What is required during these Advent days?

There's been a question that has gnawed at me all week long.  It had to have been the same question that Joseph, Mary's husband had to answer also.

Joseph's response has made me take a closer look at my own behavior and response.

Does anyone think it unusual that Matthew, one of the four gospel writers, was the only one who included Joseph's story in the "Jesus is born" announcement?  I find that interesting to say the least.

If it wasn't for Joseph's actions, well, the face of history could have changed dramatically.  His behavior is pivotal in this whole crazy, believable-by-faith family lineage.

Believeable by faith, yet unbelievable without Joseph's obedience.

Imagine being a fly on the temple walls when Mary spoke of her upcoming news.  Imagine....

Did the news hit him like a ton of bricks?  Did it explode doubt in his heart about her fidelity?

I would think so, he was human after all.

So being the planner he was, a carpenter makes plans immediately...think about it.  His nature was to create and fix things.  So naturally he starts to work on a fix for his problem of what to do with Mary, whom he loves, but wants to protect himself and her from public disgrace?

I love Joseph's fix and it should be a lesson for all of us.

With all the questions of doubt and worry, uncertainty, shame, and those unspoken concerns about being the earthly father of God's Son....Joseph went face down before God.

Lord, what would you have me do to follow you?  And because God knew Joseph's heart was righteous, God gave him an answer that couldn't be denied.

Anytime you get a direct word from God, well, in my experience you shouldn't deny it....ever.

After receiving validation from the Angel, the news that would confirm, affirm and direct him, Joseph's behavior demanded obedience.

I like that he immediately knew the right thing to do.  And I love that God gave Joseph a "burning bush" moment, so that everyone would understand his behavior.

When you think about it Joseph's response was quiet remarkable.

Simply put ....he obeyed the simply spoken words of the Lord.

Shouldn't that be what we all respond to God with?  Our obedience?

Yes.

You could say that Joseph was a "yes" man.  And it's refreshing to know that first he sought God about what it takes to follow God and then listened to what God had to say.  And then acted on what he knew was right...

He obeyed.

And that my friends is the lesson in these days of celebration and rejoicing.

Maybe God is asking you the same question today...what will it take to follow what I have told you to do?

Is there a gnawing question or are you praying about something heavy on your heart right now?

....job change?
...relationship restoration?
...dreams?
....new year's resolutions?
...saying yes to God?

If you are, may your response be one like Joseph's...obedience.  Plain and simple obedience.  He did what God asked him to do and obeyed.  He sought God, listened and then lived out his obedience out of his love for God.

Whatever day it is...may our response always be obedience.  Our fixes are simple in light of God's plans for His greater things ahead.

Romans 8:28-30  "And we know that in all things God words for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.  What then shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?"

A simple yes or no will do

My prayer:  Dear God, show me what it means to follow You.  May my heart's response be as pure and always full of praise as Mary's was.  May I not need the visual confirmations that you so graciously send to me.  May my heart always believe in you, and not be distracted by my own understanding or doubts, fears and tears.  May I always and forever say yes to you.  And yes with whole faith God, not based on visual evidence, but on the faith and trust that only comes from you.  It's you Jesus, only you.  May I always say yes to you.   

From my prayer journal...raw and unedited... 

"I want to write a 1000 sentences all at once.  And yet, I can't seem to get all of the words out.  You know the incredible and unbelievable desires I have in my soul.  May I delight myself in you Jesus.  Certainly, when I think about you, what you mean to me well...my eyes get misty and my heart flutters. 

Yesterday in church I heard a life-changing message.  I have been praying life-changing prayers.  No...let me rephrase that.  I have been praying faith-changing prayers.  I have been talking to God about my perspective, my fears-doubts-courage.

And as I sobbed in my church chair, it was in the silence of the moment that God reached down and wrapped my heart with your Love.  And it happened just like that.  No fanfare, no little drummers drumming...no heavenly chorus at 3 am.  No animals were lowing, no wise men gathered offering gifts.  But a miracle happened in my heart and soul.

I want to remember this moment forever.  

I never would have thought ...that my "someday"...my dreams of becoming .... God...would happen.   Your messenger said to not be afraid of what you have to say.

I want to remember.  This is way beyond what I had planned.  But God you know my heart's desire is to submit to you and follow you and obey what you have asked of me.  You also confirmed everything in my spirit, and when I walked into church yesterday, Your Hope message came once again.  You are so in this that I can not deny it.  This gift you have given has me overwhelmed.  I am speechless yet overflowing with joy that I have never felt before.

This quickening in my soul...is making me so alive. But God this is so strange, and different, and awkward, give me more grace to receive this blessing, this favor....

I want to remember this heart feeling forever, this moment of awe, of joy, of anticipation of greatness.  Help me prepare for what is ahead.  I can see some fearful moments, some scary steps, but what I want to see is faith opportunities for you to work and strengthen my faith.  Help me to prepare, to be ready.  There is so much to think about. 

Oh.my.goodness.  I can barely breathe...

Oh God, all I can say is..and may my words match those of your pure servant's heart...Mary.....“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Luke 1:38 NLT

At last, I have had the courage to write to you and tell you...I have really heard God... speak to my heart in His tender voice, And that sunrise ...sooooo beautiful!!   And at last it's happened I don't know how to feel about this...but hearing your voice, it's been wooing me for such a long time.    

I'm finally here, at the line of obedience to say "YES!" to it all.  All at once with 1000 conversations resounding in my head and heart.  I've said yes to faith and moving forward.  I'm turning the corner on this solo gig and learning to release my doubts, fears and worries.   My past is just that, forgiven and forgotten.  My past is not who I am, my future is so bright and glorious.  Because you have spoken hope to me once again.

Let me really be completely honest with you...this is not easy, I'm sweating right now.  But I believe in you God and what YOU have placed in my heart, and what You have given to my hands, may You guide the results.  It's in your hands now.

I want to remember this ....faith moment.  This boldly going forward moment.  This "no-safety nets" moment.  This going to new frontiers and expanding my trust moments.  

Help me to remember God that You chose me for this when you said the words 'favored' 

I want to remember those words....highly favored by the Holy One.  May my lips magnify Your Holy Name. 

Jesus, the Son of the Most High.  

I want to remember your words forever!  Oh my heart wants to sing this song forever. 

"What love is this that comes in the form of a tiny baby, when Hope comes down, in the flesh and favors this humble servant." ~ Kari Jobe.  Again, my heart overflows with worship now.  I believe in the power of miracles.  I believe in these advent days. 

I want to remember that my Forever started here. 

I want to remember this Hope moment, as "Salvation is writing a song" (Brandon Heath)

God you are giving life to my dreams, my heart, soul, and to hope.

Please accept my song of praise as an offering to You, Oh Lord...may it be just like Mary's response, let these words of her heart, soak into your advent days...

Luke 1:47-55

Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One is holy,
and he has done great things for me.
He shows mercy from generation to generation
to all who fear him.
His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
He has brought down princes from their thrones
and exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has helped his servant Israel
and remembered to be merciful.
For he made this promise to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children forever.”

Oh Lord, you have remembered your people, you have found favor.  

May it be as You have said...~your servant, ~ Mary, mother to be of the Savior of the world."

Now that you have read all this...a simple yes or no wouldn't have done it.  (And what kind of picture portrays obedience?)  If you find one please send it to janellekeith53@gmail.com.  Seriously...

May I ask a favor?...Will you comment with your own obedience story, and then share this obedience story.  Thank you!

Monkeys, Haikus & Joy towards home

Avery gives me great joy

Avery wrote a Target Haiku.  For some reason when he and his mommy go to Target he thinks of me, his Grammy.  I don't know where he got that but I am loving that he does.

The miles between us create a distance that our hearts bridge.  It's hard for this little one to be away from his Grammy, just like it is for me.  

He gets such joy from the simple things like saying Haikus in the Target parking lot as he wants me to be near.

Take a look at this face...who wouldn't want to be near this?

Avery's Target Haiku

"Grammy misses me

It makes her so very sad

I love miss her too"

Avery is destined for greatness in the writing world or maybe just destined to enjoy life. 

While at his house recently, I ripped a page out of his little boy joy journal and took it to heart.  

You know friends, we only have today.  We are not guaranteed tomorrow.  We have hope of Heaven and that gives us our dreams of our eternal destination for sure.   But.... 

But what about today?  

Life of all kinds is looking up at you with some big blue eyes asking, "Will you dance with me?"  And more recently...when asked the question, I am stopping the whatever and pausing to soak in life.

It's not about how many emails I sent or didn't get.  It's not about the likes on Facebook for this blog, it's not about who retweets me because I just said the funniest 140 character quip about beets and bears.

It's about God and experiencing the life that He has given you.  Do you see that He personally serves us joy in so many ways for us?  That's the kind of Father we have that cares enough to not only create us, save us, secure a place in Heaven for us, but cares enough to provide joy around us and for us.

We are more than a number or a IP address.  We are those big-eyed wonders that sit at His knee and ask Him to dance with us.  He longs to give us joy.

I like knowing that I don't have to take a number or write an email to get a reply from God.  He tells me he loves me and cares every day, from the words He has already written.  

So knowing that I am loved gives me joy and I love to give joy and love to this little Target lovin' little man who misses me when I am not near.  May I encourage you today that your joy comes from Jesus and having a thankful perspective helps with the every day mundane, the piles of laundry, the dishes, the dirt, the messes, the spills and chills, the garbage that you find each and every day.  

As you stop and reflect about the life that God has given you today, just pause and thank him for the right things you see right now.  

Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from thanking and praising what's right with God.

See His blessings that hang out in life and want to be swung around the back yard like a monkey.

Need some ideas to get you started in your joy journey?  Take a mission trip to Africa.  Be a friend to someone who is alone.  Be kind to the person that just bit your head off at the gas station.  Let someone go first in traffic.  Be generous with the joy you have received, so much so that it is contagious.

Now that would be a movement to be joyful about.  Be grateful to someone for their kindness.  Compliment the next person you see, even if they irritate you.  

Most days you have to give it before you see God in it. 

It's about the lives God has blessed you with.   Life.  Joy moments like the monkey swings, and daddy's dances don't come often enough.   Experience the joy that God has planned for you today.

Have joy in the journey towards home.