Please Vote!

Today was a historic day. Today I bundled up with 2 pairs of socks (1 wool), my fleece lined jeans and silk skins, two more layers on top plus a wool sweater, scarf and two pairs of gloves. I spent the day outdoors. The high was 32 degrees. I'm from Texas, ya'll. That's cold!

WHY would I subject myself to this? For 3+ years since we moved back to Asia after living in Dallas, I have been looking for something to hang on the large blank wall above the couch in our living room. The big blank wall followed us from Singapore to China. During our team’s New Year’s party in 2007, I vowed that by New Year’s of 2008, I would have that picture.

Today, I found it at the "dirt market"...well, I found them. It wasn’t what I thought I’d buy. But you know how that goes. I bought 2 groups of 3 paintings, and I would love your opinion. My husband is making strides in willingness to engage in conversations involving colors. However, I do need some additional opinions! (Unless you really don't like either and then I don't want to know :)

This set?

Or this one?

Joy Nugget #10: A Clue to God's Purposes in Emotion II

The key to the difference between commands to rejoice and commands to mourn is this:

In what/whom are you rejoicing?
In what/whom are you mourning?

There is a good, healthy, appropriate mourning:
-over coming judgment
-over the effects of your own or others' sin
-over the effects of the fall: loss, a world that is "not the way it's supposed to be"
-feeling with the griefs of others
-because Jesus is not 'here' (present on the earth) with us now

Yet there is also great reason to rejoice:
-in all He has done
-because He is trustworthy
-because of our future hope: He will make all things well!
-because it is good for His children to do!
-because it demonstrates who He is to the nations
-because it blesses Him when we do!

So, what are you sorrowing in? What are you rejoicing in? He has made both sorrow and rejoicing, to lead our hearts to Him.

Joy Nugget #9: A Clue to God's Purposes in Emotions

Feeling a bit schitzophrenic? First I tell you to rejoice, and then tell you to mourn?

Today I want to zero in on one passage that sheds great light on this quandary:

In Luke 7:31-33, Jesus rebukes the people:
"To what should I compare the people of this generation?... 'We played the flute for you (sound of rejoicing), and you did not dance; we sang a dirge (song of mourning), and you did not weep' For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine; and you say, "He has a demon!" The Son of Man came eating and drinking; and you say, "Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard..."

What is He talking about here? John the Baptist's ministry was one of rebuke and calling the people to confess their sins (a ministry of mourning over sin). Yet the people did not regard him nor grieve their unrighteousness. Jesus came as the promised Messiah to bring grace and hope to sinners (a ministry of hope and joy). Yet the people criticized His rejoicing.

The problem was not that they didn't rejoice, or they didn't mourn, but they didn't do either. He rebukes them for feeling nothing...For having NO appropriate emotional responses. Not feeling grief over sin, nor joy over the arrival of the King!

Joy Nugget #8: Commands to Mourn?

Just as there are commands to rejoice, there are also commands to mourn:

-Jeremiah's soul is in anguish as he learns of a severe desolation where the whole earth will mourn.
-The priests are told to mourn because the sacrifices have been cut off from the house of the Lord (Joel 1:9-13 and 2:17)
-The Spirit of God will cause the people to mourn bitterly for the One they have pierced (Zechariah 12:10-14)
-Mourning is appropriate when the "bridegroom" (Christ) is 'away'. (Matthew 9:15)
-We are commanded to "rejoice with those who rejoice" and "weep with those who weep". (Romans 12:15)

So which is it? Rejoice and mourn too?

Joy Nugget #7: Does God Expect Us to Rejoice?

The simple answer is, YES!

1. In the Jewish Feasts, we read several commands to rejoice
-"Bring an offering and rejoice before the Lord" (Deuteronomy 16:9-12; Leviticus 23:15-21)
-"Rejoice before the Lord with branches from majestic trees...so you will indeed rejoice!" (Leviticus 23:33-36; 39-43; Deuteronomy 16:13-15)

2. In the Psalms, there are many invitations to rejoice
-"Shout for joy to God our strength" (Psalm 81:1-14)
-"Let us sing and shout praises" (Psalm 95:1-5)

3. In the Prophets, there are many commands to rejoice
-"Be happy, Zion. I am coming. I will settle in your midst." (Zechariah 2:10)
-Rejoice in a future day of restoration because judgment is removed (Zephaniah 3:14-15)

4. In the New Testament--Yes, it's there too
-Rejoice in persecution because your reward will be great (Matthew 5:12)
-"Rejoice in the Lord always" (Philippians 3:1; 4:4)
-"Let us rejoice and be glad; the bride is ready!" (Revelation 19:7)

But what does it mean to rejoice always? Does that mean I'm supposed to be happy all the time?

Joy Nugget #6: Stop & Ponder

When you consider together these things that God both despises and delights in, ponder this:

What does it mean that we worship a God who delights in Himself? In all three members of the Trinity?

What does it say about the nature of God that He chooses to delight in His creatures?

In striking contrast to many views of "God" in other religions, (a God who is distant; capricious; whimsical in His acts; one with whom you never know where you stand) the God of the Bible is deeply and personally affected by us and makes great effort to make Himself known to us! Rejoice!

Joy Nugget #5: A God Who Despises?

Not to damper the party, but God also makes it clear there are things He HATES, or does not delight in. Why does this matter as we think about JOY? By contrast, He makes clear things that steal joy.

1. God hates "going through the motions" without a sincere heart. (Psalm 51:16-19)
2. God does not delight in human strength (Psalm 147:10)
3. God hates a liar (but delights in those who speak truth) (Proverbs 12:22)
4. God takes no pleasure in fools who don't do what they have vowed (Ecclesiastes 5:4)
5. God hates those who pursue fortune but do not worship or respond to Him (Isaiah 65:11)

Which of these most impacts your thoughts about God?

Cookie Time

For the 2nd year, (which makes it a tradition now), our sweet friend "Auntie Mel" (below) has hosted a cookie baking party...what fun...what a mess!


















Unmonitored child with big bowl of sugar= bliss


















Ellie had fun with the cutters too...















...but quickly discovered this was much more fun. Yes, she's shoveling flour and sugar into her mouth...














(Let's get a close-up of that tongue.)


















...and doesn't feel the least bit guilty! :)
































Here's the cookie crew:












...mama's girls! :)

Joy Nugget #4: The Joy of Jesus

Since our revelation about God is paramount in Christ, we may learn the most about the joys of God by zeroing in on Christ.

1. Jesus rejoices together with the Father & the Spirit--the whole Trinity rejoices together! (Luke 10:21)
2. Jesus rejoices that His Father has revealed truths about Himself to "little children"--those with humble trust in Him over those who are wise in the world's eyes. (Luke 10:21)
3. Jesus rejoices in the "lost sheep" found. (Luke 15:6-9)
4. Jesus desires deep fellowship in community (Luke 22:15)

How should these delights of Jesus reflect upon our search for joy?

Joy Nugget #3: A God Who Rejoices

Do you think of God as One who rejoices? Since we are made in His image, we learn alot by thinking about what gives Him joy.

Here are some things God delights in:
1. in Himself (Psalm 16:11)
2. in His works of creation (Proverbs 8:30)
3. in His people (Isaiah 62:4-5)
4. in those who obey and turn to Him wholeheartedly (Deuteronomy 30:9-10)
5. in delivering His people from oppression (Psalm 149:4)
6. in those who fear Him (Psalm 147:11; Isaiah 11:3)
7. in those who pursue righteousness, integrity, and faithfulness (Proverbs 5:8; Hosea 6:6)

Which of these images is most striking to you?
Do you have a sense of God's delight in you?

Joy Nugget #2: What is Joy?

As Christians, does our pursuit of joy look like everyone else? Is our search just like the world, but with Christ thrown in?

I love the way Marva Dawn uses the word "joy" in her work Being Well When We're Ill.
"I capitalize the word Joy so that you will remember that is does not mean a simple exuberance, happiness, or excitement caused by circumstances. I use the word only when I want to signify that deep, abiding confidence, gratitude, and trust that our ours when are lives are transformed by the truths of the Christian metanarrative (over-arching story), especially the resurrection."

Have you got that kind of joy?

Joy Nugget #1: Why Joy?

Why pick this "fruit"? Well, I would argue that it's the one we're most after. Christians and non-Christians alike. Of course, we are on lots of different paths to get there, but we all want joy.

Piper once said, "Joy is the deepest expression of God's value. The spontaneous response of rejoicing is the most authentic testimony to what you treasure." After giving a stirring treatise, he plainly responded, "I so want to be that way."

Do you? Me too.

1. It's about "my" joy...we are hungry for what we often lack.

2. It's about "their" joy...our joy shows what we treasure. Is Christ real? Does He change lives? Is He my treasure? My joy (or lack of it) is a commentary to the world.

3. It's about "our" joy...we need each other on the path and we don't travel best alone. We have much to gain as we seek to learn from the joy of one another.

4. It's about "His" joy... He delights when we rejoice in Him!

Joy Nuggets

No, this isn't like chicken nuggets. Something more like gold nuggets. If you've read this blog for awhile, you may remember some entries about 'joy' last summer, 2007? Well, I finally finished writing that study. So I thought I'd share some of the best nuggets with you. I'll do my best to post consistently. Short snippets for you to chew on each day... I welcome your feedback and interaction!

Got Joy?

Food for the Soul

Has it really been a week since I last posted? I have realized this week (if not before) that writing takes margin. Or at least reflective writing does. And there just hasn't been margin lately.

But as of yesterday, I've finished writing a study on "joy" I've joined in with some women here. We have one more time to meet, but the writing is finished (the first draft at least) and that is the most time-consuming part. I have really en"joy"ed and learned much, and I'm also looking forward to a break from the intensity of a major project for awhile.

Here is a great quote that I put at the top of our final study:
“…That which gives true enjoyment is the aspect of faith wherein Christ, by holy taste, is received into us, and made, by inward and spiritual apprehension of His sweetness and preciousness, to be the food of our souls. It is then we sit "under His shadow with great delight," and find His fruit sweet to our taste.” --Charles Spurgeon

Is Christ the food of your soul? This season, we are often consumed with food, yes... buying it, preparing it, serving it... What if, this holiday season, (in addition to all the yummy treats, of course) we took time to acquire, prepare, and serve up food for our guests souls?

December Tomatoes

Devoted followers of this blog have been waiting at the edge of your seats for a report since the last post about the tomatoes. As novices in the growing-your-own-produce department, we planted them in June. Very loyal friends cared for them during two long trips this summer and we expected our fruit by about September. When the temps began dropping in October without the slightest signs of growth, I told Kathryn we could bring them in from the balcony and nurse them awhile longer. Then we saw flowers. Fruit coming! 12 flowers--that should have made for 12 tomatoes, elementary plant biology, right? SLOW, SLOW, SLOW. A couple of green balls started forming...but then they stopped. Then when the heat kicked on in mid-November, some of the branches got a little to close to the radiator. Oops. After a whole month went by with no seeming growth, I told Kathryn that we probably weren't going to be able to keep them much longer. (The vines are spilling over Jim's favorite chair.) Tears and persistence swayed me-- I promised her we could wait a couple more weeks.

Then, all of a sudden, it happened! When I had given up hope, one little bud turned from green to yellow to orange and red, and we had ONE whole tomato that was ready to eat! In December, next to the Christmas tree! With much pomp and celebration, we picked, washed, cut and ate it...Well, at least K and I did... Ellie came over and said, "It's a tomato," and tootled off back to her dolly.
Here they are--two more still green. I couldn't believe it tasted like a tomato!













The Proud Gardener


















And aren't you also glad to know K's tonsils are looking good! :)

















After we finished our experiment, K told me, "Mom, now that I've taken care of tomatoes and fish, it's kinda boring now. I really need more of a challenge."