Project Imitator Of Christ

 

We all know and have seen the signs of John 3:16, “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.” but how many of us actually live as though we are His beloved? I know this has been a lifelong challenge both loving myself and truly loving others as Christ would, so often I have felt like a fraud. So I’m going to share with you a project that I’m taking on of self improvement. I will be looking for ways to show my love of God to God and others. I imagine that this will make a change in me.

I will be living out to the best of my ability the love of God and Ephesians 5:3-6, “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person or – such a man is an idolater – has any inheritance ian the kingdom of God.”  These things of the world are accepted by the world but not by God. He is the only constant in life. Whatever He says today or yesterday remains because He is consistent. As I work on these goals, to love and be loving, and to rid myself of greed, impurity, obscenity, foolish talking and coarse joking  (for these things cannot remain in one who is loving God) I will be keeping you posted on my progress. 

Joy  – A Woman After God’s Own Heart!

A Fellow Sojourner In Christ! 

 

 

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Jesus Loves Me!

There is the sound of meals rolling down the aisle of the ward and the distinction of plastic utensils for every meal or the calling of staff for the starting of a group to attend.

During the weekdays it wasn’t bad. We kept busy with groups and doctor visits but weekends were awful. You may wait around all day in the hopes of a visitor, but most of the time was spent in your room or pacing the hall. There was rarely enough staff to take us out in what was referred to as outside. Ounce you got out, there was a very high chain-link fence to keep anyone from leaving. The other option was the TV room, which was also only assessable when there was enough staff to watch everyone. These rarely happened because the unit was usually under staffed.

During one of my hospital stays I met a precious little angel, we’ll call, Annie. This dear soul had down syndrome, was blind, heard voices (schizophrenia), and loved Jesus with all her heart. When the voices got really bad the only thing that would calm her down was singing, “Jesus Loves Me”.

She didn’t spend anytime outside her room with the general population. It never occurred to me to ask the staff why. I can only guess that it was too much stimuli for her to handle. There were a couple of us that would visit her during our down time from groups and meals. Any time we would hear Annie screaming we would get to her as soon as possible to hold her hands and talk to her about what the voices were telling her and the fallacy in what they were saying, pray with her and if all that didn’t work we would sing, “Jesus Loves Me”. As she started feeling better she would join us in singing. Such a simple song, that rang out the words of truth. A song that brought such comfort and healing.

For some reason that none of us will ever know why, they decided Annie should be transferred somewhere else. This made Annie very scared and anxious. I was with her holding her hand singing to her right up until the guys with the gurney started to take her away. I told one EMT “Sing the song ‘Jesus Loves Me’ to her, it calms her.” He said, “You’re a Proverbs 31 woman.” My heart warmed, my throat tightened up & tears ebbed on my eyelids (as is happening as I write this) and I smiled as he wheeled her away. There in a Psychiatric Hospital a patient, not as an employee, he saw something in me; in the psych ward where the most humiliating labels come from, that touched my heart and sent it souring higher than any bird you can imagine. That moment though my body was locked up, my heart and soul were in heaven!

I’ve been hospitalized over 35 times and I could tell you how God met me each time. Some people may see all of these hospitalizations as a failure of me not trusting God or of God not meeting me when I needed Him the most. But that could be nothing further from the truth, in each and everyone I can see how God has blessed me. He has either used me, open my eyes by someone else or both.

Sometimes I wonder why God chose to bless me with the thorns He did. But then I’m reminded that God can meet you anywhere no matter what the circumstances. I’m also reminded how truly blessed I am. I’m truly blessed the more bows in your arsenal the more lives you are able to affect. For that affect I’ll ask God for as many as He feels I am capable of handling.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the hospital and if God calls me to go again; wherever He calls I’ll go.

Joy – A Woman After God’s Own Heart

Don’t Let the Enemy Rob You From Your Design!

God created each of us with a very specific design in mind. Part of my design is to encourage. When you are doing your God created design you will not only be walking in the path God has created for you but because of that your life will be fulfilled, at least that has been my experience.

We are all important in the body of Christ. Yes we are all to evangelize but the one with the gift of evangelism may do it differently than the one with the gift of service, yet all work together for the glory 0f God. (1 Cor. 12:4-11, 27-31) For that reason all are important. (1 Cor. 12:12-26)

It is so easy to find ourselves comparing our gifts to one another. “She has such a beautiful voice. I’m sure God rejoices when He hears it.” “I wish I had a voice like so and so.””He’s so handy with his hands. I wish I was able to do that.” “He/she has such a gift for teaching I wish I could do that.” Or perhaps your voices speak more like; “I don’t know why they haven’t asked me to teach? I can do that.” “Why doesn’t anyone come to me when they need help? I can do that.” “Why does he/she always get the solos? I’d like one for a change.”

The first half of comparing comments are dangerous in the respect that it ignores the qualities that the person doing the comparing actually does have. Perhaps that person can’t sing but has the gift of hospitality or servitude or encouragement or wisdom or healing, aren’t those some special things to be happy about and to vocus on? More importantly aren’t they also very important to the body of Christ? How would the body survive if we were all sining? Or all teaching? Who would listen to us?

Perhaps the man wishing he was a handyman and could not do things with his hands, was made to help people with his mind. Suppose God made him to be a CPA, Lawyer, teacher, leader, CEO, or pastor. Giving him the gifts of knowledge, guidance, wisdom, leadership and making him a different kind of man of action than the one he envisioned.

This type of comparing voice can cause you to become ineffective in the areas of giftedness that God has given you to do. That is what happened to me. Let me take you back so maybe you can tell the worning signs in your own area.

I stopped reading other material that spured my thoughts and gave me inspiration to write about.  1. I stopped doing my regular rejumine, don’t underestimate this.  I began watching more and more TV to take up the time I wasn’t reading or writing.  2. Exchange the valuable for a cheap nock off.  I started disecting the shows I was watching their writing and thinking that I would never be as good a writer as these people are so why bother.  3. You start believing the lies of the enemy.  

That’s where I’ve been for over a year believing the lies of the enemy.

I now stand firm in faith believing that God has given me a voice and I’m going to use it and I’m not going to allow the enemy to silence it.

I encourage you that if God is touching your heart as you are reading this that there is something that He has called you to do no matter what it is, big or small – don’t let the enemy talk you out of it. Check the Bible to make sure it doesn’t go against it. Seek godly counsel, many if it is a major life change, God will confirm if it is truly from Him. Then if it is confirmed step out of the boat and live the life God designed you to live.

 

Joy A Fellow So Journer In Active Faith!

 

 

 

We Serve An Amazing God!

This is a graduation photo of Tessa.  This is more honorary than deserved as her mommy did not work with her enough to get her really trained.  Had I trained her better maybe Sunday could have been avoided.

As I came home from church Sunday and running errands I came home to find out the my sweet little Tessa a Chihuahua Shitzu mix had gotten a hold of a bottle of Cytomel a thyroid medication and overdosed on 25 of my 30 pills.  I was panicked stricken and didn’t know what to do other than pray that God would protect my dog and not let her die and take to the pet hospital.

The made her throw up and did blood work and I was to watch her and take her back the next day.  The cone was to stay on because they didn’t want her chewing on the IV.  They wanted it in incase I had to take her to the emergency hospital.

We slept together (If you can call it sleep) on the sofa and every time I felt her soft face I had to wake myself up completely to put the collar back on.  It kept popping off.  I also checked to make sure she was still breathing.  She was fine.

I later found out that her blood work was through the roof and there may be some residual damage but since she is doing so good the doctor is very hopeful.

Stress like this would have normally sent me running to food. I’ll admit amongst my constant praying I did eat 4 ding dongs but that is nothing compared to the bad behavior I had recently been doing.

God not only helped me with the crisis at hand but He helped me on how to deal with the crisis.  The answer as always, turning to Him.

It never ceases to amaze me that it is just that simple.  God wants more of us.  More dependence.  More faith.  More trust.  More resting in Him.  What does He do in return?  He shows more of Himself.  He proves Himself dependable.  He proves Himself faithful.  He is that soft place to lie down.  All this the creator of the universe does for us!

Why you may ask would He care to bless me with the life of my dog?  He knows how much joy that little one brings to me and He doesn’t want to see me grieve.  Why would He do anything for us?  He surely isn’t obligated to.  He chooses to because of His great love for us.  A love so amazing that it is awe inspiring!

So thank You Lord for loving me and loving me enough to protect me naughty doggy.  I don’t deserve it.  I can’t earn it.  But I’m so grateful for Your mercy and grace and love shown to me and my beloved Tessa!

What have you got to be thankful for?  Praise Him for the amazing, awe inspiring God that He is!  He deserves it and you’ll feel better for it.

Prayer is a mighty tool. So let’s pray for all involved that God’s hands would be involved for He is the Great Physician. Thanks for your prayers for this dear little child and her family.

Martha L Shaw - Poet, Writer, Author, Artist

My friend Sue has just found out that her baby granddaughter Khloe is desperately ill.  A complete diagnosis is not yet in but the doctor anticipates that this may be a serious and life threatening illness for the 23 month old. 

I will update my blog when more information is available.  Please pray for the baby, the medical staff caring for her, and for her family that the Lord will shower them with His love, compassion, and healing grace.  PLEASE REBLOG THIS AND SHARE IT WITH ANY PRAYER GROUPS YOU BELONG TO. 

Thanks everyone! 

IMPORTANT:  SEE UPDATE http://inlovewiththelord.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/important-update-on-prayer-needs-for-baby-khloe/

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Welcome!

It is my hope that this will be of encouragement to you.  The world is full of blessings from God, He uses man and creation to bless us everyday.  It is my fervent prayer that I will be able to encourage you on a daily basis with the Lord’s help.  There was a time when I was negative all the time but I have learned that when you look for the positive and God’s blessings in your life, life becomes a wonderful place to be.  I hope that you enjoy this journey with me.

Joy – A Woman After God’s Own Heart