Unspeakable Joy

My blogging is a time for me to share my thoughts, struggles, joy and love for Christ.  I often have several drafted and written but don't post as I continue to work on them.  I came across this one and wanted to post as a reminder in this new year.  Let's seek joy in all we do for this year to come.  Let's be joyful in the story God is writing in our life (even when it's hard) and show others the joy we receive when we make that decision to accept him as our Lord and Savior.----

(written early November)
A few nights ago I stayed up way past my bedtime watching the movie "God's Not Dead" (an excellent movie if you haven't seen it).  It was a blessing from God to see it because it was the reset I needed for the work we have been called to.  Lately life has been hard.  And I don't mean with the kids or family, but we have been under attack spiritually for quite some time now and it's tiring.  As soon as one thing clears up our enemy presses down on us with another.  A few days ago J was struggling with the work needed to be done.  One of his gifts is mercy.  While this is an essential part of him and makes him who he is at heart, our enemy likes to take and twist this so J ends up allowing others to take advantage or run over him.  His eyes get blinded to the truth at hand and a haze sets over him.  When the situations are brought up, he can see the truth but does not necessarily want to deal with it.  It's easier if there is no conflict.  And I'll admit this is something I deal with (people pleaser- I don't want anyone upset with me and I will often let people take advantage of me) but not to the degree J struggles.  We have had many tasks present themselves that makes us ask ourselves, "why is this happening?  why do I have to deal with this now?"  J gave the example of your All Star 3rd baseman who makes 3 errors during the final game of the World Series- why now?  And ultimately, we understand and know (thanks in part to Fred- president of AIM) that these attacks are simply our enemy fighting with all he has.  Fighting to get us down, fighting to make us feel alone and tired, fighting to make us lose our joy.  And believe me, it can be very easy to lose your joy.  But seeing this movie helped renew and restore my joy.  As J and I discussed these attacks, I realized that at the heart of it this is the goal- these attacks come to steal our joy. Because let's face it, this world is not all rainbows and sunshine.  But thanks to one sacrifice, one death on a cross, one Son, we are renewed with a hope of something far greater and better.  Praise God for these reminders of the joy we have now and the joy to come.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16