If I were to pick one verse out of the entire Bible which has encouraged and directed my life more than any other verse, I think it would be Colossians 3:3. “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” There are numerous companion versus such as Romans 6:8. “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” These verses, in fact the entire New Testament, highlight the fact of immediacy, that is, that my life in Christ is in the present, every moment of every day.

It’s no secret that a favorite subject of mine concerns our identity in Christ. True personal freedom comes from dying to ourselves and living the life of Christ in you. From a purely intellectual analysis this does not in any sense. Before I accepted Christ and was born again I was incapable of accepting the truth. And yet at that time I was in turmoil, my life and lifestyle bankrupted, unable to satisfy my soul. In contrast I now have perfect inward peace and joy in spite of the threat and storms around me.

What happened? What’s the difference? Salvation!

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  (Romans 10:9-11)

I remember what it was like to wake up early in the morning, shower, dress, shave, and begin my long commute to work. I remember working hard at my job, giving it my best, and then the long commute home. Exhausted from my day I was again called upon to give my very best but this time for my family. By the time I crawled into bed I was very, very tired. You know the drill, five days of it.

That was normal, to be expected. But when cancer attacked we changed worlds. All of a sudden I lived in a world of hurt, the world of constant pain, a world with changing landscapes of other diseases and strange symptoms that go along with my illness. Like it or not my family followed me into this world.

There are occasionally a few moments in the early morning after a good night’s sleep when I almost feel “myself” again. For me, it is a rare feeling, but it gives some clarity to what’s happening in my life.

Those few minutes of clarity, sometimes only two or three minutes, it’s like I’m a young man again who can “dream dreams.” And then the pain starts to come back. And I realize this is my life, a world of pain. And I have to manage it, cope, and compensate. It consumes me.

Whatever life I have leftover from my pain I try to give to my family, church, and friends. But what is left over is not really me but “me in pain.” Even my “leftover life” is hardly life at times. I want to laugh, I want to hug, I want to run in the yard playing tag with my boys, I want to demonstrate love to my family. But everything hurts. Everything..

Is any of this making sense? Let me explain it in a weird way. It’s like my life is actually in another dimension, that dimension being pain. And what you see here is the residue, a shell, a hologram which is not controlled by the real me. “The real me” spends every second trying to ignore the pain. What’s left for you and the rest of the world is something that I’m not very proud of at times.

My pain gives me some perspective on the world around me, the so-called “normal” world.

I see the world of hurt around me and understand a little better the pain felt by those who are not born again. My disease is only of my body. But the disease of sin destroys body, soul, and spirit. Any cure of the body is only temporary-we will all die. (Well, it is possible to be raptured before death.) But the cure for the spirit is free to all who believe, but which cost God much.

Every believer has an obligation to be an evangelist in some degree, in some venue, to some people. There are some people, of course, who have the gift of evangelism. But for the rest of us, no matter how difficult it is, we must be ready to give an answer for the hope lies within us.

Let us not forget the “world of hurt” that people around us live in. Let us show compassion and stay alert for the opportunity to share in the truth in love. It will come up so let’s don’t miss it.

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Earlier I was thinking of the words to a song: “No more let sin or sorrows grow nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found.” I love the clarity of these words. I love the optimism, the hope, the life, or should I say the “Life” in these words. Immanuel. God with us. He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found-even in a world of hurt. Hallelujah!

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” — Romans 11:33

God doesn’t say, “Into each life a little rain must fall,” and then aim a hose in earth’s general direction to see who gets the wettest. Rather, He screens the trials that come to each of us, allowing only those that accomplish His good plan. He takes no joy in human agony. Nothing happens by accident, not even tragedy, not even sins committed against us. God is in control, and that’s what I love about Him.

True, God’s decrees allow suffering, but He doesn’t “do” the suffering. He’s not the one wielding the club. For instance, in Job’s story, God exploited the deliberate evil of some very bad characters and the impersonal evil of some very bad storms without smothering anyone or anything.

These are deep waters: God exploits but doesn’t smother? How does He pull it off? Welcome to the world of finite humans trying to comprehend an infinite God. What’s clear is that God permits all sorts of things He doesn’t approve of. He allows others to do what He would never do. He didn’t steal Job’s camels or entice bandits to wreak havoc; yet He didn’t take His hand off the wheel for thirty seconds either.

This idea often doesn’t sit well with people. But think of the alternative: What if God insisted on a hands-off policy toward the tragedies swimming your ay? The devil would be unrestrained. Left to his own, he would make Jobs of us all. But God curbs evil. Evil can only raise its head where God deliberately backs away–always for reasons that are specific, wise, and good but often hidden during this present life. (Estes)

Do your circumstances seem to be careening out of control? Remember that God is with you through it, loving you and caring…and allowing the details to play out exactly in accordance with his plan.

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God, enable me to trust in Your love even when life seems wild and crazy and out of control.

Blessings,
Joni and Friends

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” — Psalm 34:8

I love the day after Thanksgiving. There’s nothing like turkey sandwiches with cold stuffing and cranberry sauce spread right on soft, white bread. And day-old pumpkin pie? Yum.

Yesterday, on Thanksgiving, Ken and I read through some Old Testament passages to help us get in to a “gratitude” spirit. We discussed the wonderful things God did in the past like parting the Red Sea and rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. God served up a full course meal of spectacular miracles back then.

But what about today? Are we tasting “leftovers” just because no seas are parting? Is God serving up something less than his “best” if he chooses to reveal himself through the pages of his word rather than through the pillar of fire and cloud of smoke? God’s acts are no less mighty and our thanksgivings are no less earnest then those who laid themselves prostrate in the Old Testament. God didn’t just flex His muscles in ancient times to leave us with leftovers. When He served up His mighty acts in the Old Testament, God didn’t say, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good” only to dish out to us something less than His best. Nothing is ever “day old” or warmed up when it comes to God’s workings. What He does always tastes good, is delightful, and is worthy of thanksgiving.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good” : God may have given Solomon wisdom, but hasn’t He done the same for you? He may have delivered Gideon, but hasn’t He rescued you as well? God satisfied the mouth of David with good things, but hasn’t the Lord also fattened your soul with more blessings than you can count? Which of us has not been made to lie down in green pastures? We all know what it’s like to be led by still waters.

“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:1-2). While the Thanksgiving blessings are still fresh in your mind, while the prayers of gratitude are still echoing around the table, forget not all His benefits.

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I give thanks, God, that You were good to the people of old, and that I can say with them, oh taste and see. The Lord is good.

Blessings,
Joni and Friends

“But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.” —Psalm 68:3

We’re often taught to be careful of the difference between joy and happiness. Happiness, it is said, is an emotion that depends upon what ‘happens.’ Joy by contrast, is supposed to be enduring, stemming deep from within our soul and which is not affected by the circumstances surrounding us.

It’s an appropriate linguistic distinction, I suppose. But I don’t think God had any such hair-splitting in mind. Scripture uses the terms interchangeably along with words like delight, gladness, blessed. There is no scale of relative spiritual values applied to any of these. Happiness is not relegated to fleshly-minded sinners nor joy to heaven-bound saints.

The terms are synonymous in their effect and too difficult to distinguish when we experience either one. Would you, for example, respond to the wedding of your daughter with joy or with happiness? Are you happy that your friend came to know Christ or are you joyful? Is the moment of euphoric delight in worship of him on Sunday morning just a happenstance or just as much a part of Jesus’ promise regarding our redeemed souls?

To rob joy of its elated twin, happiness, is to deprive our soul of God’s feast. Seek both as part and parcel in all circumstances. When your soul is stirred by a deep contentment, be happy. When a delightful moment strikes that is quite outside yourself, be joyful. Don’t think about which one you are supposed to feel. Accept them both as a gift from a God who is rich in all such emotions.

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Lord, I seek the blessing of a joyful heart, the gladness of a happy countenance, and the delight of your eternal pleasure today.

Blessings,
Joni and Friends

“On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine– the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth…” — Isaiah 25:6-8

There is no mistaking. This is a real banquet. In heaven, after death is swallowed up, and the Lord wipes away the tears from all faces, a banquet will be served. It will be “the best of meats” and “aged wine… the finest of wines.” But wait. Suppose you are a vegetarian and you can’t stand wine? What then? Come to think of it, what animal will have to die to give up his top round roast? I thought there was no more death in heaven? you think. And will someone be back in the kitchen shuffling pots and pans? Will Arabs eat with their fingers? Asians use chopsticks? Will people in hell do cleanup duty?

Wait. Stop. We’re making the mistake of pursuing the meaning of heaven with the Lincoln Logs of our logic. If we were able to scale heaven’s walls with the grappling irons of human understanding, then our faith wouldn’t mean very much. Trying to grasp heaven is like trying to admire the outside of a huge cathedral with grand windows. Standing outside, the building is striking, but has no real glory; yet if you go inside the cathedral — which is a little like looking at heaven through eyes of faith — you are breathless as you stand washed in glorious colors from the light that streams through the window. (Hawthorne)

Questions aside, the point is that the passage is real. As strange as it seems, today’s verse underscores that the whole scene in heaven is very real. There’s nothing wispy or vaporous about wine and meat. And there’s no doubt it’ll taste great.

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Lord of heaven, thank you for passages like these which paint a very real and tasty, a very desirable picture of heaven. Help me to live in the light of such heavenly promises today.

Blessings,
Joni and Friends

“Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The LORD declares.’…This is what each of you keeps on saying to his friend or relative:

‘What is the LORD’s answer?’ or ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ But you must not mention ‘the oracle of the LORD’ again, because every man’s own word becomes his oracle and so you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God.” — Jeremiah 23:31,35-36

We play fast and loose with the Word of God these days. In-depth Bible study and examining verses in their context takes too much time. People seem to prefer instant revelation and ‘words of knowledge’ on the spot.

I’ve noticed how many believers say, “The Lord told me that thus-and-such is going to happen.” They proceed to give God’s take on the situation, whether it be his answer concerning a marital problem, a career choice, or a reprimand meant for a friend. Actually, I hear it all the time: “Joni, the Lord told me that you will be out of that wheelchair in less than a year.” Their sentiments are well-meaning, but their words are… well, frightening. Frankly, I’m speechless when a Christian prefaces any comment with “The Lord told me…”. Who am I to question the Lord? How can I possible engage this brother or sister in a meaningful debate if they claim they are speaking ex cathedra, or “from the Throne”? It’s a dead end discussion.

“What has the Lord told you?” and “Have you received a word from the Lord?” are phrases packed with presumption. Jeremiah knew this. Division and confusion were running rampant during the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Nobody wanted to listen to the Word of the Lord from Jeremiah forecasting doom and gloom. And so, they leaned on human logic and false hopes in an attempt to pump up people’s confidence in the ability of Jerusalem to withstand the siege. They tried to calm fears and raise expectations by saying, “The Lord told me…” The truth was, God had already spoken in and through the Word.

Get into the practice of speaking for yourself, rather than God. After all, he’s already made his word clear.

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Lord, keep me from presumption. Energize me to delve into your Word.

Blessings,
Joni and Friends

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” — Hebrews 13:15-16

Ken and I worship in a small church. The Pomeroy family, including the youngest, Veronica, usually sits a few rows in front of us. Veronica likes to wear pretty hats over her blonde hair. She also coughs a lot. I used to think she was plagued by frequent colds. I later learned she has cystic fibrosis, a severe lung disease which clogs her breathing passages with phlegm. I sometimes watch Veronica during worship service. Especially when we sing hymns. She gasps in between the lines and I wonder what God must be thinking as he receives her praise. Actually, I already know. “With such sacrifices God is pleased.” More than pleased, God’s greatness is magnified when Veronica determines to wheeze her way through a hymn — her gutsy praise demonstrates how special she thinks God is. What’s more, with her limited lung capacity, Veronica inspires me to fill my chest and harmonize with all my heart. Praise is then multiplied!

As we grit our teeth to offer praise for who he is, we are living out Psalm 141:2, “May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” A sacrifice of praise demonstrates the enormously high value we attach to him. God is pleased with the praise you give him, but he swells with joy when the praise he breathes has the aroma of a sweet smelling sacrifice. Today, pick an attribute out of your pain and proclaim, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12-13).

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I praise you, Lord, for being so faithful, so consistent, so merciful and compassionate to me, even through — especially through — the hurt.

Blessings,
Joni and Friends

“He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.” — Psalm 50:23

Suppose a woman with arthritis in her hands embroidered a set of pillowcases for you as a “thank you” gift. The gift would mean more to you than if sewn by a woman with nimble fingers. Why? Because the arthritic woman expended extraordinary effort. Her “thank you” involved cost and sacrifice. You’d weigh the extra hours she invested, the frequent breaks she took to rub her knuckles, the pain she endured with each tiny stitch. Most likely, you would be moved to tears. Her suffering “glorified” her gratitude, making it more valuable in your eyes.

If we respond this way to sacrifices, how much more is God enthused when we sacrifice thank offerings to him? When trials sandblast you to the core and your bruised feelings are screaming, “Forget God!” or your weary mind is too clouded to see through the fog, this is the time to express to God gratitude. True, such gratitude involves cost and sacrifice — it costs your logic and you sacrifice your pride. But your thank offering is glorified as you push through the pain to present gratitude to God for his blessings.

Is there a trial which is souring your disposition toward God? Fostering doubts? Drying up your zeal? You have a chance to change that as you honor God today with a sacrifice of thanksgiving. List the many things for which you can give thanks, including the basics of life, or the support of friends. Your suffering will shape your thanksgiving into a true sacrifice of gratitude, preparing the way for God to shower grace upon grace on you. Don’t postpone it. Sacrifice to him now.

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I thank you, Lord, for the ability to see, hear, think, pray, the blessings of shelter, food, friends and the many other evidences of your love. I’m hurting in this trial… but it helps to present you this sacrifice of thanks.

Blessings,
Joni and Friends