Helping others and back to joy

Couple 0f thoughts on John E.'s reading of today. I have been really challenged by parts of this book in places that I have not personally delved into before. I like his piece on praying for others to hear God and helping them in these prayers name the walls and barriers they are facing and praying against them. I also thought the part about watching who you are helping and being careful that their struggles do not latch on to you was interesting. Honestly I have never really thought of it like that before. It however does make sense. There are several stories in scriptures where Satan was working in one persons live and then he began to work on someone else in their vicinity. I do sense that he moves from one person to the next. Have you ever experienced gossip? One person starts in on someone else and then everyone else in the room chimes in even though several know it is wrong. Or someone is in a lousy mood while everyone else is in the room is in a good mood. Suddenly, guess what happens? The persons bad mood seep sin to everyone else. It influences them. Are these just emotions or is there a stronger power at work here? Remember who is the one person who would want to steal your joy? Satan! I think this is something new for me to think about. How about you?

On this joy thing in my life. I am sitting here this morning at home in front of the computer reflecting on our family vacation that we arrived home from yesterday. As I think about my favorite moments the ones where God's joy really shined in my life I find myself thinking of my parents. Getting to spend a week with my mom and dad brought such simple and real joy in my life. I never realized how much I missed them until we spent this week together. They left us yesterday and headed down to Myrtle Beach. My heart so much wanted to go with them. It was so hard to go in the opposite direction yesterday. I can picture them pulling into their camping site this morning right on the Ocean. God thanks...you are so good to me. Please bless my parents and give them great rest. They will need it after spending the week my my 7 member family! lol

One other memory stands out that sums up this new joy God has in my heart. Yesterday we stopped at a Pilot gas station North of Lexington, KY to fill up. As I was filling up Erin took all the kids to the bathroom. I will never forget the scene. My 5 kids lined up on either side of Erin holding each others hands as they walked in. They didn't see me but I saw them. At that moment I knew how blessed my life is. This unexplainable joy filled my heart. I knew at that moment it would be a picture I would never forget. One of those things I would take with me forever in my soul. Normally I would be in one of my maniacacle moods (not sure that is a word) trying to get the family home from vacation going a hundred miles per hour. I also would usually be a little depressed (which I was) that the vacation was over. Instead God gave me the highlight, however small it was, of the entire trip right there at Pilot! I wonder if I saw this because maybe God has been working on my heart, and in that moment I chose to include him in on something as simple as getting gas at a filling station. Because I did this I believe he provided me something beautiful...I was open and he delivered...AWESOME!

Thanks God for all you do in my life. Thank you that you are working in my heart and growing me everyday. Thank you for filling my life with renewed joy and a simple strong Spirit. God is good and I hope you experience that today. Are you open to his joy, walking with him everyday in everything you do? If you are you are in for something special. I have experienced in small doses and it is awesome!
Walking Together,
Your Dreaming Pastor