Monday, October 31, 2011

31 Days of Joy: Be Joyful Always




Dear Friends,

Thank you for joining me for 31 Days of Joy!  I have been grateful for the opportunity to think and write about joy for a month straight.   It has been encouraging for me, and I hope that it has been for you as well.

It is good to take the time to consider joy and how to live joyfully.  In 1 Thessalonians we are actually commanded to be joyful!  “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (5:16-18, NIV).  It isn’t always easy, but because of what God has done for us it is possible to be joyful.

I pray that you will seek the Lord and seek His joy no matter what challenges come your way.  I pray that you will be “joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12, NIV).  We have so much to be thankful for, so much to be joyful about.  And if you know Jesus, the best is yet to come!

“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, NIV).

Blessings,

Rachel


P.S.  If you missed any of the 31 Days posts, you can find them here: 

31 Days of Joy introduction post
1. Come People of the Risen King
2. Shout for Joy to the Lord!
3. What Is Joy?
4. Why Do I Have Joy?
5. Little Joys
6. Big Joys
7. Joni Eareckson Tada
8. When Trials Come
9. Consider it Pure Joy
10. Joy in Suffering
11. Future Joy
12. Little Joys
13. Big Joys
14. Sara Frankl
15. Sweet Exchange
16. Good News of Great Joy
17. How Can You Have Joy?
18. Spreading Joy for Halloween
19. Little Joys
20. Big Joys
21. Nick Vujicic
22. In Christ Alone
23. A Cheerful Heart
24. Changing Perspective
25. Little Joys
26. Big Joys
27. He Comes to Make His Blessings Flow
28. Faithful Examples
29. I Can Only Imagine
30. Consider Him

You can find other 31 Days bloggers at the Nesting Place: 31 Dayers.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

31 Days of Joy: Consider Him


"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV


Consider Him.  Look to the joy that awaits.  Fix your eyes on Jesus. 

Photo Credit: Olga Caprotti

Saturday, October 29, 2011

31 Days of Joy: I Can Only Imagine



Today I want to share with you a video from Joni and Friends that was made during their summer Family Retreats in 2010.  I’m not able to embed this video, but please click over to Joni and Friends and watch it there: http://www.joniandfriends.org/blog/imagine-dvd/.

This video brings tears to my eyes.  Just look at the joy of these people who are suffering from pain and various disabilities.  If their joy can be so great on this earth that is under the curse, imagine how great their joy will be on the New Earth when they are given new bodies and new minds, and when the curse is taken away!

For those who know Jesus, their future joy will be great indeed.  Imagine what good things await!

Friday, October 28, 2011

31 Days of Joy: Faithful Examples


Hebrews11 gives many examples of Bible heroes who looked to their future joy: people like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses.  They suffered on earth and remained faithful to God.  They were not looking for earthly treasure; they were looking toward a future reward.  They were looking toward Heaven, toward a city made by God, toward future joy. 
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.  People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.  If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.  Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.  God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect (Hebrews 11:13-16, 32-40, NIV).
There is great joy awaiting believers in Heaven.  These heroes of the faith knew it, and they waited and suffered patiently, looking to the joy ahead.  Dear friend, if you know Jesus, then you have great joy awaiting you too. It is worth suffering for.  It is worth waiting patiently for.  Remain steadfast, seek God’s Kingdom, and look forward to your eternal dwelling.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

31 Days of Joy: He Comes to Make His Blessings Flow


No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.


Do you recognize the words above?  They are the third verse of Joy to the World, a popular song at Christmastime.  Have you ever stopped to think about what this verse means?  I never did until I read Randy Alcorn’s book, Heaven

Learning more about Heaven and the New Earth and the joy that awaits me there is one of the reasons that I have joy today. One day the curse will be gone, and those who are Christians will dwell on the New Earth forever.  What will the New Earth be like?  Like Earth, only so much better!  There will be no curse, no sin, no pain, no suffering.  Believers will be given new bodies.  We will be strong and healthy, living and working and playing and glorifying God, just like we were created to do.

When mankind sinned, the Earth was placed under a curse (Genesis 3).  Today all of creation groans under the curse.  Romans 8:19-22 says, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.  For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.  We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (NIV).

Life under the curse is hard, and creation groans under this weight.  But one day the curse will be removed.  There will be no more sin and suffering, no more thorns infesting the grown.
Jesus came not only to save spirits from damnation.  That would have been, at most, a partial victory.  No, He came to save His whole creation from death.  That means our bodies too, not just our spirits.  It means the earth, not just humanity.  And it means the universe, not just the earth. 
Christ’s victory over the Curse will not be partial.  Death will not just limp away wounded.  It will be annihilated, utterly destroyed: “[God] 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 25:7-8)…
God will lift the Curse, not only morally (in terms of sins) and psychologically (in terms of sorrows), but also physically (in terms of thorns in the ground).  How far does Christ’s redemptive work extend?  Far as the curse is found.  If redemption failed to reach the farthest boundaries of the Curse, it would be incomplete.  The God who rules the world with truth and grace won’t be satisfied until every sin, every sorrow, every thorn is reckoned with….  
We have never seen the earth as God made it.  Our planet as we know it is a shadowy, halftone image of the original.  But it does whet our appetites for the New Earth, doesn’t it?  If the present Earth, so diminished by the Curse, is at times so beautiful and wonderful; if our bodies, so diminished by the Curse, are at times overcome with a sense of the earth’s beauty and wonder; the how magnificent will the New Earth be?  And what will it be like to experience the New Earth in something else we’ve never known: perfect bodies? (Heaven, 107-108).
After learning more about Heaven and what life on the New Earth will entail, it has become so much easier for me to give up pleasures now.  I’ll probably never again be able to climb a mountain in this body of mine that is growing weaker. I can’t travel well anymore.  My autonomic nervous system probably wouldn’t be able to handle the excitement of a roller coaster ride.  I’m not strong enough to ice skate anymore.  But that’s okay, because I know that I’ll have all of eternity to live, work, have fun, and praise God on the New Earth!

Do you know if you are going to Heaven when you die?  Will the New Earth be a place where you will get to live one day?  If so, please leave me a message in the comments sharing one fun thing that we can do together on the New Earth, and then let’s plan on it, okay?

Are you wondering about Heaven and the New Earth?  Are you unsure about where you will go after you die?  Send me an email; I would love to talk with you more.  I want you to know about the joys waiting in Heaven.   I want you to know the way to Heaven, and I really want to see you there some day.

And because it is never too early for good Christmas music, here is Joy to the World.  (If you are reading this through email, you will need to click over to see the video.)




Joy to the World

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

By Isaac Watts


Photo Credit: Alexander Shchukin

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

31 Days of Joy: Big Joys



Adelaide is delightful and entertaining, and she has brought a lot of joy into our home.  Will says that she is “200 pounds of personality on a 25 pound frame,” and that describes her well!  She makes me laugh every day.  She loves to entertain us with her singing, by making weird faces, and by telling us about all sorts of things.

Our little girl has lots of spunk, but she has just enough girly-ness too.  She loves to paint toenails with me, and put on powder, lotion, and Burt’s Bees lip balm.  She gets excited about a new pair of shoes.  She likes to comb hair, wear necklaces, and play with her doll house.

Adelaide is very affectionate toward those she knows and loves.  She will often come over, say “hi,” and give a hug.  Just because.  She likes to tell us, “love you!” and she always wants us to respond immediately.  If we don’t respond right away then she will continue to say (more and more loudly), “LOVE YOU!” until we say, “I love you too, Adelaide.”

I love having a little one to help me see the world through different eyes.  Everyday experiences become fascinating when you have a toddler.  Suddenly a dog on a leash is a reason to laugh, squeal, and smile.  A load of laundry is a reason to be together and take delight in work.  A soft blanket becomes a reason for happiness and glee.  Cake is more than just dessert; it is “CAAAAKE!” and is possibly the best thing you’ve ever eaten in your life!

Adelaide is a precious gift, planned by God, hoped for by us.  We are so thankful for her and the blessing of joy that she is!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

31 Days of Joy: Little Joys


Painted toenails are one of my simple joys in life.  I keep them painted all the time because it makes me happy. I'm too tired most days to bother with hair, makeup, and a nice outfit, but at least my feet look good!

Adelaide likes to have her toenails painted too.  If I show my foot to Adelaide and say, "Look, we match!" she will smile, laugh, and wiggle her foot next to mine.  Seeing Adelaide's delight makes having painted toenails that much more fun.

Monday, October 24, 2011

31 Days of Joy: Changing Perspective


It isn’t always easy to be joyful.  When circumstances are hard it is easy to feel hopeless and discontent.  When having difficulty keeping up with daily tasks it is easy to become frustrated.  When sick, weak, or in pain it is easy to become discouraged and overwhelmed.

Proverbs 17:22 says that “a cheerful heart is good medicine.”  In addition to keeping my heart and mind focused on what Christ has done for me and the joy that awaits me in Heaven, I find it helpful to keep a joyful perspective on the everyday tasks and challenges.  We have been blessed with so many good gifts; we just need to stop and recognize them.  We need to take the time to cultivate a cheerful heart.  Here are some practical ways that we can choose to stop and see the beauty and joy in the midst of the hard.

When the laundry pile has turned into a mountain:
Thank the Lord that you have a washing machine (chances are, if you have access to the internet, you also have a washing machine or at least access to a laundromat). Washing machines make laundry so much easier! I am so thankful that I don’t have to wash my clothes by hand.  That is certainly something to be thankful for and happy about!

When the dirty dishes have taken over the kitchen:
If you have a dishwasher, thank the Lord for that blessing.  Loading a dishwasher is much easier than washing them all by hand.  If you don’t have a dishwasher, choose to enjoy the time talking and washing dishes with a loved one.  If you are washing dishes by yourself, enjoy the time alone with God; talk to Him.

When your child is sick and awake throughout the night:
Enjoy the opportunity you have to hold and rock your little one.  Before long your child will be grown up and you won’t have those precious moments of snuggling in the middle of the night.

When the baby needs yet another diaper change:
Enjoy the chance to hold your little one.  Look at those pudgy feet and hands.  Give your baby kisses and a zrbtt on his tummy.  Your baby is only little once.  Take joy in the smallness.

When you are sick and stuck in bed:
Thank God for your warm bed.  This is something I often do on the bad days, the days when I don’t feel any strength, only weakness, in my muscles.  It isn’t fun to be confined to bed, but the simple joy of having a bed is something that I am truly thankful for.  A nice, soft, bed makes a bad day more comfortable.

What are some practical ways that you choose cheerfulness and joy in everyday life?  Please share!  I want to hear how you change your perspective from one of sadness, discontent, or frustration to one of gratefulness and joy.

Photo Credit: DaraDPhotography

Sunday, October 23, 2011

31 Days of Joy: A Cheerful Heart




"A cheerful heart is good medicine, 

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." 

Proverbs 17:22, NIV

Saturday, October 22, 2011

31 Days of Joy: In Christ Alone

I know that I have shared this song before on my blog.  I tried to find a different song to share this week for the 31 Days of Joy series, but nothing else stood out to me.  The song, In Christ Alone, sums up so well the reasons that I have joy.  When I hear this song I can't help but rejoice and be happy.

Take a moment today to listen to Kristyn Getty sing of Jesus Christ and the blessings that we have because of Him.  If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, take a moment to listen to the song and read the lyrics.  Consider all that Jesus has done for you and the abundant and joyful life that you can have through faith in Him.

I have hope and joy no matter what happens to me in this life.  You can have hope and joy too.




(If you are reading this post in an email you will need to click over to my blog to see the video.)


In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all -
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied:
For every sin on Him was laid -
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death -
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home -
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend, 2001

Friday, October 21, 2011

31 Days of Joy: Nick Vujicic



Nick Vujicic is a great example of someone who has joy despite the physical challenges he faces daily.  Nick was born without arms or legs, and because of that he struggled and questioned God for many years. He was angry at God for not giving him arms and legs, and he even wanted to end his life.

Nick finally surrendered his life to Christ at the age of 15 when he read John chapter 9 about a man who was blind from birth. Jesus said that the man was born blind, “so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” 

Through knowing Christ Nick has found the truth of who he is and why he is here.  He learned that God had a plan and a purpose for his life, and he has found peace through knowing Christ. He has learned to have great joy in being who God made him to be.

Nick says, “I thank God that He didn’t answer my prayer when I was begging Him for arms and legs at age 8… Because I have no arms and no legs He’s using me all around the world. And we’ve seen so far approximately, now this is conservative, 200,000 souls come to Jesus Christ for the very first time over the last 6, 7 years… I’d rather have no arms and legs temporarily here on earth to be able to reach someone else for Jesus Christ” (from an interview with Nick). 




Meet Nick Vujicic
(If you are reading this in an email you will need to click over to see the video.)


To learn more about Nick:

Watch this video of Nick’s story of growing up.

Watch this video that gives a glimpse into Nick’s daily life.

Listen to Nick speak here.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

31 Days of Joy: Big Joys



William has brought a lot of joy into my life.  God gave us such a good gift when He gave William to us as a son.  William is caring, sensitive, and smart; he is thoughtful and giving.

William has been my little buddy since he was a baby.  When I was too tired to get out of bed, he would just lie there next to me, content to smile, kick his legs, and be with me. When I was able to go out, I always loved having William on my lap while I rode in my wheelchair.  He’s too big to do that now, but he always wants to walk next to me.

William has been sensitive to my needs and limitations ever since he was a toddler.  By the time he was 3 years old he began anticipating my needs and bringing me food before I even realized that I needed it!  He’s my helper and my buddy, and I like him a lot!

A couple of months ago I fainted after church, and I spent the next half hour lying on the floor recovering with my legs propped up.  It is lonely and strange to be lying on the floor in a busy place while the world goes on around you.  When William found me after children’s church let out, he immediately came over and lay down on the floor next to me and wouldn’t leave my side.  He just talked with me and kept me company.  At one point William told me, “You’re the best mommy.” That was really special to me because sometimes it really hurts that I can't do much for my children, but William loves me just as I am.

Later on that evening I told William thank you for lying down on the floor with me and for keeping me company at church.  He said, “Well, if I didn’t then you would have been lying on the floor all by yourself just staring at the ceiling!”  It was the sweetest and funniest comment!  William never considered doing anything but lying down on the floor with me; for him it was just the natural choice.

How blessed I am to have a little boy who loves me, wants to be with me, and takes care of me.  He brings me so much joy!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

31 Days of Joy: Little Joys


One of my favorite simple joys of autumn is the Pumpkin Spice Latte.  It is pure happiness in a cup.

If the Pumpkin Spice Latte brings you joy and happiness, you will appreciate this letter by Emily at Chatting at the Sky.

Photo Credit: Jeff Hester

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

31 Days of Joy: Spreading Joy for Halloween



A few days ago William helped me to fill up little treat bags for any Trick-or-Treaters who may come knocking on our door.  We had so much fun working on this project together, and I can’t wait to hand out the goodie bags in a couple of weeks.

There are houses that children can go to that are scary on Halloween.  There are places where gross and frightening things are celebrated on that day.  In our home we don’t want to celebrate death, ghosts, zombies, or anything else that is scary.  We want our home to stand in contrast to such things.  We want to make sure that our home is a warm, friendly, and welcoming place to anyone who comes knocking on our door.  We want people to know that we are a family that loves Jesus, and we want them to know Jesus and the joy that is found in Him.  For that reason, we will be spreading joy on Halloween!

Each baggie has 6 pieces of candy and a Gospel tract for children.  We also included booklets and tracts that are suitable for teenagers and adults.  No scares will be found at our place on Halloween, just friendliness, candy, and joy!

Monday, October 17, 2011

31 Days of Joy: How Can You Have Joy?



Is joy something that you are searching for?  Do you long to have a joy that can’t be taken away, a joy that endures through the hardest of trials? This kind of joy can only be found through knowing Jesus Christ.  He is the only one who can fill the deepest longings of your heart.  He is the only one who can give you a joy that can never be taken away.

Life is hard.  We live in a world that is under a curse because of sin.  There is sickness and death.  There is pain and suffering.  There is evil.  There is rebellion, hate, and crime.  There is bitterness and anger.  There is deeply rooted sin in every heart.

The world wasn’t always this way.  God created a perfect world, a world without sin.  The world He created was very good.  Sin came into the world when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and eat fruit from the one tree in the garden that was forbidden.  Because of Adam's sin, we have all inherited a sin nature.  Romans 5:12 says that “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (NIV).  We all deserve God’s punishment for sin: death.

Sin is the reason for the suffering and pain in the world today.  Sin is the reason for death, and sin is the reason that we are separated from God.  But there is good news!  God provided a way for us to be forgiven of our sin.  He provided a way for us to go to Heaven and be saved from the punishment of eternal death.

God sent His Son, Jesus, to earth as a baby.  Jesus was fully God and fully man.  He lived and suffered on this earth that is under the curse.  He knows our struggles.  He knows our pain.  He knows the temptations that we face.  He faced them too.  The difference is that Jesus never sinned.  He is perfect, holy, and without sin.  Because He is perfect and holy He was a suitable sacrifice for us.

God made it clear in the Bible that the penalty for sin is death.  Jesus paid this price for us when He died on the cross.  He took the punishment that we deserve.  He suffered the wrath of God in our place.

Three days after dying on the cross for our sins, Jesus rose from the dead! The Son of God conquered death and came back to life. Because of His sacrifice we can have forgiveness of sins and the sure hope of eternal life in Heaven. God made the ultimate sacrifice when He sent His Son to die on the cross. Jesus died a horrible death. The situation was not good, but God used it for great good - the salvation of all who believe!

God loves you so much, and He offers you amazing grace and mercy!  “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” (John 3:16, NIV).  It is through faith in Jesus and His work on the cross that you will find salvation from your sin.  You can then have a personal relationship with Jesus!  And that is where you will find true, lasting, deep joy.

Do you want to know more about Jesus and the salvation that He freely gives to all who will receive?  If you have any questions, please send me an email at cranberryteatime(at)hotmail(dot)com.  I would love to talk with you and share more about Jesus and the joy that you can find in Him.

There is great joy to be found in knowing Jesus Christ.  You don’t want to miss out on the abundant life and joy that He offers.

Photo Credit: Dave Emerson

Sunday, October 16, 2011

31 Days of Joy: Good News of Great Joy


And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:8-20, NIV


Photo Credit: Creation Museum

Saturday, October 15, 2011

31 Days of Joy: Sweet Exchange




The Gospel brings me so much hope and joy.  Even on the hardest of days, there is joy to be found because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the salvation that He offers.  This song, Sweet Exchange, expresses beautifully the work that Christ did on the cross and the righteousness that has been imputed to all who believe. 

The inspiration for this song came from words in a 2,000 year old letter.  From Heather Payne’s bio:
Payne gets philosophical in discussing the motivation for the title track, a new hymn that declares the album’s theme. Her husband was preaching on imputed righteousness, a big theological term, and he was explaining it with a quote from a first century Greek writer’s Letter to Diognetus. The fact that this old letter could explain a difficult concept in an embraceable way, and then overflow in worship, embodied exactly what Payne hoped to accomplish with this album. Consider these words, almost 2,000 years old: “O sweet exchange! O unsearchable operation! O benefits surpassing all expectation! That the wickedness of many should be hid in a single righteous One, and that the righteousness of One should justify many transgressors!”
You can hear Heather sing the chorus of this song on her website, HeatherPayneMusic.com.  The chorus will begin to play automatically when you open the webpage. 


Sweet Exchange

The crushing weight of all our shame
He took upon His mortal frame.
You left your throne so You’d become
A ransom for the fallen one.

O Sweet Exchange by God ordained.
Our death You died, Your life we gained.
Our worthless rags of wickedness,
Now traded for Your righteousness.
We sing Your praise and we proclaim,
Such wondrous love, O Sweet Exchange.

No precious jewels, or priceless gold,
Could pay the price to save one’s soul.
Yet by the grace that You provide,
We’re now declared justified!

O Sweet Exchange by God ordained.
Our death You died, Your life we gained.
Our worthless rags of wickedness,
Now traded for Your righteousness.
We sing Your praise and we proclaim,
Such wondrous love, O Sweet Exchange.

Your holy life spilled out for such unholy ones.
No longer orphans, we are daughters and we’re sons.
O what a marvel, what great mystery
You offered Your riches, for our poverty.

O Sweet Exchange by God ordained.
Our death You died, Your life we gained.
Our worthless rags of wickedness,
Now traded for Your righteousness.
We sing Your praise and we proclaim,
Such wondrous love, O Sweet Exchange.

Written by Scott Krippayne, Heather Payne, Misti Presley, and Tony Wood.

Friday, October 14, 2011

31 Days of Joy: Sara Frankl



Someone who has encouraged me to live with joy is SaraFrankl.  I “met” her through (in)courage in the spring of 2010, and I stated following her blog soon after that.  Her words and her joy touched my heart and encouraged me to persevere when life was hard.

Sara suffered from Ankylosing Spondylitis, a progressive and systemic autoimmune disease. She lived with severe, unrelenting pain for years.  The simple act of breathing was a struggle for her.  She was exhausted.  She couldn't step onto the patio of her apartment because she was allergic to the outside air.  Sara had a hard life, but she lived it joyfully.

Sara’s motto was “Choose Joy,” and it was one that she lived by daily.  Choosing joy wasn’t something that she could do by herself.  She asked God to change her heart and to help her choose joy.  It wasn’t easy, but she kept practicing.  She was determined to be joyful and to gratefully live the life God had given her.

This is how Sara defined joy:
Joy: the unwavering trust that God knows what He’s doing and has blessed me with the opportunity to be a part of it… not despite what’s happening in my life but because of it. When everything earthly feels heavy He gives me an internal lightness that can’t be touched.
Sara’s life was harder than mine is, but she lived so joyfully despite such intense physical suffering. Through her blog she gave us all a glimpse into her life and the practical ways she chose joy in the midst of suffering.  She trusted God in the midst of the hard and she reminded others to do the same. 


Three weeks ago God called Sara home.  Her race on earth is finished, but her legacy lives on.  I didn’t know Sara as well as others did, but I have been blessed by her faithful example.  Sara encouraged me to press on and not give up, to not be afraid of what the future holds, but to embrace whatever challenges, suffering, and opportunities God brings my way.

I am so thankful for Sara and her example of choosing joy.  She was a blessing to all who knew her.  Did you know Sara through her blog, through (in)courage, or in real life?  How has Sara touched your life?

Thursday, October 13, 2011

31 Days of Joy: Big Joys


My husband, Will, is one of the greatest blessings God has given to me.  He is a daily example to me of Christ, who gave Himself up for the church.  Each day Will chooses to love me and give of himself to take care of me.  In order to care for me, Will has to work hard, often missing out on the sleep he needs.  He has to manage taking care of the apartment, planning and cooking meals, shopping, and taking care of the children in the evenings when I go to bed.  All of this is on top of school, work, and an internship at our church.

As my health declines, Will has told me that his goal is to serve me and to minister to my physical and spiritual needs, no matter what the future holds.  He wants make my life better and more beautiful; he wants to bring me as much joy as he can.  His desire is to give of himself so that I may benefit and have a more full, more rich life.

I remember very clearly a card that we received when we got married almost 9 years ago.  In that wedding card a couple wrote, "We pray that God will bless your marriage such that it will be an example of Christ and the church."  God has answered that prayer, and He has given Will a great opportunity to love me self-sacrificially, following the example of Christ loving the church and laying down His life for her.

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:25, NIV).

Thank you, Will, for loving me and for giving of yourself for me.  Thank you for bringing joy into my life.  You are a blessing to me!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

31 Days of Joy: Little Joys


The Color Purple.  It just makes me happy.

What simple things bring you joy?

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

31 Days of Joy: Future Joy



“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17, NIV).
  
This was a verse that I clung to last fall when I had my bad crash.  There were many days that I would lie completely still in bed, too tired to even roll over.  Due to lack of proper blood flow to my brain I could not think clearly.  I did not understand what was going on, but I knew that my body was failing me.  It was a confusing and scary time.
  
On many days I could not see or think clearly enough to read my Bible, but I could remember 2 Corinthians 4:17, a verse that I had committed to memory a few years before.  I would say it over and over in my head, not understanding the suffering I was going through, but trusting that God promised one day it would all be worth it, trusting that my future reward in Heaven would be greater if I was faithful in the very difficult and confusing present.
  
In August of last year, just two weeks before my crash, I was asked to write a guest post for (in)courage.  I chose to write about 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 because it had been an encouragement to me in the past.  Little did I know that those two verses would have such a tremendous impact on my life in the months yet to come.  By the time my post was published in October I had been clinging to 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 daily for two months.  Those verses gave me hope and joy in the midst of weakness and uncertainty.
  
There is purpose to our present sufferings, and we do not suffer in vain.  If you are a believer, you have great joy awaiting you in Heaven.  I like what Joni Earekson Tada says in When God Weeps:
It’s not merely that Heaven will be more wonderful in spite of our anguish; it will be more wonderful because of it.  Suffering serves us.  A faithful response to affliction accrues a weight of glory.  A bounteous reward.  God has every intention of rewarding your endurance… 
…Whatever suffering you are going through this minute, your reaction to it affects the eternity you will enjoy.  Heaven will be more heavenly to the degree that you have followed Christ on earth. "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).
Knowing of the joy that awaits in Heaven gives me great comfort in my trials today.  One day it will all be worth it.  Persevering and remaining faithful to the Lord now will bring me greater joy in the future.
  
Dear sister in Christ, remain faithful in the trials you face today.  The joy awaiting you in Heaven is worth suffering faithfully for!

Photo Credit: Leia Speia
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...