We Can Choose Joy... Or Not?

Strange as it may sound, we can choose joy. Two people can be part of the same event, but one may choose to live it quite differently than the other. One may choose to trust that what happened, painful as it may be, holds a promise. The other may choose despair and be destroyed by it.
-- Henri Nouwen

² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
-- James 1:2-4 (NKJV)

Click here: Larnelle Harris - I Choose Joy - YouTube

ALL JOY!
Grateful

Seeking Solitude, Not Settling for Loneliness

All human beings are alone. No other person will completely feel like we do, think like we do, act like we do. Each of us is unique, and our aloneness is the other side of our uniqueness. The question is whether we let our aloneness become loneliness or whether we allow it to lead us into solitude. Loneliness is painful; solitude is peaceful. Loneliness makes us cling to others in desperation; solitude allows us to respect others in their uniqueness and create community.

Letting our aloneness grow into solitude and not into loneliness is a lifelong struggle. It requires conscious choices about whom to be with, what to study, how to pray, and when to ask for counsel. But wise choices will help us to find the solitude where our hearts can grow in love.

-- Henri Nouwen

Lord, help us to seek peaceful solitude with you, lest we settle for painful loneliness on our own.
Grateful

Lostness?

I awoke early this morning in tears. Not because I had to get up early, but because I awoke from a heart-wrenching dream.

In the dream, my own son had become separated from our men's group in a large, confusing city and though I kept calling him on my cell phone there was no answer from his end. The group of men eventually all returned to one place but my son did not. Hope was vanishing quickly. My heart was so broken as I imagined all kinds of scenarios for my lost loved one.

Then I heard my cell phone ringing. It was the personal ringtone I have set for my son's incoming calls. I answered the phone on the first ring. The dream was over. I was awake in my bed and holding my cell phone. Yes, my son's ringtone is the same ringtone I have set for my cell phone alarm clock.

I got up out of bed and headed across the dark room towards the shower. I wept silently and asked the Lord, "Why do I have such dreams?" He didn't answer me immediately but a few moments later He did. It seemed He tenderly whispered this response to me:

"Kerry, since you have prayed and given Me permission to break your heart for what breaks Mine, I allowed your heart to be broken in a dream. Now you know more about how broken My heart is over the lostness of all of the precious sons and daughters I died to bring back Home to Me. They are in a state of confusing lostness. Though I keep calling them, they do not answer my calls from their end. Now you know more deeply how badly My heart is broken because I want My loved ones back in My family."

"Yes, Lord, I know," I sobbed. "How broken Your Holy heart must be."

As I turned on the shower,the pains of confusing lostness pierced into the depths of my broken heart like never before.

The Son came to seek and to save... The Father's lost sons and daughters.
Grateful

P.S. My son loves the Lord with all of his heart. We hugged each other just a few minutes ago.

Painful But Helpful

The words of the wise are like cattle prods — painful but helpful.
-- From Ecclesiastes 12:11 (NLT)

Give us the eyes of Your Spirit. Yes, Your Mind, Christ!
Grateful