Focus
Always
In
The One and Only
Hope

Now... if "faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see..."
 Why do I spend so much time
with my eyes focused on 'lil ole me?
Which then fills me with uncertainty,
  stealing away any hope,
Then "Me, Myself and I"
   find it impossible to cope.
"We" get all anxious and fearful
running aimlessly in despair,
Seeking out anyone or anything,
to show that they do care.
Then God graciously reminds me,
that He is holding me in His palm,
All that He asks is that I believe by faith...
so He can infuse me with calm.
How quickly I get sidetracked,
and forget that He hasn't left my side,
It is me that usually moves,
In Him I am to abide.
To fix my eyes on the invisible,
as I go about my day,
Fills me with His Hope and His Peace,
then I'm joyfully on my way,
I then can accomplish all things through Him,
who infuses me with His strength,
His love covering this heart of mine,
because He went to such great lengths.
He sent His Son to earth,
one glorious silent night,
Wrapped up in swaddling cloths,
this Babe came to make things right,
Knowing that my future is secure
in His gift of eternal life,
Believing this truth by faith
removes any strife.
So thank You God for this reminder...
You Penned in Hebrews 11:1,
Of the assurance of my hope,
that is wrapped in Your Baby Son!

His Glorious Peace for you,
Joni

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see.'
Hebrews 11:1

Unspeakable Joy!


FEAR...it paralyzes. It steals away the joy of every blessing. It is natural to fear the unknown or a scary situation...but have you ever feared "good"?
Have you ever been afraid of joy?
Have you ever been afraid of peace?
Have you ever been afraid of love?
Have you ever been afraid of being free?
Being free of fearing fear. Being free of habitual patterns in your life. Being free to enjoy your life right now, no matter what may be happening around you.
I was sharing with my husband this morning, that I feel so blessed... yet I am fearful to "just be" and enjoy my blessings...as I have lived my life waiting for the other shoe to drop. I am tired of living that way, especially knowing Who I know. There was just something that was getting in the way of my truly living in the freedom of the unspeakable joy that the Lord has for me....And I found what it was...It was ME!
If God is for me, why was there a constant angst following me?
If God loves me unconditionally, why am I not living as secure, significant , and accepted?
Why am I not jumping up and down with joy...just because God said that I can?
Fear...Fear of joy.
How absurd that sounds, but don't you think most people live like that? We want what we want when we want it....but what happens when we receive the blessing? Is it enough to fill that void in our heart so we live in that unspeakable joy?
I had a rude awakening this morning, as I counted my blessings....yet there was something missing...or should I say "Someone".
I know the Lord loves me. I know the Lord is in control. I know the Lord wants me to receive all that He has for me so I can live in His peace, His joy, His love. Yet, I have chosen fear to block my door to all that He has for me.
Well, this morning I did the unthinkable. As I ran to the beach, gathered up broken shells (my anxieties) to throw in the ocean, to surrender to God...I stopped. I was afraid to release it "all" to Him...rather "ALL" of me. I was afraid to be truly free to just be Joni. As I cried out to my Lord, He answered. Instead of throwing the shells in, I went in the ocean. I faced my biggest fear...the ocean. I was drawn to it, as I stood barefoot (couldn't go in with my sneakers)...and I joyfully took a wave....loving every minute of it.
Freedom....totally free....to run back soaking wet in my running clothes...yikes! But I did it.
No longer afraid to live "in" the glorious truths of the bible.
To be free to be happy. To be free to enjoy. To be free to be peaceful. To be free to be joyful...just because I can. Just because you can...just because God said so.
Free to be who God made you to be.
Free of fearing the good!
May you face every wave of fear in your life with the unspeakable joy of the Lord...and live in His freedom...His gift to you.
In His Glorious Peace,
Joni
"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy" I Peter 1:8

His is Risen...Every Day

This morning as I saw the sun streaming through the windows ..reminding myself it was Easter ... I felt empty. It's Easter and I'm feeling like it is just an ordinary day. I put on my sneakers, and off on a run I went... to ask my Lord what does this all mean?
Does it mean plastic eggs filled with candy and a basket filled with hay?
Does it mean eating the traditional dinner that one worked so hard to prepare on Saturday?
Does it mean wearing your special new clothes?
Meditating on these thoughts, made me feel more empty than before. So as I continued talk to God, while looking upon the shining sun and glimmering waves. I asked Him to make the Spirit of this day, fill my soul.
And 'lo and behold... there on the beach was a cross, draped with a piece of linen!
My Savior.. no longer on that cross.
My Savior crucified on that cross.. just three days before..
Forsaken for my sin.
My Savior ... Resurrected in my life.
My Savior who put me back together .. Peace by peace...
By grace..
So I could wake up on a beautiful morning... Put on on my sneakers... And be able to run to the beach.. to see His Father's creation.. The waves hitting the sand and the sun casting light on my empty soul.
Easter is not about a day, a plastic egg , special mea!, or a new outfit. It's a day... That falls on a Sunday... To celebrate... like any day of the week,.. the resurrection of our Lord.
Because of the cross, every day I get to run as a resurrected joni... A joni forgiven for all I have done, for all I do, and all that I will do.
"Today is the day the Lord has made. Let us be glad and rejoice in it!" (Psalm 118:24)
Thank you dear Lord for that cross... That cross that remains empty...
Because your Son conquered sin on that bloody day so I... So everyone... could live... Happily ever after... Forgiven.
May the Lord resurrect those places in your heart that crave His Light.
Have a Blessed Resurrection Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday....Always.
Peace to you,
Joni

Well...I just saw another cross on the beach! What a day!

"Hole-y Business"

What does this "puttied" filled dent on my floor mean...
More than meets the eye...
It represents...
A divine appointment
It represents...
God's perfect timing.
It represents...
the heart of the man who patched it up

It could have represented...
A missed opportunity...
as I was going to cancel the appoinent because I had bible study in my home that morning....
But my heart told me otherwise..
As he was working on the floor, little did I know that...
the words of the music playing in the background
was touching his soul...
& that the words my friend and I were sharing were also music to his heart...
God using the moment to reach this man...
This man, who with tears in his eyes, had to tell me that he couldn't believe what was happening. He had to share how the words he was hearing were just what he needed. He was in awe... As I shared what God wanted me to share..
A divine appointment that would have never happened if there wasn't a dent on my floor.
An insignificant blemish, that I could care less about, yet the builder wanted it to be fixed.
God used my kitchen floor to speak to the man fixing it. A man who was at the end of his rope... and who received Gods message of hope..
God's perfect timing.
God...always working behind the scenes....He uses all things...even a kitchen floor...to get to a heart.
Who would have ever known what was going to happen in my kitchen that day.
The dent ...filled with putty...still remains a blemish on my floor. I asked him to leave it that way, as it reminds me of our awesome God, and what He
did on this day to this man's broken heart.
It also reminds me of how He is always working in our lives
"putty-ing" the wounds in our hearts, as we bring those hurts to Him....
...one layer at a time.

So keep Michael in your prayers as he got to taste the peace of God. I may never see him again.. but I pray that the Lord has many more divine appointments set up for him, so he will be at peace... because Jesus resides in his heart.
So keep your eyes and hearts open today... as God has divine appointments waiting for you.
Peace,
Joni
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..." Ephesians 3:20
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

What If Spring Never Came?

Spring is beginning to creep it's warm neck out. A gift.... A reminder that God is near... So very near... Whether in the frigid snow, the grayest of grays... No matter what season of life you are in... God is still God.

What if spring never came?

What are you waiting for to spring up in your life? What is your heart set on to happen before you can truly enjoy your life?

What if spring never came?

What if the snow never melted? Is God still Gad?
Is He still the Master Controller?
Does He still loves us unconditionally as His chosen adopted sons and daughters?
Does He still listen to our cries and wipes our tears?
Does He still rejoice over us with singing?
Does He still want freedom in every area of our life?
Does He still carry our burdens?
Does He still fill us with strength when we are weak?
Does He still give us the peace that transcends all understanding?
Does He still turn onto good the not so good in our life?
Yes, Yes, Yes......and Yes!

Forever faithful.. That is our Lord. Always ready and willing to take our hand, to pull us out of the winter in our life. Always ready to shine His light on our gray days. Always ready to rejoice with us in our springs.

So again I ask... What if spring never came?
Spring is here... Always... As the Lord sprinkles our lives with Himself.

So we fix our eyes on His face....so He can melt the snow and provide the sunlight that we need.

God is God in winter, spring, summer and fall. He never changes. Let him be the rock you stand on in this ever changing wobbly world.
May your heart bloom with His Glorious Presence...no matter what season you are experiencing.

His Peace to you,

Joni

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2

Such sadness comes upon me as as I hear about loved ones who are suffering....whether in spirit or in health. The Lord tells us in John 16:33 that, "In this world you will have trouble...BUT take heart! I have overcome the world."

This temporary world for which we live, isn't our real home, as our citizenship is in heaven, "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 4:18

As long as my eyes are fixed on the pain and suffering in this world, my heart breaks. As I focus my eyes on what is "unseen", my heart still breaks, as I see loved ones suffer, yet it is my Lord who fills me with His peace because of His message of hope...His guarantee that one day... all who are in Christ... will live "Happily Ever After"...in a perfect world... where there will be no more tears, no more pain. The added plus is that we will get new perfect bodies!

A place where we will be reunited with our loved ones in heavenly bliss.

So daily I will choose to fix my eyes on the unseen, beyond the hardships that come my way, and be filled with His peace because one day, He will call me Home to live Happily Ever After.

When God Calls Me Home

On that day, marked out for me~

God will call me home.

At the perfect time, in the perfect way~

He will shout down from His throne.

Joni, my child, the time has come~

I want you by my side.

Your job on earth is finished now~

I hope you enjoyed the ride.

So come on now and be with me~

in Eternal bliss,

Your true life begins right now~

It doesn't get better than this.

You fought the good fight with persevering faith~

Come meet me face to face.

It's time to get the redeeming prize~

For running the Christian race.

May you experience pure joy and peace in the midst of your circumstances, as you fix your eyes on the unseen...knowing the Lord has created a Happily Ever After that is way beyond your comprehension.

In His Peace,

Joni

Today I have to do.....

I wake up this morning with my to do list plastered on my brain. Actually, I had this list on my brain all night...so why do I wonder when my feet hit the ground that I am filled with anxiety?

Scripture tells us to "... seek first his kingdom and his righteousness..." (matthew 6:33). I am not told to first seek ME and MY wants and my agenda...and my emails....I am to seek Him...FIRST.
How hard it is to seek Him first when you have a list with 20 items that used to be 5?
So....I follow that inner churning in my soul, and go and seek Him. I pack up my agenda, and the anxiety that comes with it...go to my quiet place...and sit with the Lord. I sit...I squirm...I wait "patiently"....turning my thoughts from what I need to do, to the One who I need.
Then comes that peace, that peace that transcends all understanding. It washes over me. It washes over my agenda. God is so faithful...He always shows up when I show up.
He reminds me that today is His day. He has plans for me. He has blessings for me. I give Him my day, my agenda, all of me...so He can do His job in my life...for today.
I have learned to hold onto my list loosely, as it isn't mine. When I only get down to number 3 on my to do list, I have to look back over my day and smile at what God changed or added to my agenda...the phone call from a friend, a conversation with my kids, a flat tire...God's glorious plans all wrapped up in whatever comes my way.
So today I will write my "to do" list in pencil.....to allow God the opportunity to erase and add His agenda for me ...His perfect plans fitting neatly into His perfect day...He made for me...for you.
May your day be filled with His peace as you give Him your agenda....so you can experience the blessings , in all the things He has planned for you.
Peace to you,
Joni
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

*Please let me know if your mailbox is getting too full...as I will stop sharing my moments with the Lord with you....as I know emails pile up. I just get very excited and have to share how amazing He is!



********************************************************************

As I sit at my desk, on this rainy day, writing about "walking with Jesus"...the church bells begin to play the hymn "He walks with Me".
I didn't even know that I knew the lyrics...but with tears in my eyes, I sang (in my head!) the chorus , as the bells played the melody.....

"And he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own
And the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever known..."

This Jesus...walks with me, and He talks with me...and He tells me that I am His own...
He is with me...always! Walking in these truths, is when joy fills my heart, enabling me to walk through anything.
How awesome that God blessed me with this song, as I was writing about walking through this life with Jesus.

Jesus asks us to come, to sit and to listen to His voice, before getting up to walk.
The cool thing is that He doesn't tell us first to clean up our act, or even lose 10 pounds...He tells us to come...as is...
As this song begins....

"I come to the garden, alone...While the dew is still on the roses"

Our walk begins with "coming to the garden"....to "seek first his kingdom..."(Matthew 6:33 )...and to listen...before taking the steps.

Do I chose to come to Jesus as soon as I wake up in the morning? Do I chose to come to Jesus...first.. when I am overwhelmed? Do I chose to come to Jesus when I feel lonely? Do I chose to come to Jesus...just because He wants me to?

What a journey "Life" is! What peace there is knowing that we
have Jesus as our fellow companion, walking right beside us...so He can
"direct our paths" (proverbs 3:5) and equip us with everything we need for the journey.

May your day be filled with His joy...as you Come to the garden...so your Savior can walk and talk with you!

Peace your way,
Joni
(Now the bells are playing "Let there be peace on earth"...I think God is trying to tell me something!)

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." John 10:27-28

He Walks With Me
I come to the garden alone While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear the son of God discloses
And he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own
And the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever known

He speaks and the sound of his voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that he gave to me within my heart is ringing
And he walks with me...

I'd stay in the garden with him though the night around me is falling
But He bids me go through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling

(Like I said, the chorus is all I knew....Thank you Lord for Google!)


********************************************************************


THE PRECIOUS PRESENT


A wise man (my husband) once said...
"Contentment means being okay with where you are today, where you were yesterday, not worrying about tomorrow. Content in knowing that whatever happens is okay because it is in God’s control."

The only way to be in the moment is to be in the moment.
The moment may be a trial you are experiencing.
The moment may be a choice you have to make.
The moment may be a task that you have to complete.
The moment may be the lowest moment of your life.
The only way to be in the moment is to be in the moment.
As I was running this morning, I asked the Lord to show me how to be peaceful in the moment...how to enjoy it...to be ever present.
He answered me through that
inner voice that speaks to my heart...
...that He has been teaching me how, by making me be in it...
How is one to know how "to be" unless one is taught.
The moment is where I learn to lean on God.

It is so much easier to walk around the pink elephant in the room, as avoidance is the easier road to take.
But you know what...avoidance never got rid of the pink elephant. Avoidance never cured the illness. Avoidance never mended the relationship. Avoidance never completed the task.
When running away isn't an option, and you are forced to be in the moment... that is where you meet God. That is where God does His best work. Always refining us on the Potter's wheel..

I had to laugh when I realized that God is teaching me how to be in the moment by forcing me to be in it.
It is at this place where you meet God at a deeper level.
Where He is found.
Because God is controlling the moment. Jesus is with you in the moment. And the Holy spirit is strengthens you in the moment.

So on this beautiful day...whatever moment is facing you...may you meet God like you never have before..in that moment...
Because it is in His precious presence that one is able to accept the present as a gift.
His Peace,
Joni
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
Philippians 4:12

Hmm....can you tell the word of the day is "moment"?


******************************************************


The Perfect Present

Shopping for Christmas gifts...for our loved ones, for our friends, for those who are in need...
Choosing the perfect gift to express our love.
Christmas....a holiday set aside for the
Birthday Celebration of Jesus.
A celebration of God's perfect present, sent from above to all of us. The perfect "one size fits all". The perfect present that is for a girl, a boy, a man and woman. The perfect present that satisfies all our needs. The perfect present that doesn't need batteries. The perfect present that doesn't have to be put together. The perfect present that you don't have to go to the Mall to purchase. The perfect present with free shipping. The perfect present that is delivered instantly.
The perfect present with the perfect price...
Free.
The perfect present when unwrapped....
Turns anxiety into peace
Turns sorrow into joy
Turns guilt into forgiveness
Turns rejection into acceptance.
Turns hatred into love.

Jesus...the gift that keeps giving. The perfect gift for us...the perfect gift for all of our loved ones. The perfect gift for everyone.
May you experience true peace and joy, every season of your life, as you unwrap the Perfect Present...
Jesus...and pass it on.

May Blessings Abound,
Joni

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:17-18

*****************************************************************************

Happy Birthday...Jesus!

Today is my daughter’s birthday. She is no longer a teen...as she enters into her 20s. I smile and my eyes fill with tears as I remember that day she was born. The day that God chose for her to come into this world. I remember looking into her eyes, with the same expression that I had when I looked into the eyes of my 24 and 26 year old precious childrens’ eyes, on the day of their births....in wonder, in such amazement that it warmed my heart in an unexplainable way.
As everyone is preparing for Christams day...to celebrate the birth of our King, I think about His birth. The day that He was born to Mary....a humble little girl. I wonder what happened to her heart that day when she looked into her precious baby’s eyes. I can’t even imagine. I bet her heart was on fire. I bet she was a wee bit wondering....”Why me? Why would God chose me to give such a gift?”
I have asked that question myself...
“Why me, Lord. Why would you give me....after all that I have done and after all that I continue to do ...such a gift...your precious son.?”
And God answers...
”Just because I love you.”
So simple, yet so hard to ingest. JUST BECAUSE.
Wow...Just because He loves me. Just because He loves you.
I think of the words from the chorus of the song, Who AM I..
"Not because of Who I am. But because of what you’ve done.
Not because of What I’ve done. But because of Who you are."
It isn't about me. It really is about Him. God...wanting to hand us all His gift of love, all wrapped up in His infant Son, born 2010 years ago.
So when I look into the eyes of Jesus....my eyes fill with tears and my heart gets warm...as I experience His forgiveness, His love, His grace...and remember how He has changed this heart of mine, and continues to do so.....
Just because....
May you unwrap the only true gift of Christmas, given to you from your “Daddy” above and experience all the blessings that He has for you...
His Peace, Joy, Love, Acceptance, Forgiveness, Hope...
JUST BECAUSE ..
He Loves You!
Happy Birthday my daughter.
Happy Birthday my Jesus!
His Peace,
Joni
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16

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Is it Givingthanks...or Thanksgiving?

This is the time of year when we are "supposed" to be thankful.
Thankful for crowded grocery stores, thankful for the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pies.... and for the lonely string bean...that adds that " green" to our table.
Thankful for buying the turkey napkins and candy canes...all at
the same time because there are only 31 shopping days until
Christmas.
Thankful for the alarm clocks that will buzz at 4am on " black
Friday" because there will only be 29 days left to shop.
Thankful...
I cry this morning with tears of heart felt thanksgiving...
For the lord... For saving me.... by sending his precious son...
To die so I, so we... could all live " happily ever after".
I cry heart felt tears for my precious children and husband who
God has given to me as gifts...to love and to be loved.
I cry heartfelt tears for my mom and dad who God gave to me to
care for me and love me.
I cry heartfelt tears for my siblings who I don't share enough
how much I love them and for the smiles they have added to my
life.
I cry heartfelt tears for those who are crying today with tears
of loss, sorrow, pain and loneliness.
Yet I cry out prayers for all those hearts that this thanksgiving
they will experience the peace & the joy of the Lord, in the
midst of their circumstances.
I cry for the distractions of the " holidays" which crowd out the
real meaning of "Givingthanks" (Thanksgiving) and the birthday
celebration of a little boy born 2010 years ago in a stable....
Who has given me... Given you... Given all of us....
The ultimate gifts of
Forgiveness...Salvation.... & Freedom.....
The Freedom to dance with our two left feet...
Just because God is thankful for us... Thankful that He made
us.... As we are all His workmanship.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you my special someones who are all
gifts to me... I thank God for placing you in my life.
So tomorrow as you are eating your turkey take time to also.....
"Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."
Psalm 34;8.

His Peace to you,
Joni
"Trust God. Wait Patiently. Watch Expectantly"


************************************************************


This morning, as I was sitting on the beach, talking with God (He loves the beach!), I kept looking for "signs" that He was with me. I shuffled through my worship songs, just waiting to have that "ah ha" moment....when God and I are so in synced....when you know that it isn't a coincidence, and so clearly Him.
Well, I wasn't syncing this morning. I went from song to song...just waiting to get that "feeling"...nothing happening. So I got up, ran back home, still clicking through the songs to get that "God moment"....well the God moment came...and it wasn't in a song. It came through my heart....that I was "testing" God.
Yup, I was testing God. I was looking for Him, looking for that mountain top experience...in the beach, in the ocean, in a song. Testing Him...challenging Him to make Himself present to me.
Are you really there God?
Are you really who you say you are?
The little stubborn child in me screaming, "I want you right now and I want you to do it my way?"
Wow...
God did show up. He showed me that He is with me every second, even when I don't have that "Ah Ha" moment. He is with me when I am looking for Him in the beach, a sunrise, a friend. He hasn't gone anywhere. He wants us to seek Him first...but that is giving Him your first "second", your first "thought", your first "thanks".
Because God is so gracious, He does send those precious nuggets from heaven...those "Ah Ha" moments, those power surges of the Holy Spirit, the unexpected blessing, the day that you get to check off everything on your to do list, the positive test results, the paycheck, the smile from your child, just taking a breath....
He is always present, it is me that moves away.
May your day be blessed with "Ah Ha" seconds as you take your Father's hand and walk through your day, seeing Him in all things...no matter how big or small...He is there.

"The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
The LORD watches over all who love him..."
(Psalm 145 17-20a)

Peace to you,
Joni