Joyful Shouting

 

Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:5-6, NASB)

When Tracy sent me this verse last night, it was a reminder that those who work a difficult harvest will rejoice when the fruit comes in. As I walk through my days, some are spent pouring over the computer. The pouring over can be the hours of labor working on a project or the tears of frustration of trying to get my technology to work. I know in the end that it will all be worth the effort.

This verse has to do with the work that goes into the harvest of souls. Time spent with those who need the Lord can be joyful but they can also be tedious. Sometimes it seems I watch God opens eyes to His Glory but at other times, it feels like no matter how much I work the field that they just don't get it. We are to keep working the field and to know that God is the one who brings the harvest.

Who are you praying for today? Who needs to know the love of the Lord? What is God calling you to do? Keep your nose to the grind and keep doing the work of answering questions or showing the love of Christ...and keep praying for God to bring the harvest. He will. And when He does, we will all shout with joy!

Simple Anti-Stress Time Management!

Accept the life-time anti-stress guarantee that Jesus offers us all:

Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." Mark 6:31a


Years ago in one of my Women's Ministry Leadership Classes the words that were shared made an impact on my life when it came to leadership and times management that I wanted to learn how to practice, especially when my life schedule is full: We learned the 3 D's of Leadership = Decide, Delegate, Disappear!

Exodus chapter 18 teaches a great lesson on the 3 D's of Leadership. Let's learn from the wise counsel given to Moses from his father-in-law, Jethro, in Exodus 18:18-23;

"Moses’ father-in-law (Jethro) replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

Here is one of the keys to Moses finding a yoke and burden that fit him instead of being worn out all the time, we see the key in verse 24 "Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said."!!! Do you have a Jethro in your life? Someone that will give you godly wise counsel? Let's Listen & Live Stress Free!!

In my words:

1. Make a daily list of what needs to be done "right now" including a simple plan on how to get things on your list done! If I fail to plan I am planning to fail! (Decide)

2. Involve others, Ask for help! It is good to include and even hire some extra help from time to time when your calendar is very full. Also be willing to say "no, thank you" to overextending yourself or too many activities. No for you means Yes for someone else! Involving others is also a great witness, think about the people in our lives that are searching for purpose and meaning that is only found in Jesus Christ! You could be adding a blessing to other lives while they help you in your life! (Delegate)

3. Rejoice & Rest In The Lord!! (Disappear ~ Let Go ~ Trust God)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKzKQoIyGJU&feature=related (All To Jesus I Surrender!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPPSG_SpojY&feature=related (It Is Well With My Soul)

where do you run?

"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing."
-Zephaniah 3:17, ESV

Making new goals for the year really makes me sit and think. In reflecting on the past year, I can see how I need some "rehab" in areas of my life. Someone once told me that if computers were just repaired, then we would not have to buy new ones every few years. I do not know much about computers, but I do believe that God does not wish to throw us out, and He has the unique ability to "repair" us.

It baffles me how God is not only is pure and just, but also forgiving. In Zephaniah, I see how God is just. In chapter 3, verse 17, we can see how God has this joyful love for us. He:

• is with us
• saves us
• takes delight in us

So, God, ruler over all, loves us. He wants us to know Him, follow Him, rest in Him.

Where will we run this year?  How can we help others see how He loves?

Some songs, with links to youtube.com, that stand out to me:

• "Tremble" by Nichole Nordeman – "Face down on the floor/Do I dare to take the liberty to stare at you?/Oh, let me/Oh, let me not forget to tremble."
• "What a Miracle" by David Crowder Band – "O King of Kings/Our Sacred Joy/What a miracle/You come for all."
• "Okay" by Flyleaf – "It's too important for us to forget/...God will hear and save/God will hear and save us."

Rejoice!

“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant” (Luke 1:46-48a, ESV).

It's Christmas, rejoice! It is easy to say it. During church worship or during those awesome one-on-one times with the Lord, it is where we would just like to camp out and stay. Rejoicing is what Mary says that she is doing! She is rejoicing that God is her Savior and that He has chosen her. There are so many things to rejoice about and so many ways to show joy.

Rejoicing is a state of joyfulness. It is holding or possessing joy. To rejoice in the Lord is to delight in Him. We delight in who He is, in what He has done, and what He is going to do. Mary rejoiced in what the angel had said and she believed it would be accomplished. "And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord" (Luke 1:45, ESV).

Let's be like Mary. Put away the worries of the season and focus on the joy of Christ. He came to show us how to live, and how to die. He came that we could have life! When we believe in Christ, turn from our sins (repent), and trust in Him, we can know that He will help us live each day. We also know that we can spend eternity with God in heaven. That is something to rejoice about!

This Christmas, let's be like Mary. Rejoice, no matter what the situation! We have much to rejoice about! Have a "Mary" Christmas!

Glory to the newborn King!

"And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior..." (Luke 1:46-47, HCSB).

Mary glorified God as she expressed her love for the One who suffered to save us.  The glory she brings to God seems to be more than just what is seen outside of her, since the above verses read that even her soul and spirit rejoiced!  She seems to have had an appreciation for the Creator that was genuine and that started within her.  This overflowed into her speech, and she sang in honor of Him.

The psalmist in Psalm 69:30 wrote, "I will praise God's name with song and exalt Him with thanksgiving" (HCSB).  I wonder, how often do I thank God (Psalm 50:23)?  Do my actions thank the eternal King, who came to save us (1 Corinthians 10:31)?

Throughout this season that can be cheery and busy, it's my prayer that we remember how God sent His Son, Jesus, to sacrifice for us and to offer us new life.  We can give Him credit for the joy and peace we find in Him (Romans 5:1-2).  I pray that we thank God for His nature and share the hope that He brings.

Mariah Carey singing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" live: YouTube.com

awe-filled wonder

"Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection from the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so Christ shall all be made alive." -1 Corinthians 15:21-22

How are we made alive in Christ? This week, I have been alive in Him as I am in awe of God as I have seen His wonder in snowfall, a little girl, a concert, and an answer to prayer.

Earlier this week, I got to see a group named Doxology perform Handel's Messiah. This opera-like performance proclaims Christ's story. The performers sing verses from the prophecy of His coming in the Old Testament, to His life on earth and His resurrection as described in the New Testament. This was composed so many years ago, but watching it helped me experience the wonder of God again!

One song included the verse from Romans 10:15:
"How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

How may we share His love today? This is one time of year where every moment another thing may remind us of the precious gift of His Son. I pray that today we are able to see His unmatchable love and are able to share the story of that holy night when He came to save us!

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, the King cometh unto thee. He is the righteous Saviour, and he shall speak peace unto the heathen." -Zechariah 9:9-10