JUMP NOW! Hero one day...zero the next.

 



Hero one day...
zero the next. 
I've had several pastor's teach that through out my life time. I listened OK, I took notes, but I guess it didn't fully soak in at the time. A lot seems to be soaking in in the past several years.
Now that I am older and much wiser
(hhhhmmmmm?), perhaps it is all making more sense to me now.

If I have learned anything from my experience with blogging and my "Joy," Face Book page, it is that people are hurting. Doesn't matter why or how, they just are. I used to know that way back in the recess of my mind. Whenever someone reaches out to me, it almost always starts with, "He said, she said, they did, then I did, well then, then this happened and she said....!"  It's a common thread. CHAOS. The devil just LOVES every moment of it! Chaos is NOT from God. Just fill in the blanks as to who said what and who did what and everyone has a similar hurt and story. Way back it wasn't my concern though. My concern back, "then," was raising my kids disguised as the perfect mom and worrying about what other people think.

Ha!...haha.........hahahaha!

Well, as I hear the teen crowd croon, I also repeat with vigor, 

"Ain't NOBODY got time for that!!"......at least anymore.

But it's even deeper than that. It has become an epiphany for me that through out my life that people LOVE ME!

Well, That is..

1. As long as I create crafts or artwork for them.
2. As long as I speak the truth in love, BUT not to them.
3. As long as I am honest, BUT NOT about them.
4. As long as I voice my opinion, BUT they don't have to back me up.
5. As long as I provide them with material objects.

Luckily, I no longer care about people agreeing with me or giving me accolades. That might make me sound like a yellow eyed monster, but let me tell you, "I have gotten off the train of chaos and I am permanently, joyfully, camping out here!" 

IT is ONE OF THE BEST MOVES I'VE EVER MADE.

Don't get me wrong. It is very nice and confirming when someone is kind, gives me a compliment or lifts me up. But that is no longer what sustains me.

 I answer to the Lord and the Lord only.

Relief. Respite. Calm. Peace. Contentment.

These are the amazing feelings that God allows me to have when I am obedient to Him. Calgon and the WORLD promises this stuff, but only God can provide it.

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. 

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

Disappointment. Chaos. Craziness. Depression. 

Lack of contentment.

These are the horrible feelings the devil loves me to feel if I rely on people and their response to me. He wants relationships to fail. He's very successful.

Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; 

for we are not ignorant of his devices. 

2 Corinthians 2:10-11

And also don't get me wrong....I am here to listen. But I also want to encourage anyone and everyone, to JUMP- NOT step lightly or tiptoe or swim slowly and leisurely but JUMP quickly OFF the BOAT of CHAOS with me. 

Once again the Lord provides me with joy and contentment that even I can't figure out or comprehend. But I have a pretty good feeling it has to do with studying His word with diligence and priority and doing my best to be obedient to His plans, not my desires. People have been feeling sorry for me because of my progressive pain and illness. But what they don't understand is that I am happier and more content than I've ever been. ONLY God provides that. Not the ability to walk or vacation or DO stuff.

I pray that you jump today.

You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

Psalm 16:11 NKJV

Thank you to my husband, who helped to teach this to me. Now I ride with him in the canoe of contentment rather than the cruise boat of chaos. 

Praise God!

.....but I still love real cruises, just sayin'