How to Find Joy

Yesterday we talked about the difficulty of choosing to praise when your world is crumbling.  We've been looking at this verse from Romans 5:3:  "We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles . . . "

Rabbi Simon Jacobsen has a talk radio show, and I found a transcript from a show on March 5, 2000, called "How to Find Joy in Your Life."  I'd like to share some of it with you (go to http://www.meaningfullife.com/torah/holidays/6b/How_to_Find_Joy_in_Your_Life.php to see the entire transcript):


"As I said, the antithesis of joy is sadness, and these emotions are forces in our lives that have a very strong impact. I believe that some of these emotions are critical in our own growth and healing process...

"Many of us feel that we are victims of circumstances. If something in our daily life brings some joy in our lives, great, we thank G-d for it, but is there something that we can actually do, that we can actually initiate, that can help us bring joy?

"So question number one is, is joy genetic? You do find people who are just naturally joyous, who have a kind of laid-back attitude where it’s just good to be in their presence, and then there are others who may be very serious, but at the same time, they always bring us down.

"At the outset, let me give an overview from a Torah perspective about what this concept called joy, simcha, is, and whether it is considered genetic— nature vs. nurture.

"We can learn a lot by observing children at their quintessential selves, because before children have been affected by society, parents, and community, they can sometimes give us a specimen of what our lives would be like before we were abused or hurt or disappointed.

"Children have natural cheer. They have a natural, enchanted air about them; some would call it naivete because they haven’t yet tasted of the pains of life, but you can also say that it does definitely reflect on a certain natural state that we all have within us.

"When does a child cease to be consistently cheerful? When a child first gets disappointed: the first grief or the first loss or the first disappointment. I would say, to put it in more cosmic terms, that you experience sadness the first time there’s some deception, some type of split in a person’s life. Sadness for the loss, sadness for what could have been, sadness for not getting what you want. But naturally speaking on a cosmic level, a soul, a spiritual entity or spiritual state, where you’re in complete touch with who you are and what you’re supposed to be doing, should be literally a seamless flow of joy.

"In other words, from that perspective, joy is a completely natural state. It’s not even an expression of a spiritual type of existence, it’s equated with life itself. Like a fish swimming in its own waters has that type of natural cheer.

"Now, living in a world of so much grief and pain, when we see someone joyous, it’s like a novelty for us, an exotic experience. But for someone who has that flow, that seamlessness, where there isn’t a dichotomy in life of what you want and what you expect or a deception of different forms, then joy comes very naturally, and that’s why children are joyous.

"So their naivete in a sense serves them well because they haven’t yet tasted from what it means to live in a world of deception. Once they get those disappointments, the joy begins to bottle up to the point where it becomes so locked up for some, that it can’t even be accessed again.

"It’s critical to see joy from this perspective, because if joy is an acquired state, something that you develop at some point (later) in your life, then a very strong argument can be made that once you’ve lost a reason to be happy, or you’ve suffered grief, there’s no way of reconnecting.

"However, if joy is a natural state of feeling a certain sense of belonging, a feeling within that you are important and you have a value, then it’s just a question of reclaiming that right, not creating something new.

"So the argument that I’m submitting to all of you is, that joy is something that each of us has in our hearts. Even if you are the saddest person and you haven’t smiled in years, you have a joy, a gladness in your heart, that may in some way be blocked or sealed away because you may not feel that there’s any reason to access it, but it’s there, and the key is learning how to dig into those reservoirs and draw from those wells of joy."

I'm letting Rabbi Jacobsen do all the work today.  I'll comment tomorrow.  Have a great day!

  

Choose Life

Please forgive me for not "seeing you tomorrow", which is what I posted A WEEK AGO.  I'm starting to seriously think that 41 is the age of senility, at least for me!  I'm forgetful!

A couple of prayer requests, if you happen to remember - my father-in-law is at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.  He had a radiation procedure today to shrink a lesion that rests on both his optic nerve and his brain.  Things went well today, please remember him though, and pray that things will continue to go well.

Also pray for me - I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with life these days!  I've got no more going on than normal, but . . . do you ever have those times?  Maybe I'm just being whiny.

And finally, I have another family member who needs prayer.  I would love to share the burden with you, but I don't even know what it is.  But God does, and the more people praying for this invisible request, the better.

Let's go back to Romans.  "There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!"  Romans 5:3-5, The Message

Last week we talked about the term, "passionate patience."  Let's move back a step - "we continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles."  We all know how that feels, yeah?  To have trouble everywhere we turn, where there's no good answer - just less bad ones.

We know that we are supposed to endure, get through, hold on.  Tie a knot in the end of the rope and hang on (have you ever seen the poster with the kitten hanging on the end of the rope with this saying on it?  Gotta say that kitten creeps me out).  But Romans paints a bit different picture.  Paul tells us we aren't just supposed to survive.  We're supposed to thrive!

How in the heck are we supposed to do that?  How are you supposed to shout praise when your home life is falling apart, or you can't rub two dimes together, or you're sick and not getting better?  Where is that praise supposed to come from?

Come on, everybody say it with me.  All together now!  It comes from Jesus.  Ok, I know, that's the Sunday School answer.  But what's one of the first things we let go of when we are going through trials like what i mentioned above?  Our time with Jesus, right?  The Bible sits on our desk or table or worse yet - we have no idea where it is.  We might call out to Jesus to ask Him to take our pain away.  But we don't seek Him with the same intensity we do at other times, looking for ways to worship Him.

It's almost as if when we are going through these deeply difficult times, the thing we are actually enduring - is Jesus.  We endure our Bible reading, even though we aren't getting anything out of it.  We deal with going to church, even though worship is the farthest thing from our minds.  And we mumble through some sort of prayer, even though we aren't even sure what we are saying. 

We can't shout our praises when all we are choosing to think about it is our troubles.  Notice, I used the word, choosing.  It's our choice to praise or not.  It our choice what to focus on.  Deuteronomy 30 says, "Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."  (19-20)

It's not easy to to make that choice.  It's not easy to shout praise - not just praise, but to shout praise! - when are world is crumbling down.  Deuteronomy doesn't say that it's an easy choice.  But it is OUR choice.

Tomorrow I want to finish up this topic, and I'll be using some information from Rabbi Simon Jacobsen.  Until then!

Round 'Em Up!

So I was just getting started blogging again, but took a week's vacation.  Then school was out for 3 days because of snow.  So now I'm back at it - hopefully for a while again!  Sorry for the lapse, I know how much you miss me when I'm not here!  wink wink  This week's scriptures will be from Romans 5 & 6.

"There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!"  Romans 5:3-5, The Message

Those verses about make me quiver!  There's so much meat just in these few words.  Let's start with the term, "passionate patience."  I don't know about you, but patience is not something I've really ever been all that passionate about!  I've always looked at virtues like patience as something that happens when I'm not really looking for it.  But this scripture implies that we are searching it out, pursuing it!

But look at the NIV version:  "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance . . ."  Suffering (or troubles) produce (develop) perseverance (patience).  Where does the "passionate" come from?

When you look up the words produce and develop in the dictionary, there are definitions that might not ordinarily come to mind.  For example, produce:   to bring into existence; give rise to; cause.  To bring into existence by intellectual or creative ability.  To birth.  And also, develop:  to bring out the capabilities or possibilities of; bring to a more advanced or effective state. 

Sure, we can also find definitions for these words that are more passive and suggest a "sit back and let it happen" attitude.  But these definitions inspire me to be ready - to be available - to be an effective vessel that God can use to cause, or bring out, or birth these qualities within me.

In other words, I don't want to "sit back and wait" for patience to develop in me.  I want to be passionate about pursuing patience!  Those of you who know me well are laughing right now.  Not naming any names (Rebekah, Stephen . . . all of you!) but you know who you are!  Patience is definitely NOT my defining characteristic.

But as a mom, I think how much my son can learn from me when my patience with him is not shown through deep breaths and clenched teeth, but through a joyful spirit.  When he tests me - and oh, he tests me! - how much more effective my parenting will be with a passionate spirit, instead of a controlling disposition.

My mom always said, "Never pray for patience.  That's when God will give you stuff to force you to be patient!"  But I say, let's do it!  Let's pray that God will find in us willing vessels to create passionate patience in!

Keep blazing for Christ!  See you tomorrow!
   

There's a Third Choice

 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.  But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."  "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"  And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."  Matthew 14:25-33

What a wonderful story.  In just a few short verses, there are highs and lows, major action, a twist of fate, and a twist of faith.  I have heard sermons where Peter is both commended and faulted for his response to Jesus.  Yes, he took the step out of the boat, but yes, he doubted and feared.

I think this story reminds us that there are three choices in life.  The good way, the bad way, and God's way.  Just like with Peter - at first, it appears that Peter can do one of two things:  he can sink, or he can swim.  But then he sees, there's a third choice - he can walk!

The world will try to limit your options.  But God's options are so much higher than what the world can ever imagine.  With God's help, you can walk!!  Right on top of that water, on those waves, in that wind.  God doesn't need calm to bring peace.

Notice that the waves didn't diminish because Jesus was there.  They kept right on dancing and scaring the disciples to death!  I wonder what would have happened to Peter if he would have focused just on Jesus for one second more.  Just one.  Maybe that would have been enough for him to forget the waves and walk all the way to Jesus.

This is just like our lives today.  We can have God's peace despite the fact the storm still rages around us.  We don't have to choose between sinking or swimming.  We can soar!  The waves will still crash, the lightning still flash, the thunder still roar-but in the midst, there is peace. 


So in your storm, which choice will you make?  Will you sink, cowering in fear as the waves cover you?  Will you swim, depleting what little strength you have to try to get through this trial?  Or will you simply reach out your hand, and take the hand of the One who loves you, and walk?

Three choices.  Which one is yours today?

Nobody's Perfect

"Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down." 2 Corinthians 13:5-10

To finish the week, I want to focus on one phrase:  "Our prayer is for your perfection."  How is perfection possible while we are sinners, living in a sinful world?

First, we have to understand the root of the word in Greek.  I'll wait we all take a quick Rosetta Stone class in the Greek language.  ....... OK, let's just use a commentary.  According to biblegateway.com, "The basic meaning of the noun katartisis is to 'make suitable or fitting' for a particular task, not to 'make perfect.'"   

Striving for perfection, and being perfected, indicate a process.  Christian perfection is really this:  we are weak and sinful.  God is perfect.  As He works and moves in our lives, and makes us more like Him, we become perfected (changed, moved, different).  In 2 Corinthians 12:8-10, Paul writes, "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

In other words, the weaker we are, the more perfect He can make us!    God perfecting us is about Him, not about us.  It's not about all we can do and achieve.  It's about how much He can do with us when we are willing.  We are most willing, I think, in our weakness, not our strength.

It's not that we are trying to be Him.  We are trying to be like Him.  In Philippians 13:12 we read, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."  This whole life process is about us (little, ant-like humans) taking His hand (ginormous, King-of-the-Universe) and being led where He takes us.  Becoming one with Him.  Taking on His qualities.  Becoming perfected.

I want to be made suitable.  I want to learn what I need to learn from Him so that I'm ready for what He wants me to take on next.  That's all perfection is.  It's letting Him, and letting go.

Nothing but the Truth

Remember the Mad Hatter?  "I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!?"  Sorry for the lateness of the hour.  I'm leaving for vacation in two days and I'm running around like I have never been on vacation before!

Back to more serious things.  Remember our scripture for the week:  "Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down." 2 Corinthians 13:5-10 

Today's focus is on the sentence that says,  "For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth."  You know, this verse speaks so clearly to me - no matter what, there is a Truth in this world.  That truth is real and alive and there is NOTHING anyone can do to stop it!

So many times we see the evil of the world, the destruction, the sorrow, and shake our heads in morbid fascination with how horrible the times are.  The world can look at things like the earthquake in Haiti, crimes against children, and suicide bombers and wonder, where is God?  Heck, it's not just the world who wonders - sometimes we wonder, too.  Right?  I know I have!  I have wondered when God is going to put a stop to the nonsense of the world.  We see this also in Revelation chapter 6:  They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" (verse 10)

How long, God?  Why, God?  God, where are you?  Are you there?  What did I do?  We've all asked these questions, if we look deeply inward.  The questions are not sinful.  Those questions enter into sin when the questioners begin to believe that God won't answer.  That God doesn't care, that He's nowhere to be found.

Come on, now.  Right?  Unless you've lived your life in a cave you've had a hurt so deep and so bad that you have questioned God's plan, His purpose, His very love for you.  Again, the questions aren't the sin.  The answers are.  Rather, the wrong answers are.

Because no matter the question, the TRUTH is the answer.  The TRUTH is that God is love.  Remember 1 John 4:7-8:   "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."   He is love.  That's the truth (the whole truth and nothing but!). 

No matter how many earthquakes . . . God is love.  No matter how many murders . . . God is love.  No matter how much you are hurting . . . God is love.  No matter what you've done.  No matter how many times you've failed.  No matter the hurt you've caused.  No matter the relationships you've killed.  NO MATTER WHAT.  The truth is still the truth.  He loves you.  Repeat after me:  He loves me.  He loves me.  He loves me. 

He loves you.  And that's the truth.

Do the Right Thing

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down." 2 Corinthians 13:5-10

Moving on deeper into this scripture . . . let's look here:   " . . . but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed."  This entire passage is an admonition to the church at Corinth to compare their motives, means, and attitudes against the gospel of Jesus Christ.  As an apostle of Christ, Paul (along with Silas, Timothy and Titus - they are the "we") has been tested as a tried and true Christian.  So much so that he can invite the church to examine themselves internally, as well as examine him.  He is confident that the examination of his faith will be fruitful - to the church, to God and to himself.

What I like here is Paul's motivation.  He seems to be pleading with the church - even if you think I've done things wrong, YOU do what is right!

So many times as Christ followers we can take our eyes of the one we have been following and affix our eyes on each other.  When we do that, what invariably happens?  Don't we go to extremes?  It seems what follows is either hero worship, which can only lead to a major fall, or intense, cowardly criticism, which breeds bitterness and contempt.

Even assuming that our eyes are firmly on Christ, there are times when the wrong-ness of others can influence our thoughts and attitudes.  We have all had friends who have made mistakes - some big, some small - or worse yet, completely lost their faith.  It can be difficult to not let their faltering affect us. 

The faults and weaknesses of others are never an excuse for moral or spiritual failures on our part.  The excuse of, "Well she did it first, so I can do it too" is childish and not meant for God's warriors.  Yet I see it all the time.  Bad attitudes lead to more bad attitudes.  Gossip leads to gossip.  Criticism leads to criticism.  It's a dangerous game, and - once again - inappropriate for God's people! 

I'm not talking about having legitimate concerns and turning to wise counsel.  I'm not even talking about having a bad day and griping it out with your spouse at dinner.  I'm talking about a lifestyle that is committed - not to Christ and His ways - but to finger-pointing and condemnation.

It's a slippery slope.  It's certainly not difficult to begin your week faultless and end it faulted.  It simply takes carelessness.  We must be purposeful, and part of purpose means examination.  That's what this whole week has been about.  Be willing to purposefully examine your faith.  Be willing to be wrong!  And be willing to let Christ make things right.