6 Sure-fire Ways to Grab Hold of Real Joy

Thanksgiving Day is a wrap. Now we press onward to the joy of Christmas. 

But in reflection on how I move from one holiday to the next, I asked myself a few questions. Am I placing a check mark beside gratitude on some proverbial good list? Then leaving it in the dust of my tracks while celebrating Christmas? 

Sometimes.

So, this year I plan to wed an attitude of gratitude to one of rejoicing. 

Celebrating appeals to most of us. Yet, real joyfulness is often the end result of God’s faithful promises. And it’s…

~ Ammunition for difficult circumstances and people. 

~ The best medicine for a downcast spirit. 

~ A shield against attacks from the enemy. 

Let’s look at it in a broader sense.

Not just what we believe and know, but also how it manifests in our lives—how we live joy.

Unlike images, there’s not a filter for joyful. Instead, it lies beneath the surface and radiates through. God wants to bring a smile back to our face. But more than that. He wants to bring rejoicing back to our soul.

I love powerful refrains in certain songs and poems. After each of our points, repeat the refrain I include out loud.

6 Sure-fire Ways to Grab Hold of Real Joy:

1.)  In salvation.

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12

“My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.” Psalm 71:23

Is my joy showing through? 

Because there’s no filter for joyful. 

And it’s never shaken or taken.

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Redefining Strong: 3 Ways Weakness Equals Strength

“How strong are you?”

I used to ask my children this when they were young. They answered in the cute way of showing off their little biceps.

But on my own journey from child to adult, I learned culture’s definition of what makes a person strong. And how weakness comes in many shapes and sizes, like in these examples.

~ Weight lifting proved my arms lacked physical strength.

~ Low self-esteem, anxiety or discouragement labeled me a weak soul.

~ Failure to excel in a class, understand a concept at work, or carry strong opinions, defined me as weak-minded.

Culture teaches us to stay strong and overcome weakness because it just isn’t pretty. Yet, in God’s Kingdom, weakness takes on a whole new meaning.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10b ESV)

Paul’s visions and thorn in the flesh in Chapter 12, kept him from boasting in himself. He had endured many hardships and persecutions. Still, he learned his strength was found in his weakness.

What Culture Says, What God Says

Culture tells us to strive for independence. God says, Depend on Me.

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4 Levels of Study at God’s University

In my childhood, I wondered about my cause in life. What was I born to do? My teen years brought reflection on career choices and a university to attend.

Because I was sure of one thing. I wanted go to college and graduate with a degree.  

A field of study would help me become who I was meant to be in this world.

And I hoped to help others with my newfound purpose.

Lessons in the Classroom

So, entering East Tennessee State University at eighteen opened my eyes to all the possibilities.   

By my sophomore year, I chose to study leadership communications (a lover of oratorical contests, this was a good fit). Also studying sociology, I settled into my coursework. 

I thrived in communication courses like public speaking, debate (my husband discovered this soon in our marriage), and the art of persuasion and criticism (poor hubby).

A proud moment for my family when I walked across the stage in cap and gown for a bachelor’s degree.

Since graduation, I’ve held various jobs. Though some required my degree skills, others didn’t.

Here’s what I later realized. I came away from college with much more than lessons from the classroom. 

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Heaven is Real and Hell is Real

Heaven is real.

Books and movies often recount life after death experiences of people seeing heaven. These accounts touch our heart and imagination. The awe and wonder in the idea of heaven offers hope for a better world.

And with the unsettled state of our current world, we find comfort in the promise of heaven.

Sunday School Lessons 

Growing up, I remember Sunday School teachers and preachers talking about heaven. What the Bible said, how God dwells there, and the fascinating descriptions of the heavenly city as in Revelation 21.

The best part? Being in the presence of God.

And this, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” Revelation 21:4b, NIV.

Yet, I heard about another place called hell.

Evangelists, church revivals, and songs all proclaimed this eternal world where the forces of darkness dwell. A place of separation from God. Where “no more” suffering isn’t promised but guaranteed (Matthew 13:50).

It was commonplace at church. Pastors worked the subject of both heaven and hell into sermons as much as possible. My husband also scripturally teaches on both places in eternity.

But in our culture, it grieves me to sometimes hear these places referred to as mythological, especially hell. Still further, it’s crushing when people tell someone in anger to go to hell.

Because if hell doesn’t exist, wouldn’t they say, “Go to heaven!”

Let’s consider how Jesus spoke about both heaven and hell.

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There’s Never Emergency Meetings in Heaven

I told you. There’s no emergency meetings in heaven.

I glanced at the clock in the hospital’s surgical waiting room. My heart raced faster than the second hand.

My daughter, Megan, needed a cyst removed from the back of her leg. She was only five-years-old at the time.

After a failed attempt in the surgeon’s medical office, we scheduled the procedure at the hospital.

Besides, what were they thinking? Expect a young child to lay on her stomach for medical staff to numb and perform the incision, removal, and stitching all while conscious? Really?

But my husband and I heard her cries and screams echo down the hallway.

So, the doctor advised to move to plan B—under anesthesia at the hospital. “She’s not going to cooperate for us to do it here at our offices.”

Well doc, I could have told you that.

Yet, I wished for another option besides deep sedation, not fond of plan A or B. Still, the cyst grew over the year the pediatrician said to watch it.

The cyst needed to come out. And it needed testing for cancer. I worried and fretted and paced.

You see, I’m a floor pacer, panicking in body and spirit. Especially with my children and family.

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Trading Up:15 Amazing Exchanges With God

In elementary school, I traded notebooks with a girl in my class. The pink and glitter cover dazzled and captured my attention.

But my notebook paled in comparison. So, I wondered why she ever agreed to such an uneven trade…to my trading up.

Have you ever traded and received the best end of the deal?

A few years ago, I begin praying prayers of exchange.

Lord, please exchange my infirmity with Your wholeness; and trade my empty for Your completeness. Amen.

Our relationship with the heavenly Father is always about trading up. Because what we trade pales in comparison to what He provides in return.

Our _______ for His ________.

Here’s 15 of those uneven trades with God straight from the Bible.

Trading Up

1.) Our lack for His bounty.

“You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance” Psalm 65:11, NIV.

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Step into the Wonderful World of 3D Christian Living

We are about to enter the world of 3D.

As with every three-dimensional adventure, plan to interact with an immersive environment that creates a sensory experience.

A lifelike scene.

An enhanced encounter.

This is not an illusion, artificial simulation, or virtual reality.

But amazing wonders we get to see, hear, and touch.

3D Up Close and Personal

3D aspects of width, height, and depth bring the spiritual realm up close and personal…

with God himself.

So let’s put on our 3D glasses and look at the story in chapter 3 of Joshua.

After the death of Moses, Joshua’s commissioned as leader. The Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years. Time came to enter the Promised Land.

God’s people set out and arrived at the Jordan river where they lodged for three days. They needed to get to the other side but not take the long way home. 

The Lord gave specific instructions. The priests were to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord (His presence) to the brink of the water. The people were commanded to follow at a distance in order to “know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before” (verse 4 ESV).

Joshua told them to consecrate themselves for the Lord would do wonders among them (verse 5). When the soles of the priests’ feet rested in the waters, the waters (at flood stage) would stop flowing and stand in a heap (verse 13).

3D Christian Living

Dimension (1). Obedience to God’s commands, plan, and way.

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Expect God-things to Happen Every Day

Expect?

Yes, I expect from many sources. I hold expectations in my marriage. Or, for dreams to exceed my expectations. For employers to love my skills. And for readers to relate to my writing.

Perhaps you expect in your life too.

However, I confess: believing for the divine to occur every day is not easy for me.

Because the concept is hard for humans to wrap our heads around.

You see, we live and operate in the flesh, in the natural world.

Supernatural stuff only seems right for the movies or a book…or for heaven.

But what if divine, God-things are meant for us here on this earth? And what if the Lord intended for us to look for displays of His works in our day-to-day routine?

Psalm 105 in The Message describes it:

Hallelujah! Thank God! Pray to him by name! Tell everyone you meet what he has done! Sing him songs, belt out hymns, translate his wonders into music! Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs, you who seek God. Live a happy life! Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence. Remember the world of wonders he has made, his miracles…(Verses 1-6a).

Maybe we tell others of all the great things God has done for us. And we praise the Lord for every deed or blessing from His hand.

Yet, don’t miss the second vital part. The divine happens today and continues into tomorrow and the next day and the next.

This passage gives us 3 ways to expect the divine in our life.

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Hope Lives Closer Than You Think

I pointed out the window to a community in the country.

“My friend lives there.”

Jenny and I traveled early morning hours to attend a conference near the town I grew up in.

It’s interesting to know where friends or people we meet live and work and worship.

But what if we knew where hope lives?

Because life’s hurts, heartaches, and injustices often leave us feeling overwhelmed and hopeless.

Or, our dreams hunger for fulfillment.

Hope lives closer than you think.

Google defines hope, “A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” All humans hope.

• I hope to lose weight.
• My friend carries many hopes in her heart.
• The pastor said not to give up hope.
• We hope our brother pulls through this illness.

Yet, sometimes things happen differently than we wanted.

Hope exists in many forms. But when we cling to false hopes, they soon fizzle and leave us empty-handed.

Women often come to me—a pastor’s wife—looking for authentic hope. Did I pray enough? Where is God? Will He come through for me?

These are women in tough places. Hearts broken by tragedy. Languishing dreams with no pillow to lay their heads. And I nod saying, “Me too.”

Finding Where True Hope Lives

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2 Steps to a Steady Heart When We’re All Shook Up

All shook up.

I recently took our Dachshund, Sadie, to the veterinarian for yearly shots and a physical. As soon as we pulled into the parking lot, all sixteen pounds of Sadie started shaking.

Often, she tries to make a beeline for the exit. And Sadie stays all shook up until we arrive home.

Decades ago, a song by Elvis conveyed a time when he was all shook up. By what? you may wonder.

A closer look at the lyrics and the mystery is solved. Falling in love shook up Elvis Presley.

Needless to say, his famous words relayed a kind of shook up we view in a good and positive light. Oh how Sadie wished for anything but the animal hospital.

All Shook Up

On the down-side, life gives us plenty of not-so-good reasons for when we are all shook up. I’ve experienced each one of these on my list below. Perhaps you have too.

• We lose a job.
• Our dear loved one passes away.
• Our child turns wayward and it turns our world upside down.
• We or family members receive a troubling medical diagnosis.
• Broken relationships or a hurting marriage rob our inner joy and peace.
• Because of unmet dreams we sob into our pillow at bedtime.
• An injury inflicted upon our soul seems to never go away.

Each of these and others leave us shaking in our boots or whatever our choice of footwear.

2-step Plan for When We’re All Shook Up

Yet, in twenty short words, God’s Word shows us how to overcome in the shaken-up department. It’s not by combing through lyrics to a love song. But this Scripture offers a two-fold plan to keep us stable and grounded.

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