God's Mercies in Disguise

Today was a glorious day in Texas! I love the weather here in the Spring...before we get clobbered by the heat and humidity!

I greeted the day by reading the somber news about Dave Wilkerson. He was killed in a car accident on Wednesday afternoon. For those of you who have never heard of him, he is probably best known for a book he wrote entitled The Cross and the Switchblade. It is his story of working with gangs and drug addicts in the inner-city of New York City.

He also wrote a blog. I went to his blog today and was moved by his last entry...

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”

Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.

I was also moved by the destruction and devastation of the severe weather in the South East. Tornadoes ripped through many Southern towns and hundreds are homeless tonight. It brings me right back to many of the emotions I felt after we lost our home. I hope many of you will join me in praying for these people. I'm so thankful that I know the God Who gives hope inspite of devastation and brings renewal and healing despite the circumstances of this life. Dave Wilkerson's words seem from his blog are so very appropriate for all that suffer and hurt...especially those suffering right now as a result of the tornadoes.

Recently I have heard a song played on the radio and the words have captured my heart. This song seems especially appropriate to me tonight as I ponder all the sadness that these last two days have brought to so many. This song is sung by Laura Story and if you have never heard it, I hope you will take time to listen to this You Tube version and if you are someone hurting, I pray the words bring you comfort and peace.



We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?


'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can't satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

Lessons From Good Friday Still Sound Good on Tuesday

I remember in 2008 the feeling I had when I began this blog...so many doubts that I had to overcome. So many questions. What in the world will I write about? What if my writing stinks? What will people think when they see all of my grammatical errors? I vividly recall the feeling of just plugging my nose and diving in...diving in to this unknown world of blogging.

I took some time out of the pond that I jumped into, and todayas I stand here, holding my breath, ready to leap back in, I feel riddled by those same questions. Once again, I find myself needing to just take the plunge! So, here I go......

These past weeks have been very busy. I don't spend much time on the computer or on Facebook. I eat, work, sleep and try my best to keep things "together" for David and me. Needless to say, we miss Bill tremendously.

Since my last I've had many new adventures. My precious student, Kholoud, had a baby boy! Her husband called to tell me that she wanted to talk to me on the phone. Talking on the phone is very difficult for my ESL students. Kholoud managed three words, "I miss you!"

I have another new student from Saudi Arabia. Her name is Norah. She is 19 and a newly-wed. She doesn't want grammar lessons; she only wants English conversations. She's a lot of fun and I am always amazed that we can fill up a two hour lesson by just talking! She wants me to show her different places in Houston. How fun is THAT??!! Last week I introduced her to TJ Maxx! In public she is covered head to toe, but underneath her "protective gear" she is very stylish. She has a beautiful laugh and I'm enjoying my time with her immensely. She just completed her studies to get an American driver's license. In her homeland women are not allowed to drive, so she is thrilled with her new-found freedom!

This year, our Easter season hit me in a very profound way. From Maundy Thursday to Ressurrection Sunday, I found myself so close to my Saviour's side. He taught me so many things and opened up my heart and eyes to receive new lessons about the depth of His love. Never have I been so in awe of His atonement for my sins.

For some reason, I was mesmerized by these three words Jesus spoke on the cross - It is finished. They keep resonating in my mind. They have been a precious love letter to me - almost as if He had said the other three words we all love to hear - I love you!

Here is my little story entitled, It Is Finished....

This is a phot of me when I was, oh, maybe three or four. I was naughty! (Even to this day, I can't get this little girl turned around - as evidenced in this photo!) I screamed when my mother tried to wash my hair or brush my hair or do anything to my hair. This was probably the last picture of me with long hair...the rest of my childhood my hair was VERY short. I was a climber. I could climb up to the top of the stove in order to reach the top cupboards where the cookies and treats were hidden. One time, I found my older sister's red lipstick and redesigned my mother's white sofa! I was awful!

I distinctly remember not liking the crust on my bread. I spent many hours sitting alone in my chair at the kitchen table simply because I was not allowed to get up until I finished ALL of my bread.

One day, I launched a plan! I would hide my crust under my plate. When mom asked me if I was finished, I said, "Yup! See? All gone!"

And what she did next astonished me! She lifted up my plate to reveal what I had not finished!

It wasn't until years later that I thought of that story and realized how silly my attempts were at hiding that crust. My plate must have been suspended in air and teetering atop all of that crust. And equally as silly was the thought that I could pull the wool over my mom's eyes.

Not so with Jesus. He was given an assignment and He finshed it...completely. He did what I couldn't do for myself. He lived a perfect life and died for my sins so that I can have a relationship with a holy God.

I often wrestle with my sins. I wresle with the horribleness and the shame of the things I have done. Last Friday, it was as if Jesus said directly to me, "It is finished. Joyce, it's done. It's paid for. Now live joyfully in my grace and love!"

This is the Greek form of "It is finished". It was also a term used by accountants. If something was paid for, the word "Tetelestai" was written on the bill of sale. So Jesus actually just said one word.

It's not said as a phrase of defeat. Jesus isn't saying, "That's done. I'm finished. I've been defeated." No, it was a triumphant shout of victory that Jesus whispered during His last moments before death. The work that He came to do - the job given to Him when God asked "Who will go?" and Jesus willingly replied "Send me!" - that job was accomplished. What depth of love! And because of His accomplished work on the cross, we have the hope of eternity. Never in heaven will we hear the words, "It is finshed"! Never will God say to His children, "Ok, you've enjoyed your time here for the last 834,096,254 years, but now it's finished!" No, His children stay with Him forever...all because of the finshed, completed work of Jesus. A work that I could never complete. And that's just a glimpse at of some of the things I've been pondering...