our life is going. I don't know about you, but I don't like emotional whiplash.
For us Christians, our definition of joy cannot be tied to our definition of happiness. Instead, it MUST be based on the character traits of who we know and are learning the triune God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) to be.
I cannot stress that last comment enough....so I'm going to repeat myself in a slightly different way...
.....our definition of joy MUST ONLY be based on THE CHARACTER TRAITS of GOD.......NOT on a person, circumstance, event, or situation and certainly NOT on a feeling.....not even on how we perceive God SHOULD perform....but on His character traits.
Like it or not, there are some things we Jesus folk really need to understand....and we just HAVE to grasp this because it's literally causing way too many Christians to sink in their faith walk because they are walking around miserable, hopeless, bitter and just plain dried out. Weary is one thing....we ALL get battle weary....but to be spiritually mummified is a whole other issue. We're supposed to bring salt and light to the world....not Jesus jerky. I know that may sound funny...but seriously....pay attention here...
1) Humans have free will, which means we and those around us can make horrible choices that are cruel and selfish and downright evil and can affect....well....almost everything. (Free will explained) (i.e. a) people we work with can be jerks b) spouses can lie or say cruel things c) drivers can cut us off d) people can commit heinous crimes etc. etc. etc. )
2) Since the fall of man....we live in a "fallen nature" (imperfect) world that is, ALSO like it or not, subject to the natural laws of science and nature instead of God's perfect laws. ( i.e. a) gravity pulls things down b) germs and lack of sleep can cause us to get sick c) weather patterns can wreak disastrous havoc d) lemon bars, potato chips and fettuccine alfredo make us fat etc. etc. etc.)
To choose to be joyful in the face of adversity and cruelty and trauma is hard....sometimes it feels impossible...but I promise you...it's not. I've been through some really hard things, some traumatic things, some potentially embittering things....many at the hands of people that I loved and trusted....and even now there is a battle that my husband and I are fighting together that could easily be cause to steal our joy. However, through EVERYTHING....even when I'm too wounded or weary to actually talk to God....I go to His Word and let Him speak to me and I feel my joy...my essence of being, restored in the midst of whatever hell I'm tearfully fighting through.
The cooperation portion of the essence is I have to ALLOW myself to BELIEVE that there is hope. I have to ALLOW myself to BELIEVE that God is actually who He says He is. I have to ALLOW myself to BELIEVE that God actually really does love me and doesn't want to hurt me and let me down the way humans have hurt me and let me down. Don't fool yourself either...we all SAY we believe that...and sing the songs and run around like joy filled Polly Pockets when life is grand....but the reality is...when life is horrible we do not function in joy...we function in fear, anger, CONTROL, bitterness, rejection, etc, etc, etc. Choosing to cooperate with joy takes effort....God knows and has always known that. That's why in the Bible He makes a big deal of telling the Israelites to set up stones of remembrance to REMIND themselves of God's character through what He's done for them. He protected them, rescued them, defended them, repeatedly forgave them and gave them another chance, provided for them, rallied them.....SAVED them. In Hebrews 13:8 we are told flat out that Jesus (part of the triune God- Father, Son, Holy Spirit) is the SAME...yesterday, today and FOREVER....so guess what. That means God will STILL protect us, rescue us, defend us, repeatedly forgive us and give us another chance, provide for us, rally us, and has already saved us. So to get the essence of joy? KNOW GOD'S CHARACTER.....His character proves that we are safe in His care...no matter what hell we are currently in....no matter if we understand or not...we don't NEED to understand....we just need to patiently endure.
Hebrews 10:35-36(NLT)So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
Psalm 40:1-3(NLT) I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair,out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed.They will put their trust in the Lord.
Here are some links to verses to help you learn the character of God and some to help you get that essence of joy going in the face of adversity. ( Click on each reference to read the verse.)
Have any of you ever been scheduled for a flight somewhere only to be standing in the terminal and instead of hearing the announcement that you can start boarding....you hear the dreaded word, DELAYED? It can be a real pain when all you want to do is get to your destination, but it can be even worse than a pain when you're weary from the journey and you just want to get home so you can rest. Sometimes our lives can be like that. We have a destination in sight, our bags are checked and we are ready to go....but then.....delays. Sometimes the delays are from choices we made, sometimes they're from circumstances beyond our control. Sometimes they're a minor inconvenience....other times they are enough to make us want to lose our minds from exhaustion. Whatever the reason for the delay, I want to encourage you. First of all, you're not alone, and second, God may just have a reason why your in a holding pattern.
Click this link to watch my short video, Flight Delays to encourage you as you wait.
How many times have you felt like a complete failure as a Christian? Like somehow you dropped the ball because if you were a "good" Christian, things would be going differently? Well, be encouraged....we've ALL had those feelings and we've ALL thought at times that we are missing the mark. However, the good news is that....God DOESN'T think you're a failure!!! In fact, in His eyes, you're a success! You know why.....because you are His and calling on Him for help! Here's a short little video to encourage you and remind you that God is bigger than any broken halo you may think you have.
Click here to view, Broken Halos and be encouraged to know that you aren't alone!
Recently my husband and I were in a long season of continuous difficulties. It seemed like as soon as we would successfully conquer one battle, before we could even catch our breath, we would be blindsided with another one. To say we were battle weary would be an understatement. However, through it all, God sustained us and showed us favor on every front....and even though we weren't always HAPPY.....thankfully we never lost our JOY. I know so many of us seem to be living in that place.....that place that feels like you're inside of a blender and somebody keeps hitting the "Pulse" button. Well, then this is just a short little video that I recorded to send some encouragement your way. Please click this link and know that you aren't alone. Fran Facebook Live Video - Wild Fires
31Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has
asked excessively that [all of] you be given up to him [out of the
power and keeping of God], that he might sift [all of] you like grain,
32But
I have prayed especially for you [Peter], that your [own] faith may not
fail; and when you yourself have turned again, strengthen and establish
your brethren.
Nowadays with all the modern processing and regulations for food it really isn't necesary to sift flour or grain like it was in the past. It used to be sifted to take out clumps and impurities...like bugs. EWWWW.......
On October 5th I began an unexpected spiritual journey....a sifting period that I certainly didn't want....but that I decided the
best way to walk through it would be to walk with hope and expectancy
that God would show Himself faithful like I believed He would. Sooooo, I
made a list of rules that I would not compromise on; No whining, no
complaining, no fault-finding, no bitterness and no
unforgiveness....just daily seeking the heart of Christ......no matter
what. The second night God gave me a Bible verse that really spoke to my
heart...I discussed it briefly in my entry titled Water In The Wilderness.
Don't get me wrong....I've cried....and I've worried a bit...and I've had a few moments of feeling sorry for myself, but every
time God has either used the Bible, my husband Ben, song lyrics or Christian friends to
encourage me and speak the truth to me.
During it all there was a thread
I kept seeing regarding God's faithfulness as it related to people's
obedience and times before great victory.....the number 40.
It rained for 40 days and nights with Noah (Gen 7:12)
Moses spent 40 days on the mountain with God...then he spent
ANOTHER 40 days on the mountain with God after he disciplined the people.
(Deu 10:10)
The spies searched out the promised land for 40 days. (Num 13:25)
The Jews wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because of their complaining and disobedience. (Num 14:33-34)
Goliath tormented the Israelites for 40 days before David killed him. (1 Sam 17:16)
Elijah spent 40 days and 40 nights on Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8)
Ninevah was given 40 days and in that time they repented and were saved (Jonah 3:4)
Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days (Matt 4:1,2)
Jesus appeared on earth for 40 days after the crucifixion and resurrection (Acts 1:3)
So whyyyyyyyy am I mentioning the references to the number 40? Well, last
Friday morning as I was brushing my teeth I looked up at the bathroom
mirror to where I have stuck a post it note with the Bible verse Isaiah
54:10 (MSG) written on it. As I read it I suddenly felt what us old dog
Christians call "a prompting in my spirit" that said, "Your 40 days are
almost over". My body shot up straight as an arrow and I ran into the
kitchen to look at the calendar. With toothpaste dripping from the side
of my mouth I counted the days since October 5th. Sure
enough.......Monday, November 14th marks 40 days. Since it's after
midnight now as I'm writing this.....that means TODAY is my day 40.
Does that mean that everything
is suddenly going to be hearts and flowers.........I don't
know......maybe, and maybe not.........I have no idea what the next 22 hours hold...or beyond that. I do know however that God has a
plan and it is better than anything I could ever ask for or think. I
also know that I've made it through the past 40 days with God's grace
and total favor and I have seen Him work in ways that have deepened my
passion for Him and for His never ending faithfulness. I also know
that even if I continue to go through a season of being sifted like
wheat....I will CONTINUE to JOYFULLY praise God even in the face of adversity because I know that the byproduct of sifting is that impurities are removed. If I only praise Him and thank Him in the good times then what kind of faith do I really have....and if I think I have no more impurities that need to be removed then who do I really think I am? Only God is pure....and I'm certainly not God.
I don't know what you are going through right now, I don't know how hard your battle is or how long you've been carrying it....but I do know that God is faithful...even when we don't see or feel it. So don't give up or lose hope....your victory is on it's way.
Psalm 34:1 (KJ21)
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Were we saved for the sake of our miserable selves?
The answer to both...is no...neither of those is why we were saved. Will ease and privilege come? Possibly....after all, we are God's children and He LOVES to lavish us with blessings large and small just like any healthy parent wants to do for their child. Were we lost and languishing in a pig stye of emotional, mental,physical and spiritual garbage before we were saved? Yes....the very turning point of giving our lives to God is realizing that we are in a place that we shouldn't be and we need a savior to rescue us.
Are those THE reasons we were saved though? Not even close. We were saved so that we can then be a link in the chain to help save others. Look, I'm going to break it down pretty simply. If we only gave our heart to God so He could make our lives easy and clean up the garbage in our lives....then that's kind of like trying to watch a 3d movie without the glasses...it's blurry and out of focus.
So what does scripture have to say about this question?Well...in 1 Peter 2:9 it says, To "proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
How do we proclaim His excellencies? Well.....first we have to start by defining what darkness is. Websters defines it as follows.
1darkadj\ˈdärk\
1: devoid or partially devoid of light : not receiving, reflecting, transmitting, or radiating light
3a: arising from or showing evil traits or desires :b:dismal, gloomyc: lacking knowledge or culture d: relating to grim or depressing circumstances
I think it's safe to say after reading that, that we have all known darkness....and if we have given our lives to God then that darkness is a very stark contrast to the light now in our hearts and lives.
It is that contrast, that difference, that before and after that we are supposed to proclaim. Never to brag or make others still struggling feel like failures....if you remember when you were in that place, feeling like a failure was never a problem. The reason we were saved was so that we can reach out to others who are still enveloped in the darkness of hopelessness and let them know that they are loved, they have a purpose and they don't have to remain in that place. So when ease and privilege are taken away or seem out of reach. When hard times hit and you quite simply don't know what to do...don't complain or get angry...don't drink bitterness because this hasn't gone the way you hoped or expected. Grab onto your faith, get into the word and remember.....those things were never promised to you. Instead look for how God is showing Himself to you every moment of every day because once you get to the other side....you will be proclaiming His excellencies of how He brought you out of darkness and into the light to countless others who need the insight you will have to offer.
2 Corinthians 4:8,9,15,16 (AMP)
8We are hedged in
(pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not
cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and
unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; 9We
are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand
alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and
destroyed 15For
all [these] things are [taking place] for your sake, so that the more
grace (divine favor and spiritual blessing) extends to more and more
people and multiplies through the many, the more thanksgiving may
increase [and rebound] to the glory of God. 16Therefore
we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and
wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively]
decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively]
renewed day after day.
