Happy Thursday to YOU!
Wow! It has been such a long time since I sat down to write. I’m so sorry that I have not been around to encourage you during this very difficult 18 months of C19, lockdowns, political malaise, division and sadness.
Truth be told, whenever I felt the call to write, I just didn’t seem to have anything encouraging to say. At those times, I felt that if I didn’t have anything positive or joyful to share then I should follow the wisdom of the old addage, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”. I mean, my page is called On Joy Road not On the Sometimes and Often Not So Joyful Road, right?
Moving on.
As I worked through my feelings of anger, sorrow, worry, loneliness and fear, God’s Word, the Bible, kept me from falling into and remaining in a deep well of despair. I’m not good at studying a passage, doing research or making comparisons between versions of the Bible, but I am now on my third reading the Bible all the way through and it always gives me the positive start to my day that I need. Each time I read a verse, a chapter or a book, I find something that I missed in prior readings. I often catch myself saying, “I don’t remember that!” Some days, I feel that God put something there just for me to read, to give me hope or to alter the trajectory of my thoughts/day. Some verses are intended to wake me up to my faults, my sins and my selfishness so I can make changes. His Word always gives me what I need!
Today, I read from the books of Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Revelation, all books that speak about God’s judgement on a disbelieving and immoral world. While you would think that the content of these books would be depressing and sad (and they are), they actually made me sit and think about my role as a child of God and a warrior for Jesus. What have I done with the gift of eternal life that I was given when I was 8 years old? Not as much as I should have! What am I doing now as an adult to further His kingdom? Not as much as I should be! Now THOSE realizations made me sad.
For those who do not know me at all, I am a closet introvert. Surprised, are you? Well, I am. Being an introvert comes with a ton of fears. If we are accomplished in our role we can easily cover up our introvert nature and appear as if we are confident extroverts. I am fairly accomplished at covering.
We introverts tend to have a laundry list of fears. I fear not being good enough. Heck, I fear not BEING enough. I fear being laughed at or being called a conspiracy theorist or being seen as that crazy Jesus lady! I fear not knowing an answer to a question about Jesus, God or His plan for us…His Word. I fear embarrassing the people I care about. I fear about being too bossy or not being courageous enough. I fear hurting people’s feelings or insulting their intelligence. I fear abandonment. I fear NOT telling people about Christ and His love for us and being saved from an eternity in hell.
So, today, this introvert is stepping out in faith believing!
If you have never taken the steps to follow Jesus, don’t delay. We do not know how many moments we have been given to inhabit this earth and God has made it so easy for us to spend eternity with him! Just follow the ABC’s of Salvation…
A-Admit that you are a sinner. We all are! “There is no one righteous, not even one…for all have fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:10, 23. Then Ask for God’s forgiveness. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13
B—Believe in Jesus. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
C—Confess that Jesus is your Lord. “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth, that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9,10
That’s it!! Even if you were saved when you were little, if you were baptized when you were an infant, or if you professed your belief as an adult but have been feeling disconnected, talk to God and He will save!!
Have a fabulous Thursday, Friends! I promise to be more available!!
OnJoyRoad 