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