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Posted on December 22, 2021 by beverlyeash

This week the focus is peace — peace that is beyond understanding. The quiet strength that seeps through everything regardless of circumstances. How do I access that kind of incredible staying power? There is a formula!

Step one: practice joy.

Step two: relinquish worry into Father’s capable hands and thank him while you’re there!

6Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Philippians 4:6

“What is worry?” you ask. Worry is ruminating on things you cannot change. Often worrisome thoughts begin with “what if …. ” and take off from there. What if it rains while we are at the game? What if I get sick from the food on the buffet? What if I miss the bus? What if no one comes? What if . . . .

The second step to knowing peace that is out of this world is to recognize worry for what it is and to lay it into God’s trustworthy care. This is possible when we learn to talk to God about the things that worry us. Not just talk about it though, tell him what you need and then thank him. Two changes occur in this simple exercise.

First, expressing the need helps bring clarity. Often worry has nothing to do with what we need, but obsesses over what we are afraid of losing. When my worrisome thoughts are saying, “What if no one comes?” my need is not for people to show up. My need is to be loved or appreciated or noticed or understood. That is my need. People showing up is how my mind sees that need fulfilled. Expressing the need in prayer — I need to be loved, noticed, appreciated, etc. opens the door for the Father to show up and show off!

Secondly, gratitude is the key to nearly every spiritual break through, including peace. I am most vulnerable when I do not notice or appreciate all the gifts right around me. And, seriously, there is so much to be grateful for in life. It’s time to start recognizing the gifts and giving thanks.

Setting my intention by rejoicing in everything and then putting worry to rest by recognizing my needs in prayer before the Father while also thanking him for all he has done, is doing and will do, positions me perfectly to experience peace that blows my mind. And I can sure use some of that!

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Posted on December 21, 2021 by beverlyeash

4Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 

Philippians 4:4

While it may not seem like a logical first step, rejoicing leads to peace. Peace is what I am after, so I begin with joy. What does that look like practically?

Let me share my experience with you. Sunday morning I awoke earlier than usual. I let the dog out and gave him his food before settling onto the sofa wrapped in the softness of a knitted throw, coffee in hand. I nestled into the comfort of the sofa, and took in the candles flickering on the table, the lights shining from the tree and the early morning dawn breaking on the horizon. As I sat, I reflected on Saturday evening and time spent with friends and family. My mind quickly settled on my grandchildren and I intentionally brought each of them to mind, picturing them in all their beautiful silliness. I saw their smiles, felt their hands as they grasped mine, heard the tinkling of their laughter. As I sat in the stillness of the morning, my heart swelled with joy. I rejoiced in the delight of being these sweet children’s grandma.

These few simple moments set my day on a delightful trajectory. By taking the time to rejoice in the Lord, I declared my intention for the day. So simple and yet so profound.

Your experience will not look exactly like mine, but it will share intentionality. The intention to draw a peace-filled boundary around your day and it begins by cultivating joy.

Step one: fill up on joy through intentional focus on something you really love!

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Posted on December 20, 2021 by beverlyeash

The final week before Christmas. I wonder what it is like at your house. Are the decorations up? Cookies baked? Candy covered in chocolate? Presents bought and wrapped? Christmas music playing softly in the background while you sip a cup of Holiday Blend? That sounds so peaceful! I sincerely hope that is what you are experiencing.

What is going on inside – the places hidden from others? Does peace rule there? Or is it chaotic and messy as anticipation of holiday gatherings runs through your mind like a hamster on a wheel?

Paul wrote an excellent formula for achieving peace even in the midst of the most disturbing situations. I rarely say that there is a formula for achieving something, especially in regard to emotional and mental health. But I feel pretty safe in this one. As a matter of fact, I think science is catching up with scripture in this particular arena. I am reading a book on brain health and the author, who is a Christ follower, emphasizes the same principles Paul gives.

4Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9

Look at that middle verse — it is exactly what I need right now — God’s peace! What do I need to do to get it? That is what we are going to dig into this week so keep coming back! There is a formula and it works!

The simple fact you are reading this is a step in the right direction of a peaceful mind and heart. You see, people who set aside time for meditation and reflection are healthier, happier and more peaceful. So, this is a good first step in achieving the goal of a peace-filled week! I’m proud of your good choices!

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Posted on December 17, 2021 by beverlyeash

22But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Galatians 5:22-23

Last week I wrote about love. Not the kind of love displayed in Hallmark Christmas movies or the love expressed for dark chocolate peanut clusters, but agape love. The unconditional love that doesn’t depend on circumstances or behavior but on God’s character. It is the kind of love dreamt about but not easily known or expressed as humans.

This week I explored joy. The kind of joy that gives strength does not depend on circumstances or people. It is a deep reservoir of cold, clear refreshment that satisfies the soul and enables one to give praise in the midst of difficulties. It is the quality that enables one to do hard things with grace and determination. And it depends on the Holy Spirit.

In Psalm 107, the psalmist utilizes a refrain throughout the psalm, like a chorus. It bears repeating here. He begins the psalm with a question followed by a command: “Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!” He goes on to expound on all the ways God has been with them and follows each account with this refrain:

Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.

Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31

Do you know what happens when I speak of the hope I have in salvation, God’s unconditional love for me and his joy that gives me strength? Two things happen. First, telling someone else seals it in my heart and mind. I experience it over and over again as I rehearse his faithfulness to me.

Secondly, it encourages the other. This week I had the privilege of sitting with a friend who recently experienced great loss. For three hours we talked of all the ways God has shown up and showed off in the midst of loss. I went away encouraged. It affirmed God’s goodness to me. My joy increased. My hope soared and I saw God’s unconditional love at work.

This is the challenge I want to end with this week — talk about the wonderful things God has done for you. Tell someone about the hope salvation gives you. Recall the ways He loves you unconditionally. Share the joy He gives you with another and see what He does in you.

Not sure if you have anything to share? Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to see where He is at work. You can ask Jesus how he has been present in your life. If that seems odd, ask a close friend or trusted spiritual advisor to help you identify His movement in your life.

I wish you a blessed worship time this weekend whatever you are doing. Find some time to sit with Jesus, whether in corporate worship or on your own. It will be time well spent!

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Posted on December 16, 2021 by beverlyeash

Joy is a commodity we cannot live without because joy is our strength.

Joy is found in the presence of the Lord. Therefore, strength comes from being in the presence of God.

11Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.

1 Chronicles 16:1`1

31But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

3You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Isaiah 26:3

In the presence of the Lord, there is strength. Strength we cannot live without. Find yourself in the presence of the Lord trusting him, seek him continually. Fix your thoughts on him and watch joy rise and peace be your companion.

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Posted on December 15, 2021 by beverlyeash

There is an increasing emphasis on self-care. It is important to incorporate into our routines those practices that renew and rejuvenate our minds and bodies. It might be a massage, a quiet day away, a few hours of sitting with a good book and a glass of your favorite beverage, a shopping trip, fishing by your favorite brook — whatever brings peace to the chaos of daily life.

It is good and well to take care of ourselves. Too often we get lost in the needs of others and forget our own hearts and minds. Ravished by the needs of others, exhaustion sets in destroying the joy that the Holy Spirit offers.

Scripture paints a way to joy that is quite different than proper self-care and can be seen in the way Jesus lived. Consider these ways of Jesus . . .

6Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:6-8

Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 

Hebrews 12:2

Jesus sought joy. He didn’t do it through proper self-care and concern for his own well-being. He did it by laying aside everything he could claim as his own. He was divine — God in fact — and yet he laid it down. He gave up all his privileges and took on a human body in obedience to God and died a humiliating death. All so he could experience joy!

I am all about taking care of oneself. It’s important. Ultimately, though, it is not the path to experiencing joy. The road to joy is found by looking outside of ourselves and to what awaits us beyond today. Beyond the current circumstances. Beyond what we can see, trusting in what we cannot see.

This is a new thought to me. One that I need to ponder on for a bit and consider what it means to achieve joy in this way.

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Posted on December 14, 2021 by beverlyeash

What is joy? I wanted to make a case that joy and happy are not the same. Except that in the original language of scripture – Greek – the two words are quite similar. Perhaps I want to make them different because I always believed that happy depends on circumstances and joy is a deep, quiet well of blessedness that isn’t dependent on circumstances. Is that true?

Searching scripture, I learn . . .

. . . joy is a fruit of the Spirit.

22But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Galatians 5:22-23

. . . joy is a byproduct of being in the presence of the Lord.

11You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Psalm 16:11

. . . joy erupts in heaven when a sinner repents and turns back to God.

 7In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!

Luke 15:7

I ask myself if I am looking to the right things to find joy. Do I spend time in the presence of God, expecting my joy meter to rise? Or do I look to the people around me to do that for me? Do I look to the Holy Spirit to grow the fruit of joy in me? Or am I trying to conjure it up by some other means? Does one person turning to Jesus cause me to celebrate with joy? Or am I more likely to hang out with the 99 righteous who don’t need to repent?

Joy is dependent on my circumstances and my attitude. When I spend time in the presence of Jesus, looking to the Holy Spirit to produce fruit in my life, showing concern for those who don’t yet know Jesus, I experience joy. When I ignore those things, I don’t.

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Posted on December 13, 2021 by beverlyeash

Advent Week 3 – Joy

The focus of this third week of advent is joy. What is joy? Is it happy? Does it depend on circumstances?

The writing of Nehemiah records the rebuilding of the wall around the city of Jerusalem after the people returned from captivity in Babylon. The wall was finished in fifty-two days and the people gathered together to hear Ezra read the word of the Lord to them. This is what happened during that reading.

8They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage. 9Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. 10And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” 11And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.” 12So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.

Nehemiah 8:8-12

As I read this passage, several things stand out to me. First, they were reading the word of the Lord which at that time was the Law of Moses. Today, it would be the whole of scripture, both New and Old Testaments. Secondly, they explained scripture and helped people to understand what was being read. Too often we don’t understand what we read which prevent us from knowing joy. Finally, the understanding of God’s word brought them great joy which in turn became their strength.

Today I am posing some questions for us to consider. Do you understand what is being read? If not, do you pursue understandig? Does the word fill you with joy? If not, why?

Joy is not a commodity we can be satisfied to live without. It is necessary! Join me this week as I explore what it is and how it can be found!

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Posted on December 10, 2021 by beverlyeash

Here we are just two weeks before Christmas. I wonder what you are experiencing. If you picked a movie to illustrate how you feel, would it be a Hallmark movie? How the Grinch Stole Christmas? Christmas with the Kranks? It’s a Wonderful Life? Or maybe something else entirely!

What would you choose?

I wonder if your experiences align with the “shoulds” that run through your mind. I should be happy! I should want to make cookies and candy and cheeseballs! I should want to buy gifts and go to parties! I should decorate my house and love doing it!

Yet, deep inside there is a sense of heaviness. Heaviness that is hard to shake and of unknown origin. But there it is, overshadowing all the shoulds, making holiday cheer a short commodity.

What if the difficulties were acknowledged and brought into the light? I don’t mean publish them on your social media page, but bringing them to light by journaling or talking with a trusted friend. What if we admitted this season is sometimes troubling? Perhaps this is the first Christmas without a father, mother, spouse or child. Maybe there has been the loss of job, health or reputation. Perhaps this is the first Christmas since you moved across the country due to economic hardship. Maybe there is tension in the family and navigating social waters feels a bit like sailing through a sea of sharks in an inflatable raft.

Whatever it might be for you, be honest with yourself. Let go of the shoulds and oughts and admit the holidays are difficult. It isn’t all twinkly lights and gently falling snow while sipping hot chocolate from a snowman mug. Talk to Jesus about it and let him go before you every day — especially during the holidays.

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Posted on December 9, 2021 by beverlyeash

I struggled for many years with God’s love for me. I knew he loved others. I believe he loved the world. In the most general sense, I knew, in my head, he loved me. The distance from the knowledge in my head to the space in my heart aching to be loved unconditionally was strewn with debris, twisted and turned around obstacles of wrong thinking and over chasms of brokenness. It seemed impassable!

It was in my early years of healing that I received a note from a friend. She wrote to say she was praying this prayer for me.

14When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Ephesians 3:14-19

I wanted her to fix it, to snap her fingers and change how I felt. But it didn’t happen that way. I had to experience the love of Christ. I needed to start taking note of his presence in my every day. My thoughts about myself needed to change, to align with what He said about me. I needed to see myself like he saw me, not the way I feared he saw me.

So today as I write, I pray this prayer for every person who will read this post. I pray that you might experience the love of Christ in a new and profound way. I pray that you see yourself as he sees you — as a precious treasure, one that he is willing to sell all to find from wherever it is you have wandered to on this day.

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