Morning Joy

[kimberly]

You now that scripture that talks about weeping enduring for a night, and joy coming in the morning?
Well, it really does.
To tell this, I have to tell some things that don't sound like they go together, but I promise they do.

#1 All of us in the family have been dealing with my father's illness due to heart failure. He's in the hospital undergoing tests and treatment. He came back to live with us after a 40 year searation of about 1500 miles. For almost 3 years now his time with us has been an amazing journey of restoration and family times. But in 2 short months his health has deteriorated rapidly. He's in a wonderful hospital, but it's 45 miles away and sometimes it's a struggle to get there.

#2 I have to tell a little about my sleep habits. I sleep on my back. I wake up in the same position every morning. I need to sleep this way due to the Cpap machine, which goes into beeping fits if the face apparatus is moved. So, 5-6 hours a night, I don't move.

#3 I have 2 ornaments I really like,that a friend gave me for Christmas last year. I didn't pack them away, I put them in my top dresser drawer, a small one that sits by my bed. They are in the far side of the drawer. They look like this;



I haven't looked at them in a few months.
Night before last I went to bed same as usual. I lay in the dark talking to God about my father...how I felt about him being farther away than I liked, how I hated him being alone there, and how I wish he didn't have this disease. You know, all the things that you can't really say to anyone during the day.

I fell asleep as usual, on my back, hands at my side.

I woke up 5 hours later, in the same position, and thought, "Something is in my hand." I lay in the dark, feeling the object...I didn't have any idea what it could be. I finally turned on the light, and found myself holding the ornament that said, "JOY".

I know, right? My first thought was (after, how did that get there?)..."You give me joy that's unspeakable."...A line from one of my favorite Newsboys songs.
But the Holy Spirit knows me. He knows I love that song, He knows I will search that term: Unspeakable joy", AND He knows I will use the Amplified version to search, it's my go-to for study. Here's what I found:

Jude 1:24 Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]—

25 To the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory (splendor), majesty, might and dominion, and power and authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all the ages of eternity). Amen (so be it).

Father, I'm in awe of You every day.

What a blessing this has been to me. To have the Father put that in my hand reminded me of the Joy we posess in Jesus Christ, that 'can't be explained', ecstatic delight that remains, no matter what the circumstances. Friends, don't let anyone steal it! God gave it, and no one can take it...don't loose your grip on it.
Last night, my dad told me that today they will do one more test to see if an improved pacemaker will help him. The Dr. didn't hold out much hope for it, and thinks they can't do anything more for him. My hope is in God, not the doctor. Even if this is God calling dad home, I'm not letting go of that Joy He put in me.

This is my prayer, based on Jude 1:24-25:

I thank You Father,
Your ability to keep me from stumbling, slipping or falling gives me unspeakable joy. My trust is in Your unfailing majesty, might and dominion. I give you all authority over my spirit, soul and body. Jesus, I stand in the presence of your glory blameless and faultless through Your redemption, and I glorify You as Savior and Lord! I believe. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Having Joy doesn't mean you deny the hurt, sorrow and grief. It means, the Joy Jesus gives is spirit lifting and preserving, through the darkest, saddest things. It re-affirms God's presence with us and living in us...forever.

God bless you,
Kimberly

[Mackenaw]

Hello Kimberly (((hugs)))

God bless you this day.

Thank you so much for sharing, it touched my heart, deeply. God is so very Good. \o/ \o/ \o/

Prayers are rising to our Lord in the name of Jesus on behalf of your dad. God's blessed will be done.

God bless and keep you, Kimberly.
Love,
Mack

[kimberly]

Thanks, Mack.
(((hugs))) Good to 'see' you.
God bless you also.
God loves my dad. Of this I'm sure.
I appreciate your prayers.
Love,
Kimberly

[clark thompson]

By faith all prayers will be heard so just pray from your heart.

[kimberly]

You give me Joy that's unspeakable!

Psalm 90:14
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Prayer has become the staple of my christian life. No matter where we are in our walk, God meets us there. No scrap of faith is too small for God to respond to, and with so much more than we expect. Even a bit of faith tiny as a mustard seed produces great results when we trust God to do it. All my hope rests in Jesus Christ and His redeeming Love.

Thank you Mr. Clark for your wise words.

Kimberly

[Dora]

Gosh we sure do have an amazing Father. Shela

[kimberly]

You give me JOY that's unspeakable!

Malachi 4:2
But unto you who revere and worshipfully fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings and His beams, and you shall go forth and gambol like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy.

We do, Pine! In a few short weeks my dad has improved greatly. He now can dress himself, walks sometimes without his walker (That's a big one!), gets his own drink of ice water or boost, hooks up his own oxygen, and contends with the nurse about his meds. (How is it we know when someone gets a bit cranky about things, they're feeling better?) This morning he walked outside to get the newspaper. Huge.

These sound like small things, but believe me, they are big victories for my dad. He seems determined to come back from the death sentence they gave him.

I never thought I would love hearing the radio blaring in the morning as he had breakfast....He's having breakfast!

And it all sprang from His Joy! I have asked for and received more time with my dad. I don't know how much, but I am going to enjoy it all. Thank You, Father. How profoundly this affects me.

But I see I had to have the Joy--first. I had to seek the kingdom first.
Jesus, you are King.

Kimberly