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Posts from — May 2009

The Ship That Won’t Come In

by Joyce

My mind has been filled with passed memories of a kind and friendly young boy I used to know who has now grown into a troubled young man.  Years back when he was a boy he was bright, happy, cheerful, full of zest and spunk with positive growth for a life yet to be lived.
 
He did not live in the area and after a few visits throughout the years with family and friends the young boy became a young man and ceased to visit with family and friends in our part of the country.  I question so much within my mind about what could have possibly happened to such a positive young mind to have become so troubled and to appear to seem to have developed into a wanton spirit.
 
I remember all too well his laughter, his beautiful smile, his affectionate nature, and the seemingly fulfillment he had displayed of being loved and belonging to a family and group of friends.   As I pondered these thoughts, my twin sister’s voice came into my mind.  She had spoken to me regarding some understanding that she had gained through her experience with life.  She used the analogy of a person who had been standing at a dock and apparently the person had been showing up there repeatedly for quite some time.  The individual was looking out at the vastness of water and they were waiting and hoping and longing for their ship to come in.
 
My Twin reminded me of how all to often that we are at times living out our lives waiting and hoping and longing for certain outcomes to happen or we have expectations of others and we stand there at the dock of life and we wait, and we wait, and we wait, and the ship just won’t come in.  Or we wait and hope for the recognition or the approval from others that we seem to think that we so badly need from them and how their opinions matter so much to us.  She stated that there are times when we need to come face to face with life and reality and realize that that ship just might not come in and it just might be the time to move to another dock.  For if we don’t make the move and take the initiative, then a longing not filled consumes the soul. 
Psalm 119:20
 
Perhaps - I wonder - if this is what had happened to the young man I had mentioned earlier.  I am not sure; but what I am sure of is that we must live in the here and now.  We need to recognize life’s circumstances and shortcomings for what they are.  We need to make the move.  We need to be at the right dock.  There are times when we must seek out opportunity and chance — for they just may be one dock away.  The ship is coming in.   Be prepared and keep searching.  1 Corinthians 2: 9-10
 
Till the next time, this is the Voice of Joyce signing off…….

May 29, 2009   1 Comment

The Petals Must Fall

by Joyce

A couple of weeks ago I was taking an early morning Spring walk before I needed to prepare to leave for work.   I gazed around at the beautiful spring flowering trees of Northern USA.  The trees were just lovely and the new life of nature was totaly exuberating.

However as I continued on my walk, I had noticed that the flowering petals on some of the trees had begun to fall.  The trees were just too beautiful and it didn’t seem fair or quite right that one couldn’t enjoy this scenery of Spring  just a little bit longer.  I wanted to  shout and cry out to the Flowering Petals, “Stop Falling!”  

I continued on my walk — and in so doing — I began to discover a new kind of beauty that was being created by the fallen flowering petals.  The petals were making perfect flowering circles around the base of the trees and it was as if the petals that were on the ground were looking up at the trees and stating, “Job well done.”  Matthew 25:21

It was then that the revelation came.  The petals must fall for if the petals stay on the trees then the trees will not be able to move into their  next season of growth.  After the petals fall, the leaves will spring  forth during the summer months as to prepare the trees for their next season of life.  Likewise the trees will change once again for the Autumn months and then change once again on into the winter months. 

This is the same principle that applies to those of us who walk in the Faith.  There will be times in our lives when we appear to be in full blossom or full bloom.  We will want to remain in this season; but the time will come when the petals must fall and we must change so that we will be able to  move foward into the next  season of our lives.   This seasonal change is necessary for growth and spiritual development.   For a true Christian or a true Believer is in a constant state of change and growth.  Matthew 18: 3-4 

Even during the Winter months when the trees appear to be dormant this too is a necessary season in the stage of life for the trees. Dormancy is a time of rest and rejuvenation - a vital necessity for  growth and change.   A Christian walk in Faith will have periods of such dormancy.  Use this time for rest, rejuvenation, and reflection.

Let us welcome these  Seasons of Life and Grasp all of the Beauty, all of the Truth, and all of the Wonder that these Seasons have to offer in revealing the mind of God.

Till the next time, this is the Voice of Joyce signing off…….

May 25, 2009   1 Comment

Learning Something New

by Joyce

God revealed a new insight to me tis’ morning.  It was while I was brushing my teeth. 

I am - by nature - right handed.   As I was brushing my teeth, it came to me to switch hands.  This is not something that one does naturally.  I continued to brush my teeth but now I was using my left hand. It was proving to be somewhat awkward and a little bit of a challenge.  I wanted to switch back; but no - Continue On.  Then the rinse, Yes with the left hand.  Okay I am finished… Now proceed to get dressed and ready for work and continue to use the left hand.

Wait a minute (that was  me)!  Then came the revelation.  It is difficult for individuals who are new to the faith or for those who are just learning to walk anew and at times it  may prove to be very challenging.  Learning to live in a Christian manner or the Christian life  is not the natural thing to do and we who are well-versed in the Christian walk need to be patient and understanding toward others as to where they are at or as to what level they are at in their Christian walk.  1 Peter 2:1-6

Likewise, it may also prove to be somewhat difficult for those who are well-grounded in the Faith or well-established in the Faith to grasp new concepts, to listen to new ideas, to change from the “status-quo”, to move to the next level, to accept new understanding.  Oh Yes, many of us want so badly to stay and remain with the familiar, with the comfortable, with the ‘what we know to be good’.   We remember all to well the feelings of insecurity, the anxiety of the uncertain or of the  unfamiliar, the challenges of appearing somewhat awkward as we walk anew in the Faith.        Hebrews 6:1-12

So switch hands, come on give it try!  You’ll be surprised at what you might learn through such an easy concept.  Your walk in Faith is waiting!

Till the next time, this is the Voice of Joyce signing off…….

May 20, 2009   2 Comments

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