Sorrows Into Joy

I tossed, I turned, I tossed some more and turned some more. I couldn't understand why I couldn't sleep. But then I realized the burden of my heart; my children. My heart ached to be with my children who are busy with their own lives. Too busy for me.
It is funny how in our lifetime things get in our way as parents and we don't spend enough time with our children. Then they grow up and then they don't have time for us.
So when I woke up this morning, I said to the Lord I give my children back to you. I asked the Lord to watch over them, care for them, and love on them, most importantly keep them safe. I pray for a laborer to come and talk with them and share the love of Jesus Christ with them. For they don't have time for me, but maybe someone else will have time for them.
"Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For his anger is but for a moment,  His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning."

This morning I woke up with a song in my heart; I danced to the Lord and gave Him my praises. I have a new song in my heart.  I have joy that surpasses my understanding and it is an emotion I cannot contain.

~Be encouraged; if your children are walking on a different path than what you want for them; the Lord is with them and will never leave them.  Keep your joy.

Just Enough To Get By!

What have you begun but have not finished? Some people leave an oil painting incomplete, an unfinished book, and some leave before building a business. How many times have you stopped following directions or didn't even listen to the directions given because you think you know what is best?  Joash left unfinished business because he did what he thought was best.  He hit the ground three times instead of five or six to destroy the enemies.  

2 Kings 13:14-20

New King James Version (NKJV)

Death of Elisha

14 Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, “O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!”
15 And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So he took himself a bow and some arrows. 16 Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. 17 And he said, “Open the east window”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot”; and he shot. And he said, “The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them.” 18 Then he said, “Take the arrows”; so he took them.And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so he struck three times, and stopped. 19 And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyedit! But now you will strike Syria only three times.”
20 Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raidingbands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year.

How about you?  What has God called you to do that you have become complacent with? What has brought you to become complacent?  Perhaps you haven't seen any fruit from the labor, your disbelief levels are low, and your cup is almost empty. 
What is keeping you from going further than a couple of steps?  

We all get weary and tired, wonder when the fruit is going to show; we all wonder if what we are doing is worth the effort. Maybe you need to find out why you are doing what you are doing. Is it a calling or a placement?  Did God call you to this task or did you appoint yourself? Are you not seeing fruit because it was your self appointment? Perhaps it's the timing? 

The harvest is ready in due season. Make sure that what you are doing is not done in convenience or compliance, but in love.  Jesus tells us in His word to work as though we work for the LORD; Him.  Are you working for Him? Are you working with a joyful heart or are you working because you have to pay bills.  Why are you doing what you are doing?
Are you doing whatever it is because it makes you feel good (pounding the ground 3 times) or are you doing it to complete the goal (pounding the ground until it is complete)? 

I want to encourage you that if you are on a journey or looking to begin one to make sure you are doing it for all the right reasons and not all the wrong ones. Make sure you know your why. 

~ Be encouraged that whether you go the distance or not, Jesus loves you and does not condemn you.