Seven Sacrifices to Joy

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Happy Day to you! It’s a great time to meet for coffee and wrap up this sacrifice of righteousness by looking at the cost as we make our way to Destination? Joyful! ™ via the HIGHway! Grab your coffee and come on in.
So I left off with a question of being able to agree to disagree for the greater good. I wish I could say it was easy for me; in fact, sometimes it feels so foreign, but I am learning that the better thing to do, for so many reasons and on so many levels, is to resist evil by walking away after being emotionally/verbally slapped. See, when we agree to disagree, in love, this leaves less clean-up that God has to do! After all, those that we disagree with are His workmanship, not ours! Remember what Romans 12:18 says: If it is possible, as much as is possible with you live peaceably with others.
So let’s put our name in there wherever applicable and the name of someone unlovable in your life. If it is possible, ______, as much as is possible with you, ________, live peaceably with ________! Wow, talk about a splash of perspective and the awesome thing is we don’t have to do it alone! His Spirit will equip and enjoin in our efforts!
But, oh, the cost … so simple and complicated at the same time: Our pride!
Pride is rooted in a feeling that you are more important or better than other people!
Yikes, I don’t know about you, but when I read that part of the definition, I want to run so far and fast from pride that I never run into it again. Unfortunately, because it is a part of my flesh, I know this cost will be an ongoing sacrifice!
See, doing right is more complicated than just behaving ourselves: it is going out of our way to do the right thing, in other words, taking a detour from our own flesh! The reward of joy makes the cost all the more worth it!
But how do we do that? I mean, when you look at the word P R I D E, what’s smack in the middle? I, I, I, I, I!
How hard is it to push pride aside and let peace reside? It’s a matter of focus! Where is your focus? If our focus remains on what was done to us by whom it was done, pride can’t get pushed to the side. But if our focus turns even just a little bit towards the One who died for our pride, pride begins to loosen its grip upon our hearts. Ask yourself this question: Is what I’m hanging on to of any eternal value? If it’s something that won’t be condoned in heaven, then leave it in the world! He tells us in 1^st John 2:15 that if we hang on to anything in this world, we become like the world and the more like the world we become, the less room there is to love our Heavenly Father.
Anytime I think of offering up a sacrifice of righteousness, someone else is always involved! In other words, any of our relationships will require us, and often daily, to offer up a Sacrifice of Righteousness and the price tag is our pride.
Another cost in offering up a Sacrifice of Righteousness is time! How many of us are so busy doing we don’t know how to be? Ouch, I just poked at my own heart! :) Let me get right to a conviction I struggle with: The Sabbath. How many of us make the time to take the time to celebrate – yes, I said celebrate – the Sabbath?  Mark 2:27 tells us that the Sabbath was made for us, not us for the Sabbath. I don’t know about you, but I can become so busy in what I’m doing, and focused, that I don’t take time to rest, or to celebrate life. That’s what the Sabbath is all about, a day of celebrating all He has given to us and done for us through the act of worship! He wants us to take this time to refresh and renew and rejuvenate before it is too late! Burnout is so incredibly common, especially in church leadership. Is it any wonder that a Sacrifice of Righteousness has the price tag of our time? The crazy thing is it’s for our good! He honors our well-spent time. If time were in a bank account, what would the deposits look like and what would the withdrawals look like? Offering up a Sacrifice of Righteousness almost always costs some time. The more time you spend with Him, the more time you’ll have to give!
I’m sure there are other smaller price tags in offering up a Sacrifice of Righteousness, but these are the two that will never go on sale, never change and will always be required.
Oh, Abba, I pray that I would turn to you, and from my flesh, in order to offer a sacrifice of righteousness; that I would stop in the midst of my doing throughout the day and just be with You; that my light, you in me, would so shine before men and women, especially in the midst of their words of fire, that they would recognize something different from my sacrifice of righteousness, your love in me that splashes like water on their words of fire.
Loving my search for joy,

Evinda

Looking for Joy ... in all the right places! Destination? Joyful! (tm)

                                                                                           
Thanks so much for joining us for this series on joy! Grab your coffee and come on in away from those things that threaten to steal your joy!
Yesterday I left off with some equations in the form of questions that really have the power to steal one’s joy if we were to dwell on only one part of the equation. And please know, from my heart to yours, I am in no way trying to minimize or simplify the effects of pain, sorrow, loss, sickness, or any other challenge that has the power to destroy us or transform us emotionally, physically or spiritually; I am just encouraging the truth that because we have the freedom of choice in all things, He is constantly and relentlessly working all things for our good and ultimately they can bring Him glory and unite us as His bride … if we let them. I know this because I have experienced it over and over and over again! We can let these truths steal our joy or add to our joy; it’s up to us.
Let’s now move to the verse that started this particular conversation, Psalm 27:6 “And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me. Therefore, I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle. I will sing; yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.”
Talk about another handful of diamonds. Let’s begin to look at them one at a time so we too can offer sacrifices of joy … which I don’t understand but we’re about to find out and hopefully sooner than later!
Again, David mentions trouble here … trouble in the form of enemies. David was one of the most sought after guys of his day, and more often than not, the “sought after” was not in a good way, but to take him out. He spent many years on the run for his life, especially from King Saul who was extremely jealous of David, destined to be king.
Have you ever walked into a room full of enemies? When I think of entering a room full of people that don’t like me, I don’t believe I would have the confidence to enter with my head held up high! I sometimes struggle to walk with my head held high in the presence of one who deems me their enemy. How confident are we in our Savior who goes before us, the One who promises to never leave us or forsake us, the One who promises to fight our battles? Do we believe His promises? David did and because he did he was able to exclaim that he could hold his head high and offer sacrifices of joy. Oh, to be one with our Defender like that.
See, the term sacrifices of joy, I believe, speaks of the ability to worship through chaos, through the storm, through our greatest tribulations and trials. But it gets a little deeper than that. Grab your shovels, and follow me.
In 1^st Peter 2:5, the Apostle (one who was appointed by Jesus) Peter writes: “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer you spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
I know, you are wondering what in the world does this have to do with sacrifice of joy … Hang in there with me.
I’m so excited because I’ve never really understood this verse either, us being living stones and called priests but now as I am writing this for you, diamonds are sparkling so bright that I can’t take my eyes off of them. Won’t you join me as we stare into their brilliance so we can truly understand the depth of joy, and offer sacrifices of joy?
Join me tomorrow and be sure and bring your shovels so we can get some serious digging done!
His Joy-seeker,

Evinda

Super Glue for Christians-January WOW-From Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Welcome to Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and to our first WOW (weapons of warfare and words of wisdom) for 2013. I’m so glad you could take the time to stop by for a little coffee break. Grab your coffee and come on in.

I don’t think these words have ever resonated in my heart like they do now in this world we live in, a world moving faster and faster toward the things spoken about in the book of Revelations. Each time I hear about the political catastrophes, the world-wide tragedies, the horrific morally-debased things taking place right in our backyards, I am gripped with fear, almost as if I am momentarily paralyzed, but only for a moment because I know that I know that I know who is going to win in the end.

I think that’s why these two verses have become like Super Glue in my strand of faith, holding me together when life tries to tear me apart, or when I make the wrong choice, or someone I love dearly hurts me, or when I lose someone I love, even if temporarily, or the news announces something else the president is doing that contradicts the Word of God. I mean the list can go on and on.

Let’s face it, and I don’t mean to be a bummer, but we are living in a society that is spinning further and further away from spiritual morality. Which is why we need these weapons of warfare, these words of wisdom; otherwise, we are going to wind up spinning with the rest of the world.

The issue with these two verses is you have to own them; and you can only do that by getting to know the one who will never leave us or forsake us. When I was a new believer, I don’t think I could have owned these words, honestly, but that was years ago, many layers ago and I’m so glad I stayed in the process, allowing Him to tie those knots in my string of faith, tying me to Him in a way that I never want to undo. Yes, it’s a process to get to the point of no turning back, to be able to say with all sincerity: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord!”

I know that I know that you and I can take that promise to the bank! Join me tomorrow for a couple of diamonds within our WOW.

Persuaded,

Evinda

My New Years’ Prayer From Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

It’s hard to believe we are starting another year together. Time seems to fly faster as we get older. Wasn’t it just yesterday that I began Coffee Hour?

That Chicklit Power Ministries began? As we begin this New Year, I can’t help but reflect on the prior one and do a bit of inventory. How else can I prevent myself from making the same mistakes? Gain victory over struggles? Appreciate the journey? Grab your coffee and come on in.

To reflect is to marvel at His hand in my life, and not just the distant or recent past, but my present and my future. As I do this, the words overflow out of my heart, through my fingers and onto the keyboard, and thus out to you. Here is my New Years’ prayer for you and for me:

As this year begins, Father, be my beginning and my end

Entwine my heart with yours and be my very best friend

May my life be an act of worship speaking louder than my words

A fragrance more pleasing than the sweetest of all created herbs

Help me begin each day lingering in your presence

Worship you more and more, letting go of resentments

Help me not to get lost and drown in any and all sorrow

For your Word promises you will bring joy in my tomorrow

Help me seek your Word for answers and your unfailing advice

When I’m lost and wandering in problems rising to great heights

Help me keep an eternal perspective despite adversity

And to remember any trial I endure is only temporary

Preparing me for greater things is your refining fire

May an eternity with You be my consuming desire

Help me not be directed by pride, but seek true humility

Knowing I am nothing without You residing within me

May I continue to remember I don’t need to know it all

For You don’t call the qualified but you qualify those you call

When physical or emotional pain threaten to rob me spiritually

Pick me up and hold me, mind body and soul completely

Help me just be still, and soak up all life’s precious moments

And help me, Abba Father to not be guided by my emotions

Father, I have one more wish as we begin another year together

Help me to love the gift of my husband that honors you a lot better

For when I get there we won’t talk about what he did or didn’t do

But about how I loved and cared for him through the power of You

Yes, Father, You began a great work in me a long time ago

And I’m thankful for your grace that helps me to know

That as another year begins, I need to remain teachable

For you will carry me beyond anything unreachable

Oh Abba, help me to remain on the wheel each day

For you are the Potter, and I long to be the clay

Mold me and make me more into the likeness of you

So others will see you in each and everything I do

I pray this for me and for you… Now let’s get seat-belted in for the ride through 2013! Join me tomorrow for our first WOW of the year!

Evinda