Are you still doing the Einstein exercise? (Not sure what I am talking about? CLICK HERE Before you push play on the video take a moment to prepare yourself: write down your to do list, put on a comfy pair of pants and make yourself some tea.
Take a deep breath in, close your eyes, and release the breath slowly. Feel yourself relax.
Okay, are you ready? Push play.
Take a deep breath in, close your eyes, and release the breath slowly. Feel yourself relax.
Okay, are you ready? Push play.
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Here is my little bundle of "Joy". She is a continuous reminder of choosing Joy through all tests, triumphs and everything in between. |
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Journal Time
- Read through and study James 1:2-4 on your own. Write it in your journal. What is it saying to you. What stands out as you read it? Follow the footnotes and really study this passage and its origins.
- Currently, how are you growing and nurturing your relationship with Christ?
- Spend time in prayer this week specifically asking the Holy Spirit to develop Joy deep within your being.
This week we are going to hang out in Philippians. You are going to need your Bible and a highlighter for this lesson.
Story Time
For the first few years of our marriage my husband was a youth pastor. After our first child was born, I was finding his job very difficult on our family. We lived in another town than where the church was located and that was part of the problem. Youth pastors put in long hours and some days Dustin came home to sleep for a few hours and then go right back to the church the next day.
Children change your life; in all areas. I had happily worked alongside my husband in ministry through the years and now I felt as though the same ministry was stealing my husband and our daughters father. Our oldest daughter was just a few weeks old when my husband had an overnight trip booked with the youth group. As you can probably guess, I was not happy with being left home alone again. Our new daughter had a bit of a rough start and we were just coming out of that, and I still wasn't feeling 100% either.
After a long day running the youth program my husband called in the early evening to say Hi and I was not very joyful. In fact, my husband didn't even want to talk to me. He said that I needed to change my attitude - nothing like your husband keeping you in check. Ouch! He told me that he would call back in an hour, but I had to promise that I would read the book of Philippians and underline the words joy or rejoice. You need to understand that I am a fairly stubborn individual (I like to refer to myself as determined) so this was something that I did not want to agree to, but I knew in my heart that this was something that I really didn't have a choice in. So I agreed.
I remember walking around my house trying to find something to do other than read Philippians. Then I got my Bible out and set it on the island and just stood there looking at it for a while. Then I glanced at the clock and realized I had better get started or there was a chance that Dustin wouldn't want to talk to me again. So highlighter in hand and Bible open to the book of Philippians I start speed reading just looking for the words joy and rejoice so I can highlight them and get this exercise over with.
Then a heaviness comes over me and I know that I am meant to learn more than the number of times you can find the words joy or rejoice in the book of Philippians. So I start again - this time for real. I closed my eyes, let the silence settle over me and prayed for what I needed to learn.
It was like Paul had written a personal letter to me. It was like there was a washing of understanding coming over as me and I read the book with new eyes. When Dustin called back I hadn't finished reading the book, but it didn't matter. He could tell the difference in the tone of my voice when I answered the phone.
Children change your life; in all areas. I had happily worked alongside my husband in ministry through the years and now I felt as though the same ministry was stealing my husband and our daughters father. Our oldest daughter was just a few weeks old when my husband had an overnight trip booked with the youth group. As you can probably guess, I was not happy with being left home alone again. Our new daughter had a bit of a rough start and we were just coming out of that, and I still wasn't feeling 100% either.
After a long day running the youth program my husband called in the early evening to say Hi and I was not very joyful. In fact, my husband didn't even want to talk to me. He said that I needed to change my attitude - nothing like your husband keeping you in check. Ouch! He told me that he would call back in an hour, but I had to promise that I would read the book of Philippians and underline the words joy or rejoice. You need to understand that I am a fairly stubborn individual (I like to refer to myself as determined) so this was something that I did not want to agree to, but I knew in my heart that this was something that I really didn't have a choice in. So I agreed.
I remember walking around my house trying to find something to do other than read Philippians. Then I got my Bible out and set it on the island and just stood there looking at it for a while. Then I glanced at the clock and realized I had better get started or there was a chance that Dustin wouldn't want to talk to me again. So highlighter in hand and Bible open to the book of Philippians I start speed reading just looking for the words joy and rejoice so I can highlight them and get this exercise over with.
Then a heaviness comes over me and I know that I am meant to learn more than the number of times you can find the words joy or rejoice in the book of Philippians. So I start again - this time for real. I closed my eyes, let the silence settle over me and prayed for what I needed to learn.
It was like Paul had written a personal letter to me. It was like there was a washing of understanding coming over as me and I read the book with new eyes. When Dustin called back I hadn't finished reading the book, but it didn't matter. He could tell the difference in the tone of my voice when I answered the phone.
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - REJOICE! Philippians 4:4
Philippians:
Written by Paul around A.D. 62 while he was in a prison in Rome. I have heard a couple of different versions of what the prison would have been like. He would have been chained to a guard while he was writing this letter to the people in Philippi. I have also heard that the Roman sewer ran toward the prison and basically the floors of the prison were covered in waste. Can you imagine writing about joy in that circumstance? If you understand what Paul is teaching about joy in this book then you would know that it would be easy to write about joy and to rejoice while sitting in waste.
This is why: Happiness depends on happenings, things around us. Joy is different. So Paul may not have been happy with sitting in sewage but he had joy because joy is an inner confidence that come from knowing Jesus Christ.
Philippi was a special place for Paul because it was the first church that he founded in Europe. The first Christian was Lydia (the seller of purple cloths), the church was predominately women. This letter is a letter of encouragement to continue to grow in their faith. To press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 3:14
This a personal letter to each of us. May we be encouraged and find the true understanding of joy.
Written by Paul around A.D. 62 while he was in a prison in Rome. I have heard a couple of different versions of what the prison would have been like. He would have been chained to a guard while he was writing this letter to the people in Philippi. I have also heard that the Roman sewer ran toward the prison and basically the floors of the prison were covered in waste. Can you imagine writing about joy in that circumstance? If you understand what Paul is teaching about joy in this book then you would know that it would be easy to write about joy and to rejoice while sitting in waste.
This is why: Happiness depends on happenings, things around us. Joy is different. So Paul may not have been happy with sitting in sewage but he had joy because joy is an inner confidence that come from knowing Jesus Christ.
Philippi was a special place for Paul because it was the first church that he founded in Europe. The first Christian was Lydia (the seller of purple cloths), the church was predominately women. This letter is a letter of encouragement to continue to grow in their faith. To press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 3:14
This a personal letter to each of us. May we be encouraged and find the true understanding of joy.
Journal Time
Get your highlighter ready. It's your turn to discover Philippians. Over the next week read through the book, highlight the words joy and rejoice and journal about what you learn through this exercise.
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I would like to introduce our guest speaker Becky Strahle:
She lives in Franklin, TN with her high school sweetheart and their two daughters. She has Etsy and Big Cartel shops called Farmgirl Paints where she shares her love of words through custom cuffs and original artwork. When she's not busy cuffing or painting, you can find her writing and documenting her love of life, faith, family and fun on her blog Farmgirl Paints. Take a moment to quiet your heart, pour yourself a cup of tea and enjoy. |
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Journal Time
Notes from Becky's talk:
Take a few minutes to journal what spoke to you during Becky's talk. In a couple of days come back and watch it again and spend more time in your journal. Let it all soak in.
- Use your gifts. Psalms 16:11
- Lead a life pleasing to the Lord - be obedient. John 15:10-12
- Count your blessings and praise Him for what He has done. Psalms 27:6, Psalms 71:23, Psalms 92:4-5
- Remember what He has done, and rely on Him fully. Psalms 44:6-8
Take a few minutes to journal what spoke to you during Becky's talk. In a couple of days come back and watch it again and spend more time in your journal. Let it all soak in.
Be still, take a deep breath - calm your spirit - prepare your heart...........
You are different. You are unique. It is okay. It's the way that you have been created.
Your heavenly Father created you for a such a time as this - stand up and be different!
That has been a heavy message on my heart over the past few weeks. We have two tween girls and this is difficult concept to understand when everyone around you is trying to fit in. This same message showed up in my Sunday School material and I have had several conversations about the same thing.
It is okay to be different, it is who we are called to be. We are not to conform to worldly standards.
My daughter came home after a tough day at school, we had a bit of a talk and she went up to her room. I knew she was crying, as I sat defeated in the kitchen a friend texted me just to say Hi, and it came at the perfect time. I told her what was going on and she texted this back:
Your heavenly Father created you for a such a time as this - stand up and be different!
That has been a heavy message on my heart over the past few weeks. We have two tween girls and this is difficult concept to understand when everyone around you is trying to fit in. This same message showed up in my Sunday School material and I have had several conversations about the same thing.
It is okay to be different, it is who we are called to be. We are not to conform to worldly standards.
My daughter came home after a tough day at school, we had a bit of a talk and she went up to her room. I knew she was crying, as I sat defeated in the kitchen a friend texted me just to say Hi, and it came at the perfect time. I told her what was going on and she texted this back:
Sometimes the high road is a lonely road but the view is spectacular!
What a great reminder. As we choose to live the Fruits of the Spirit in our lives the roads we will travel may be difficult but the view is spectacular! Don't you just love that word - Spectacular. Say it out loud - Spectacular! Say- The view is spectacular! Say- I am spectacular!
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when you faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4
Our Father who loves us conditionally and is sovereign over all things, including the trials that we face. We can face these trials with spiritual, enduring, complete JOY that comes from the Lord.
Why?
Because we are Spectacular! Trials are going to come, and testing will grow our character. My daughter is in the beginning stages of trying to understand this, I am still trying to grasp the concept myself but I know that life comes in seasons and I will strive to live each season with integrity and being an example of the fruit of the spirit in all things. It is a tall order but I know that many eyes are watching my example and do not want to miss one opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Why?
Because we are Spectacular! Trials are going to come, and testing will grow our character. My daughter is in the beginning stages of trying to understand this, I am still trying to grasp the concept myself but I know that life comes in seasons and I will strive to live each season with integrity and being an example of the fruit of the spirit in all things. It is a tall order but I know that many eyes are watching my example and do not want to miss one opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Journal Time
Since beginning this journey in the Fruit of the Spirit have you found that you are different, that you seem to not fit in the world around you? How does that make you feel?
- What stands out to you from James 1:2-4? How is this working out in your life?
- Do you have a better understanding of Joy? How has the word "Joy" changed for you?
- Is Joy a choice that you feel you can make? Why or why not?
This week remember that YOU are spectacular!