"In A Couple of Days and it Will All Be Over" are the words I just overheard in Starbucks. Those words...brought tears to my eyes. How sad.
This Christmas season, I have been having such a hard time wrapping my arms around the holiday "falalalalaling" and putting it in a box with the baby Jesus. Not to be a Debbie Downer or a Scrooge...I just have a burning desire for everyone to experience the birth of Jesus in their life like I have.
Beneath the tinsel and bows....there lies a little baby. A little baby who was wrapped in cloths in a manger. A little baby who was born to die. A little baby who brought hope into the world. A little baby who is hope. The power of this little baby....every day, every season in our lives...whether it is a winter, spring, summer or fall.
Jesus is Jesus beyond December 25. December 25 is just the beginning. He is the gift of the day. He is the gift that keeps giving.
Down deep, I am happy that "in a couple of days it will be all over"...but what I am really happy about ....is that the hustle and bustle, the running around, the "what should I buy so and so", the "I ate way too much"...will be over.. all of the distractions of the seasons will be gone...
But....when all the decorations of the tree are taken off..and there before your eyes is a bare tree...a tree with less needles then it had when it was first brought into your house...Jesus will still be Jesus. Jesus will still be under that tree...waiting to be unwrapped every day, as Jesus is the tree of life...
" I Am the Way and the Truth and the Life..." (John 14:6)
May you unwrap this precious little baby into your life and experience the most expensive gift that you will ever get. May He richly bless your spirit, so each day becomes a Christmas celebration.
Love to you from my heart...this heart of mine that is in love with this precious little baby who has given me all that I will ever need.
Merry...Merry...Christmas....
Today....Tomorrow...Forever.
In His Glorious Peace,
Joni


"May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with the Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Choices... Every second we are making them. Some easy... some hard. Some right.... some wrong. Some come naturally, like brushing your teeth and some unnatural... like saying "no" when "yes" is so much easier.
Standing at the crossroads...

One road paved with fear and doubt...
The road of denial...the one taken because it provides a quick fix, instant gratification...the easier road to choose yet always leads to a dead end.

And the other road paved with trust and faith.
The much harder one to take...in the moment.

So why would I want to walk down the more difficult road?

Because "... wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
BUT
small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)

Traveling down the broad road always brought me to the same destination: one big mess.
Today, when I am at the crossroad...I choose the narrow road because my Lord promises to be with me...

"When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;" (Isaiah 43:2-3)

No matter what comes into my life, I can face it with the Lord by my side. I have nothing to fear because I have someone that I can trust. The road of fear and doubt is no longer an option.
I have faced some bumpy roads... And some I have avoided.... wishing I would have taken the " road less traveled" first... but what is so cool is when I have chosen the wrong road Jesus was always right there...to pick me up and wipe me off... with his forgiveness...
And then He pointed me back to the right road...and walked with me. He has done it....and will continue to do so... every time I take my eyes off of Him and wander down the wrong path.

With scuffed up knees, I will continue to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus...who stands at gate of the narrow road...so I will be able to walk through life with peace and joy, no matter how bumpy the road appears to be.
May your day be a smooth ride as you travel down the narrow road, hand in hand, with your Savior.

Peace to you,
Joni

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:2-3

This morning, three black crows decided to take a bath in a huge pothole at the bottom of our driveway. One flew in, and was splashing around...another crow spotted him and waddled (yes, waddled) over and jumped in with him....then a third. All having a grande 'ole time...in a pothole.
Taking a "bad" thing and using it for good. Something which causes a bumpy ride in my car, is providing a spa for birds.
It made me smile. It made me think about those things in my life which I allow to steal my "smiles" ...my peace, my joy. Those potholes in my path as I journey through life.
How is one to bathe with joy when these “disruptions” come? (a pothole is defined as” a disruption in the surface of the roadway”…interesting)
Just as this hole is serving a purpose for the birds, the holes in our life are also serving a purpose.
All things happen for a reason. God uses all things...for His purposes. Most of the time, we have no clue what is going on, and question why would God allow such a trial, an unexpected "bump" in the road....
With our every question, He has an answer…because….
" … we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
God always working behind the scenes, putting together a puzzle in our lives...using all things...even a pothole in the street...
That hole...has shown me peace. That hole has taught me patience. That hole has made me smile.
Thank you God...for the birdbath at the end of my driveway.
God has filled many of the holes in my life. If it wasn't for the holes, I would never had needed a “hole filler”. Anything that I give Him, He fixes and fills with His love. He has everything that is needed to fill whatever holes are in our life.
No hole is too big for God.
These are opportunities to bring me closer to my Lord...where He grows my faith as I lean on Him and allow Him to "pave" my way.
The crows have left, and a little sparrow just came and drank from the pothole.
The annoyance in my life is an oasis for the birds.
Now when I drive out of my driveway, and my coffee spills all over me...because of the pot hole in the road...I will smile....knowing that this "bump in the road" is being used for good…. a resort for the neighborhood crows.
May you find joy in then midst of whatever bumps in the road are in your life right now…as you lean on the Master "hole filler".
Peace to you,
Joni
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 8:12

His Shining Light

My search for the "perfect" sunrise....waking up early, rushing down to the beach with my camera so I could capture the most amazing picture of a sunrise. Day One....cloudy, no sun. Day Two...Too foggy. Day Three....one speck of orange...and the Days continued...no perfect sunrise. Trying to get the perfect sunrise to depict the perfect Savior. So....no picture, no perfect savior??? What a wake up call for me.
How the clouds or the fog get in the way of our experiencing the sunlight. What we can't see behind those clouds...is that there is that circular orange ball, shining always...even on a rainy day.
Our Savior...Our Jesus....sent to earth to shine in our hearts. God's "Son"...the light of the world....born to Mary, so He could die on a cross for me, for you..for everyone. As I have been waiting for the sun to rise, I seem to forgot that the Son did rise. He rose so, I can live...so I could experience love, joy and peace...like I have never experienced before.
May His light pierce through any clouds or fog that may be in your life right now.

Bask in the Lord's words below...as you allow His Son to rise in your hearts...so you can experience the perfect "sonrise" every morning.

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
Lamentations 3:22-24



Peace,

Joni

"Trust God. Wait Patiently. Watch Expectantly"

Fix Your Eyes....

I walked into a door yesterday....as I was going into a Starbucks!
I was so preoccupied with a particular thought, that I didn't even see the plate glass door in front of me. The blow to my head woke me up out of my trance.. and the expressions on the faces of the 4 people who witnessed this, brought me back into reality. The hard part was staggering into the store, acting like nothing happened.
I chuckled to myself, as I was processing what I just experienced.
I was so fixed on a thought... that I was oblivious to my whereabouts. Now for me, that is a feat... as it takes a lot to get this hyper Italian to be totally zoned out.
Wow....the power of a thought.......
So... what if I was to be this focused on Jesus?
Oh the doors that would be opened up in my life...
the door of peace, the door of joy, the door of love....
Taking my eyes off of me, myself and I...and to focus them on
"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy.." (Philippians 4:8-9)
...then...
I could probably walk through a plate glass window and be thankful....
Will I still feel the pain...The sting of life? Oh yes...But fixing my eyes on the One who is walking with me...step by step...I am able to walk away with a smile on my face because I know that He
is right there beside me... to pick me up, to wipe my tears, to comfort my soul....
But most of all because I know that the bruises I encounter are nothing compared to "an eternal glory that far outweighs them all".
So this bruise above my eye will remind me to re-focus my eyes throughout my day...fixing them on my Savior...

As you walk through your day today, make sure you look up...keeping your eyes fixed on Him....so you will experience His peace in all things...and avoid walking into any closed doors!


"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Peace your way,
Joni
"Trust God. Wait Patiently. Watch Expectantly."

I just received a postcard, from a very dear friend,
Who lives far far away, but one whom I depend.
I knew I was thought of, as the words were sincere,
Beginning with... "Dear Joni, I wish you were here..."

I smiled with joy, as someone was thinking of me,
In a way that they were wishing, with them I could be.
I was a bit confused, as I had sent the same note,
Awaiting a response, to what I had I wrote.

As I looked at the postcard, I couldn't believe my eyes,
This special someone, was finally answering my cry.
I took a deep breath, as I didn't know what to think
As I began to read the words, that were written in gold ink...

"I received your postcard, and your message was clear...
That you wish I was with you, as you wrote, "Wish you were here".
I have three words to tell you, and please take them to heart,
"I AM Here" my child, as I have been, right from the start.
You don't have to wish anymore, because I'm right by your side,
Through this journey called life, I 'm along for the ride.
In good times and bad, you can count on me,
Living inside of you, is where I will always be.
So Joni, I Wish you were Here....believing in my name,
Trusting in me, you will never be the same.
Thanks for your postcard, I'm returning it back to you,
Love God, and PS... I love you too."

I got the message, loud and clear...
That God never left me, as He is right "here".
"Here" in the moment, "Here" in my day
"Here" even when things, aren't going my way.
He's my Father in Heaven, and my Father "Here" on this earth,
He's always been with me, since the day of my birth.
The postcards I send Him now, are filled with my thanks and a prayer,
Because I am certain, that He is Here...as He is Everywhere.
************************************************
May you be filled with peace, knowing that the Lord is with you...
no matter where you may be,
no matter what you may be feeling,
no matter your circumstances.


Peace to you,
Joni

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

The Surf Rake

Early in the morning, the Surf Rake machine combs the beach to make the sand one big soft blanket. It picks up the debri...all ready for a new day.
What peace I recieve when I allow the Lord to comb me...first thing every morning. He irons out the kinks...those things that get in the way of my experiencing His joy...as I ask Him:
"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

(psalm 139:23-24)
...I am in a very vulnerable spot, but one which the Lord can do His job on this heart of mine. Scared at first to expose myself to Him, but then I laugh as He knows my heart.(1 Chronicles 28:9). He knows everything about me...down to every hair on my head....and I have a lot of hair....
So if this God...knows it all anyway, then why not share it all with Him. When I come clean before Him, He meets me...He listens...He smiles...and then He changes me. What comfort to know that I have someone who I can tell anything to, at anytime....who loves me unconditionally.
Now that is freedom...and peace.
May you take a moment to sit with the Lord and share your heart....honestly with Him....so you can experience the gift of His presence and His unconditional love.
No matter what you tell Him, or what you feel...He will meet you right there...with His grace...His amazing Grace.
Peace to you,
Joni

CAST ALL.....
I was watching some fishermen at the beach yesterday, as they put bait on their hooks and then cast their lines into the ocean. Peacefully standing by the water's edge fishing, because they trust and believe that the "dead" bait will catch a fish...or not.
I have no interest at all in fishing, especially when putting the slimy worm or dead fish on the hook for bait...
But watching them "cast", made me think of the things that I need to cast, to get rid of... those things which steal my peace, my joy...
because the Lord tells me to in I Peter 5:7...
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
As we "cast",
throw off, shed... our worries to the Lord, He immediately "catches" whatever we give to Him...Why...because He cares so much about us. He is always willing and ready to take our worries and replace them with His peace.
Simple concept, yet hard to do. Daily I will cast worry to the Lord, but quickly reel it back in.
Some days I am doing a lot of fishing...casting the same care over and over again to the Lord...but am I really "casting" all ? I love when I truly give it ALL to Him, leaving the outcome to Him. With total reliance and trust in Him...I will reel in His blessings.
I want the peace that I see in the fishermen, as they patiently wait for the outcome...and they are trusting in a dead worm! So can you imagine when you trust in a living God, the creator of the Universe...for all things...the catch that you would get?
I have decided to take up fishing.....but for the Lord's peace.
May you experience God's peace as you "cast all" to the Great Fisherman ....because He cares for you.



Peace to you,
Joni
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:5-6