Turning Joy to Praise

Turning Joy to Praise

Joy - Week Three - Wednesday

‘He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.’

Luke 24:44-53

Again Jesus was reminding them of all the things they had heard from Him. It says that He opened their minds so that they could receive and understand the Scripture. He reminded them they were witnesses of these prophecies being fulfilled. Then He took them outside of the city and He raised His hands up and blessed them. While He was still blessing them He ascended up to heaven with His hands still raised. Think about that picture for a moment. To say a blessing over someone was something special. They are looking at the risen Christ. They probably have barely left His side since they found He had arisen. I imagine they are basking in this special blessing that is for them. Then He is taken up from them. They could have experienced grief all over again. Instead, they are filled with great joy and they worshipped and praised Him. There is no grief here. Talk about your praise and worship service! Their joy led them to worship and to praise Him….continually….at the Temple. They didn’t worry about the leg of lamb in the crock pot or the afternoon game. They couldn’t stop praising God and worshiping.

There have been times like that in my life. Times when my joy was so full that I could not stop praising my God and times when services went exceedingly long but no one noticed because the joy in God’s house had led to so much praise and worship no one was ready to stop. But in my daily life I tend to worry about what I left simmering at home and the daily things I had planned. I often am filled with joy but forget to take time to praise the Joygiver. I, for one, am going to pay attention more. I am going to turn my joy into praise to the One who makes my heart joyful. I am going to worship both privately and corporately in a way that demonstrates that He has given me great joy. How about you?

Family Activity

We all have moments of great joy…moments when we especially feel the presence of God in our lives. For me these include my salvation, a moment I spent alone with God in General Butler State Park in Kentucky when I was about 17, the day I joined my life with my husband’s, the birth of my child, her salvation, the beginning of Stone Soup at Faith and so many more. These were times my heart was so full I could barely put words to it but my heart was in constant praise to my God. Consider, having a special tree to put ornaments that are a reminder of these significant times in your life where you felt God’s hand moving and you were filled with great joy. It might have been a mission trip or someone for whom you had prayed for many years coming to know Christ. Think of a token of that moment….something to represent it and make an ornament to go on this special tree. Every year your family may add to the tree and it will come to be a special representation of God’s hand in your life and what moments filled you with joy unspeakable.

Joyous News

Joyous News

Joy - Week Three - Tuesday

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.' Now I have told you. So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples” Matthew 28:1-8


Have you ever had a chore you dreaded? I have always hated studying for a test. I will come up with very important things to do when I need to study for a test. My house is usually very, very clean when I have to study for a test. My family eats really nice meals when I need to study for a test. The dogs are bathed and their toenails clipped when I need to study for a test. Some of us will think of anything to avoid a dreaded chore.


The chore these women faced was far more dreaded than a test. They were waiting for the Sabbath to end so that they could take care of the body of Jesus. This was the Man they had followed and listened to and served. This Man was family to them….and so much more. They had suffered a great loss. They were grieving. The women arrived, I imagine, bracing themselves for the sight of the battered body of their Savior. Instead, an angel awaited them, sitting on the stone that was rolled away from the tomb. He tells them that Jesus is not there. He has risen…He TOLD you this would happen! Didn’t you listen to what He said? The angel is aware that clearly they will need to see for themselves and invites them to look into the tomb and then tells them to go tell the disciples. The women listened this time….scurrying away they headed out to tell the disciples. No longer grieving, they find themselves filled with two emotions….fear and joy. They are afraid because, well…since they headed out to do this dreaded chore they have been through an earthquake, found guards that seemed to be dead, were rebuked and given good news by and angel that looked like lightning, and found the tomb empty. What does all that rate on the life stressor scale? Suddenly they have been given a new chore. They are the ones who get to tell the disciples that Jesus is alive. They get to remind the disciples that this is exactly what Jesus had told them would happen and it did. They get to bring the good news. And Jesus is alive…that is news enough to bring them joy.


So often we live without joy because we simply don’t pay attention to the things that Jesus told us. We forget His promises. We forget that He has told us everything we need to know in order to live lives of great joy and so we waste of days living without it. Be filled with joy this season. Remember what He has told you and then be filled with joy so you can hurry and tell the others!

Family Activity



Have a special breakfast picnic. Use the grill or a fire pit to fry bacon and eggs and make hash brown potatoes. Enjoy eating it out in the nippy air. Look around you and see how many things you experience with your senses that are reminders of the things God has given you and the joy you have through Christ. Have a special prayer time as a family. You might just find this one to be a cherished family tradition.

Celebrate the Joy!

Celebrate the Joy!

Joy - Week Three - Monday

“All the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion…Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground…They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve."Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them…The whole company that had returned from exile built booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great. Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the feast for seven days..” Nehemiah 8

These folks knew how to rejoice. The wall was finished and the people were coming to listen to God’s Word and have it explained to them. They were coming for some good old-fashioned expository preaching. Hours of it….days of it and as they listened they wept because they finally were understanding the words that God was telling them But Ezra says to them, “Whoa, hang on a minute here. This day is sacred before God. Don’t mourn…don’t cry. Instead go have a party. Make some great food and some sweet drinks. And don’t forget the people who have nothing to prepared to share. I hear him saying we are celebrating with some casseroles and dinner on the ground and don’t worry if you didn’t bring a dish…we got you covered.” The Scriptures say that they listened to God’s Word and celebrated for seven full days and that there had not been such a celebration as this since the time of Joshua. The word holiday actually comes from the words holy days. This was a holy day and he tells them to eat choice foods…enjoy yourselves…hey have an extra dessert if you like! Then gather up baskets and bowls of food and take it to others. Give presents! Celebrate! Up to this point they had forgotten how to celebrate the Lord. They had forgotten how to find their joy in Him. They had forgotten how to laugh from deep down in their bellies just because God had filled them with joy.

They had forgotten and often so have we. Celebrate fully this Christmas. Celebrate the fact that God has filled you up with joy just because He loves you so very much. Remember why you are celebrating. Remember!

Family activity

Pull out the party hats. Make some cupcakes or whatever it is that your family thinks of when they think of celebration. Have a party to celebrate Gods Word. Remember aloud the reasons that you celebrate Christmas. Celebrate! We have much to rejoice about!

Real Joy

Real Joy

Joy - Week Three - Sunday

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him; sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually! I Chronicles 16:8-11

Just about a year ago I became acquainted with a family that would become very dear friends of mine. I met them when Tim and I headed to Nashville to take our first peek at a Stone Soup ministry which is our ministry to families with children with differing needs. When I met Lynn and Ross I knew I had met folks whose heart beat in tune with mine. Their love for the ministry God had called them to was evident…as was their love for one another. When I met them Lynn was already fighting a full assault battle with cancer. In the weeks that followed, as we were in preparation to begin Stone Soup here in Monroe, I was in a position to witness what was transpiring in that battle. I often would call to ask questions and would hear Lynn in the background with the constant cough she had at the end. That did not stop her from piping in and giving me instructions and ideas and godly advice as we moved forward. Lynn was not the only one in this battle. Ross fought hard alongside her. I know that those last weeks were tough on the whole family and yet, each time I called and said, “How are you?” Ross would answer with one word….blessed. I knew they were experiencing long nights, multiple trips to the doctor, nausea, and so many other things. No matter what Ross shared about how the prognosis looked his heart held a certain joy. When God brought Lynn to her new home in heaven, I called Ross to express my support and prayers in his time of sadness. When I asked how he was…you guessed it, he told me he was blessed. He was glad Lynn’s pain had ended. Shortly after I would attend the memorial service where Lynn’s family would laugh through bittersweet tears as they remembered her.

The Bible speaks of rejoicing 183 times and joy 155 times. It speaks of joy in hard times and joy in good times and joy that comes in the morning. Joy is a funny thing. We look at it like happiness but it comes from a much deeper place. Joy is not dependent on the things that are happening around us. Joy happens at funerals through the tears and at weddings and at births of new babies. Joy happens in hospitals and on battlefields and in prisons. Joy is not external. Joy is something that comes from the Lord. I can be happy because I got that really great present I wanted. I can be happy because my friends took me out for a really fun evening on my birthday. I can be happy because I have a new outfit or a new cell phone or new friend. But I can have joy when no one brings me presents and no one asks me to hang out with them. I can have joy in my old clothes with my old cell phone and with my old friends.

We have true, unshakable joy when it is comes from our relationship with Christ. Joy is knowing that God has got it all under control. It is seeing our own personal situation change from day to day and knowing that God never changes. Christmas might be different for many this year. This is a year when many have lost jobs and have to really tighten their belts. When you are counting pennies to pay for groceries there is not a lot in the pot to buy presents for under the tree. This Christmas rejoice. Hold on to the joy you have in the Lord. Don’t look around...look up!

Discussion Question

What makes you happy? What makes you unhappy? How can you find joy no matter what things are tough in your situation in life? Acknowledge the things that might be different this year. How can you make sure your joy stays in tact?

Family Activity

Take a moment to worship together using the steps in tonight’s passage of Scripture.
Give thanks to the Lord – Take turns thanking God for the things you are thankful for in your life.
Make His deeds known among the peoples – Each family member share with the others something special God has done for you.
Sing a praise song together
Tell of all His wondrous works – this can be anything God has done (creation, salvation, etc)
Glory in His holy name – Think of all the names you can remember for God and Jesus
Rejoice – Tell someone else about the joy you have in Jesus
Seek the Lord and His strength – Ask the Lord for strength for the things you might be facing this week.
Now continue to do this in your hearts all week!

Peace in Letting Go

Peace in Letting Go

Peace - Week Two - Saturday

“Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:4-7

On a warm summer day in the late 80s I boarded a plane in Chattanooga, TN headed for New Jersey to spend a much anticipated two weeks with my friend and roommate of many years. She lived close enough to New York City for us to drive in several days to shop, see a show, and fulfill my lifelong wish of seeing the Statue of Liberty. We would also drive to Philadelphia and see the sights there and spend some time with her parents. I had been excited about everything about the trip for weeks, except for this….riding on this airplane to get there. I had flown as a small child and maybe one other time but it always made me nervous and uneasy. I know people who love to fly, who look forward to the surge of energy from the plane as it levels off in its designated airspace and who enjoyed peering out the small windows to look at the tiny world far below. For me the greatest feeling of excitement would be when I felt the wheels touch the earth again and I knew the worst thing that could happen was to hit another plane as we taxied in to the airport. I thought I could probably come out of that type of accident okay.

I moved into my assigned seat by the window. I had requested a window seat, not to look at the billowy clouds as we ascended, but so that I could be the keeper of the window and have the option of shutting the shade when I decided it was scary. I fastened my seatbelt and clutched my bag tightly in my hand and waited. After a moment a man in a business suit joined me on the aisle seat, gave me a cursory nod and smile and fastened his seatbelt. The plane finally lifted without incident and when I was sure we were finished with turning and lifting and maneuvering I pulled out my book and began to read. I read several pages, glancing around me and out the window from time to time when I heard a chuckle come from the man beside me. I looked up from my book only to see him looking directly at me.

“You know,” he said, “You can lean or move in any direction and it really does not affect the balance of the plane.” This man was MOCKING me! I looked at my hands carefully holding the book straight out in front in me. With his book he mimicked how I had turned the pages without moving anything but my one hand and then imitated me turning my head only slightly to look all around the plane. I wanted to be mad but a laugh escaped as I looked at his head held rigidly erect but eyes looking at me out of their corners, but looking, nonetheless. He cocked his eyebrow, awaiting a response.

“Are you very sure?” I countered and he too, began to laugh. He suggested that we simply trust the pilot who had navigated this route many times and not worry about it. As radical as that sounded to me I agreed and we had a nice chat the rest of the trip.

As strange as it may sound to you I could not have a peaceful trip on that airplane until I gave up my ability to in any way control the success or failure of that flight. How silly is it to think that on a great jet plane, my movement of my hands or head could in any way affect the plane’s ability to function properly? In that same way, so many of us have no peace because we expend a great deal of energy trying to “help” God be able to handle His flight plan for our lives. Even our prayers are often directed at showing God the way to handle His plans for our lives. We don’t have enough trust in Him to successfully navigate us through clear or troubled weather. We simply don’t trust.

On that flight there were a few things I was asked to do. I could not smoke in the bathroom. I could not be up walking around if the light was on that said to remain seated. I had to put up my tray and have my seat in a fully upright position when the plane began its descent. Oh, and if I was seated at the wing, I had to open that door for the other passengers if the plane did indeed crash. The pilot would take care of everything else. I just had to follow the directions he had given me.

The same is true with our Lord. He gives us some simple instructions and all we have to do is follow them. We don’t have to try to do his job. He knows where the air will be choppy before we get there. He knows how to navigate our lives in a way we could never do on our own. We simply need to trust Him to do it. “And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.” Why don't you find peace in letting go this Christmas?

Discussion Question

What areas are you trying to maintain control of in your life and the life of your family? What things can you give back to God this Christmas?

Family Activity

If you have a fireplace or fire pit or anywhere to have a small fire this is a great activity for your family. Each family should take a pinecone and a sharpie. Think of the things you need to let go of…things you have been trying to control that you need to give to God. On the petals of the pine cone write down these things. It can even include people that you keep trying to “fix”. When you are finished, throw it into the fire. If you do not have a place to have a fire, bury them or put them in a big box and wrap it and put it under the tree with a tag that says, “To God”. Just don’t take that gift back.

Paying Attention to the Message of Peace

Paying Attention to the Message of Peace

Peace - Week Two - Friday

“And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:10-14

Shepherds in the field were not usually the first to find out the latest news. They spent their time with sheep that have a reputation of not being terribly intellectual and with other shepherds who spent their time out in the fields and the countryside, not in the towns and cities. No one dropped by with a Sunday paper. They didn’t get CNN. They could not bring up the internet. Nope, not even a text. They spent much of their life pretty much cut off from the rest of the world. They were an unlikely bunch to hear the news of Christ’s birth first…or news of any kind first, for that matter. So on this night when the city is bustling with so much activity that there is not even one single room to house another visitor, they are out in the fields under the stars. I can’t help but wonder if one of them, who were so familiar with the stars that shone above them, might have noticed that one star shone a little brighter…looked a little less familiar…seemed a little different than the others. Was it possible that wasn’t there before? On this night of restless activity in Bethlehem these shepherds are sitting under a starry sky and being still. And then the sky lights up like the noonday sun, blinding the shepherds under its intensity. Shielding their eyes, they try to see what it might be that had invaded their quiet night. I cannot begin to imagine the fear they must have felt. But the angel comes to them and says, “Look, you have absolutely nothing to be afraid of, as a matter of fact you are not going to believe the news I have. It is the greatest news you can imagine for unto you is born this day, right up the road in Bethlehem, the Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Then the angel proceeds to tell them how to find this baby, after which he is joined by a huge choir of angels saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men.” Then the angels are gone…simply gone, perhaps leaving the shepherds to wonder if they would make the cover of the Bethlehem Enquirer if they shared with folks what had just transpired. Nonetheless it took them about a split second to decide to ditch the sheep and head to Bethlehem. It took them just a second because they knew Who had made it known to them….”Let us go see this thing that the Lord has made known to us”.

I don’t know if the angels came to the shepherds because they were quiet and still and prepared to listen or perhaps God simply wanted the common man to know that His Son had arrived among them, the Lamb that would pay for our sins. We cannot know why God chose a group of lowly shepherds to share the biggest news in the world but we can know that they were given an opportunity to find peace and they dropped everything and headed for the stable where they were told they could find it.

And so I sit amongst piles of ribbons and rolls of wrapping paper with a to do list a mile long. I haven't noticed the stars in days and stillness is something I simply long for...not experience regularly. And yet, at this time of year especially, God wants me to receive the very same message. He wants me to understand that His Son has arrived and all this is about Him. He wants me to quiet my heart and feel the awe of it. God's own Son dwelling right here...in my heart, bringing me peace.

What about you this Christmas? Do you have peace with God? Jesus came to be that peace (Micah 5:5). It is free and it is for you. Why not find true Peace this Christmas?

Discussion Question

What does it mean to say that Jesus is Peace? How is He the peace between God and man? What do you have to do to have the Peace in your life?

Family Activity

Together create a Bethlehem Gazette or a newscast in which you pretend you are the ones telling of the events in Luke chapter 2. You may want to dress up and pose for pictures that depict the parts of the story. You can work together and draw pictures. If you are technically adept you might make it all on the computer. Then you can send it out to family members and friends who will enjoy the fun but also hear the message of Christmas.

Making Peace

Making Peace

Peace - Week Two - Thursday

“Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:12-17

In the final instructions Paul leaves with the Thessalonians in this book, we find these words, “Live in peace with each other.” How do we take that peace that God has given us and put it into practice in our lives with other far less perfect people in the world around us? It is often a challenge to do it. If I don’t have a quiet time with the Lord it is all on me. If I steal or tell lies or kick the dog it is on me. But when I am in disharmony with another, things get messy. Instead of merely coming before God and repenting or coming to someone and apologizing for something they possibly don’t even realize occurred, I have to sort things out with someone who may or may not want to work through it. We all experience hurt and most of us have probably caused it at one time or another. That is when things get difficult. If someone has hurt me I may not be ready to let go of my hurt to forgive. If I have hurt someone I may not feel ready to let go of my pride to ask another for forgiveness. And yet, we see it right there in black and white…”live in peace with each other.” It does not seem to be a suggestion or just a good idea to consider. Then it is followed with a few pointers that will help make that happen. This Christmas, why not ask God to make it clear to you if there is someone you need to make peace with…or maybe that person came to your mind so quickly it rivals the speed of light and you don’t even have to ask who it is. Ask God how He would have you mend that relationship and make peace. Make peace in your personal relationships so it does not impede your relationship with the Lord.

Discussion Question

Do those of you who live together in your house live in peace? What can you do to live more peaceably with one another? Is there anyone in your home you need to make peace with? Agree to forgive and put disharmony aside and enjoy this season of peace.

Family Activity

Think of someone who is difficult to one of you or your family. It may be that grumpy neighbor who complains about your yard or someone who makes life difficult at work. You may each decide to choose one. Figure out ways to be a secret Santa to this person for the next two or three weeks. Do nice things without being noticed and simply do it anonymously or write Secret Santa. Take that neighbor’s trash to the road on trash day or bring the can back up the day after the trash has been picked up. Leave a candy bar on that coworker’s desk, etc. You will be surprised how good you will feel and you may just find that they begin to soften up just a little.