by Joyce
I heard someone say around the time of the New Year, ” 2009 - Not so fine; 2010 - Begin again.”
At any given time in our lives we have the opportunity or the chance to start again — begin afresh. That was it — I was sold. I was going to start afresh. This time I would step out of my comfort zone and do something that I would not normally do, risk a little, live daringly, take a somewhat small chance, and that is exactly what I did.
My husband and I live in the Northwestern part of Pennsylvania and we had decided to spend New Years Eve 2010 in New York City visiting with our daughter and her companion. After we had arrived in New York City and settled in to our daughter’s apartment we spent the evening hours of New Year’s Eve touring some of Central Park and taking in some of the sights in that part of Manhattan. The following day was New Years day and we had made plans to head off to Coney Island to “take the plunge.” Yes we took the plunge into the icy Atlantic Ocean and by doing so we became part of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club 2010. It was exuberant, exhilarating, and completely out of context of anything I have ever done in my life. It was frigid, fun, and I had to admit — I felt 10 years younger — with all of the hype and excitement of the huge crowd that came to participate, to cheer us on, and to witness this momentous event.
But there is more. This past Holiday I was given a gift — the Moravian Daily Texts 2010. It is a Devotional Guide for Every Day. So if truth be told, this is truly where my New Year began — before the Atlantic plunge — I plunged into the Devotional Text. It contains daily devotions, prayers, short hymns, and scripture readings and biblical verses. It is truly an inspirational and thought provoking way to begin ones day –let alone one’s new year. Now stay with me here. I began the New Year with a Plunge into the Devotional Text and then a Plunge into the Atlantic; however, it gets even better.
After arriving back home in Pennsylvania, I had previously signed up for a class entitled “The Inheritance” which is a Beth Moore DVD Study which began for me on Wednesday, January 6. Beth’s teaching is taking us on a journey throughout the bible showing us the various places and readings indicating our future Inheritance in Heaven and also our current Inheritance and promises while here on planet earth. This is a very warm and promising plunge and did I mention huge! And now for my next plunge. Our Church had previously scheduled a 21-day Daniel Fast to begin on Sunday, January the 10th. My husband and I both had made plans to be participants before the new year began so we were mentally prepared to begin this devotion / physical cleansing.
The first day of the fast began after the noon meal with a liquid fast for 24 hours (real 100% natural juices and water.) Starting on the second day after the noon meal begins the meals or the types of food that Daniel would have consumed when he refused to eat the Kings delicacies in the Book of Daniel. One may google the Daniel Fast to find more information on what all it pertains to or read the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament of your Bible. This is our third year at starting the new year with the Daniel Fast. The devotion to God, the cleansing of the body, and the blessings received from God during and after the fast make this a very worthy testament to begin a New Year.
So what are you waiting for? Take the Plunge! The year is early — make a new start. Begin again — Start anew — Start afresh.
The Atlantic was fun, cold, frigid, exciting, and exhilarating. The Devotional Text, The Inheritance DVD Study, and the Daniel Fast are warm, meaningful, enriching, and larger than life itself. Psalm 84:5 Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
And to think that the year has just begun? I wonder what my next plunge / pilgrimage will be?
Till the next time, this is the Voice of Joyce signing off…….
by Joyce
There are times in ones life when we don’t deserve to be loved, we don’t deserve to be forgiven, or we don’t deserve to be accepted; but in spite of all of our weaknesses, shortcomings, and lack of grace or character development someone else rises above the human plane and loves us just where we are or as we are. It is with a deep gratitude and a newly founded humbleness within us that we muster up the strength to pick ourselves up, rebuild our lives, repair our relationships, and somehow manage to put our life back on track.
Then as time goes by and the years drift in and out, life has a way of bringing the same type of scenario back to the home plate in our lives. However, this time — for a lack of a better explanation — the shoes are now on the reverse feet. One can’t figure it out; One doesn’t know why; It’s deja vu. How could this be or how could this have happened? These were people we have built relationtionships with; people we have called our friends; people we have come to know or people we have known for a lifetime; folks we have loved; people we have trusted; people who have guided us — the ones that we have and had relied upon throughout the years. In any event, this time we are finding ourselves on the other end of the spectrum. Life is asking us to be the accepter, the forgiver, the person of and with compassion.
This is a challenge. This is where the rubber meets the road! Will we be able to return the favor, the grace, the pardon that we too didn’t deserve - whether it be today, yesterday, or sometime in the past? Will we be that kind of individual who rises up above this human plane and loves others and accepts others just where they are or just how they are?
One might be thinking, “Yeah but I don’t have all of the answers, Yeah but I don’t understand, Yeah but they should have known better by now, or I think they know what they are doing.” If we are waiting for all of the questions to be answered, if we are waiting till we understand, if we are waiting till someone else fesses up to what they should know or should have known; then perhaps Jesus should have waited to go to the cross a couple of thousand years later — at least till the time when we or they should have known better?
Romans 5:6-8 … at just the right time…Christ died for the ungodly.
Luke 6:37…Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Till the next time, this is the Voice of Joyce signing off…….
by Joyce
The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made. Psalm 145:9
Jesus called His disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people, they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” Matthew 15:32
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8
Webster’s Dictionary: sorrow for the suffering or trouble of another, with the urge to help; deep sympathy; pity
The Biblical story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37
The Samaritan saw another human being in need of physical care. The Samaritan was busy — going about his daily affairs; but he stopped what he was doing and took the time out. He took time to acknowledge his feelings toward another person. He gave from his own material goods and then from his own purse. He gave from his day. He even went further and changed his future plans and checked in on the man again. He rearranged his life, his budget, and his to-do list.
Compassion is more than a feeling. Compassion is a reaching out to another; an extension of our inner self. Compassion involves a reaction. Your day would of had to have changed. Compassion involves: seeing, feeling, doing, analyzing, displaying, caring, monitoring, thinking, giving, going beyond and above the ordinary.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts to rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. 1 John 3:16-20
Are you feeling tired today? Do you feel a little used up? Are you stretching yourself above the ordinary? Go to God in prayer as He takes care of all His children and refreshes us anew.
I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed. The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Till the next time, this is the Voice of Joyce signing off…….
