Joy

 Jumping for Joy -- don't you love it!  My granddaughter's zest for life is beautiful and it's something we all want to experience regardless of the years we've spent on this earth.  It's not likely we can all leap up in the air as she is able to do, but we can all feel a smiling inner spirit regardless of our outward limitations.  God has a lot to say about joy since it's something He wants for each of us.  "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.

Adding to what God says about joy, I've found some delightful quotes from others on the subject of joy and how to find it.  Here are a few:

--"Today, let us swim wildly, joyously, in gratitude," Rumi.

--"Joy is the simplest form of gratitude," Karl Barth

--"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle," Albert Einstein

--"Never let the thing you want make you forget the things you have."

--"Gratitude turns what we have into enough," Aesop

--"Remember when you wanted what you currently have?"

--"There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy," Ralph H. Blum

Hoping you will find joy in the journey as you walk through this day that God has given to you.  "Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.  How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth!" Psalm 47:1-2.

Clouds

      The view from the terrace of the Rivera Hotel in Disney World is lovely, but what I most enjoyed about this view is the sky filled with a myriad of glorious clouds of every shape and size, as far as the eye can see!  Amazing!

      In Sarah Young's book, Jesus Calling, she writes as if Jesus is speaking to us, saying, "Seek My Face, and you will find more than you ever dreamed possible.  I am like a supersaturated cloud, showering Peace into the pool of your mind.  My Nature is to bless.  Glorify Me by receiving My blessings gratefully," (January 19 entry).

       I daresay Peace is one of the things we all want most out of life, yet so often find hard to achieve.  Just as God fills the sky with beautiful, useful clouds, He can fill our hearts and minds with beautiful Peace.  Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

       One of my favorite peace promises from God is found in Philippians 4:6-7:  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

       I look at those wonderful clouds and see several ways they are blessings from God.  Clouds bring us rain, something we don't want to come down on our picnic or parade, but something the entire world depends on.  Then, there is much-needed shade on a hot, sunny day; and don't forget the fun we have seeing various shapes marching across the sky.

        Whether it's clouds full of rain, supplying shade, offering fluffy white funny shapes, or being supersaturated showering peace upon us -- God provides for us so lovingly and beautifully each and every day of our lives.  

         Let's give thanks to our awesome Father God and all His gracious gifts to us!  "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; His mercy is everlasting," Psalm 100:4-5.

Danger

DANGER

     Have you ever observed a hawk who is looking for dinner?  I snapped the photo of this bird in Duck, North Carolina, along a boardwalk that extends into the Currituck Sound.  I couldn't help but compare its demeanor to that of a demon.  Now, I'm not saying that a hawk is evil, but just pointing out similarities in their hunting practices.  

     The hawk sits perched on the tree limb, watching, ready to pounce.  He is vigilant, head swiveling, searching for prey to devour.  That also describes the behavior of a demon, a very real being who is eager to snap up unwary people.

      Notice the sharp, curved beak on this bird.  He has even sharper talons on his feet.  I've seen what he does to a tender dove when he gets it in his grasp - and it's not a pretty sight!

      When the hawk sees a smaller bird in the distance, he swoops out of the tree, wide wingspan sailing after the little thing.  The smaller, slower bird tries to hide inside a bush.  A life and death battle ensues.

    Of course, there is a spiritual message in this scenario.  Our greatest enemies, Satan and his minions, are always on the lookout for victims.  We're told in Job 1:7, that Satan spends much of his time, "going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it."  These are words from his own lips when he told God what he'd been doing at that time.  You can be sure as he's walking to and fro that he's looking for whomever and whatever he can destroy.  Not only he, but his followers are all in the same business -- destruction, damage, and discouragement. 

     The enemy is no slouch.  They've been around since the beginning of time and they are aware of our weaknesses, but God has promised not to allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle:  "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it," 1 Corinthians 10:13.  Even so, we need to be vigilant and remain close to God.

     Thankfully, we have an advantage over a little bird trying to escape a hawk.  We have a heavenly Father, a Savior Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who are our protectors, and they are far greater than our worst enemy.  "Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name,'" Luke 10:17; and "You believe that there is one God.  You do well.  Even the demons believe -- and tremble!" James 2:19.

     Whenever you become aware that a demon, like a hawk, is watching you, ready to pounce, call upon Holy God for His protection.  James reminds us that we only need to, "Submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you," 4:7.  The enemy won't just quietly turn away, he will flee, meaning to run away as fast as he can!  That's pretty powerful -- and that power is available to us through Almighty God.  Praise the Lord for His tender watch care over His children!