More Joy

MORE JOY

My latest book is one that encourages finding joy in the ordinary, mundane things of life - and being aware of God's presence all around us.  I've written the book as a 40-day devotional that will help encourage the reader to see things in the world around us from heaven's view.

Here's what Sarah Young wrote on the subject in her book Jesus Calling.  She writes as if Jesus is speaking these words to us:  "I speak to you continually: through sights, sounds, thoughts, impressions, Scripture.  There is no limit to the variety of ways I can communicate with you.  Your part is to be attentive to My messages, in whatever form they come. When you set out to find Me in a day, you discover that the world is vibrantly alive with My Presence."

This is a book I've been working on - a little here, a little there - for about three years.  I chose a picture I'd taken in Zurich, Switzerland for the cover because it's one of those cobblestone roads through an old city that is so intriguing and just seems to draw you into the scene.  Because this book is full of pictures that are part of the story, I've chosen to make it all in color.  I've also included a couple of questions at the end of each day's devotional to help make it more personal.  I hope you are blessed by the messages in the book and that you will feel the joy of God's presence each day of your life.

Here is an excerpt from the book - Day 13, entitled "Beware These Guys:  Prickly People"

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger”

 Proverbs 15:1

Micah 7:4 describes a people who are prickly and hard to deal with:  "The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge."  For some reason, this verse reminds me of these reptilian Green Iguanas.  While these creatures are fascinating to look at, they are also a bit scary.  In fact, the guide who took us to this Iguana Farm on St. Maarten Island in the Caribbean warned us not to get too close to these green boys.  He threw out some fruit to draw them onto the sidewalk so we could take pictures, but just know -- I'm using a zoom to get these shots.

 Painful Words

Even though people commonly have iguanas for pets, they can never truly be tamed.  They remain a wild animal and can produce a painful, damaging bite with no provocation or warning.  That long tail you see above can also cause damage when it whips around in a stinging slap.  This green lizard is obviously not a warm, cuddly pet -- although it certainly is an exotic one.

Thinking about how volatile and prickly these iguanas can be, reminds me of how some people can also be volatile and prickly.  The scripture in Micah describes such people when it compares them to briers and thorns -- sharp little suckers that can unexpectedly prick your finger, drawing blood and leaving a painful cut.  Thorns are small, but they can do some damage -- sort of like those small, yet very sharp teeth in the mouth of an iguana.

Words from the mouth of a prickly person can do damage as well.  That old saying, "Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you," is so far off the mark, it should be thrown out the window.  Words can hurt -- badly.  In fact, they can sometimes hurt far worse than mere sticks and stones.

Proverbs has numerous verses about hurtful words:

    "...a harsh word stirs up anger" 15:1.

    "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" 12:18.

    "With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor..." 11:9.

    "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit" 18:21.

 Fruit of the Spirit

So, how can we as believers make sure we control our prickly side?  I think the more we cultivate the fruit of the Spirit - through the power of the Spirit working in our lives -- the more we can enjoy a sweet spirit and a non-iguana personality.  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law" Galatians 5:22-23.  Follow the truth in these verses and you will soon be prickle-proof.

I recently read something I think goes well with this subject:  "Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."

~~Making it Personal:

 -When are you most vulnerable to a harsh word being stirred up in you?

  -What are the fruits of the Spirit you’re most comfortable with?  Which are hardest for you?