Well I finished Sally's book Dancing with my Father and I wanted to share some things I learned from it.
This was a timely read for me as I am dealing with my Dads cancer and the struggle my parents go through every day and I am wondering at times what the purpose is for all this pain and despair. Sally talks about finding joy in the midst of trials....
The key to joy in the midst of trials is in knowing and believing that God is always good. Always.
(Wow.....do I really believe that in my heart?)
I must remember and chose to believe that He is working even when I can't see Him; that this test is the work of my life, my opportunity to have a testimony or a story of His faithfulness.
(so every minute, every second even, I need to be turning my heart towards praise, thanksgiving and rest....knowing that God is there working everything together to make me more like Him)
Worrying and fretting only squeeze out joy........I can't live in both worlds at once. I need to chose the peace of Christ or the worry of the world......
Belief is the antidote for a troubled heart.......believe in Him, that He is with me, that He is good and will take care of me.
There was so much in this book that spoke to my heart. Finding joy in suffering is not easy. But this is the kind of faith that pleases God. I need to really believe Rev. 21:4-5.....there will be no more tears, pain, sorrow, all former things will pass away!!
Joy is a choice of my heart. I need to guard my heart against this world and the enemy who would have me doubt my King. I am finding that this is a moment by moment choice that I need to make.....but I am finding the more time I spend with him in His word, the more prepared I am to do battle and protect my heart. The more I model myself after Jesus being humble and gentle....the easier it is to have this joy overflowing in my heart.
This is a book I know I will come back to and read once a year....it's a good reminder on where to find our true joy!!
This was a timely read for me as I am dealing with my Dads cancer and the struggle my parents go through every day and I am wondering at times what the purpose is for all this pain and despair. Sally talks about finding joy in the midst of trials....
The key to joy in the midst of trials is in knowing and believing that God is always good. Always.
(Wow.....do I really believe that in my heart?)
I must remember and chose to believe that He is working even when I can't see Him; that this test is the work of my life, my opportunity to have a testimony or a story of His faithfulness.
(so every minute, every second even, I need to be turning my heart towards praise, thanksgiving and rest....knowing that God is there working everything together to make me more like Him)
Worrying and fretting only squeeze out joy........I can't live in both worlds at once. I need to chose the peace of Christ or the worry of the world......
Belief is the antidote for a troubled heart.......believe in Him, that He is with me, that He is good and will take care of me.
There was so much in this book that spoke to my heart. Finding joy in suffering is not easy. But this is the kind of faith that pleases God. I need to really believe Rev. 21:4-5.....there will be no more tears, pain, sorrow, all former things will pass away!!
Joy is a choice of my heart. I need to guard my heart against this world and the enemy who would have me doubt my King. I am finding that this is a moment by moment choice that I need to make.....but I am finding the more time I spend with him in His word, the more prepared I am to do battle and protect my heart. The more I model myself after Jesus being humble and gentle....the easier it is to have this joy overflowing in my heart.
This is a book I know I will come back to and read once a year....it's a good reminder on where to find our true joy!!
Watch over your heart with all diligence,
for from it flow the springs of life.
Proverbs 4:23
I just got my hands on Sally Clarkson's newest book Dancing with my Father. This book is all about finding the joy that should be ours ALWAYS in Christ.
Sally begins by recounting the story of David and how he had a different heart. Because he had a different heart he looked at life differently then those around him did. He was able to defeat the giant because of that heart and he also was able to joyously dance in the street to celebrate his God with such abandon and child like wonder. Sally's Mom explained it this way in the book.....
Sally begins by recounting the story of David and how he had a different heart. Because he had a different heart he looked at life differently then those around him did. He was able to defeat the giant because of that heart and he also was able to joyously dance in the street to celebrate his God with such abandon and child like wonder. Sally's Mom explained it this way in the book.....
"A person with a different heart doesn't see life as it appears from the outside. Instead she sees life from the heart, the way God sees it. She follows what God tells her to do in her heart, not depending on what she sees with her eyes. So you need to learn how to see God with the eyes of your heart and follow what God shows you is really true. It's like looking for God's secrets as you would search for treasure. The ones who have different hearts find the treasures of heaven that God has strewn all throughout their lives so that they can always find joy wherever He is."
David had found the key to joy.....and he found his joy in the only true source of joy.....God. Oh Lord, I so want my life to be seeped in the joy that comes only from You!! I want to learn to dance like David!
I am looking forward to learning how to find and keep this joy in all circumstances.....with all the snow we just got I think I might just curl up by the woodstove today and read the day away....
Yes I know I post a lot on the subject of homeschooling....but it is on my heart and I want others to truly think about the implications of allowing your Christian children to go to Government run schools....we are losing our youth to a Godless culture......public school is one of the main reasons.
Thanks to Kelly over at Generation Cedar for the heads up on this great article from John Piper over at Desiring God. We are striving for this in our own family and as usual John Piper and his wife Noel have given us some good food for thought about family worship. Please go here to read the entire article,
The Family: Together in God's presence
The Family: Together in God's presence
On my sidebar I have most of my favorite blogs listed. I just updated it with 2 more of my favorite blogs at the moment. The first is Voddie Bauchman's blog. He also has a few podcasts of his sermons on his site that I highly recommend. Especially the centrality of the home sermon. I am also enjoying Stacy McDonald's blog. The discussions are always convicting and very thought provoking over there! I thank God for the connections and encouragement we as Moms can receive via the internet. It's amazing how God uses these tools to bring those that are like minded together.
