Some days… I’m more of a joyful gal. I might look a bit more like the happy gingerbread men on the top of this house, and some days I may not look so much like that.
Every day is a day of learning to dwell in the constant joy of the faithful and true Lord Jesus, but some days I still find myself crying. It’s not that I’m not joyful, but there is grief that is part of life on this earth. That doesn’t mean I’ve lost the joy of the Lord, but some days are just a bit more cloudy. And those are the days that I realize what it feels like to be weak but know that in the Lord I am still strong.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 says, ‘And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.’
I know the devil does not like us to be joyful and free. He doesn’t like us to be freed from sin to worship God, but when God frees us through His Son Jesus, there is NO GOING BACK.
No matter what lies the devil will tell you, and yes, I know and believe that spiritual warfare is very real.
And some times… in my human frailty, I can’t do it. So I cry.
We can CRY. It is okay. And the good news is that JESUS wipes away every #tear, and He will finally…
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It’s okay to cry, because Jesus wipes our eyes. Jesus Christ saw the tears of the widow of Nain and He raised her son from the dead.
Jesus Christ knew that His disciples would be grieved by His death, but He also knew that He would RISE again from the death.
Grief came from sin, but Jesus Christ heals. He takes the tears, and He renews, restores, redeems, forgives.
Yesterday I cried because I failed humanly. I failed; I said I would do something and I didn’t. I let people down, but you know what? Jesus Christ did not let us down. God is FAITHFUL when no human being is.
And I feel so so blessed in that realization. This isn’t just sweet, sappy sentimentality. It’s the might and power of the Redeeming, compassionate God through the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s okay to have a good long episode of crying, because you realize that only the mighty power of Jesus Christ can heal the deep wounds in your soul, heart, mind, and spirit.
‘Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.’ (Psalm 32:7)
Yes, I was crying today, but it’s not wrong to cry. It’s okay to be grieved.
Because Jesus Christ gives to the children of God this promise.
‘And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.’ (Revelations 21:1-7)
I’m overwhelmed by this realization, because verse 8, which you can go and read describes what I used to be without God. But for the grace of God I would still be a person without God and without hope…
Even we I shed tears, I am not without hope… #hope #hopeinGod #tears #joy
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But He is my hope, and even if I am crying, I am not without hope.
With that, it was a delightful day yesterday of eats… There was sweet, savory, salty, and even a bit of sour mixed in there. The more I recover the more I realize how delicious food can be and how wonderful it can be when your life doesn’t center around it.
Food is a gift, but it’s not my master… (Thank you Laura and Arman and Jenn for reminding me of this every time we have a chance to look back on a day of food. FOOD is good, but it’s not the center anymore.)
Breakfast was an EPIC HEAVY piece of toast.
Breakfast #1: Bread with Naturally Nutty Almond Butter, Naturally Nutty Cherry Butter Toffee Peanut Butter, Just Jan’s Fig Spread (have you entered my giveaway for her marmalade spread yet?) and Kauffman’s Peach Butter!
(Being a Nut Butter social media manager for Naturally Nutty has been pretty fun, I admit..)
Quick Zap of Energy before LUNCH time… (I know I didn’t eat very many calories, But…. some days it all just kind of gets packed in at the end of the day.)
Lunch Time: It was rushed, but it was good… A bowl of yogurt with a HUGE dollop of almond butter, dried Apricots (from Costco), a DsNaturals No Cow Bar from my blogger babe and sweet precious friend Lyss, a Justin’s Peanut Butter cup from Lyss too, and a very hungry person.
Pre-Dinner Snack- The JUICIEST HARRY AND DAVID PEAR. Y’all, I wonder what fruit will be like in the new heavens and the new earth. But I think Harry and David pears would be close? I don’t know.
Dinner was a SUPER CHEESY pasta casserole with lots of veggies. ‘Nuff said. 
And then there’s ASHLEY’s EPIC White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies. Dessert was PERFECT. That plus ice cream and peanut butter and caramel? Yep, that was the perfect end-cap to a hard and wonderful day, with crying and fullness of joy.
Also, I wanted to share a big blogger shout-out to those blogger gals that always keep me smiling and focusing on Jesus Christ even when life can be hard.
Janie – Janie’s Got a Chicken
Haley – Hungry Haley
Alyssa – Blissful Lyss
Chrissa – Physical Kitchness
Marina – A Dancers Live It
Kat – Katalyst Health
Ellie – Eat Run Pavement
Kat – Kats 9 Lives
Beth and Rachel – Athletic Avocado
Meg – Apron Strings and Sticky Fingers
Kristy – Southern In Law
And Lauren’s Instagram/Blog is ALWAYS a reminder of God’s truth to so many ladies.
[Tweet “Need some encouraging blogger friends? Check these ladies out.]
Linking up with Amanda to Think out Loud too…
Do you ever find yourself crying because life just gets tough? Do you ever feel guilty for crying?
Who else is so excited with me that there will be a day with NO more crying?
What is the BEST baked goodie you’ve made recently? Share a link to your recipe!
Did you notice I didn’t have any salad today? 
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