Grace, Words of Endurance

CONFIDENT IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: Happy Camper (Joy)

February 17, 2017

EXCERPT FROM MENDED: OUT OF THE RAG PILE, BACK ON THE HANGER
BY DEBBIE WOODS (PUBLISHED BY HIGHERLIFE PUBLISHING)

I am not a happy camper. By nature, my temperament is melancholy, sad. By nature I am cynical, glass half-empty. I once read a greeting card that said, “I’m comfortable with the fact that my glass will always have a slow and steady leak.” Amen!

My husband by nature is sanguine, cheerful – even more so by nurture. His mother was the happiest place on earth. Disneyland had nothing on her. She pulled me outside by my arm one night to come see a “fun moon.” Really. “Fun” was her middle name and my hubby is her clone. When he wakes up, he greets me with his big, beautiful smile, saying, “Hi, Lover!”

When I wake up, my first thought is, “Oh crap. I’m still here. Oh, yeah. This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24) A dear friend can relate. She told me, “Some of us are Eeyores, and no amount of encouragement from Tigger can change us.” I love that. Give it a rest Tigger.

I need a Super Hero and I have one. Gratefully my nature has been overcome by my “supernatural” God. My old nature, my old self, is dead

My old self has been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.
GALATIANS 2:20 (NLT)

I am not enslaved to my old mind set. Jesus graciously transforms my mind.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you into a new person
by changing the way you think.
ROMANS 12:2 (NLT)

For me, joy is a process. Refusing to be cheerless, I plug my leaky, half-filled glass daily and let God fill me to the brim. “My cup overflows!” (PSALM 23:5.) I may never be my mother-in-law, but God gets the glory when I find joy. It is a stunning transformation only He can make.

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death.
But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace
ROMANS 8:6 (NLT)

And joy …

CONFIDENTLY,
ON THE JOURNEY WITH YOU,
JAN DRAVECKY