True Joy is Not Found in Self

selfish

self-centered

self-absorbed

self-esteem

self-indulgent

self-righteous

self-conscious

self-assured

All of these words point to one thing ~ SELF.  And when self takes center stage, God is not in His proper place in our lives.

Can you think of one sin that is not all about self?

When we sin, we're saying, "I want what I want when I want it, and I don't care what anyone else wants - including God."

Whether we're depending on self, worried about self or insisting on our own selfish way, when we take our eyes off God and focus on ourselves, sin is crouching at the door.

And if you think about it, no matter what the world tells you, when you are focused on yourself, you are NOT happy!  At least not for very long.

True happiness, true joy is only found in Jesus.  And as our perfect Example, Jesus put others first. He gave everything He had even to the point of death. 

He tells us that His joy is ours when we love others.  This is exactly the opposite of what the world tells us.  The world says we have to love ourselves before we can love others.  WRONG!  Everyone loves themselves.  As Reb Bradley puts it, "Even the person who hate themselves, can't get themselves off their mind."

So if you are miserable, depressed or unhappy, get your eyes off yourself and start loving and serving others...starting in your home.

If Jesus Came to Your House

Found this taped inside one of the Jackson's Bibles:

~If Jesus Came to Your House~

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two~

If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do.

Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored Guest,

And all the food you'd serve to Him would be the very best,

And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have Him there~

That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare.

But ~ when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door

With arms outstretched in welcome to your Heav'nly Visitor?

Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in,

Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they'd been?

Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard

And wish you hadn't uttered that last loud, hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?

Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?

And I wonder if the Savior spent a day or two with you,

Would you go right on doing the things you always do?

Would you keep right on saying the things you always say?

Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep up its usual pace,

And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?

Would you sing the songs you always sing and read the books you read

And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?

Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you'd planned to go,

Or would you maybe change your plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends,

Or would you hope they'd stay away until His visit ends?

Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on,

Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?

It might be interesting to know the things that you would do

If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you.

~Lois Blanchard~

Did He Cry?

Does anyone else have trouble sleeping after parties or, for that matter, any event involving other people?

I sure do. The lights go out and my mind starts going - reliving conversations and having them again with the words I should have said.

Last night I was so tired, I thought for sure I'd go straight to sleep. Yeah right!

I starting thinking about the confrontation with the food service lady. I asked God to help me forgive her. Then I tried to remember what I said that had made her flip out the way she did and act in such an unkind way toward me.

As soon as she had finished reaming me out, I had decided that I was going to find another place to serve. But as I was laying in bed (trying to sleep), I thought maybe I could just meet with or talk to the Volunteer Coordinator and try to work it out so that we wouldn't have to work with this particular person. Because I loved the fellowship I had shared with the ladies we served.

Then, all of a sudden, God said, "She needs Me, too."

I started to cry! I don't know exactly what broke the dam.

Was it the emotions I had held in all night?

Was it the feeling that I'd rather stay home in my comfort zone and not expose myself to that kind of treatment again?

Or was it forgiveness and God giving me a tenderness and compassion for this woman?

Maybe all of the above.

Now I wonder, did Jesus cry before He came to earth?

Had He anticipated the day with mixed emotions knowing what His stay here would entail? Knowing what He would be exposed to?

Did He consider staying in His comfort zone? Earth and a fleshly tent were certainly not comfortable!

Or did He cry with tenderness and compassion for us? Or with joy for what His journey would mean for all of mankind?

Oh what an example He has set before us. And it all began on what we celebrate as Christmas Day, Jesus' Birthday.

What gift will you give Him this year for all He has done for you?

Will it be your time? Your money? Better yet, will it be your heart? Your life? Your all?

A Very Happy Easter!

This was probably the best Easter I've ever had. Probably because it's the first year I was really focused on Jesus and what He did for me.


Last week we did a play-by-play with the kids of the events that occurred from Jesus' triumphal entry to his resurrection Sunday morning. For example, Thursday morning I talked with them at breakfast about how when Jesus woke up that morning He knew what was coming that night.


Each day we read Scripture that went along with the events of the day - sometimes right at the time they occurred. Like at noon on Friday I read the verses about it becoming dark for 3 hours. We stopped and thanked God for Jesus dying for our sins.


At night, we even acted out the day's events with little paper puppets we made of all the characters.
By Saturday night I was so excited about Sunday morning. The celebration of Jesus' resurrection was so real and exciting! All day yesterday I would say, "He is risen!" and the kids would chorus, "He is risen indeed!"


It was truly a very happy Easter!!

He Loves Us!

Yesterday morning about 2000 years ago, Jesus woke from His last night's sleep on earth.

I wonder what His first thoughts were. He knew what was coming when night fell.

But He loves us. So He endured it.

All night, he was questioned, mocked, beaten, slandered.

But He loves us. So He endured it.

I imagine this morning he was exhausted, famished, only to be subjected to more cruelty; more beating; more scourging; more hate.

But He loves us. So He endured it.

He was beaten beyond recognition. He carried a cross - our cross - physically weighing about 170 pounds, spiritually and emotionally weighing far more.
But He loves us. So He endured it.

Stakes were driven through skin and muscle, scraping bones, holding Him to our cross. More mocking, slander, hate.

But He loves us! So He endured it.

"Father forgive them!" He cried.

He loves us. He died for us! He gave everything! His life for ours.

Abundance

Abundantly blessed...children are a reward from Him.

Abundantly Blessed...Sacrificed that we might be called sons and daughters.

Walk on Water, Mama

Whenever I hear or read something I want to remember, I scratch it down on whatever paper is nearby. While cleaning out the office this morning, I found part of a torn envelope on which I had written:

Peter said, "If it's You, Lord, I will come."

We can say, "You called me to this, Lord. I can walk on water."

I can be the mother He wants me to be only because of Him.

The idea that I could actually be the mother God wants me to be seems as impossible as walking on water when I think of how far I miss the mark everyday. But I have been called to this just as Jesus called Peter out of the boat. I just have to keep my eyes on Him and go to Him for what I need in order to do what seems unfathomable.

And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."

He said, "Come"

So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

Matthew 14:28-29

So, walk on water, all you Mama's out there. You've been called to this and Jesus is right there waiting for you to come to Him.