it was a terrible horrible no good very bad day

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy

I suppose it really started last night.

Insomnia.

While my beloved slumbered next to me, blissfully unaware of his melodious offerings, I tossed and turned. Finally, against my better judgement (but who has good judgement at 2 in the morning?) I took a sleep aid. So of course I was completely out of it come 6 am alarm clock time. I slept through my sweeties good bye kiss, through the second alarm and, oh look, 2 missed phone calls!
At 9 am as I was struggling to even sit up the doorbell rang. Now, normally I'd ignore it. But, we had insulators coming to blow insulation into the attic so I had to let them in. There was no time to try and look presentable so.... pajamas and night hair would have to do.

Pretty sure I traumatized the young man who stood at my front door.

Now upright, I made a desperate trek to the coffee pot. Thank God, literally, for coffee. As I balanced my coffee and a breakfast bar in one hand, my phone in the other I noticed how tight my low back was. I noticed because I tried to sit down in my chair and I couldn't. Yah, my back does this from time to time. It's always worse first thing in the morning and usually takes about 30-60 minutes of gentle movement to unknot and allow flexibility. No worries, I can drink and eat standing up.
Of course coffee usually motivates other things to move. That's when it started getting nasty.

When your toilet backs up first thing in the morning, you might decide to just go back to bed. Because have you ever tried using a toilet plunger when your back will not let you bend?? But fast advancing water, nasty nasty water, will force you to push through the pain barrier. 
Then, adding insult to injury, the stupid plunger broke while plunging. And let me tell you, there was NO WAY I was going after whatever little piece just fell into the bowl!

Dear brothers and sisters,[ when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy... 

I don't know about that....

Finally, crisis averted, back throbbing I hobbled back to the living room where I discovered the cat had projectile vomited his breakfast all over the carpet.
When your cat throws up, you might just decide to go back to bed.

Dear brothers and sisters,[ when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy...

Ever wanna tell James to just be quiet? 

When my husband called to reply to the text I sent him about needing a new plunger, he asked me to relay a message to the insulators. Oh dear. I was still in my pj's with uncombed hair and now a surly attitude.

Pretty sure I traumatized the other guy on the insulation team.

From there, the day seemed to even out. I went for a walk hoping some gentle movement might bring about relief. It did somewhat. I was able to get some laundry going, some dishes washed and the floor swept. Never mind the tidy little dust piles here and there. I'll finish sweeping those up later.

The big chore awaiting me was of course the bathroom. That floor wasn't gonna mop itself.

Around 1pm I was finally able to take a nice hot shower. And the day seemed better. I forgot about the troubles from this morning. The cat had calmed down, the insulators were done and gone and I was able to sit for short periods of time.

Then,  I went to the post office.

I have been having horrendous issues with package deliveries of late. Blame it on the holidays but it seems Fed Ex has one set of rules for package deliveries, UPS another and then USPS has another set. None are the same and mess up just one and you don't get your package. I've had just about enough grief from lost packages, returned packages, packages arriving demanding postage due in crazy amounts. Today was no exception. I might do a separate post on this as it deserves its own special venting session. For now, I'm sipping some sugar free hot chocolate spiked with Peppermint infused vodka. Because it's 5 O clock and I'm done. 

And, I have a verse to meditate on.

Dear brothers and sisters,[ when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1.2-4 NLT

Joy in Jesus. Jesus Alone.

If I don't find my  joy in Jesus, I will forever fall short of joy in everything else. 


When Jesus prayed for his men (John 17) one of the things he prayed fervently is for them to have the full measure of joy. Have you ever stopped to wonder about this? What does a full measure of joy look like? And why does Jesus want his guys-- and us for that matter-- to have it?

So much of our worldview brings with it the impression that our joy can be found in many things the world has to offer. Even seemingly innocent things, things that can truly be counted as good for us. For example, who hasn't desired to find satisfaction and joy in their career? That we should be so blessed as to find a job that is a joy to work at seems like a gift. Indeed, it is. But if I count on my job or my hobbies, even my family to be my primary source of joy, I will always fall short.

I have been impressed with the knowledge that just as true satisfaction can only come through a life centered in Christ, so it is with joy. Experiencing fullness of joy requires making Christ the center, the focus of all.

That said, what about when life hands you lemons?

The same prayer where Jesus prayed for fullness of joy for his men says even when the world hates them.

 Verse after verse in the Bible encourages-- no-- commands us-- to give thanks, to be thankful, to rejoice even, when trouble comes our way. Is it in the tragedies and struggles of life that we become convinced that joy just isn't in the cards for us? Yet Jesus told the disciples "in this world you will have trouble. But take heart, for I have overcome the world!" (John 16.33)

Walking with Jesus has taught me that joy is mine for the taking whether in good times or bad, because my joy comes from Jesus. If joy eludes me it is because I have not set my eyes on Jesus and looked to Him for complete and utter fulfillment. When my joy comes from Him only then will I find true satisfaction and joy in all the other areas of my life.

Focus, Focus, Focus!

Managing my emotions has always been an area of challenge for me. I mean, come on! God made me a passionate woman with strong feelings about certain things. It's not just my streaks of red hair talking when I get worked up about something. It's coming from a place deep inside me and honey, if you can't handle it, get outta the way.

I remember the days of PMS and the hormonal rage I swung through on a regular basis. I remember too the erratic mood swings in the weeks that followed my hysterectomy in my 30's. After years of being stifled  and monitored in my previous relationship, it was with a certain streak of pride that I let loose all those pent up emotions and just laid 'em out there for the whole world to see and hear. I chuckle about this now but I also shudder because I know the way I acted those days were really nothing to be proud of.

Then, there are the days where the depression puts me in a place I often refer to as 'beige'. Days of feeling nothing. Not weepy sadness, not explosive anger, and certainly not joy. I think sometimes those days of feeling nothing are much worse than the days of highs and lows.

What I take away from all of this is that while God created me with a fiery personality, with emotions that can and do take me from one end of the spectrum to the other, He also created me with a brain.    Hello.  
I can manage my emotions rather than allowing my emotions to manage me.

Let me say that again. I can manage my emotions rather than allowing my emotions to manage me. 

I have the ability to CHOOSE my reactions to life. I have the ability to CHOOSE how I face today. If I decide that today is gonna suck, guess what? Ain't no amount of new shoes or chocolate gonna make me smile. The shoes'll be the wrong color and the chocolate won't be dark enough. If, however, I decide that today is going to be a day of rejoicing, I can rest assured that this day is gonna bless me and I will be able to bless others because of it.

It all comes down to making up my mind that this day is going to be joyful. I have no control over whether I get a flat tire, or my purse strap breaks while I'm shopping causing it to slide across the floor with me in hot pursuit, but I do have control over how I react to that. I can remain calm and call Triple A for the flat tire. I can laugh as I chase down a tube of lipstick that has rolled away like a bowling ball. That feels so much better than sitting on the side of the road crying or worse, kicking the tire and cursing. I. Have. A. Choice.

My bible study reading today reminded me that if I am willing to focus and make my decisions not based on feelings alone, I can count on God to be faithful to give me the strength I need to face whatever comes at me.

"That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in insults, hardships, persecutions and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."  2 Corinthians 12.10

It might take some extra focus on days I feel especially vulnerable but it is still a choice I can make. And I will choose JOY.

Road Tripping; the Final Installment

Home.

How sweet the sound, and how good to be back in familiar territory. Yet it's bittersweet because it means a return to the regular busyness and responsibilities that can sometimes pull you down. Still, we milked that last day for all it was worth...

Puzzling over the huge rabbit population in the campground...

while there are only a few in the picture, trust me, there must have been over 100 scattered about the grounds!

Taking a lovely stroll along side the Omak River before breaking of camp...

a perfect place to walk along side of the river!

A leisurely picnic in a city park...

chicken and 'tater salad, limeaade and chips. what more could you as for?

A slow drive over one more mountain pass...

Cascade Hwy, Hart's Pass

Upon arrival we found a lawn in need of mowing, a near-neurotic and overjoyed cat, and an empty pantry that needed filling. And we wont even mention the piles and piles of laundry!

I often find that while I'm living in the moment and enjoying myself very much,  in the days and weeks that follow, the pleasure grows as the memories cache in my heart. I love pulling those memories out one by one to relive them and appreciate each nuance that I might not have fully taken in as it unfolded.

reflection is good for the soul.

It goes without saying that this 2 week road trip was full to overflowing with special moments. Time for family and friends. Getting to experience another section of God's majestic creation. Living simply and finding the joy in that. Playing. Resting. Exploring. Adventuring. Having quality time with my best friend and lover.

Life. Is. Good.

thank you Lord for the blessings you give us!

One Year Later

Give or take a few days. I thought it was time for a check in/update/post script. A follow up to the Big D from last June. I know it is a cliche to say that it is hard to believe it's been a year since ______ (fill in the blank). But isn't that the way it always goes? Time just zips by, sometimes leaving a whiplash effect.

I look back over the past 12 months and feel grateful. Grateful for a full life and all the people in it. Grateful for church and family and my husband. Grateful for the area I live in, the experiences I have had and yep, even-- perhaps especially-- grateful for depression and the lessons it continues to teach me.

I'm sitting in my living room from where I have a great view of my back yard. I can see my deck with it's freshly painted patio furniture scattered around. The primary colors of the chairs and table cheer me to the very core.

I can see the planter boxes and pots filled with an array of flowers, all dancing happily in the breeze. Beyond the deck I see the wickets set up for a croquet game and the memory of this past weekend and some fun competition between friends makes me smile.

We've been blessed with a couple of weeks of delightful weather: sunshine almost every day with lots of gentle breezes to keep it from becoming too hot. It's been perfect weather for ice tea, gardening, reading books in patio chairs, sunscreen and sunglasses, shorts and flip-flops. But then, yesterday we woke up to heavy gray clouds that soon broke open with rain. Rain that cancelled some exciting plans for the day even as it nourished the plants and the lawn. It forced me to come up with a new plan for the day, or at the very least, a forgiving and accepting attitude about how this day was going to be played. This is exactly how it goes with depression.

My anti-depressants work well. I have many days of 'sunshine' and feeling full of energy and strength to tackle whatever may come. But there are still occasional days of feeling dragged low by emotional/mental dark clouds. What can I do but learn to roll with it. I have learned to read the signs, respect them and adjust my life accordingly, just as we do with our fickle pacific northwest weather. Even the heaviest days of rain hold a certain amount of beauty if we just look for it. 

Perhaps that is one of the things about depression I am most grateful for. It has taught me to search harder for the happy that sometimes feels beyond reach. It has taught me that there is an inner strength that I did not know I had until I fought for it. It has taught me that it's okay to fall down and that when I fall it's also okay to just lay there for awhile and rest. But it has also emphatically taught me that eventually I must get up and press on. Depression has forced me to open up and let others in. It has made me dependent on God much more than anything else I have ever faced. It has taught me about being vulnerable and where to put my trust. Depression has also given me a deeper empathy to others who are in pain.

What depression has NOT done is robbed me of my joy. "Happiness is fleeting" and we often say happiness is a choice and we can choose to be happy. But joy is something that runs deeper. For me, the best way to summarize the difference between happiness and joy is that happiness tends to be an outward expression of elation where joy stems from a place of inward peace and contentment. Happiness is temporary based on outward circumstances. Joy is lasting, based on inward circumstances.  I can be happy because the sun is shining, but I have joy even when it rains because I know the Maker Of All Things Good.

Depression has taught me that Joy is possible even in the midst of my lowest moments. But I am grateful that the lowest moments are fewer and far between. The past year has been rough but it's also been good.

Psalm 30

1 I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me.
    You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you restored my health.
3 You brought me up from the grave,[a] O Lord.
    You kept me from falling into the pit of death.

4 Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!
    Praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
    but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.

6 When I was prosperous, I said,
    “Nothing can stop me now!”
7 Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.
    Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.

8 I cried out to you, O Lord.
    I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
9 “What will you gain if I die,
    if I sink into the grave?
Can my dust praise you?
    Can it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me.
    Help me, O Lord.”

11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
    You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
12 that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!

I Need to Laugh

It's been a fairly heavy week. And I have certainly done my share of crying.

taken on a weekend get away to Orcas Island. Jan was there to greet us when we arrived.
Always a gracious host.

On Friday morning we received the sad news that our sister-in-love had gone 'home' to Jesus after a long hard battle with cancer. Jan was one of the kindest, gentlest, giving women I have ever had the privilege to know and our family will have a huge hole with her gone. She was married to Bruce's brother and while we didn't see each other very often (a few times a year) there was always a welcoming presence about her. Even after the chemo destroyed her body and getting around was a painful experience, she still had a sweet spirit of wanting to serve and help others. Jan, you were a beautiful example of loving kindness and you will be so greatly missed!

I found this heart shaped rock on the beach during that weekend on Orcas.
I think that finding hearts in nature is like finding a love letter from God. 

Learning of her passing on what we call 'Good Friday' and knowing that because of the sacrifice our Savior made on this day so many many years ago, we can rest in the assurance that we will see Jan again. Yet that does not remove the pain of losing her. At Good Friday service that night, I was helping in leading worship and each song made me fight to hold it together. But our last song, "In Christ Alone", one of the most beautiful anthems of our faith, I could not hold the tears back any longer. As we sang the mighty words 'no guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me..."  I just let the tears fall. (mind you this song has the power to bring me to tears anyway) And it was OK. They were tears of both sorrow and joy.

The weekend was busy; Saturday was back to back activities. I had my Christian Women's Writers Group in the morning, followed by our church's Easter Program for the kids. From there it was a surprise birthday party for a friend. It was a fun party and at one point, I looked over at Bruce and said "We are so rich." For indeed, the room was full of some stellar people and the friendships we have developed has blessed us so much!

on loan from a friend and I can't wait to delve in!

From the party, a group of us headed to the movies! We watched "Heaven is For Real". I had read the book a couple of years ago and am thinking a re-read is in order. I enjoyed the movie very much. It was well done and very encouraging. I know both Bruce and I were thinking of Jan.

Sunday was of course, Easter! Resurrection Sunday. We had a wonderful service, which included the powerful exercise of something known as Cardboard Testimonies. I wish we'd taped them but this link will give you a good example of what it's about. Basically, it's a sign with one side stating who you were before Christ, and the other side is who you are in Christ now. For example, one of the signs that my friend carried said "depression and addiction" on one side and when flipped over proclaimed "overflowing with joy and purpose." As each of our folks walked across the front of the church with their sign, one of the band members sang an original song he'd written called "The Great Romance". Pretty sure there were more than just a few wet eyes by the time it was all done.

because of Calvary...

After church Bruce and I both kind of hit the wall and decided that despite some great invitations to join others, it was best for us to just go home and rest. We took a beautiful walk along the river during the late afternoon and explored a trail we'd not ever taken before and were treated to some extraordinary beauty.

gonna lay down my burdens, down by the river side....

Happy Easter from the Love-Burkes.

We had hoped to work in a visit to see the grandsons but we had learned earlier that morning that the little one was sick. And as the day progressed, so did his illness. Finally we got the news that mommy and daddy had taken him to the hospital where he's been admitted and tests are being run, even now as I write this. He is only 3 weeks old and while the temp. isn't terribly high, it was high enough to warrant a stay in the hospital till they figure out whats going on.

another love letter from God as we walked the river. 

As we were digesting the news of our grandson, we then learned that one of our dearest friends was also in the hospital and in need of a pacemaker! Her surgery is taking place this morning. This afternoon I will be making hospital visits to both my loved ones and my heart is heavy with all the sad news of the past few days.

A feeling of lethargy has settled in. I got in my power walk this morning and began to tackle household chores but I certainly wasn't feeling it. I dreaded facing my kitchen which looked ransacked after our whirlwind weekend.

The need for a good laugh is desperately called for. So I'm looking for funny. And when I can't find it, I create my own.

In a desperate attempt to get motivated I've donned my June Cleaver pearls and apron!

I guess this might be what we sometimes refer to as "A Bad Case of the Mondays."

How glad I am to know that I can come before the Throne of Grace and lay down my burdens, pour out my heart and receive His Peace.

All because of Calvary.

the power of the cross is only surpassed by Christ's conquering death by rising again!

This Is Happy Too

Sunday Night

What a Monday! Our weekend was full of snow, ice, wind, and rain. The end result in some areas is that dangerous, beautiful condition known as a "Silver Thaw". Here in my little corner of the county, it's warmed enough to just leave slush everywhere. And still the rain is coming down. I'm tempted to just say 'yuck', pour another cup of coffee and snuggle in by the fire with my book, instead of donning my rain gear and getting outside for my walk.

Monday morning

However..... I have a couple of things buzzing inside of me, creating too much joy to just sit still. So, allow me to blog and then I will gladly let the buzz of joy carry me down the path of fitness.

The first thing that set my toes a'tapping was something from my Bucket List. I blogged about that in an earlier post and this weekend I took the first step in making it happen. I registered for the "Run for the Honeywagon" coming in April. Actually, I registered my sweetie and me for it! Yep, he said he would love to do it with me and after some test walks to see how compatible we were on our paces, we agreed this could work. Now, let me be clear-- it may be called a RUN but as they allow for walkers, that is what we will be doing. We will be in the 4 mile walking category and that is plenty fine with me! The point of this exercise for me is I will be participating in a fun, challenging, competitive event and it's not about winning, it's about doing. I'm very excited about this, as it is an event I have longed to participate in since way back in the 1980's when I could have actually contended as a runner. But motherhood, living life and aging has brought me to the place of acceptance; this body is no longer designed for the run. Walking is the new running for me.

The other MOST EXCITING THING came about this morning. I am a member of Faithwriters, an online writing group, and have participated many times in their weekly writing challenge. Some of my entries placed in the top 3, some even receiving the coveted "Editor's Choice" award. That made the story eligible for future publication in an anthology. It's been awhile in coming due to some unforeseen set backs but finally the press is moving forward and several issues will be coming out over the next year or so. I was told that I have stories appearing in 5 or 6 books! I am a little embarrassed to admit that I don't know for sure which of my stories are being published and I won't know until the release forms come and my titles are listed. (I kind of lost track of things.)

In the midst of being notified that the books were going to be published a request was put out for some additional material to fill a gap in the first book. Not really knowing what she was looking for, and who I'd be up against, I took the plunge and submitted a short story. This morning I received notification that out of the many submissions she received, the editor had selected MY story to fill the gap! I was sipping my coffee in front of the fire, checking my email and waiting for the brain fog to lift, as I skimmed the email.... when the information clicked and I let out a WHOOP that scared the cat and nearly upset my coffee. Then the tears came.... and prayers of thanks went up. Because really, I know that anything I have ever written comes from the gift God has given me. And I hope with all my heart that whatever I write, always points to Him and gives Him the glory.


I don't know the time table for the publications but rest assured, once I do, you all will be among the first to know! In the meantime, if you would like to read the story that will appear in the first book, Mixed Blessings, Simple Pleasures, you can find it here!  As always, thanks for reading.

Giving Thanks ~ Week 4

One thing that has been confirmed for me this week is the power of memory. As I have carried out the theme of posting each Saturday my week of thanks, I'd write the post all week long, adding to the list almost every day till I was ready to post it.  This week, however, I did not write anything until Friday evening and then I found myself grasping for recall. Slowly, as the brain-fog lifted and I saw clear back to Sunday, I was properly chagrined. I had an awesome week with many, many things to give thanks for. To not remember them is a shame. The lesson in this is that I need to pause more often, take stock in my surroundings and give praise and thanksgiving to the One who supplies all my needs.

Sunday
We spent a delightful afternoon visiting our 2 year old grandson (and his daddy and mommy). He is talking up a storm and repeats the cutest things that he has garnered along the way of watching the world in front of him.

Bennett brought the blanket to us because he wanted us to all be 'cozy-wozy'

Monday
Given the fact that 8 or 9 weeks ago, we dove right into some rather heavy stuff with our newly formed small group, we thought it would be fun to backtrack a little and enjoy some lighter fare as we celebrated the wrap up of our study. So...
Have you ever played the Ungame? It's a conversation starter/ice breaker type game, designed to stimulate interesting conversation and get to know one another better. Questions range from the light hearted (if you received $5000 as a gift, how would you spend it?) to the deeper probing ones (what lifetime dream are you still trying to make come true?)  We had a lot of fun going around the room drawing cards and sharing our answers. And we learned a lot more about each other. Always a good thing!

this greeted me as I returned from my morning walk!

Tuesday
Girlfriends and chocolate. Need I say more?

my Tuesday Morning Life Group

Wednesday
This was a fun day. My sister and I went over to my friends home in the afternoon and worked on the details of a party that they are throwing me next month in honor of a milestone birthday! The theme is "What Happened in 1958?"  Turns out I was born the same year that the Hula Hoop was invented... and that's all I am going to say for now.

Thursday
a long phone conversation with my daughter.
Precepts Bible Study
Skyping with the grandkids.
It's all good!

To this I will add  that after the bible study my sister and I chatted with one of our class leaders who mentioned she wants to form a Christian Writers group in the new year that will meet monthly to encourage one another. This is very exciting!!

Friday
Hubby was called back in for a second interview which took place Friday morning!! He also learned it is between him and one other person for the position. Trying to just remain calm and not fret over it as we probably wont hear anything before Thanksgiving.

Saturday
We've been enduring a serious COLD snap all week and our house is hard to keep warm. We rely on our woodstove for heat pretty much exclusively but this week found us pulling out our little electric space heaters.

My morning walks seem to happen a little later each day as I wait for the temps to rise just a wee bit. We've had some marvelous sunshine each day though and the glistening frost on the grass and fallen leaves has a beauty all of it's own.

I am thankful for warm blankets, mittens, hot chocolate, and wood fires.
I am thankful for friends, for family, for books to read and books to share.
Thankful for plans in the works for our Thanksgiving gathering next week.

How about you?

Fake It Till Ya Make It.

Recently a friend was sharing with me that she seemed to be walking through a dry desert in regards to her spiritual walk with God. She said she yearns to be hungry and thirsty for more of Him and to feel excited and joy-filled by His Presence. But instead she is feeling lethargic about things... feelings of anxiety and dread seem to rise up as she approaches her place of worship. She doesn't want to feel this way and she is trying to figure out how and why she ended up in this dry and dark place. 

Her comments resonated with me... because too many times I have been in that place. Sometimes it was depression but after some deeper examination what I know is this.

I have learned that during those times of feeling down, discouraged, frustrated or blocked, the first step is to examine my heart and mind. 

1. Is there an unconfessed sin in my life that God wishes for me to deal with? 

Oh, this is the one I don't like very much. I don't usually have to look very far to find it.... but it still isn't much fun. 

2. Is there someone in my life that I might be harboring resentment or unforgiveness towards? 

In the past I had a lot of resentment towards several people. And yes, even now I have to admit there are people in my life who I have (had) issues with and I have had to deal with those-- or rather, allow the Holy Spirit to deal with ME in regards to those!! (maybe I will share how that happened in another post) 

BUT WHAT IF there doesn't seem to be any unresolved issues that are standing in my way of experiencing all the fullness of JOY that comes from being with Jesus? What then?

I have to say, I don't know why we go through these times of feeling far away or feeling less than joy-filled. It bothers me a lot to realize how complacent about Jesus and my faith I sometimes feel.

Just this past Sunday during the worship service at my church I was impressed with a word or two from the Holy Spirit. It has to do with that adage "Fake it till you make it." 

While the Holy Spirit didn't say those words exactly, what He did do was to remind me of some things.

God says for us to have faith. But faith requires action. When Jesus healed people he always issued a command of some sort that required action. When he healed the lame man, he said "Rise up and walk!" and THEN the healing took place as the man obeyed his command. 

I can't think of anytime in scripture where Jesus spoke healing and that person waited and watched the healing take place before getting up and doing his thing. It always took place as the person stepped out in faith. He instructed the man with the withered hand to stretch out his hand. I am assuming that a withered hand would have a hard time stretching but the man did it in obedience and faith and as he stretched it the healing happened. 

This is what I think God wants us to do in the times of feeling down. First, ask Him to give you more joy. Ask Him, as my friend is doing,  to make you hungry and thirsty for more of Him. But then, don't sit and wait for the joy to bubble up inside of you. Start acting joy-full even if you don't feel it. 

Because in the action you display your faith that God is gonna honor your request. It is God's desire that we'd want more of Him so this is a request he will not deny. But I believe it does require us to show action. 

This past Sunday when  I went to church, I didn't feel so great. I had been nursing a sick headache since the day before and I almost stayed home. I also was feeling pretty tired emotionally that morning and the music was too loud and the Pastor was too bubbly and all these people wanted to hug me.... !!!

I was feeling all icky and irritated... and then I felt the Spirit nudge me... and I have learned to honor those nudges otherwise they turn into big shoves... so I responded to the nudge by opening my mouth to sing, raising my hands to praise -- acting in obedience.  Yep, the fake it till ya make it. 

But here's the great amazing thing:  in those action steps, God always meets me! 

That's right.... I didn't have to fake it for very long.

You know what I think?? Don't be shocked but I think God likes to dance and He waits for us to take a step and then He steps and then we step together and soon we are waltzing around the room.  Maybe we even do the jitterbug or boogie!! Whatever. The point is, faith requires action and if we are asking God to fill us with joy, then we need to start acting like that request has been filled. Show our faith in Him! 

Remember good ol' Peter and how he stepped out of the boat to walk on the water with Jesus? He'd never done that before. He didn't know anything about walking on water and how it was done! He just wanted to be with Jesus and so out he leapt. Have you heard this expression (which I love)  "If you wanna walk on water, you gotta get outta the boat!

Faith always requires action. Are you struggling with something in your spiritual walk? Examine your heart. Ask for more of Jesus and then get out there and meet Him! And maybe even bring your dancing shoes.