Make a Joyful Noise

Recently I was in the hospital with an intestinal blockage. This recurring problem is caused by the scar tissue left in my body after two life saving cancer surgeries. Unfortunately, these spider web-like adhesions can cause trouble in the abdomen by pulling and catching the intestine causing things to come to a screeching halt. This problem usually results in a trip to the emergency room, a hospital admittance and several days of waiting to see if the procedure being used will solve the issue. This time was extra stress filled for me as I had my son's graduation to attend over the weekend and I was not sure I would make it out in time. Fortunately the problem resolved itself and I was able to make it to the ceremony to watch this milestone in our lives.

Yesterday as I was thinking about my "spider webs" I was suddenly struck by how life can be very similar to this situation. We get caught up in the world and its ways and suddenly the way we want to live our life comes to a screeching halt. We forget to be thankful, our thoughts become very "me" focused and we even question God's ways. Let me give some examples to you from my own life and as you read them perhaps you will see some similarities.

I watch a home improvement show on television or go to a friend's home and what I see is a house that is so much better than mine I begin to covet what I don't have. Suddenly my house becomes not good enough! I am not thankful for the shelter that God has provided or for the many happy times that have occurred in this "lived-in" home! I forget how happy I am to be home after a time away. My mind focuses on what I want to have, not on what God has blessed me with.

At the end of a long work week I complain, "Is this all there is God?" Can't there be a better job for me? Why can't I make more money? It would be great to have that person's job. Can you imagine getting paid that much for what they do? Do I have to put up with that person that I work with? Perhaps I should get a different job-it has to be better than this one. I forget that I have been blessed with a job when so many have none. I forget the co-workers that work so hard with me. My focus goes to greener pastures on the other side of the fence.

My child has made a mistake. What were they thinking? Will I constantly be cleaning up after them? I know their father and I have taught them better than this! Does their life really need to have that much drama in it? Why doesn't he talk to us anymore? Am I just a taxi service? I forget there are crosses on the side of the road where a mother weeps and wishes to have a single minute again with her child. I forget there is a father who wonders where his child is and if he will ever return.

I lament my lack of time. How can I be expected to fit in excercise? Just when will I help at church and have a devotional time when someone is not clamoring for something? I list my excuses as I sit down to watch an hour of television, as I sit waiting to pick up my child from that one more important activity or as I sign in to Facebook. Where in the world would I find that kind of time?

I cannot believe that I am having this health issue again! Why couldn't God have given me a better body? Did he really think when he made me that this is what he wanted? In fact, what was he really thinking? Surely he could have planned this better. Why me? I forget that he made me perfect in his eyes. I forget that he spared my life so I could proclaim him to the ends of the earth.

Just a few examples but I could provide many more. Any sound familiar? A year and a half ago my surgeon performed a less invasive surgery to clear away a lot of my adhesions and has once again suggested this procedure. As I consider this possiblity I will also continue to think about clipping the other ties that bind in my life. While pondering all of this I remember a chapter from the Bible that I worked on memorizing many years ago. It allows me to become focused on what is important. Make it your verse, too!

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."
Psalm 100
King James Version

Put Your Hope in the Lord

There are many things in life that I cannot predict but there is one thing I can be sure about. If there are several days without sunshine my body begins to react. Researchers usually say there is a lack of Vitamin D in the body and encourage eating healthy and exercising to increase serotonin levels. The problem is my brain tells me to do the opposite. I want to sleep more and eat tons of carbs. I absolutely hate to get out of the house especially if it is raining! My viewing of worthless television increases and my mood gets rather sour. I want to crawl under a warm blanket and not come out. I am not a fun person to be around. Life stinks! The problem with this is that life goes on whether there is sunshine or not. I have learned that through God's help our attitude and mood can change, though.

I love reading Psalm 42:11 when this mood attempts to overcome me. "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my
Savior and my God." My favorite part of this verse is the "put your hope in God" section. You see, God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow!! Although my moods and attitudes can change and vary quite frequently he never changes. He is a constant throughout my life. I can come to him any time and he will always be there.

Earlier I said life goes on whether there is sunshine in our life or not. I was not just talking about the weather. Our lives can change in a fraction of a second. We feel we are at the mountain top and then we come crashing down to the valley. So, when the sunshine in your life seems to have disappeared, turn to him. Let him wrap his loving arms around you and give you peace. Let him melt away the sour mood in your life. Let Jesus be the light that you need when the clouds threaten to break you.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-31


"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

Fear Not

Recently a friend of mine got some disturbing news. The kind that makes you sit for long periods of time and ponder what it is that is important in life. The kind that makes you take a look at your past and wonder if you should have done anything differently. The kind that makes you realize that you are not the one in charge and that you have to learn to give up control. The kind that you have to surrender everything you have and are to God.

I have been in this same situation several times in life. If you have ever had any of these life changing days then you probably have felt fear and uncertainty. Or perhaps you are feeling that right now with your own news. What I have learned in my situations is that there is actually good news in these periods of your life. If God was willing to give up his own son for us, then he will be there for us always even in these times of fear and uncertainty. Psalm 139:1-18 tells us of this great love of God for us and how important we are to him. Do not only read these verses with your head but also press them upon your heart. With God we have no reason to fear. Let him give you this peace in the knowledge that he is always with us!

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.

He Heals the Brokenhearted

I think we have all felt this pain before. The one that pierces our heart like an arrow and causes us to stumble. The one that causes our conversations to be stilted or come to a halt altogether. The one that sucker punches us and takes us down for the count. The one where trust is broken and seems irreparable. It makes us feel broken and hopeless. It makes us feel that all is impossible and lost. It is BETRAYAL.

Many of us have felt the sting of this in our lives. Perhaps yours came in the form of a divorce. Others might have been duped in a business deal. The doctor who said not to worry, later gives you a crushing diagnosis. Maybe your co-worker or boss did not back you in a situation. The promotion you were hoping to get went to the boss' relative. The loving and understanding parent you wish you had in your life is really difficult to live and communicate with. The friend you thought you had turns out to be helping to shove the knife in your back.

Jesus felt betrayal. The same people who waved the palm branches and yelled "Hosanna!" were the same people who asked for his death less than a week later. Jesus felt betrayal. His life was sold for a mere 30 pieces of metal. Jesus felt betrayal. The man he called "The Rock", his disciple Peter, denied even knowing him or being part of his ministry not once but three times in one night. Jesus felt betrayal.

Because of sin in the world others will let us down. There is no one on this earth that is completely perfect in their actions. Not our bosses, co-workers, friends or even our spouses can live up to all of our expectations. However, our God can. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He will help us through these times of heartache. These precious words from the Psalms can give us strength.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1


"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3