That's All Folks!

I was transported back in time this morning to the early 1980’s when I read a couple portions of very familiar scripture that clicked on a whole bank of wonderful… and quite foundational to Piper’s and my ministry, that occurred just about the time we started growing our family!  Truth be known… those memories began… BECAUSE of the birth of our first child in May of 1980.

But today’s teleportation actually began yesterday when I was checking out my groceries at our local Walmart Superstore.  I was chatting with the young cashier about her employment at Walmart and she told me how she had originally got the job through her mother who has worked at Walmart for many years.  Her plan was to work there until she graduated from college.

I had to laugh when she informed me of her story and related how I understood, as I had also gotten my first (real) job in 1971, while going to college.  The job was at Sears and I got it on the merits of my dad and sister who had worked at the Santa Rosa mainstay store before me.  Then I paused as I considered our generational age difference and asked the cashier if she even knew what Sears was… to which she replied that she did!  Whew… I didn’t feel quite as old then!  So, from the early 1970’s on Friday, I moved up into the next decade with today’s memories!

The scriptures that sent me back in time were both found in the book of Luke and served to establish a Biblical truth for all of us who profess to be Christians and understand the Word of God to be the truth in our lives… beyond question or doubt.  These verses tell us the same basic reality and that being that,

“Jesus responded, “What appears humanly impossible is MORE THAN POSSIBLE with God. For God can do what man cannot.” (Luke 18:27 - The Passion Translation)

And some 33 years previous to Jesus’ declaration above, the angel of the Lord visited a young teenage girl named Mary… who would become the earthly mother of Jesus… and boldly told her what she was about to experience and answered her life-altering surprise and meaningful questions by matter-of-factly stating…

“For with God NOTHING shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37 – KJV).  Which is literally translated as, “For NO WORD from God shall be void of power.” (The Revised Version)

The phrases that really arrested my senses from these versus was first off, like we discussed in last week’s blog post, that the things that are humanly impossible with mankind, … and especially when looked at from the viewpoint of our own limited resources… are POSSIBLE with God - simply because NO WORD of His shall ever be VOID of POWER...  And secondly, that the operation of the miraculous power of God is not only possible in our lives (as demonstrated through the miraculous pregnancy and birth of Jesus through Mary) but is clearly defined as MORE THAN POSSIBLE for both you and me!

The truth of the possibility of having the power of God’s POSSIBLE being MORE THAN POSSIBLE in our lives is stand up and shout: “Praise the Lord!” material for me… Am I alone in this reaction?

So, after I stood up and shouted this morning, I forced myself to sit back down at my desk and immediately thought of a special song that has occupied a special, meaningful and vital part of our lives… that we first heard and learned to sing and play in the early 1980’s entitled: ♫ “He’s More Than Enough ♫”* written by an Oklahoma native and resident and pastor, evangelist, song writer, actor, Christian radio station network owner and DJ named David Ingel’s.**

We were first introduced to David Ingel’s when we discovered the Gospel Bill Show on the former PTL (now INSP) TV Network.  He played the part of a singing, traveling country pastor on the western themed Children’s show.  With our growing family we were very interested in finding good, modern Christian Children’s ministries.  We were also entering into a transitional time in our church ministry lives as we added the leadership of Children’s Ministry responsibilities to our Youth and Praise and Worship assignments.

Up to that time, most Church Children’s ministries were still focused on individual age and/or school grade specific classes and a more (what we considered) sedate classroom teaching style, using flannel boards, quiet songs, snacks and denominational produced teaching handouts. 

But our budding experience, Piper as an Early Childhood Education major and Preschool teacher and myself with my Adolescent/Family Psychology degree... and then both of us with five years of Church Youth Ministry under or belts… felt that the church kids (as well as our own) needed a different, more up-to-date and active Children’s Church experience.

And Willie George’s Children’s Ministry (based in Tusa Oklahoma), who produced the Gospel Bill Show, fit the bill and more for us!  Simply put, this ministry operated in and taught (through various teaching materials and seminars that were held across the country as well as at their first-class children’s western themed camp… Camp Dry Gulch USA… located an hour or so out of Tulsa) a cutting-edge, different style of Children Ministry that incorporated a unique, fast moving Children’s Church experience where all the elementary age kids are in one large, kid-centered decorated room.

The well written and performed Gospel Bill series on TV was the foundation and center point of the ministry and the half hour children’s western drama was shown on both Christian and secular TV stations across the country.  And like I stated previously, David Ingel’s was a reoccurring character on the show.

The song that he wrote was a popular tune in Charismatic and denominational hymnals, and is likely familiar to most of the readers of this post.  The truth that the Lord is MORE THAN ENOUGH for anything that you and I may need and/or desire in our lives should ring close to the heart of every Christian and the simple lyrics and melody of David’s worship song will quickly warm your heart and become your hearts cry as soon as you awake each morning and close your eyes at night.  God is MORE THAN ENOUGH quickly became the attitude of faith that Piper and I choose to depend on as the filter of our lives… for each and every day we faced for 48 years… and now beyond!

As I was writing down personal notes while studying these verses and what became the theme of my study this morning… as well as for this blog post today… I began to let my mind wander a little with more memories of how Piper and I tended to see our world through the lens of God and the truth of His Word being MORE THAN ENOUGH for us in any situation we faced in life, and I suddenly stopped and giggled as I played in my mind, the closing tune to the old Looney Tunes cartoons and heard Porky Pig stammering… “That’s All Folks!”***

And I thought YES!  That’s it!  That’s the way to look at every moment of everyday, in every year that we live our lives!  We should look at it through the lens of the truth that God and His Word is MORE THAN ENOUGH for any challenge, give it to God and then set your expectations high while you shout: 

“That’s ALL FOLKS!” 

And then never worry about it again… but let God be God in your circumstances… and thereby, be MORE THAN ENOUGH for you!  For He is:

“♫ MORE THAN ENOUGH ♫

Have a great and greatly blessed weekend!  “… And That’s All Folks!”

 

*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1UZ8BRI-84

**https://www.davidinglesmusic.org/biography

***https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FHEeG_uq5Y

The Impossible Possibilities of God!

Well… our temperatures dropped like a rock last week and are S-L-O-W-L-Y making their way back up into the 70’s this week!  They really weren’t that bad, but we did go from the mid-80’s to some wakeup morning temps in the 30’s that balanced out into the forties with a cold wind coming from the north.  For a few days there, I thought I was back in Oklahoma where it wasn’t unusual for the weather to drop 10+ degrees in less than a few hours!

But we made it through… even though I was forced to put my jeans on for a few days… although I’m happily back to shorts now!  I’m just not mentally or emotionally ready for the colder season yet… if you know what I mean!

What I am ready for though… is to settle into the daily routines of the rhythm of life, here in Tennessee.  My oldest daughter and her hubby have decided to move back to Oklahoma and floated the idea of me going with them… But Oklahoma is my past and I believe that my present and future is here in the beautiful Volunteer state!

I went with my daughter-in-law and oldest granddaughter to the town of Galatin (about 45 minutes away) to see some of the artwork that my granddaughter had on display at the downtown library with her fellow art students from the local Community College.  It was a FUN experience and my granddaughter definitely has some serious skills!  The atmosphere around here is just different in a warm, positive, family and friendly sort of way.

The small two-story library was filled with folks enjoying the displays and the Storytime With a Dog (a very friendly bull terrier) in the children’s section.  The staff manned (or ‘womaned?’) some tables full of cold beverages and cookies for us to enjoy and one of the patrons even sat down at the grand piano in the foyer and began to play some beautiful tunes to the delight of all of us in attendance.  He had a very light touch which instantly reminded me of the light touch with which my wife’s fingers graced the keys of our piano at home!

That FUN time for a few hours on Saturday reminded me of the countless exciting, adventurous and FUN times that I have experienced throughout the years of my Christian walk… from high school through today.  I’ve mentioned before of how it was the exciting adventure of LIVING the Gospel message, that drew me to Christianity.  It was to me… the place where all the action was!

Granted, I did have the personal experience of seeing faith in action from that viewpoint, as I observed and joined in with the meaningful ways in which my wife-to-be’s life vividly demonstrated her faith in all that she did.  Her faith was a mirror of her sparkling, adventurous and yet daring eyes that also seemed to be saying… “You didn’t think I was gonna do that … did you?”

Nowadays, I continue to step into every faith project in life with that same constant expectation of excitedly wondering just how God is gonna do what He promises in His Word.  With my move to Tennessee a year ago, I have a list of faith projects that… in the natural realm of things… well… just might be considered a little impossible!  But you want to hear the Good News that fuels the spirit of excitement, adventure and FUN that I have been developing in me for the last 56 years?  It’s the TRUTH of God’s Word on that particular subject which is declared and supported throughout the pages of yours and my Bibles that boldly states,

“For with God nothing shall be IMPOSSIBLE!” (Luke 1:37 / KJB)

Or as Jesus Himself told His followers back then and is still a miracle producing TRUTH today… for you and me to believe and stand in personal faith saying,

“And He (Jesus) said, ‘The things which are IMPOSSIBLE with men are POSSIBLE with God.’” (Luke 18:27 / KJV)

Do you believe that too?  Have you seen the IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBILITIES of God in your life?  I sure hope so!  It is one of the tangible parts of our Christian walk that God wants to personally and intimately interact with you in your daily life.  Ooh!  Kind of exciting wouldn’t you agree!

Over the years, I’ve seen folks… good folks, Christian folks… facing financial, medical, social, mental and emotional trials without knowing of the fullness of the beautiful HOPE that the Good News of the Gospel message of Christ has available for them to take advantage of!

When I was getting ready for bed last night, I found myself absentmindedly thinking about some of the faith projects that I am believing for right now… and just as my mind began to consider the financial balances in my investment accounts… I was wonderfully overcome with excitement, adventure and JOY as instead… I began to place my thoughts and my HOPE on… and then speak out, the promises of God that I am standing on for the fulfillment of all the plans I have for here in Tennessee.

So… instead of being downcast, depressed and hopeless by what I could only see with my natural eyes… I looked to the TRUTH of God’s Word… which opened my spiritual eyes to see into what God is doing for me RIGHT NOW… in the spiritual realm… that is just beyond the scope of my natural vision.  Now that in itself is enough to make us jump and shout… RIGHT?

So… YES!  The underlying understanding and experiential living out of my Christian FAITH in Christ, is EXCITING, ADVENTEROUS and FUN!  And I can’t deny it!  It’s one of the main things that gets me up each morning… and like last night… the way in which I can go to bed with a huge smile on my face!

I simple can’t imagine living life without the EXCITING, ADVENTEROUS and FUN-filled HOPE of the Good News of the beautiful Gospel of Jesus Christ filling the nooks and crannies of every part of me!  After-All… It’s what empowers my unshakable FAITH in the IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBILITIES of God

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Have a terrific week, stay warm, blessed and focused on how the IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBILITIES of God can positively change your life!

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star…

I often times find myself reminiscing of the first time I laid eyes… up front and personal… on the young gal who would eventually become my wife, as she stopped to say ‘Hello’ at my desk on the way to her seat directly behind me on the first day of our 11^th grade academic English class.  I know that I’ve talked about that day a lot within the content of my blogs over the years… but hang in there with me as I have a specific point that I want to liken to that event in today’s blog post.

Amongst everything else that I noticed about her in that initial meeting, it was the bright “TWINKLE” of excitement and adventure that radiated from her eyes that seemed to light up and amplify her already joyful countenance.  There was just something fun but yet different about her… and it took me exactly a year to that day to figure out that I wanted to start dating her and explore just what it was that made that “TWINKLE” so incredibly alluring and interesting to me!  Whatever it was… I wanted to be a part of it…

Well… throughout the 48 years that ensued after we started dating, I learned a lot about what made her tick and be the unique individual who was able to abscond with my heart… and even though she moved to her heavenly reward some eight years ago, I still find myself learning deeper revelations about her and the special spirit of faith that was the foundation of everything she did, said and thought.

Take yesterday morning for example… as I was studying in my Bible, I came across a verse in the book of Proverbs from chapter 15 verse 30, that in one of my favorite modern translations reads,

“A TWINKLE in the eye delights the heart. Good news refreshes the body.” (God’s Word ©)

And yea… you probably saw it too, right?  As soon as I read about the “TWINKLE in the eye” I immediately called out to nobody in particular in my empty, except for me, apartment and (before I caught myself and lowered my voice…) shouted, “That perfectly describes Piper!”  As that scripture states, she had a delightful heart that almost always seemed to jump out of her and onto most people around her… and when she entered a room there was a tangible refreshing that accompanied her… and lingered well after she left.

But what was it about her delightful and refreshing heart that seem to radiate from the ever-present “TWINKLE” in her eyes?  Well… as I continued looking at Proverbs 15:30 earlier today, I sensed an inner leading to go back to our verses from last week’s blog post… but this time from a different… not real well-known translation from 1976 that talked about the Abraham kind of faith by explaining that,

“Abraham never wavered in his trust, and he refused to believe in his body’s sterility or Sarah’s barrenness.  He didn’t permit a lack of trust to stagger his confidence in God’s promise, but instead, his trust made him strong and so brought fulfillment to God.  For he was confident that God, who gives life to the dead and calls creation into being, would fulfill the promise He had made.” (Romans 4:19-21 / The Heart of Paul – A Relational Paraphrase of the New Testament.)* 

The Passion Translation of Proverbs 15:30 further describes the “TWINKLE” in one’s eyes by stating that,

“Eyes that focus on what is beautiful bring joy to the heart, and hearing a good report refreshes and strengthens the inner being.”

…Which is EXACTLY what Abraham did in order to receive the miraculous fulfillment of what God had promised him!  He stayed focused on the beautiful expectation of the Truth of GOD’s Word… the promise that God had given him… working for him…  even though there wasn’t one tangible shred of natural evidence to the contrary of his and his wife’s old age, their worn-out bodies and the impossibility of birthing a child!

That was the foundation to the brightly shining, undeniable “TWINKLE” in Piper’s eyes that I could still see shining… from way down deep inside… as I looked into her eyes and talked to her for five hours on the night she left this world behind.  That “TWINKLE” carried her through life… all the way to heaven!

It is a “TWINKLE” of the refreshing life of faith in Christ that I believe the good Lord wants for each of us to carry and brightly allow to shine through us wherever we go on this earth… and then beyond!

Well… the weather isn’t shining all that bright out here in middle Tennessee right now as we are getting some of the outlying remnants of heavy rain and gusty winds from Hurricane Isaias!  Nothing like the 100 mph winds that blew down my fence in Oklahoma, but definitely a little out of the norm!  And yet… God is good and we’re not going to allow it to dim the “TWINKLE” that we have the Right, the Responsibility and the Authority… as Christians… to carry with us throughout each day! 

Have a terrific, brightly shining week ahead!

TIPTOE!

“This little piggy went to market,

This little piggy stayed home,

This little piggy had roast beef,

This little piggy had none,

This little piggy cried “Wee! Wee! Wee!” all the way home.”

 

Okay, Okay!  Contrary to what you may be thinking as you take a first look at today’s blog post… I am actually endeavoring to take a vivid and personal memory of this old-time classic children’s rhyme and turn it into a very adult-life object lesson!  So… do I have your attention?  Okay!

This story’s humble beginnings date back to the leather sandals that my high school sweetheart wore when we first started dating in our senior year.  The footwear was a little unusual to me as the front portion of each sandal that normally has a strap across the full width of the shoe, only had one leather loop that held each of her big toes in place.  Now you may think it weird (and maybe it was…) that a girl’s shoes would attract my attention, but I was enamored with the gal and everything about her caught my attention… including her small feet and tiny little toes.

I always loved to make her laugh and since she wasn’t very ticklish, I had to come up with other unique ways to elicit a happy giggle from her.  So… as her open toed shoes seemed to beckon me on… I came up with the spontaneous singing of “This little Piggy” while I surprised her by gently pulling each of her TOES for each verse of the rhyme… down to the very last line with her smallest TOE - which I wiggled and dramatically sang ♫“And this little piggy cried ‘Wee! Wee! Wee!’ all the way home.”♫

The memory of it makes me smile now as I think about it, because that little song and my corresponding actions ALWAYS sparked a round of laughter from her EVERY TIME I did it… from her teens well into her senior years!  I guess some special things are never meant to grow old!

And so… to the point of today’s blog post… due to that simple children’s rhyme and my ensuing funny experiences with Piper that it elicited…

EVERY TIME I see the word “TOE” or hear it in a conversation… I ALWAYS think back to the heartfelt memories of the way my wife would break into a big smile and laugh from the bottom of her heart… when I sang the silly lyrics and pulled on her TOES!  Therefore, the word, “TOE and the resulting feelings of LOVE, FAITHFULNESS and LAUGHTER all seem to go together for me and have a warm and special place in my life!

So… when I turned to look at my Message Bible’s modern translation of Romans 4:20-21 the other morning, I couldn’t help but to smile and recall “This Little Piggy” and the laughter inducing corresponding actions with my wife.  The Apostle Paul’s teaching here concerns the seemingly impossible promise of a baby that the Lord had made to 100-year-old Abraham and his 90-year-old barren wife Sarah*  And speaking of Abraham, Paul wrote,

“He didn't TIPTOE around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. (But instead,) He plunged into the promise and came up strong and ready for God, sure that God would make good on what He had said.” 

The older more traditional King James Version that we might be more familiar with tells us that Abraham,

“…staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief…”

Vincent’s Word Studies states that the word “staggered is better translated ‘wavered’ and implies a mental struggle.”  While Wurst Word Studies explains it this way, saying,

“Staggered" is diakrinō (in the original Greek), made up of krinō, "to judge" and dia, whose root meaning is "two," thus, "to judge between two," thus, "to vacillate between two opinions or decisions." Abraham did not vacillate between belief and unbelief with respect to His difficulty and the ability of God to meet it. He did not waver…”

Simply put… The TOE-tantalizing message of this post today, is to NEVER GIVE UP on God when He gives you a promise, a vision, a special plan or purpose… no matter how impossible it may seem… but instead… to be BOLD in your faith and not TIPTOE around what God has spoken to you in your heart** and/or through His Word.

And what is the biggest tool that the enemy of our faith will use to distract us from receiving God’s promise?  Thoughts of DOUBT, UNBELIEF and FEAR of failure… and how do we combat these havoc causing, faith stealing lies?  By building our faith with the consistent hearing (and reading) of God’s Word*** and by keeping the promise of God before our eyes and thereby not allow ourselves to entertain,

“Cautiously skeptical questions.”

Simple RIGHT?  Well… actually it is… But it does take personal determination, consistency and dedication!  Our Pastor’s wife once told us that Piper was like a bulldog… that once she put her faith onto something that God had told her through the Word or in her spirit… she bit down into it and NEVER LET IT GO… until she had the answer that she was EXPECTING!

So, even though I would pull on and then let go of Piper’s TOES when I sang “This Little Piggy” you can rest assured that God will never LET GO of you and the promise He has given you… as you grab hold of Him and pull your faith into line with Him and the truth of His Word… until you have your answer… NO MATTER how IMPOSSIBLE it may look!

So… Be BOLD in your FAITH and don’t TIPTOE around!  Expect to receive God’s answer… along with His LOVE, FAITHFULNESS and LAUGHTER… and you’ll get it!

I’m looking at gray skies outside my third story balcony today after a heavy downpour caught me off-guard during my afternoon walk yesterday!  But I’m ready for it today and tomorrow… Have a great weekend… and let me know if you remember the classic Children’s rhyme “This Little PIGGY”… and if you have any special memories with it or any other old Children’s rhymes.

*See Genesis 17-15-21

**The truth or validity of what God speaks to you in your heart, will ALWAYS be confirmed in His Word.  So, it might take a little study on your part to clarify how you believe the Lord is leading you… before you step out.

***Romans 10:17

The Right, Responsibility and Authority

My Tennessee family and I went out to a casual dinner last night at a farm called Breeden’s Orchard, out here on the outskirts of Mt Juliet.*  It would seem that their specialty is all things apple, but I also noticed groves of peaches and other fruit trees on the vast property.  The location reminded me of the old Twin Hill Ranch in the hills by the little town of Sebastopol near our hometown in northern California, on the way out to the coast.  It looked like it, felt like it… but I would have to admit… didn’t smell like it.  In its location near the coast, Sebastopol has a unique fragrance with hints of ocean breezes, the orchards, fog and the surrounding Redwoods!

I enjoyed watching all the families that filled the place.  It most definitely had a friendly atmosphere as the adults and kids enjoyed the various activities available along side the shops, live music, small restaurant and the onsite Friday Night Market.  I will assuredly return… when it’s less crowed… to purchase some of the unique apple products and merchandise that they have on hand.

This has been a busy week for me as I had a lot of different activities on my “To-Do” list to accomplish.  I even had my annual eye exam and finally ordered some new prescription sun glasses.  I realized that my current pair is at least ten years old, having got them way back when we lived in North Carolina… and even though my eyesight hasn’t changed that much… it will be nice to see things more clearly!

I discovered during my morning walk earlier in the week, that I was having to deal with some anxious thoughts about all the new things that were filling my upcoming calendar.  This may sound silly… but I still have a difficult time figuring out just who I am, in this season of my life, without my sweet wife Piper at my side.  But as I walked around the back portion of the complex, I had a startling revelation that made me pause on the path and consider a very familiar verse of scripture from Philippians 4:13 where Paul wrote… and I personalized for myself and declared…

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (EMTV)

And then as I stood there for a moment thinking about that verse and its meaning to me, I heard myself saying aloud:

“As a Christian, I don’t have the RIGHT, the RESPONSIBILITY nor the AUTHORITY to be anxious about anything, because the Word tells me that ‘I CAN-DO and I CAN-HAVE all things through Christ who strengthens me!’” **

But what I DO have is the RIGHT, the RESPONSIBILITY and the AUTHORITY of God’s Word to NOT BE ANXIOUS about anything because Jesus has commanded me and all Christians to,

“Be ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, (to) present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6 / BSB)

With the promised corresponding following result

“That God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will (then) guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7 / God’s Word ©) 

Wow!  Think about the effect that walking in that truth can mean in YOUR life!  It’s one of the foundational truths that we looked at last week that can cause us to,

“Consider it pure JOY, my brothers (and sisters), when you encounter trials of many kinds…” (James 1:2 / BSB) 

The daily TRIALS that we encounter in life… when we give them to the Lord and fight them in HIS heavenly courts… are covered under the laws of HIS truth as found in His Word and thereby demonstrate the RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITY and AUTHORITY that are given to us as members of the Royal Family of God!***

Knowing that we have RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES and AUTHORITY that is backed by the TRUTH of God’s Word can and should make us approach the events of our daily lives with a whole new level of excitement, adventure, expectation and determination!

Wouldn’t you agree?

Remember that Jesus prayed to His father before He went to the cross and asked Him

“to sanctify or set-apart those of us who are Born-again Christians by the TRUTH (and then declared that) THY WORD is TRUTH!” (John 17:17 / KJV)

And… just before He left this world and was ascended up into heaven to sit at the right hand of God, He gave us the RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITY and the AUTHORITY to be His representatives here on the earth!

WOW! 

That reality kinda stirs up a lot of positive and highly EXPECTANT energy and excitement in me… HOW ABOUT YOU?

Have a great weekend.  When I stepped out onto my balcony around 6:30 this morning it was in the 50’s with a light but totally refreshing breeze!  It looks like fall has finally come upon middle Tennessee and I’m definitely ready for it

 

*https://www.breedensorchard.com/

** Also see Paul’s additional statement a few verses down from this verse in Philippians 4:19

*** See Jesus’ GREAT COMISSION in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-20 where HE declared His Authority over everything in heaven and earth and then conferred that Authority on us… His Body… in order to be His living examples on this earth and to bring the Good News to the world around us.

MATLOCK

Did you ever watch the popular TV series Matlock which premiered on NBC in 1983, moved to ABC after six seasons and then ended its nine-year run in 1995?  I don’t remember watching it too much when it was originally broadcast, but it definitely came onto to our radar after moving to Andy Griffith’s home state of North Carolina in 2014.

He is a most venerated favorite son in the state, having been born and raised in the small town of Mount Airy in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, about three miles south of the Virginia State border in northwestern North Carolina.  Mount Airy is said to be the inspiration for Mayberry, the setting of Andy’s first popular series, the Andy Griffith Show… and capitalizes on its connection with many special museum buildings and related events throughout the year.

It seemed like we could hardly turn on the TV, read the Raleigh newspaper or go into town without seeing a program, article or advertisement for something to do with Andy Griffith and/or Mayberry!  So, once we settled into our new home in the country side between a couple of small towns south of the state capital of Raleigh, we couldn’t help but to watch reruns of both of his popular shows!

I especially enjoyed his presentation of the Matlock character.  He portrayed a very likable, easy going Southern Trial Lawyer with a folksy personality, some finicky, penny-pinching habits but yet with a strong sense of right and wrong.  Once in the court room his years of experience with the justice system and command of the law always shined forth.  And his dogged determination and dedication to the truth regularly prevailed by the end of each show… I mean… what else would you expect… right?

Well, I found something un-expected this last week as I continued to study on the subject of the JOY that we have in the Lord, based on the Old Testament scripture in Nehemiah 8:10, where Ezra the priest and Nehemiah the governor of Jerusalem encouraged the grief-stricken children of Israel after getting a first glimpse of the destruction of their beloved city of Jerusalem, saying,

“Today is a holy day for the Lord. Don’t be sad because the JOY you have in the LORD is your strength.” (God’s Word ©)

I was led to a well-known scripture in the New Testament, written many years later by the Pastor of the Jerusalem church to his congregation, as well as to the Christians who were scattered around the known world.  Here James, like his OT predecessors, writes to encourage his troubled readers, who were experiencing persecutions and various trials, telling them to,

“Consider it pure JOY, my brothers (and sisters), when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  (&) Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4 / Berean Study Bible)

And you know me… I just had to dig into the meanings of the original Greek words in order to best understand what the writers… under the influence of the Holy Spirit… were trying to convey to us modern day readers some 1,980 years later (give or take).

So… I started off with the very first word in the verse “Consider” or “Count” in the King James Version where I found the something unexpected!  Strong’s Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries defined it as “To lead, that is to command (with official authority)” While Thayer’s Greek Definitions described it’s meaning as “to have authority over; of regal power; to lead as respects to influence.”

Well… that wasn’t what I expected to hear!  It sort of threw my long-held theology on this verse for a loop… and yet… it EXCITED me at the same time!

James isn’t telling us to just think about or half-heartedly consider trying to have some JOY when we encounter the various trials that we face throughout our lives… He’s instructing us to take a much more proactive and authoritative approach!  I thought of Matlock at this point of revelation in my personal study, because the idea of having a more authoritative role in the testing times in my life, caused me to picture Christians feeling very confident as they go to trial, in a court of law, with a high-powered, brilliant attorney at their side.  But in these particular trial’s that we face in life, the high-powered attorney at our side would be the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Truth* of whom Jesus said,

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate [ie; lawyer], Strengthener and Standby), that He may remain with you forever.” (John 14:16 – Amplified Bible)

Once again, Pastor James is explaining to us that we can and should take on the trials and tribulations that come our way from a place of authority… because we have the full backing, resources, scope, rights and power of God’s TRUTH on our side!  No wonder we can experience and keep the cheerful, calm delight** of JOY about us when things may not look their best during the difficult times in our lives! 

We not only have the absolute TRUTH of God’s Word for our defense, but the best trial lawyer in the universe… in any realm… representing us!  For you see… all of the things that the enemy of our souls may try to throw at us in our low times are all lies from the pit of hell.  And the TRUTH of God’s Word will prove it so!  The enemy will call us all kinds of names and make many false accusations in order to steal our faith… and when that doesn’t work, he will attack our character!

But that’s exactly when the TRUTH of God’s Word, His LOVE for us and a powerful Attorney sitting next to us really shines forth!  So don’t ever give up but stay strong and EXPECT God’s TRUTH to prevail… every time… in every situation! 

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

I can’t remember MATLOCK ever losing a case… and while he may have been good… He’s couldn’t come close to the Spirit of Truth living in us!

Have a good fresh new week ahead!  They are forecasting the beginning of a fall weather pattern this week in our neck of the woods out here… and I’m excited about that!  What’s it like where you live?

 

*See John 14:17, 26

**the definition of JOY in Strong’s Greek Hebrew Dictionaries 

The PERSONALITY of JOY!

I mentioned in last week’s blog post of how JOY just seemed to emanate from my wife-to-be, when I first met her in high school.  It was the main (of many) attributes that caught and kept my attention on her throughout the years… until she took her last breath in 2018.  But you know… I wasn’t the only one whose attention was caught when she walked into a room.  She had… what I am learning lately to call… a visibly bright PERSONALITY of JOY! 

It seemed to precede her wherever she went and never dimmish in intensity… even as the first physically manifested effects of Alzheimer’s began to slowly present themselves in her body when we went to Oklahoma for Bible School between 2006 - 2009.  If you recall my personal, experience-based translation of our verse from last week’s post* in Nehemiah 8:10, I described the JOY that we have in the Lord… the kind of JOY that we take personal possession and ownership of as,

“The foundational STRENGTH of all our inherent ABILITIES and God given GIFTINGS and TALENTS.”**

The JOY that she had in the Lord was always on show for anyone to take advantage (in the most encouraging manner) of… And that JOY made her a very capable, willing and easily accepted minister of the Gospel of love.  Within a few weeks of us making our new home in Broken Arrow, she had made close friends with the elderly Walmart Greeter at the Super Walmart near our home as well with the young black manager at the Dollar Tree in the little strip mall next door. 

No matter where in the store the manager was when we walked into that Dollar Store, the manager would spot Piper in the mirrors around the interior and would literally yell out “Hello Honey!” in her thick Southern accent!  Then they would meet up and hug like long lost friends.

In John 15:11 Jesus had just finished teaching the crowd that had gathered around Him the importance of obeying the Word of His Father and thereby abiding in His love… and summed it up by explaining,

"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my JOY might be your JOY, and your JOY be wholly mature.” (The Message Bible) 

That word ‘mature’ not only infers the idea of “being complete and satisfied,” but also conveys the ability to “pervade someone or something with influence.” 

Now stick with me here… just what kind of influence are we talking about when we discuss “the JOY that we have in the Lord?”**  Well… it just so happens that the Apostle Paul gives us that answer in Galatians 5:22-23.  In these verses Paul names JOY as one of the first Fruit of the Spirit saying,

“But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine LOVE in all its varied expressions: JOY that overflows, Peace that subdues, Patience that endures, Kindness in action, a life full of Virtue, Faith that prevails, Gentleness of heart, and Self Control.  (and) Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.” (The Message/God’s Word ©)

So… when I read this in the understanding of the strength or “influence” that JOY carries with it when it walks into a room… through an anointed and yielded individual… I can’t help but to realize that JOY has a unique and specialized PERSONALITY!  And what are the unique capabilities and/or characteristics of that PERSONALITY type?

Well… as one of the first Fruit of the Spirit, the PERSONALITY of JOY is part and parcel of and includes characteristics of all the fruit including, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, VIRTUE, FAITH, GENTLENESS and SELF-CONTROL!

I was reading an article in the summer edition of Country Living Magazine yesterday, and it colorfully described the effect of a re-decorated room in a lakeside cabin … as a brightly and JOY-fully decorated living space…  Writing that “it arrives in a riot of color and that,

There is a particular kind of JOY that announces itself before you’ve even crossed the threshold!”

And you know… I think that perfectly describes the same thing that can happen when you or I are operating within the anointing of the PERSONALITY of JOY and approach a room full of people!  I saw it over and over again when Piper and others like her walked into a room.  Eyes are instantly drawn to them and growing smiles can’t help but appear on other’s faces when the Peace, Patience, Kindness, Virtue, Faith, Gentleness and Self-control that’s associated with the PERSONALITY of JOY say’s “Hi!”

I’ll never forget the time when I wheeled my non-verbal wife from the waiting room of our Neurologist at the Brain Heath Center in San Francisco, into the doctor’s examination rooms and a female patient seated near the door leaned over and touched my hand with a big smile and gently said “Your wife has such a sweet spirit about her!”

With tears in my eyes, I profusely thanked the lady for her kindness and couldn’t help but realize that the PESONALITY of JOY that pervaded my wife’s being, was not subject to her physical ability to converse or even smile at that time… but was an inner strength and anointing that she had happily and studiously pursued her entire life... and it brightly and colorfully presented itself even as she lost her physical abilities.

That’s the PERSONALITY type that I also seek to continue to pursue, acquire and increase in my personal life… How about you? 

Have you ever noticed what happens when you walk into a room?

 

Have a terrific weekend and take a few quiet moments today – on the anniversary of the 911 attacks that happened 25 years ago – and remember the lives that were stolen as well as all of those who were directly and indirectly affected that day…

We’ll most likely talk about the subject of JOY for a few more posts to come… so keep an eye out for next week’s post!

 

 

*https://pjberruto.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-strength-of-your-joy.html

**Taken from The King James and Apostolic Bible Polyglot with Strong’s numbers versions and personalized from a word study on the original Hebrew and Greek translations of Nehemiah 8:10