Believing the Promises of God - in His Word

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed… Without weakening in his faith… Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised. ~ Romans 4 [selected 18-21]



Friday, March 12, 2010

The Beginnings of JOY!

JOYSpast_1997_2010

God gave me a big surprise this past week when I was looking for something in an old cabinet filled with 'junk' - or so I thought! There to my JOY I found 4  journals from my past that I had written : one in 1994 / two  in 1996 / and this one in 1997.  I vaguely remembered writing them.  The day I found them I took one of them to the Prayer Room and began to read it - each day being  filled with SCRIPTURE! Wow! My heart burst open as I saw the very redemption of my life unfolding on its pages. I will share more later from the other journals but it was this one - that God saved for last.  With sunflowers on the cover the first page said this:

IMG_1182  [ I hope you can read the writing which says]:

     My "JOY" Book

               1997

     Stephanie Brower

A very plain and simple title yet this was written 3 years after I had come out of a very sinful time in my life. When I turned back to the Lord, He embraced me with His Word and began a miracle healing process in my life .  I didn't realize that  my 'JOY' went this far back until I found this journal the other day.  I thought that my "Choosing JOY" had only come around 2006 when I began writing it in the updates I was giving to those who were praying for my husband before his home going to heaven. But God... wanted me to see that He had given me  my 'JOY ' long before.  As I began re-reading this journal, God put it upon my heart to share it with you here. I pray that the entries and Scriptures will bless your heart as much as they did mine all over again.

 

1st Page Entry [I wrote these words]:

Tuesday, December 31, 1996

      It is the last day of 1996. As I sit and

ponder what the New Year will bring, I

am challenged to think about what one thing

would I change about myself to bring

more "JOY" to those around me.

     The one thing I want to change is to be

more compassionate. That involves many

aspects; being more tolerant of people; caring

even when it is inconvenient; being more

understanding by putting myself in the other

persons shoes trying to feel what they feel.

     I will make this my goal for 1997 ... first

toward my own family; second to friends; and

third  to strangers I meet every day.

 

Page 3 Entry

Wednesday, January 1, 1997

     Thy words were found, and I did eat

them; and Thy Word was unto me the

JOY and rejoicing of mine heart: for

I am called by Thy Name, O Lord,

God of Hosts.   - Jer. 15:16  KJV

 

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. - Abraham Lincoln

 

VALUES

So often folks have wondered why

God has placed on earth

The storms, the tears, the raging seas---

Destroyers of all worth.

But if it weren't for angry skies,

The torrents and dismay,

How could we realize the worth

Of a sunny, cloudless day?

-- Unknown author

Pages 6 & 7 Entry

Thursday, January 2, 1997

     Fill your mind with the truths of God's

Word and rely on the Holy Spirit's

moment-by-moment guidance and strength.

Then you'll experience the joy of God's

blessing rather  than temporary pleasures.

                                                                         -Unknown author

 

     With my whole heart have I sought Thee:

O let me not wander from Thy

commandments.

     Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that

I might not sin against Thee.

     Blessed art Thou, O Lord: teach me

Thy statutes.              -Psalm 119:10-12

 

Dear Father,

Help me to bridle my tongue,

so that on judgment day

I will not be found guilty

of assault with a deadly weapon. -Unknown Author

 

    The foundation of all joy for Christians is that we can live as though Christ died yesterday, rose today, and is coming tomorrow.                                          -Unknown author

 

                                   Pretend you're a star *

           and poke a hole in someone's darkness.       

_______________________________      

End 1997 Journal Entry

 

God chose my 'JOY' before I even knew it!

 

Choosing JOY [again],

Stephanie            

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, that is just the best ! Finding old journals is the greatest blessing. You can really see what God has done through your life. Very pleased you got to experience that. You are precious my friend - Bless you !

Farmgirl Cyn said...

Oh Stephanie! This is so precious! How incredible to be able to look back and see what the Lord was doing, even back then!

Beth Herring said...

OH, that is awesome Stephanie! I hope that you share more with us.

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

Those words just fit your heart, then and now. What a spirit of JOY you have!

Hugs!

Sonja

Tammy said...

What a beautiful surprise when all you expected to find was junk.

Patrinas Pencil said...

I love that last powerpacked line :


"Be a Star and poke a hole in someone's darkness"!!

As another blogger friend said last week, "we are all stars that the world is waiting to see"

Shine Jesus Sine ..let the whole world see your JOY in us.

Nothing like the Joy of finding an old journal!

Thanks, friend for sharing your JOY with all of us!

I Heart You!
Patrina <")>><
His watchman on the wall

Yolanda said...

I love how God blessed you so much with finding your journals and the JOY that He was already pouring into you and supplying you with.

Love to you!

Choosing JOY and SEEKING.

Yolanda

LisaShaw said...

Thank you for sharing with us Stephanie. As one who has written and journaled for many reasons since I was a teen; I can relate to looking back and seeing the transformation of your life at this point now.

It's amazing to see the ways GOD works in our lives with His amazing love, grace and mercy.

God bless you as you continue in His Joy!

Blue Cotton Memory said...

You know how the Chinese have "The Year of. . ." - well, God put "The Year(s)of. . ." on my heart kind of like resolutions but not. About a year ago, he put on my heart that this was to be a Year where I re-discovered Joy in my life (Moving from a get through the day attitude to finding/living Joy in the Day attitude. I'm still in that Year (God's years are not bound by 365) and I am slowly choosing to find joy in each day and each child.

How wonderful your journals! What wonderful quotes! I loved so many of them - I am so glad I found your blog and experienced joyful encouragement:)

Crown of Beauty said...

What a blessing these journal pages brought to my heart today, dearest Stephanie!

And this was way before your husband got sick or passed away...and God already was putting you in the pathway of joy!

Thank you, thank you thank you for sharing these pages!

Love
Lidj