Sharing Saturdays: Joy

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...Galatians 5:22-23

An ice storm just blew through our little coastal town and what havoc it wreaked! Southerners are not at all used to snow and cold weather. And this was far more. It rained ice. For several days. Most of us were holed up inside our houses with extra supplies. Even today (days after its departure) 6,000 people are still without power.
                                                 
                                                         How was your week?

As you may already know through experience, wet and cold weather is the worst. For me at least, it feels as if it's creeping directly into my muscle fiber in order to torture me. But what I really noticed was that as soon as the storm moved up the coast, the pain was reduced.

I've felt good for the past day or so, but today especially. I am filled with joy!

In my quiet time this morning, I thought about what I wanted to share with you on this particular Saturday. It's joy. Then I asked myself, Can I really share joy? The answer came back quickly...

                              Joy is meant to be shared.

Because I felt so good, I decided to spend time doing ONLY things I love to do. I was tempted to cram everything into the day, but obviously I couldn't. That's the other temptation: To "overdo" it.

So, I chose 3 of my favorite things:

                                                 I love to walk and take pictures - so I did.

                             

I love cappuccino - so I drank one. And then I drank another (but not right away).

I love antiques - so I went antiquing: Score! Score! Score!

I did all of these things in one of my favorite places - downtown Wilmington. I know. It's not top on the list for most people but you've got to love a town that doesn't judge a house by it's color.

I think the key to joy for those of us who suffer daily, is to make the most of every opportunity when it comes. And above all, don't forget to share it with others.

                                                                                              He is faithful and wonderful!

Temptations and Terror

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

For the last several months I've been studying spiritual warfare and the ways our old enemy, the devil, tries to trick and deceive us. Some of the ways he does this are obvious:

Sometimes they're a little more seductive, like the time I was shopping online and a rolling sidebar of men and food creeps up the right side of my computer!

Satan also likes to come at us subtly by stacking up daily discouragements from the world around us. Yesterday, my kids and listened to music as we drove to school. The DJ began to talk about "zombie-like happenings" around the country; people attacking and cannibalizing others, flesh eating microbes and a rash of bizarre violence.

My kids wanted to know: Is this stuff real?

    How do you tell them not to be afraid when the world is filled with terror?

This morning while reading the devotional, Streams in the Desert, I came across this beautiful passage about hopelessness:

"I implore you to not give in to despair. It is a dangerous temptation, because our Adversary has refined it to the point that it is quite subtle. Hopelessness constricts and withers the heart, rendering it unable to sense God's blessings and grace. It also causes you to exaggerate the adversities of life and makes your burdens seem too heavy for you to bear. Yet God's plans for you, and His ways of bringing about His plans, are infinitely wise."  Madam Guyon

Though written in the 1700's, Madam Guyon's words brought comfort for me this morning. I hope they help you to also remember that no matter what happens here on earth, God remains on His throne.