The Demon of Lethargy

THE DEMON OF LETHARGY

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been feeling the demon of lethargy wielding his pervasive influence on me far too often lately.  During this pandemic when we’ve been stuck inside our homes, away from friends and family and Christian fellowship, the enemy finds ways to creep in and steal our joy and strength.

 The picture above shows a bronze dragon slinking down a bronze tree limb in the Conservatory at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania.  The slinky curve of its scaly body and the sly expression on its face is how I imagine the demon of lethargy might look.  In fact, the Bible refers to Satan as a dragon numerous times in the book of Revelation (20:2).

 The definition of lethargy is, the state of being drowsy and dull; apathetic or sluggish inactivity.  How often during the past nine months of pandemic can we say these words describe our state of being?

  It’s time to rise up in the power of our Lord and fling that old dragon out the window and into the ditch where he belongs.  By the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer, we pray that You, O Lord, will “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,” Psalm 51:12; and help us to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might…that I might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil,” Ephesians 6:10-11.

 The greatest tool in this battle against the enemy and sin is to keep our eyes focused on Jesus.  Keeping our eyes on Jesus requires staying close to Him.  As soon as we drift away from Jesus, we become easier prey for the world, the flesh, self, the dark side.  There is a magnetic pull of the world exerted on us daily.  In our own strength, it’s far easier to stray than it is to stay.  But, don't forget, we have an "all-surpassing power" living within us as children of God that offers us supernatural strength to stay the course.

 My daughter Sara said she prayed and asked God how she should be living in these challenging days in which we live.  She said He answered her with the words of a hymn, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

 Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you…As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you: abide in My love…These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full,” John 15.  

 As we leave this year that began with so much promise (2020 sounded like a winning number), we look ahead to the new year of 2021 and wonder what lies within its boundaries.  Since we can’t see into the future beyond the end of our nose, we must trust the Creator who knows the end from the beginning and everything in between.  I’m thankful for the wonderful promise our Father gave us in Jeremiah 29:11NIV: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you hope and a future.”

That’s a promise that makes me smile - 😍

   

 

Joy

 JOY

The word Joy makes me smile -- and so it should as reflected in its definition.  As a noun, Joy means "a feeling of great pleasure and happiness," and as a verb, Joy means "rejoice."  This picture of "Joy to the world" hangs on the wall of my den.  I like to surround myself with the word as a reminder of all we have to be thankful for and rejoice about.

At Christmas, we sing "Joy to the World, the Lord has come, let earth receive her king..."  There was much joy surrounding the shepherds on that first Christmas day.  I think the angels were so excited about the long-awaited birth of Jesus, they could hardly contain themselves.  When the Father gave the okay for the angels to make the announcement of His Son's entry into the world of man, a multitude of the heavenly hosts burst forth from heaven with lights and singing such as the world had never before heard.  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"  The sight and sound of it would have been amazing!

We sure could use a hefty dose of Joy during these crazy times we're living in.  The wonderful thing is that God still offers joy to anyone who invites His Son Jesus into their lives.  "In Your presence is fullness of joy..." is an assurance written by David in Psalm 16:11.  David lived in uncertain times, just as we do, yet David was able to rejoice in the God who became love in human flesh.

When Jesus walked on the earth and taught His followers, He said, "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full" John 15:11.

Joy is not just something we sing about and look for at Christmas.  Joy is what Jesus offers His followers in abundance -- in fullness.  To be full of something good is to be satisfied and at peace with the world around you.  Let's accept the gift of Joy offered to us by our loving Father.  Let's hold it in our hands and our hearts as the priceless treasure that was paid for by Baby Jesus - who became our Savior.  

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit," Romans 15:13.

Perspective

 PERSPECTIVE

Henry David's interesting quote is all about how we look at things in life.  Do you see the glass half-full or half-empty.  Our perspective on our circumstances, the tone of our lives, and the people and world around us makes a huge difference on our quality of life and even our effectiveness for God.  I like the words of Paul in the book of Romans, when he wrote, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit," 15:13.  Sounds like that glass is full to the brim!

I usually use my own photography in this blog, but I wanted to share some great quotes that are worthy of pondering and they came with some nice photos.  Those who know me well, know that I love intriguing pathways.  The first three photos are from the calendar I've been using this year, called Pathways by Dayspring.  I love these pictures and the truth written on them.

A reminder from that great man of God, George Muller, about the importance of spending 

much time in God's Holy Word -- His amazing love letter to His children.

Don't you just love this bamboo forest!!

I looked at this amazing picture through the month of November and wondered where 

this pathway is located.  I want to go there and walk that beautiful stone staircase!!

As for the quote -- I love it too!  Sola gratia - by grace alone.

We all know Dwight Moody was a wise man of the Lord.  These words are sobering and

remind me of the verses in Matthew:  "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where

moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves 

treasures in heaven...for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also," 6:19-21

The scene looks like it might be in the Colorado mountains - so beautiful!

This is the front of a greeting card by Christian author, Max Lucado.  The inside

reads:  "Every year is another chapter God fills with the plans He has written just 

for you."  And the verse in Psalms:  "And in Your book they all were written, 

the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them," 139:16.

God created each of us for a special purpose - a purpose filled with love.

"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous 

are Your works, and that my soul knows very well," Psalm 139:14

Amen!!

Thankful

THANKFUL

    Pastor David Jeremiah said, "The Bible tells us that whenever we come before God, whatever our purpose or prayer request, we are always to come with a thankful heart."

    The Holy Bible is full of verses speaking of the importance of giving thanks to our Creator.  Psalm 100 is a classic:  "Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!  Serve the Lord with gladness...Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.  For the Lord is good..."  

    We should be thankful every single day of the year, but this special day we call Thanksgiving Day has been handed down to us through the generations -- and that too is something to be thankful for.  The history of Thanksgiving in America is believed to have begun in the early 1600s.  Several days of thanks were celebrated by the Pilgrims in early New England history that have been identified as the "First Thanksgiving," in 1621, but there was also a well-recorded Thanksgiving event held in 1619 in Virginia.  While we may not know the official origin of the holiday, we do know that George Washington proclaimed the first nationwide thanksgiving celebration in America marking November 26, 1789, “as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God.”

    Amen to George's proclamation!  The Psalmist also echoes these sentiments, writing, "Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.  For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods," 95:2-3.

     The picture I chose for this post comes from a recent visit to the Bennett Farm in Durham, NC, where a Union and a Confederate General got together in April 26,1865, and negotiated a peace settlement that completely ended the Civil War (this was after Robert E. Lee surrendered on April 9).  The picture shows a peaceful corner of the Bennett's simple farmhouse.  No doubt, there was much to be thankful for on that day when these two men signed papers that finally ended a horrible time in the history of our nation.

    We have much to be thankful for!  I like the old hymn written in 1897 by Johnson Oatman, Jr., that says, "Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings see what God has done...count your many blessings see what God has done."

    Henry Ward Beecher was a preacher in the 1800s.  He wrote: “The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!” 

    A.W. Tozer was a pastor and a writer in the 1900s.  He wrote:  "Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it," 

    We end with words of the apostle Paul who was a preacher way back in the first century.  He wrote:  "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

    Throughout history, we are reminded how important it is to be thankful.  What are you thankful for today?

 

Climbing the Wall

CLIMBING THE WALL

Have you ever felt like climbing the wall?  In the photos above and below, two of my grandchildren are enjoying a bit of "wall play."  In the first, they only achieved a one-foot-up, but the second photo features rounded walls at a museum and they were able to run up the side of the wall in a semi-climb- the-wall experience. 

Then, in the picture below, we have a full-on climbing-the-wall-and-proud-of-it moment.

While these glimpses of wall-climbing by my grandkids are fun, true climbing-the-wall situations are far from funny.  How about the past eight months?  Does anyone feel like climbing the wall over wearing masks, social distancing, and cramped lifestyles -- among other things?!?!

Here's my husband, my sister and her husband - all masked up and trying to play it safe with only ourselves as company in the Outer Banks this summer.  Who is sick of wearing masks?  Yes, I'm sure we all are, but since it's the only way to gather together and stay safe, we just gotta do it!  As Jesus said, "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise," Luke 6:31.  

Now and then, we probably all feel like we could climb the walls, but rather than trying to do so and falling flat on our faces, let's take a deep breath and trust God to get us through this thing.  We don't understand why all these things are happening, but thankfully, we know the One who is in control of it all - and has a purpose for everything.  I love the verse in Proverbs, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" 3:4, 5.  He will not only direct your path, but He will help you smile through the struggle as you follow that path (:  There's an old saying that brings comfort in times of trouble:  "This too shall pass."

And as for climbing walls, the Psalmist said, "With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall," 18:29 NIV.  And the prophet Joel wrote, "...they scale walls like soldiers," 2:7.  So - yes, when necessary, we can even climb a wall!

A Visit to Smithfield

 

A Visit to Smithfield

It was one of those perfect Autumn days when the sky was brilliant blue, the sun was shining, temps were perfectly pleasant and we were free to roam.  We opted for a drive out to charming, historic Smithfield and had a delightful afternoon.

Since we left home at noon, we went straight to Smithfield Gourmet Bakery and ordered take-out sandwiches which we ate in the car.  I love their chicken salad on sourdough bread.  They butter the bread and grill it - decadently delicious!  Larry had a Smithfield ham sandwich on wheat that he much enjoyed as well.  Thus fortified, we began walking around one of the most charming towns in Virginia!

A number of the lovely homes were built around 1790, with others from the early and mid 1800s.  The town sits on a bluff above the Pagan River, which makes it unique to our flat-land area.  The picture above and below were taken on our walk across the marsh and into Windsor Castle Park later in the day.

There were so many beautifully colored trees along the way.  When sunlight shines through the leaves they glow with the most vibrant colors.  I tried to capture their beauty in pictures, but it doesn't do them justice.

             We also saw a Japanese persimmon tree loaded with beautiful orange fruit (below)

Here are a few more sights along the way --

These boots are made for walking - and aren't they cute!

Joseph Luter was a BIG MAN in town in his day -- as the Luters still are

(although they may not actually be THAT big)

We (meaning Sandra) had to stop in Ivy Hill Cemetery (ca 1887)

No visit to Smithfield is complete without a picture of the Valentine Couple -- 

one of the enduring delights of this unique and special town!

We praise God for the gift of a most beautiful day.

Sola Gratia - by Grace Alone

Carpe Diem -- Seize the Day

Rolling on the River

 

Rolling on the River

A famous song popular in the 1970s repeats the phrase "Rolling on the River" a number of times (the song is Proud Mary).  Well, we had a grand time rolling on the river a few weeks ago on a lovely three-hour cruise with good friends.

Friends who live in this lovely riverside home, kindly invited several of us on an afternoon ride in their motorboat.  God gave us a perfect weather day for the event.  It was wonderful!

Zipping across the water with the wind whipping through your hair feels so free and exciting!  Sometimes we bounced across the rippling wake of another boat and it felt like an amusement park ride, other times we slowly glided through "no wake" zones.  An unexpected delight was coming across a large pod of dolphins.  We stopped and watched them perform synchronized leaps and dives together, never knowing where they would appear next.  It was hard to capture on film, but I managed a couple of glimpses of these elegant creatures.  What a grand display of God's glorious nature!

We saw beautiful riverfront homes and lots of commercial shipping places.  Our area is loaded with commercial and military shipping locations.

I'm reminded of verses I used in another recent post: "Those who go down to the sea in ships...they see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep.  For He commands and raises the stormy wind...He calms the storm, so that its waves are still...So He guides them to their desired haven.  Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" Psalm 107.

Here are a few waterfront sights we saw.  I've always liked tugboats and I think this one is quite handsome.  Then we saw a fisherman, looking relaxed as he sits beside the river.  Wonder if he caught any fish?

We went under a number of bridges.  When rivers and inlets wind all through your cities, you can expect many bridges.  Interestingly, they all have a bit of a different appearance from below.  

This handsome building was built as a Marine hospital back in the 1920s, and later used as a Naval hospital, before serving in various other capacities over the years.  We miss this distinctive view of the building from the street side. Seeing familiar locations from the water offers an entirely different perspective.

We're reminded how seeing things in this world and in our lives from Heaven's view offers us an entirely different perspective as well.  It's true we can't fully understand God's way of doing things, as God says in Isaiah 55:8-9, "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.'"

Nevertheless, if we purposely stop and consider what goes on in our lives and the world around us, and look at it from Heaven's view, we will have a different perspective -- a different attitude and understanding.  Paul wrote, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord" 2 Corinthians 3:18.

And so, rolling on the river provided a beautiful afternoon on many levels.  Thank you, Lord, for the enjoyment of friends and the beauty of your wonderful nature!

Dinner with a Perfect Stranger

 Book Review

Earlier this week, I read an intriguing book by David Gregory.  The book is small - 100 pages in a slim, compact size, but it's big on meaning.  The way I got this book is an interesting story in itself.  I was visiting Sara and family, and we were coming to the end of our walk through lovely Crowder Park.  A Little Library box sits near the parking lot, and my two grandkids flipped through the books looking for anything of interest to them.  It was slim picking for kid books (lots of kids visit the park), so my granddaughter passed on getting anything.  My eight-year old grandson Landon, however, was keen on getting something and he decided he liked the looks of this book.  His Mom explained that it was an adult book, but he insisted he wanted it.  And so, he carried the book to the car.

Since I'm an avid reader, I quite naturally picked up the book in the car and started reading the back cover and several pages.  I was hooked right away.  When we got to Sara's house, I asked if I might borrow the book and I would return it to Landon later.  She laughed, saying she was sure Landon had already forgotten about it and I was welcome to keep it.  Truth is, I believe God wanted me to have that book and He used my sweet little grandson to get it into my hands (:

So, let me tell you a bit about the book.  The story is told from the point of view of Nick, a successful businessman who is going through the motions of life with a marriage on the rocks, seventy-hour work weeks, and an empty soul that needs to be filled by God.  He receives an invitation to dinner with Jesus of Nazareth, at Milano's Restaurant, Tuesday, March 24, at eight o'clock.  Needless to say, he was a bit freaked out by the whole thing, but decided he'd check it out.

Here's what the back cover says, "The normally confident, cynical Nick soon finds himself thrown off-balance, drawn into an intriguing conversation with a baffling man who comfortably discusses everything from world religions to the existence of heaven and hell.  And this man who calls himself Jesus also seems to know a disturbing amount about Nick's personal life.

"The man says to him, 'You're bored, Nick.  You were made for more than this.  You're worried about God stealing your fun, but you've got it backwards... There's no adventure like being joined to the Creator of the universe.'  As the evening progresses, it seems that having dinner with a perfect stranger may change Nick's life forever."

While such a premise for a story might sound a bit sacrilegious, it's really not.  It's more of a "thinking outside the box" type of story that touches the heart and made me consider things in a different light.  When you think about it, Jesus spent three years talking and sharing meals with his many disciples and friends.  Imagine sharing a meal with Him and being able to ask questions.  Imagine how He would know about all of your history, all of your thoughts and needs -- and imagine how much you would feel His love for you through it all.  That's what I got from this little book of conversation and my heart was so touched I wept.  

You see, each of us who is a child of the King have this close, precious relationship with Jesus available to us every minute of every day.  We were created for this wonderful relationship with God.

The perfect ending for the book is found in Revelation 3:20, "Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me" NIV.

Below is an excerpt from the book that touched me deeply.  It's a picture of relationship.  Nick has been questioning God's love for him, so Jesus offers a parable/story that is incredibly moving in the truth it shows us about God's love:

Jesus answers Nick's question about God's love with this story:  "I heard about two boys in fifth grade. One of them made straight A's; the other barely passed every year. Despite their different grades, they were best friends - had been since kindergarten.

"Near the end of the school year, they had a big math test. The first boy sailed through it; the second, who needed to make a C to pass, struggled. After class, the first asked the second how he did. 'I don't think I made it,' he said. That day at recess, while everyone played outside, the first boy sneaked back into the classroom, shuffled through the stack of tests, and found their two. He erased his name on his and wrote his friend's name there and then wrote his name on his friend's."

Nick waited for a second, and said, "That's all?"

"What else were you expecting?"

"Well, the story's not over. When the teacher returned and graded the papers, she would have known what he did."

"No, the story ends there. What does it tell you?"

"That the first kid was willing to exchange his grade so that his friend could pass."

"Yes, and more than that.  What would have happened if the second kid had failed?"

"He would have been held back the next year probably."

"And then..."

"They couldn't have gone through school together anymore."

Jesus paused for a moment, then spoke a little more softly. "God longs to have you with Him. That's why He created you. But your sin separates you from Him. It has to, if God is just. You have to be innocent before God. So, to get you back, God took your sin upon Himself, and He died to pay for it. That satisfies His justice. In exchange, He offers you a not-guilty verdict. He offers it as a free gift."

More Intriguing Photos-Revealed

 

More Intriguing Photos - Revealed

Our first picture is the handsome hide of a Zebra.  I think zebras are beautiful animals.  Look at the way the stripes ring around their legs -- like a snug pair of pajamas.  And no two zebras have the same design, which reminds me of our fingerprints that are one-of-a-kind.  God is truly a master of original, unique creation!

Number two is this stately lion with his spikey fur.  That is one massive head!  This one is at the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk.

Number three is a kiwi vine.  I had never seen a kiwi vine and did not know they could grow in our area, but my cousin has a large vine in his yard in Moyock, NC.  It was neat to see how the exotic fruit grows.

Number four is a very large moth that was in the butterfly house at Durham Science Museum in NC.

Number five looked as if it might have been a strawberry, but it's really a lily (and that rhymes!)

Number six;  there's a good chance you figured this one out.  This is a pretty cat we saw high in the mountains in Spain.  I do think cats are pretty.

Number seven.  I think this one was hard.  Kudos to you if you figured it out.  This massive pelican was perched on the ledge of the pier at St. Simon's Island, Georgia.  It was surprising to see him so "unruffled" as we walked passed and took a picture.

Number eight is a Christian Louboutin ankle boot in the window of an upscale shoe store in Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas.  It's always fun to oogle the super-expensive merchandise and wonder who buys such stuff (:

I hope you enjoyed this little quiz.  There's a spiritual message in everything and in this case, we are reminded that things are not always what they appear to be, and beware that you are not deceived and misled along your path in life.  With that in mind, here are a few Bible verses about deception"

"Let no one deceive you by any means..." 2 Thessalonians 2:3

"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ" Colossians 2:8

Jesus said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" John 8:32.

Also, praise God for all His amazing handiwork and the intricate detail of each and every creation.  Our God is an awesome God and worthy of praise!

More Intriguing Photos

 

MORE INTRIGUING PHOTOS

Last year, I featured an Intriguing Photos post.  I thought it might be fun to post more close-ups of various things and see if you recognize what they are.  Some are familiar and some not so much.  If you'd like to take a quiz and see if you can figure out what they are, write in the comment section and take a guess.  Answers will appear next week.  If you get this post by email, just click on the "Joyful Writer" at the bottom and it will bring you to the blog where you can write a comment.  I'd love to hear from you!

Number one (#1) above is pretty much a gimme, but you need to have at least one easy picture.  Some of them are real doozies (:    Here's an interesting quote about things not being what they seem:  "Don't trust everything you see.  Even salt looks like sugar."

#2

#3 - 

What kind of fruit grows on this vine?

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

Here's another neat quote that seems to speak directly to this quiz:  "If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."  That's for sure!!  

Be brave -- venture some guesses (:

Joyful Bits & Pieces

 JOYOUS BITS & PIECES

I like this photo of a beautiful bright red tree against a green pine tree that I took on October 3 in Crowder Park in Apex, NC.  It signifies the joy of Autumn to me.  It's just part of some joyous bits & pieces I've put together for this post.

I love clever or cute or truth-filled quotes.  Here are some I want to share with you:

---“The meaning of life is finding your gift.  The purpose of life is giving it away.” Pablo Picasso.

---"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey," Babs Hoffman

---"Remember that happiness is a way of travel - not a destination,” Roy M. Goodman

---"Sometimes memories sneak out of my eyes and roll down my cheeks” from a Facebook post

--“Camp in VA state parks – not left lane” and “Don’t be a left lane loafer” - signs on I-264.  These signs reminded me of an experience Larry and I had in London many years ago.  As Larry was slowly adjusting to driving on the "wrong" side of the road, a British gent rolled down his window and said, "The left lane is for overtaking, not for sitting!"

---“Heaven – don’t miss it for this world” - on a sign in front of Outer Banks church

---“I was told there would be tea…” famous Mariah Carey quote from New Year’s Eve 2017 show

---“Joy is a mystery because it can happen anywhere, anytime, even under the most unpromising circumstances, even in the midst of suffering, with tears in its eyes. Even nailed to a tree,” by Frederick Buechner, pastor and author.

As we walked along the paths in Crowder Park, we stopped at a large pond that's filled with all sizes of turtles.  These two guys were sunning themselves on a raft.  I especially like the way they are craning their necks, looking upward toward heaven.  Hmmm...there is surely a message in their posture (:

~ Always - Find Joy in the Journey ~