Ok so yesterday went pretty good for me concerning the "Word of Life Challenge". Most of the day I prayed and controlled my tongue although I did have about an hour where I was tested. I was putting together a new train set provided via Grandma for Christmas when the pressure began to mount. With Sam jumping all over me and the tracks in utter joy and anticipation, I could not get the already difficult project assembled. I broke a very fragile piece. I’m not sure but I think it was then that I declared the train set had been forsaken by God. This was immediately followed by an impassioned plea for Sam to spend an extended period in time out.
I don’t know, you tell me, did I “Do everything without complaining or arguing”? Maybe not in that instant. But I repented and made a new declaration that the train was a good and perfect gift from the Father and I thanked Him for it. Then I released Sam from his harsh prison sentence and Joy reentered all our lives. Hallelujah! (the previous is based on a true story)
16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Today is a fresh day. I am up this morning praying, thanking God for His many blessings in my life. I am even having my joy tank filled as I type watching the train go round and round the track on my living room floor (I have decided to name it the Joy train). I’m setting my course for joy and fully expect to spread it wherever I go all day long. What a priveledge to be tasked by Jesus to give Joy to the world. Watch out people-here I come!
Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
p.s. Sam just walked in and caught me running the/his Joy train and he is not happy! Gotta go quick! Send me your comments.
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What a great challenge. It was the first thing we talked to our girls about as we left church on Sunday. Peace in the home is sometimes a luxury that we all can afford, but often forget. The label in our house this week is "watch your words". And I've said it about, oh 20 times. And that was before bedtime on Sunday. Not that Joe and I are perfect. As we had our Youth Leaders meeting Mon. night, Daylin was great at catching just about all of us leaders.
And just as we were going to bed, I did big time complaining to my neice, as she's getting ready for an unexpected trip to Oregon, she was going to loan her car out to another friend, instead of thinking that our truck was down and I could really use it. (as I already was this week) I totally complained. But I did get the car. And of course apologized.
Thank you for the challenge!!!
Great testimony Pastor Chris! I love the joy train! Our evening was great, it was filled with happy and harmonious children and homework without complaining (which is a miracle from God). I even treated the kids to something special because they had such a great harmonious day. Then they woke up this morning, how can i say this...on the wrong side of the bed. The middle and the little just didn't like each other much. So we sat down this morning and talked again about the challenge and why it's important to have harmony in our home and our lives. God is really great because he supplied me with the patience i desperately needed this morning as the children were bickering and fighting. So with God's infinite help I handled the situation with calmness and mercy and had a great talk with the kids. My middle son, as he's getting ready for school, still not in the best of moods but controlling himself, just has a complete emotional breakdown and starts berating himself. I took that time to explain to him that our words of harmony need to be given to ourselves as well as to others. God doesn't make junk and he's being too hard on himself. It turns out he's being picked on at school. So we took some time to talk about it and then pray for the kids that are picking on him. I also suggested he find something nice to do for them. He left for school in a much better mood. So the kids are at school or pe and i have the house to myself getting ready to get some work done and I thought I would stop and reflect on the very challenging morning and thank God that he is continuing to give us the patience and peace we need to make our home and our lives harmonious. I sent my kids out to spread joy to the world and we are being very deliberate to remember our teachings and put them into practice. Thank you Chris so much for such great teachings and showing us how to live them out. And thanks to our Father for giving our pastor such insight and wisdom. I'm looking forward to another day filled with joy and harmony. BTW, my dear husband who has been gone now for 8 days just called and said he won't be home tomorrow after all. Knowing what not so nice thoughts about his employer were sure to come I immediately stopped and thanked God for keeping him safe on his travels and for having a career that he loves and a paycheck to keep us sustained.
Having a tough time today as I babysit my friends 5 children along with my own 3....I am having to stop repent, and ask the Holy spirit to fill me up quite often! Hope your doin well
Thank you for the challenge. I am finding it a little difficult at Times especially at work, but have found that I seem to be more positive as the days go on and feel better too! Thank you! :)
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