Discovering Joy

I have realized in the past few months that joy is definitely a discovery. No doubt in my mind at this point, there are times when you have to venture out of the tough moments to discover the joy that God has for you to give you strength to get through to the end of the circumstance. His word tells us, "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10b


I had to read and reread this verse a couple of times. Was He asking us not to grieve but to give thanks and discover joy in all circumstances? I was a bit confused, I just didn't understand how you can not grieve over some of the circumstances I know that we are all facing today.

I thought back to our Bible Study group this week as I listened to other wives share through tears over circumstances that they are going, or have, been through. I heard grief in those tears, but as they continued to share I heard the joy revealed as they shared how they discovered His joy in their suffering. Not one of those who shared mention they regretted their tough circumstance! Amazingly, their joy discoveries were the presence of God; He was a provision of peace like they have ever felt before. Grace and restoration; He carried them through when they were unsure of how they could get through the moment!


Today, at this very moment, I am facing another 'circumstance.' I have a choice; either I will grieve during this moment or I will discover joy. The mission to discover joy for me today will certainly be a bit of a challenge, but God has never asked me to do it alone, but to know that the joy of Him is my strength! I can also know that He has promised to show me many discoveries of joy that I can use to dry my tears during this moment.


The most blessed discovery that I have made regarding joy is this:


"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14


What a relief! We are not expected to be perfect in our circumstances - I hope you'll agree that this has to be the greatest discovery of joy of all!


Discovering joy in Him,


Sheryl

It Doesn't Matter!

This week I received an email from my niece-in-law, Rachael, whose husband, my nephew, works for the Vancouver Fire Department, (they also have a blog). She had just visited the website and asked me why I hadn't made a post in a while to our Medford Fire Wives blog. Hmmmm, I thought, why haven't I? I didn't like the answer that came to mind, and here is where I get really honest with you as well as myself.

At this point, I told myself that it was because I thought there weren't as many visits to our blogsite as I had expected. Of course, I opened the door wide to the Holy Spirit on this one, girls! He gently nudged me and asked me when I had decided to take responsibility for this on myself? "Oh, Sheryl." He said. "I never asked you to get results, but only obey by staying focused and to keep going; sharing nuggets of truth and allowing my Spirit to do the rest."

The Holy Spirit was definitely loud and clear on this one! It never was ever about results with God, it never is. In fact, here was the Holy Spirits final word for me: It doesn't matter!

Yep! That was exactly what I heard. It doesn't matter. What matters to Him is that we know and believe that we are not required to be equipped for something that God asks us to do, but to know He is the one that will do the equipping.

Hebrews 13:20-21 shows us His promise to do just that: "May the God of peace equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever." What an incredible freeing thought! The God of peace will never ask anything of me that He doesn't equip me for doing or ask me to give Him results. He wants to work in us what is pleasing to Him. We are what matters to Him! Allow Him, Sisters, to equip you . . . that's what matters!

So, Girls, I post this with a new heart and outlook on whatever He has called me to do and how He has, and will, equip me to get the job done; a desire to share my life with many wonderful women of God. Results? Well, it just doesn't matter!

Equipped and ready for service,

Sheryl

Sheesh! You'd think I would be better at posting on the blogsite. Oh, well, some is better than none . . . there is no place to go except to improve! Please let me know if there is anyone that would like to post and I will get you the password, etc.

The exciting part of this blog is that we have had a request from the Vancouver Fire Department wives from that area to connect with each other through the blogsites. I thought this was so amazing that we could connect with other firefighters' wives. Wow! I'm not sure exactly how quickly this will happen, but I'm going to stay with pursuing it.

We are sad to say "see you later" to the Sharps. We will miss Cindy, their home and wonderful hospitality! You have such a sweet gift of welcoming, Cindy, but we'll make sure we come over and see if you are as good in the area of hospitality in Hawaii as you have been in Medford. Have an awesome adventure, Sister!

Another adventurer soon to be leaving us is Holly Anderson. (Is it in the water or something?) Holly and Larry will be going to Petaluma, California as Larry has accepted an offer to become the City of Petaluma's next fire chief. Holly, you are an amazing woman of God and we will miss having you lead us in worship. You always sang from your heart! We wish them both the best!

Again, if there is something you would like to post . . . news of any kind, please don't hesitate to contact me!

Blessings,

Sheryl F.

We are His Workmanship

I have attempted to post to the blog for the last couple of days. There just hasn't been any words that can be expressed at the loss that the Gurr and Wells families have had to walk through. What can be said?

As we came together Tuesday evening for Bible study, Psalm 139 was read. It was all the expression needed for those of who met together to pray for the families. There was no doubt in any of our minds at that point. God still has control, and His intentions and purpose are not to push any of us away, but His purpose and intent are to draw us in. He made us just us to be close to Him!

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:14-16

What a wonderful thought that He spent so much time to think about us and to plan out our lives so that they were bring the greatest glory to Him.

As I sat getting ready mentally to face the day ahead, I glanced out the window saw that it was snowing. My first thought was, "My goodness, it's Spring!" But once again my thoughts were soon directed by to Psalms 139 - ALL the days ordained for me were written . . . I guess that means snow in April!

In His grip,

Sheryl

Being A Living Sacrifice

The study on April 1st was a definite challenge for me, not sure about the rest of the group, but it took me awhile as I tried to wrap my mind around Getting a Grip On Your body. What exactly was God wanting to show us through this study and the scriptures used; to be a living sacrifice?

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.

I Corinthians 6:19-20

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price, therefore honor God with your body.

The words of Paul call us to be "living sacrifices" and "temples of His Holy Spirit, which does mean keeping watch over how we care for, and treat our bodies. But I do believe that God is taking it just one step further, to care for the spiritual health of our hearts, His temples. This is where He wants to dwell; showing us His will -"His good, pleasing and perfect will." His greatest desire is to show us all that He wants to be in our lives, but only we can offer or volunteer our temples to Him; to use as His perfect will for our lives and all that He intended for us to become.

The toughest question asked in this week's study - If your body is the temple (dwelling place) of the Holy Spirit, then God is always with you! If God was physically walking with you through this next week, what is one thing you would change? Talk about bringing me up a halt! I read this question to my family and my son's response was, "You've got to be kidding! Only one thing?" I understood what he was thinking!

There were many different answers that came to my mind, but I soon became a bit overwhelmed as the number grew. I even made a list, but what came to mind and stood out the most was, I could never change them all; the past mistakes, wrong attitudes, judgemental words. But what He spoke, and the greatest truth that I gleaned from the study this week was that I was brought with a price! I do not have ownership over my temple, but I can change how I view His presence in my life. I can accept His presence as a tool to be used in the cleaning process, but He will not leave me alone to do it all myself, but provides a means to get the job done.

He created us (Gen 2:7), provides for us (Matt 6:25-30), has proved the value of our human bodies (Phil 2:6-8), is concerned over us (I Cor 15:42), and has given us His Holy Spirit to dwell within each of us (I Cor 3:16-17). He has shown His concern for us from Genesis to Revelation. Don't you think that we should share His concern; knowing that we are His workmanship, bought with a price, and part of His good, perfect and pleasing will.

I pray that you will know and believe that you were bought with a price, worthwhile and that you have a temple worth the dwelling of His Holy Spirit!

Sheryl

P.S. I would love to hear what spoke the most to you throught this week's study!