HEAVEN RULES

 Lord what do we write, what do we say, this day January 20, 2021.

In light of my pursuit to keep the joy to the world my first love. Heaven Rules! Jesus is powerful and his power alone makes changes and brings those leaders to stand for truth and justice.

Let us look to the Lord today and rejoice. Rejoice again I say.

We rejoice in gospel proclamation.

Jesus you alone are holy, you alone show yourself to the world. You don't need anyone to move across our land to open the eyes and ears because you can do it. In fact when it comes from you Father it shows itself to be real. Not a human made up thing. It is really you God that created the heavens and earth.

As I read through Daniel 4 and saw how Daniel interpreted a dream revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar, his reaction is greatly perplexed and his thoughts terrified him. This dream is not about adversaries or enemies, but taking personal responsibility, just as it is today, each of us taking responsibility, peace will be restored to us when we acknowledge that HEAVEN RULES! (Daniel 4:26)

King Nebuchadenezzar realizes, admits his sanity was restored because he did heed the warning from Daniel, the man of God and declares God's kingdom is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation, He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven. 

Through acknowledgement we find the the joy that entered our world to help us. 

As Paul says in the book of Philippians, "The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. Philippians 1:18-19"

Do we really want to be pure and blameless when Christ returns? Paul asks us to pray, to desire this, to ask for the ability and discernment to be fulfill this. Paul knows God is faithful to help us accomplish this and give us an inner joy. This mystery to have a inner joy to lofty to explain. We can not explain his peace and joy. 

Open your heart to this inner stirring and experience it for yourself.

"Come on in", a heartfelt cry is all that is needed. Seek the word of the Lord and ask to lean on Him for understanding and the unexplainable joy will flood your heart. 

#heavenrules, #choosejoy, #undescribablejoy 

PUT A GUARD ON IT

I awoke and my mind stirred with; what if's...

Lord forgive me I am thinking thoughts that are not from you...help me

Then I saw a small figure angelic like all alone in a white space...crying out; Glory, glory, glory.

It is all I could focus on.

I could only think about heaven and it rules.

Glory, glory, glory,

any attempt to think anything else was blocked.

I am living out Philippians 4:6-7, God says He will guard our heart and mind. Just call on him, repent, give thanks and He will do it.

For the rest of the night I heard the cry of the saint, Glory, Glory, Glory!

It was comforting. It was Him. My focus was on Jesus. Fully devoted.

In fact hadn't I just read this day, "Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice #joy2021." Romans 5:2

I also heard, the whole earth is full of His glory and Most Holy God!

I just thank God for this guard put over my mind. I just kept thinking, I feel so rested, so much peace!

Rejoice! Again I say rejoice! 

God usher this kind of peace to those that call upon your name today!

GOD wants to:  PUT A GUARD ON YOUR MIND. Will you let Him? Will you ask Him for help?

Not only can we rejoice from the full access to God but also the bible goes on to say, "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4"

How can we rejoice this year recognize the full access to God and also that He cares so much that He wants to build our character. 

NESTING-TIME-OUT

NESTING-TIME-OUT

I was overdue the baby was not coming! I listened to all the wives’ tales like wash the floors on your knees, go for frequent walks, have everything ready for the birth-suitcase packed...

I was nesting!

 

To me nesting means-it’s my space, my baby is coming, and I have to cover every possibility. Everything must be ready and perfect! (grocery shop, housework done, floors clean, babies bag packed, my bag packed, laundry done) That way NOTHING, can go wrong! When you have other children, and a baby is coming it gets worse. You nest for them and of course, your husband. I would think of everything the children will want need. Nest! Did you ever hear your mother or grandmother say, "Oh, you are nesting?" They declare it and give others some kind of "know it all glance"!

The glance it states that you've got it, almost like a disease, get out of her way or you may suffer her tidying up wrath! I nest when we are going on trip, does everyone have all the comforts of the world so I don't have to hear complaining! Help!

 

The hidden secret you are nesting is not a secret at all. Everyone walks on eggshells. The nester says its hormones.

 

As a nester myself I will admit it's control (or lack thereof), anxiety, perfectionism, performance orientation (look at me I am the best mom ever, I think of everything.)

 

Dads can get into nesting too! Don't think that it is a hormone thing and it's a women thing!

 

Friends, I catch myself nesting for the Holidays, but it's not in anticipation for the baby Jesus. It is for my sake of looking good in front of the guests.

 

What is the remedy for this "Nesting" problem?

 

I am so aware of this weakness; I have decided to put myself in "TIME OUT." Yep! just like we put our children in time out.

 

But at my age TIME OUT doesn’t look like a two-year-old (hopefully) I look like a child of God poor in spirit, in need of refreshment (I don't mean a glass of wine) I mean time out with God. Just as Jesus went off quite frequently and sought God the Father.

 

I start out with a confession, "Lord I am caught up in perfectionism, control.... blah, blah, blah. Help me! God seriously, help me. I got the thing again.... yeah, nesting.... help me slow down, sit down, quiet down to hear from your soothing words. I will put a worship song on three times. Yes, three! It takes three times. I love going to time out! Kari Jobe has a 22-minute worship set that is out First Love, Embers, Blessing or Obsession...any of them.

 

If you will allow me to use the following words...It's like getting a spiritual valium. I have had it before an outpatient procedure and well it works! 

 

Beloved friends, confession, picturing myself kneeling at the cross or sitting on Abba Father's lap help me to be in a posture of receiving. I am never feeling condemned to visit the Father....I am over joyed. I am going to HIM, PERFECT LOVE.

 

Try it, you will like it!

 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds...James 1:2.

 

Friend you do not have to do it all on your own! 

 

Consider it joy to have a friend in Jesus for a fresh encounter, reverse the trajectory of where you were going. Going with Jesus the one who represents perfect love, my joy keeper, in his presence is a place where you don't want to leave. You hang on every word He says, I cannot explain it. You just have to go into TIME OUT. 

 

Let us begin to redefine time out, you are going to creator, lover of your soul. It is a teachable, refreshing wonderous moment that will never, I mean never wasted.

 

Prayer: Take me there Jesus, take me there...speak over me...put IT all into perspective.

 

Amen.

 

Add it to my nest. 

 

COME ON IN

When my kids were little, we be like driving along always listening to some children's CD. Yes, a CD. Some youth may wonder what that is, it dates us! Anywho! 

The CD: Mom I have lost my joy. The mom, "really what's going on? When is the last time you saw her?" The boy, "That's it I just don't know." The sister interrupts, "Mom do you think he is talking about the cat, Joy?" Yes, the mother responds! The girl, "No, mom we are talking about his true "Joy"! To which the mother responds with a giggle, "I know how to get it back."

...weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning -Psalm 30:5

We all burst out in song....We got that Joy, Joy, Joy...down in our heart! 

The children's tune comes across loud and clear. Choose Joy! You can't get your joy by naming your cat or dog joy, you can't perform better and get joy! But you can keep knowing God's truth about joy and find inner joy. Looking at the words and receiving their meaning. 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit-Romans 15:13

Trust in Him brings us inner Holy Spirit led joy!

You maybe asking why are you writing this Elaine?

Let me explain:

On December 24, 2020, laying in bed I recounting my past days to prepare for Christmas...the word joy is appearing frequently. This happens annually where I where I begin to see a word for the new year to be my focus, last years was Light. It is funny it starts to appear. It takes me a moment to wake up and pay attention. Have you experienced that? You are sleeping and you begin to wake up and you are suddenly aware something is happening. Next, I pray God are you revealing something to me?

Let's see, you tell me...

I say to my husband...I need signage for the Christmas message to be real and I want to display it in front of the house. Like...MERRY CHRISTMAS. He comes home with "Joy". I am asleep on that one. "Okay", I sort of disappointedly say back to him. I I I I wanted, Merry Christmas! (sleeping then, awake now...I realize HE wanted JOY!)

Getting back to Dec. 24, I'm praying God confirm this, I keep seeing the word and I am not...honestly...convinced. Next, I open a new devotional I got at Salvation Army look up the date and the title of the devotion is, Come on In. It comes from John 15:11-I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your may be complete.

I count the word "JOY" in that small devotion eight times! You know at Christmas we always talk about, "Love coming down." At Christmas abundant "Joy" came down probably for the first time. In the life where we think we have everything in place and joy appears at Christmas...then it fades and we wonder why, "Why do I have family and the decorations and presents and suddenly I feel lonely?" True joy came in the lowly manger through the baby Jesus! How do you get that joy, we must declare, say "Yes", and shout, "Come on in, Jesus." He stands waiting. Joy comes when we hold out our hands and receive the greatest gift ever. Jesus!

I love that, so much so I am filled up to shout it out back to whoever wants to listen. I have found people giving me joy ornaments or verses jumping out with clarity. I even had a girl approach me at church asking, "What is your name, my name is Joy...can I pray for you?" God brought JOY to pray for me. Does He have a sense of humor, I hope so!

Let the Choose Joy, abundant joy, joy infilling beginning and continue through 2021. I will try to be diligent to document these sightings so my joy may be complete. 

I am already observing the Apostle Paul's greetings are frequently sprinkled with Joy, like in Philippians, "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day. When I read that I ask myself questions and acknowledge some facts. Paul a leader, prays for his flock who he is called to, He prays with joy for them because they have a partnership in the gospel and the gospel is pivotal point for life. He delights when He thinks of them in prayer. Amazing! I delight when God brings leaders in my life who with Joy pray for us the flock.

I will post the pictures of my sightings recently so we can giggle together over God's delightful revelations. People post their joy sightings without knowing that I am on this "Choose Joy" journey.

May the God of all hope fill us with Joy in 2021, his joy is different than the world.