There are four commonalities among those who live joy-filled lives:
a feeling of being forgiven;
forgiving others;
a feeling of life purpose;
a strong sense of gratitude.
Gratitude drives joy. When we focus on what we have rather than what we don’t have, we are grateful. And that brings us joy.
For each of us, one of these four commonalities will be a weakness at various seasons of live. They may switch around and move on us depending on life circumstances that we allow to toss us about like waves in the ocean. Learning to intentionally pursue these four commonalities will develop the kind of life that I believe most individuals desire.
At this stage of life, a feeling of life purpose is my struggle. I’m camped out on this idea of life purpose and what truly I should be doing with my life. I’m aware that until I feel that my life has purpose, my joy will be incomplete. Whether it means doing something different with my life or seeing my life differently, I have to feel purpose in how I”m living my life in order to live the joy-filled life that I desire.
What about you? Do you agree with these four commonalities? Is there one that you struggle with and that is keeping you from living a joy-filled life?
N Krishnan at work feeding the mentally ill in India.
I love CNN Heroes. Every year I enjoy the stories of life-changers around the world. Individuals who are doing amazing things in different countries out of different passions and skills. Their courage, their dedication, their action inspire and challenge me.
The other night I was watching CNN and the video below was played about one of the nominated heroes fo 2010, Narayanan Krishnan. I was so touched by this man’s story. I was touched by his choice to give up a lucrative career as a chef to the privileged in order to prepare meals for the discarded, mostly mentally ill in India. I was touched by his faithfulness to serve three meals a day, day in and day out, to over 400 overlooked souls – most of whom cannot utter a word of gratitude.
But I was most moved, most clearly aware that I was watching Jesus in the flesh, when I saw him groom, wash, feed and touch the nobodies of society. In every second of that footage, I was watching Jesus in action and also knowing that this beautiful man was spending his days and nights with Jesus on the streets of India.
And he has been doing this for eight years – 365 days a year.
31-33“When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.
34-36“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’
37-40“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
41-43“Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—
I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’
44“Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’
45“He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’
46“Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.” (Matthew 25:31-46, The Message)
It is good to stop and take a look at what you are doing and why. I’ve been going full-speed for awhile and haven’t made time to reflect, evaluate, and process the investments I’m making in life.
There is a story told by Jesus of a Master who entrusted things of value with three of his servants. He took a trip and while he was away, two of the servants valued what had been uniquely entrusted to them and in doing so, created more value. The third servant took his gift, hid it, and waited for the master’s return. Upon his return, the master went to each servant to see what they had done. He found much pleasure in the first two who valued what they had been entrusted with and rewarded them even more. But the third servant let him down. Not so much because his failure to increase the value of his gift but rather because he didn’t even try. In the Master’s words, he was “wicked and lazy”.
I wonder which servant I am. I have been given much and entrusted with much. Am I wicked and lazy? Have I been agressive about increasing the value of that which has been given to me? Honestly, no. On the other hand, I don’t think I’ve buried it. Mostly, I think I’ve turned it over and over again in my hands wondering what I should do with it and where I can get the biggest return. In the meantime, it isn’t increasing in value which translates to wicked and lazy.
I can process things to death and as a result, I’m slow to action. There comes a time when you have to get off the couch and start trying things without trying to have it all figured out or estimating what the value will be of the outcome. I came across a great, anonymous quote that says, “I will not tiptoe through life, only to arrive safely at death.” I feel like I’ve done a lot of tiptoeing in my life. For a variety of reasons. Not wanting to step on toes. Not wanting to fall on my face. Not sure of the next step to take. Walking this journey with my eyes focused on the ground only means that I’m missing the journey. I want to run through the fields, swing through the trees, jump off the cliffs. I want death to have to try and catch me.
Jesus did not go through the pain and eventual death of the crucifixion for us to cower in a gated corner until we die. He died so that we will boldly walk through this life that we’ve been given, not with a spirit of timidity but of power and love. He died so that we would take the gift of life that He has entrusted to each of us and increase its value.
What am I doing today that matters? What did I do today that brought Light into this world? Where and in whom did I invest and where and whom did I squander?
What about you? What do you want to change or do differently so you aren’t tiptoeing through your one and only life?
“…From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.” Luke 12:48
… or so I’ve been told – (and yes, it is a direct quote.) As a female pastor in a Baptist church, I am a rarity indeed. When I was growing up, I did not consider going into ministry because I did not know any female ministers in the Baptist world. I just accepted the common notion that, as a female, I would volunteer with the youth at a church, rock babies, collect money for missions or serve in some other volunteer capacity while men assumed the official roles of pastors.
Ten years ago when I first began serving as an associate pastor in a congregation, I was sensitive to the judgements of others regarding my “call”. There was a great deal of judgement from other pastors and congregations who strongly opposed females in leadership. I even had some friends who did not agree with obedience to my calling. What bothered me the most, though, were the comments directed to the youth in my ministry – that our church was unbiblical; that we were teaching evil; that we were all sinning because we allowed females to serve in pastoral roles (even though these other congregations had females in pastoral roles in every way BUT title.) Comments to female youth in the ministries of these other churches who, when feeling a call to ministry, were told they were wrong.
We have attended several youth camps and events where I was the only female youth pastor. My youth either didn’t notice or if they did, they were perplexed. They couldn’t imagine anything but a female youth pastor. For which I am thankful. Thankful that the girls in my ministry over the years can listen to God’s call regardless of gender. Thankful that the guys in my ministry over the years have seen the heart, gifting, and calling of a female pastor.
I came across this video today which really touched me and does an eloquent job of explaining what is loss in the evangelical church by the omission of the female voice from church leadership. Take a listen and leave your thoughts – even if you disagree. But please keep your tone and words in the heart and nature of Christ.
The true team - Dominicans, Haitians, and Americans (and a couple of Canadians thrown in.)
I returned Saturday evening after eight days in the Dominican Republic working with Servant’s Heart Ministries. I led a team of six others from our church. It was an amazing week of ministry, of relationship-building, of warmth! (literally since it is snowy here and sunny there).
I love to travel, to immerse myself in other cultures, to meet the large family of God. I find joy in bringing a team along – especially newbies who remind me of the first-time awe and joy of a mission trip.
I’m grateful for the physical reminders of what daily life is like for the majority of the world. Did you know that if you make $35,000/year, you are in the top 5% of the wealthiest individuals in the world? Rich is relative. Riches are relative. I’ve met more joyous and grateful individuals in my travels around the world then I do in my community here. I’m not romanticizing third-world nations or pretending that everyone in these communities are just simply happy folks and pure of heart. They are human and there are individuals in every community that are negative, opportunistic, greedy, and self-centered. Every community has them.
But there are so many who demonstrate joy, hope, and peace regardless of their wealth or possessions (or lack thereof.)
One of the things that continually impressed us during our week of service were the volunteers. They came from the community (not all from the church) and they gave their time and their strength to the construction project. We were amazed at their hard work. We were humbled by the shoes they wore that were literally held together by threads. We were challenged by their since of community – sharing what little they had with one another. If someone brought a bowl of rice and beans for lunch, one would take a bite then pass the bowl to the next person. No one took more than their share. The same with water and with tasks on the site.
In our culture of individualism and self-reliance, we have much to learn from those cultures, who often out of necessity, developed a value for community and continue to protect and nurture that value. Working together, we accomplished an amazing week of work. Working independently, we would have nothing to show for it.
….But I do know when I’ll be back again. (if things go according to plans which you never know.)
I head out early Friday morning with a team to the Dominican Republic. We will be working with our partners, Servant’s Heart Ministries, in Sosua, Dominican Republic. We usually spend a week with them each June doing a mobile medical clinic. However, we are coming this week to help begin construction of a permanent medical clinic at a location where we use to do a mobile clinic. How exciting to see the community come together and provide for this great need. There is no care for thousands of people in these areas. What little care there is they often cannot afford.
The clinic is being built onto a local church and it has been the pastor of this church that has dreamt this project and seen it into reality. To me, it is such a wonderful testimony to why the church is here. Not just to tend to the spiritual needs but the physical needs as well. Jesus modeled for us the need to meet physical needs – like hunger, thirst, and yes, healing – before someone is able to listen to truth that will heal the soul.
I will be posting updates from our trip on our church’s mission blog. Please feel free to check in each day and follow our progress throughout the week.
Today I was blessed to have the opportunity to preach at FBC-JC. I always enjoy the opportunity to share and the church family is always very gracious. We are in a sermon series titled “Singing God Songs and Telling God Stories”. We are basically working through various stories in the Bible and I was assigned the story of Cain of Abel.
Here is the link to the sermon if you wish to read it.
There are four commonalities among those who live joy-filled lives:
