The Mighty Joy Giver

Thoughts on John 15

Joy in Living

Joy in Being

Joy in Dwelling 

Joy in Seeing

Joy in Hearing

Joy in Knowing

Joy in Worship

Joy in Growing

The secret to this Joy is to remain in Him forever

The treasure of our life is to intertwine within His Power

Jesus Christ, the Vine, the Mighty Joy Giver

Is living in us right now

Is living in us right now

By: Bethany Woods, Author at Seeds of Promise, Harvest of Hope blog

What is that smell? - An Analogy

        Last night we were out at my in laws' farm unloading some hay into the barn. I walked through the pasture to get to the old barn and I choked, What is that smell? I thought. It wasn't just ordinary pasture smell that assailed my senses. Horses don't smell that bad. I looked around and I identified some black stuff under the oak tree. I don't know what that black substance was, but it was super stinky. I quickly walked past it and continued on my path to the barn.
        After the hay was unloaded we needed to take the trailer out of the pasture. My father in law (I will call him "Dad," because that is how I address him) asked me to open the gate for him to leave. As I approached the gate my senses were once again aggravated by that horrid smell. What is that smell?!, I thought again. I stood by the gate waiting for my dad to pull the truck around. He stopped to hook up a cattle gate to keep the horses out of the fresh hay and I waited a few moments. While I waited, I let my eyes drift here and there. I thought about the cows next door, the animals that might be living in the old barn, and the poisonous water snakes that we saw in the pond last year. Meanwhile my eyes came back to the old oak tree and I saw that black stuff.
         I thought, as I looked at the black stuff, that it was odd that I was no longer bothered by the awful smell. Then, it hit me. Isn't that just like sin?! 
         When we first approach sin we see it for what it is - stinky black stuff that we should not want to be around. But, the longer we linger, the less we are bothered by the smell. We get desensitized to sin. Whether it is that person that we ought not be spending time with, that certain kind of music that we just won't let go of, or our favorite television shows. We need to try to keep our distance from the filth so that we can smell the stink when we approach it.
         Lastly, we need to check our hearts often for dirt, the same way I check my boots when I step out of the pasture. We need to make sure that if we have allowed ourselves to be dirtied by the World, that we let God clean us off again.

 If we confess our sins, 

He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins 

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

I John 1:9  

By: Bethany Woods, Author at Seeds of Promise, Harvest of Hope blog

Driving Blind

An Analogy for Christian Living

          My husband has a nephew who, as a result of an accident, became blind in young adulthood. This injury happened after Jay* had learned to drive. A few years after the accident Jay and his father were out at my in-laws farm. It was a hay day and Jay went along to feel like part of the action. We came to a point in the day's operation when I was not of much use throwing the bales onto the trailer. I had strength limitations that the men did not suffer from. I could only set the bales two to three layers high. The men, however, can throw bales up several layers high. (The highest load I can remember was seven-high, but I digress.)

          Since I could not throw the bales, someone suggested that I drive the truck that pulled the trailer. That would have been a great idea . . . if I had known how to drive a manual transmission vehicle. After some good-natured teasing at my expense someone joked, “It's too bad Jay can't drive. He knew how to drive a stick.”

          Jay's reply was serious, “I still know how to drive.” I told Jay that he could probably drive the truck better than I could even without the use of his eyes. That's how the idea came about.

          Jay and I worked in tandem to drive the truck (much to the consternation of Jay's father). Jay sat behind the wheel looking like the cat that got the canary. He was ready. And oddly, I was not nervous either. I had faith in Jay, and Jay had faith in me. Somehow it worked! I gave Jay detailed directions about speed, braking, and steering. Jay obeyed my directions as well as he could have and better than most of the workers expected.

          Riding in the truck with Jay has become a legendary memory to me. I was tremendously proud of both him and myself that day. I was pleased that I spoke in a way to direct Jay's path. And, I was astounded that a blind man could drive a truck pulling a hay trailer with such ease. 

           Directing Jay's driving is a good metaphor for how we ought to place our faith in the Lord. All of us Christians are driving blind to some extent. We generally know what we want to accomplish, but we don't know the best way to steer ourselves to get there. Happily, my metaphor is flawed. Unlike me, God can see the whole picture. He will plainly guide us if we trust in Him. He knows that if we heed his warnings and directions that we will stay on the right path. But, if we disregard his cautions we might end up stuck in a rut.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB

*not his real name

By: Bethany Woods, Author at Seeds of Promise, Harvest of Hope blog

Analogy - The Trash Truck

Original Photo by Bethany Woods

This morning I was driving with my windows down when I fell in line behind a trash truck. Wow... it was so stinky that I held my breath for fear of being sick. Then, it hit me. I don't want to be a garbage truck. I don't want to have a load of stinky burdens that I carry with me all the time that leaves a wake of nausea behind me for other people to encounter. Nope, I want to be a float from the Rose Bowl parade! I want to leave a wake of sweet smelling fragrance wherever I go. 

How about you? Today, as you ran errands, swept the floors, or walked through your office corridor... were you a garbage truck or a rose covered float? 

Let's spur one another on to LOVE and good works! Let's leave a wake of joy behind us!

By: Bethany Woods, Author at Seeds of Promise, Harvest of Hope blog; Copied from my Facebook page (originally written June 4, 2014)

In God's Time

While Paul was cutting up potatoes for breakfast, Jeremiah stood reaching up crying. Jeremiah could not understood why Daddy did not share. How many times are we like that with the Lord. Holding our hands out towards what it is that we want, it looks so good to us. But, The Father is saying, "No, Dear One, it is not the time yet." Paul did not scold Jeremiah for asking for food or for crying about it. Likewise, your Father knows you have needs too. You may keep asking. And, when the time is right, He will hand you what you need.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? ²⁷ And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? ²⁸ And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, ²⁹ yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! ³¹ Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ ³² For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
³⁴ “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt 6:25-34 NASB

By: Bethany Woods
Author at Seeds of Promise, Harvest of Hope blog; (Originally written April 2010)

Spring Cleaning

We were cleaning our yard today and MUCH grieved by all the garbage that is now visible after the spring rains. Similarly, when we submit ourselves to God, His refreshing rains fall on us. Sometimes it reveals a lot of garbage that was formerly hiding beneath the surface. The good news is that when the garbage is visible we can throw it away once and for all. Friend, Jesus died so that you can be saved (first of all) and cleaned up. For the glory of God!

By: Bethany Woods
Author at Seeds of Promise, Harvest of Hope blog; Originally written April 2013

Analogy - Fog

Is the fog obstructing your vision? Are you lost and you can't see where to turn? Look to the Lord, look to Jesus. As the SON gets higher, He becomes greater and shines brighter. The fog will begin to dissipate.
But, until you can see clearly, tread slowly through the murk and mire. You would not drive 70 miles per hour through fog (in the natural). Similarly, go slowly and wait upon the Lord to be the Lamp to your feet and the Light to your path.

^"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 NASB

By: Bethany Woods
Author at Seeds of Promise, Harvest of Hope blog; (Originally written in May 2013)

Devotional thought - Do you want your song back?

Read Psalm 77. 

I just read Psalm 77 because of a suggestion by my mother. And I love to note that verse six preceded the change from agony to rejoicing. The English Standard Version says that the writer made "a diligent search" of God's goodness (to get back his nighttime song of praise).

A diligent search. 

Have you done a diligent search back over your life to see how God has blessed you and even your forefathers? God is good. If you want your song back - make a diligent search of His goodness in your life!

By Bethany Woods, Seeds of Promise, Harvest of Hope blog; Originally written in June 2013

Pruning Analogy

(Originally written in June 2013 - when my husband was out of work with hernias. But, this would apply to any trial. This analogy speaks to me just as strongly today as it did one year ago.)

I know enough about flowers and trees to recognize their growing cycles. Tonight I walked past a rose bush nearly falling over under the weight of its blooms. I immediately knew that that bush was cut way back last year, so that it would produce more blooms in the future. I thank God for speaking to my heart through that rose bush. But, even more than that, I thank God for His goodness in pruning me to produce more fruit later. The cry of my heart is to see the kingdom of heaven advance and grow. God knows my cry is to be one who bears much fruit. God is good! This trial - in many more ways than I know right now- is an answer to my heart's cries. Praise You, Jesus! Thank you, Father, for finding me worthy of gentle pruning. I trust you, Master Gardener, to cut well...for my good and for your glory. Thank you, God.
 

Analogy - Dirty Diapers are like Sin

June 2012 - Bethany and Jeremiah

A two-fold analogy - What would happen if I smelled that my toddler pooped in his diaper, but I did not change it? What if I left the diaper alone for days? It would get messier, stinkier, and -at some point - the poop would get on everyone else and on furniture too. Let's say I then decide to take care of the diaper. Well, it's bigger than that now. His whole body needs bathed. The furniture needs washed. Clothing needs to be burnt. And so on. It would have been a whole lot easier to change the stinky diaper days ago. Right?
 
First interpretation - to parents - when you see sin in your children, correct it (in a godly manner) right away. Don't let the stink spill over and get on everyone and everything else till the whole household reeks.
 
Second interpretation - to believers - God is a loving Father. He knows when we have soiled ourselves. Sometimes we try to run away, because we don't want to be wiped clean. But, in the end, God will clean us up. He will dunk us in the bath tub of heaven and we will come out white as snow. He loves us and He will not let us remain in sin long term. There will be a reckoning. If you choose to run around in your dirty diaper (sin) constantly trying to avoid the Hand that would clean you...well, you will end up soiling other people and all the circumstances you touch. Sin hurts more people than just you. Let God wash you clean. Then, when you are clean, go lead others to the Great Father who would wash them clean. Be a living testimony to the grace and goodness of God.

 

(This analogy originally appeared on my other blog in June of 2013.)

Analogy -- Mopping

(I originally posted this on my other blog in December of 2013)

My oldest mopped the floor for me a few days ago. It needed it. Six kids age 11 and under. 'Nuff said.

When Rebecca started mopping I had my usual thoughts. "How did the floor get this bad in just a week?" "Why didn't I mop sooner?" And the like.

The job was finished. It looked great...except for a few sticky gum-like spots that I actually got down on my hands and knees to scrape with a razor blade. "Strange that these spots didn't bother me before."

Then it hit me.

Mopping is like repentance. After we thank God for cleansing our heart through the blood of Jesus Christ the slate is clean. For a few minutes. Then, someone comes along and spills the milk. Or, you step on one blood red pomegranate seed. Those first few spots seem such a stark contrast compared to the fresh mop job. And, our first sins after confessing seem so offensive.

But, if I take a nap and Rebecca bakes brownies...and the little ones help... Well, there will be flour, sugar, chocolate chips (no, on second thought, the baby eats those off the floor), and egg yoke plastered to the floor. Most of this gets wiped up, but some will remain for a few days until the next mopping. Little by little, one day at a time, it seems like the messes blur together on the floor...and you start training yourself not to see them. "It isn't mop day yet." Or, "I'm too tired."

Likewise, our hearts become hardened to our own sin so quickly. We get lazy with our holiness. A little spill of poor speech here... a little dab of poor conduct there... a big pile of nasty thoughts marring the center of my heart.

In the case of my kitchen, it was not until I knew the landlord was stopping by that I saw the mess through someone else's eyes. The floor was appalling. I had gotten used to the mess. But, what would the landlord think?

In the case of my sinful heart, it is by reading the Word of God and seeing ourselves through God's eyes that we see the mess and the caked on sins that we have allowed to pile up and crust over our hearts of flesh. The solution is simple.

The cleaner I keep the kitchen floor, the cleaner I want to keep the floor.

The more I read the Word, the more I want to read the Word. But, a few sins spilt on that clean heart begins a hardening process that starts to quench my desire to meet with the Lord. We've all been there.

This little analogy is not meant to be a thorough treatise on sin and repentance. Far from it. Just an illustration of what the Lord showed me in the clean kitchen floor.

We need to keep our hearts clean before the Lord.

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Analogy -- Christians As Pioneers

When the first pioneers crossed mountains and deserts to go farther west, they sometimes had to leave treasures behind, halfway up the mountain. Grandmother's fine china, maybe a wardrobe, a crate of books. Hearts would be broken to leave behind the treasures of the past.

In a similar way, we Christians are called forward to press on after Christ. We are called to forget the past and press on to an upward calling. Relationships may change... Or end. Old habits may need to end. Some are called to literally leave it all and become missionaries in a far away land.

BUT, as with the pioneers, it is NOT all about the losses and what we had to leave behind. There is joy unspeakable just over the mountains! There are treasures beyond compare both in this life and the life to come. Struggles? Absolutely! Is it worth it? Absolutely!

The trials we face now are not worthy to be compared to the joy, the glory of God, that awaits us.
Press on, Christian! Press on!



(I originally published this on Facebook on March 30th, 2014. Edited for spelling and format.)