Sharing Love & Sending Joy the Old-Fashioned Way

A few years ago, an acquaintance's husband suddenly died in the night. My heart broke for her, but since we weren't very close, I didn't know what to do. I wanted to express my condolences, but I felt totally awkward calling or texting her to say something, so I did the only other thing I could think of.

I wrote her a note.

In August, I ran into her for the first time since her husband's death, and she told me that the simple little note I had written meant the world to her in the days after he died. She told me how much the prayer I included had encouraged her, and then she thanked me for taking the time to let her know that I was thinking of her.

I was shocked. It's been three years since I wrote that note, but she still remembers it. It took five minutes of my time, but it became a bright spot to remember in an otherwise dark and dreary time.

That experience served as the inspiration for a new line of stationery in the LAJ Shop. Sometimes God uses something as simple as a handwritten note to encourage and uplift us, and these notes were designed specifically with that purpose in mind.

Do you know someone who could use a little extra encouraging? What better way to share a little love and send a bit of joy than to mail a handwritten note? I don't know anyone who doesn't like getting mail. It's easy to send a text these days, but a card delivered the old-fashioned way speaks volumes. When we take the time to sit down and pen a heartfelt message, we become avenues through which God blesses others. Who wouldn't want that?

I'm celebrating the launch of these pretty little cards with a sale! Use code SENDJOY to receive 30 percent off all stationery in the shop and get busy sharing love and sending joy. Code expires November 7, 2016 at 11:59 pm CST. 

Count Your (Spiritual) Blessings

Well, it's that time of year again. In just a couple of weeks, our social media feeds are going to blow up with people naming blessings—one for each day leading up to Thanksgiving. On one hand, I always enjoy these posts. I love seeing the people of God giving thanks for his good gifts. I also enjoy participating in the #Grateful movement. And yet, at the same time, I wonder if maybe we're missing the forest for the trees. 

I'm thankful for financial stability, food on the table, a loving husband, and my two sweet girls. I'll be the first to admit that I'm grateful for mocha lattes, crisp fall mornings, a few hours of quiet, and the roof over my head. When I count my blessings, these are some of the first things I name.

But I'm afraid that when we count our blessings, we sometimes stop too soon. We only name the things that are right in front of our faces, and we neglect to mention the things that matter most.

When we went through the Limitless study on Ephesians this summer, one of the first things that I noticed was the type of blessings that Paul named. I'm sure he was thankful for his friends and family, the people who supported his ministry, and for his good health. But those aren't the things that he names.

He names the spiritual blessings that each and every believer has in Christ. In his list, Paul says we have been blessed because we are chosen, adopted, redeemed, and forgiven. Through Christ, he goes on to say, we have received limitless grace, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and an inheritance that is incorruptible, unfading, and imperishable.

Here's the thing. Each and every one of the physical things that we're thankful for can be stripped away. You can lose your job. You can lose your livelihood. Your savings accounts can be emptied. You can find yourself not knowing where your next meal is coming from. You can be in a horrible car accident. You can get cancer. You can lose someone you love. 

It's good and right to be thankful for all kinds of blessings, but if the foundation of our thanksgiving lies only in earthly blessings, then our faith will be shaken by the first strong wind that blows our way. The incorruptible, unfading, and imperishable gifts of God ought to be at the center of our thanksgiving. These are the blessings that are the same now and in the future regardless of circumstances.

If we lose our jobs, we still have Christ. We still have salvation through him. We still have the peace that comes from him. We still have redemption and the forgiveness of our sins. We still have grace in limitless abundance. And these are the things that Paul says we should cling to and hold onto because these are the things that never change. These are the things that never go away. These are the things that are true regardless of what's happening in the world around us.

God is good all the time. His goodness isn't dependent on the circumstances that surround us. Even when the future seems bleak, we maintain hope for something better. And the hope we have in Christ is guaranteed. We can depend on it because the God who has promised is faithful. He is who he says he is and he is able to do what he says he will do. When he says that he has blessed us, it means that we are blessed because we are his.

So this season, will you join me in changing things up? When we count our blessings, let's start with the spiritual ones. Let's count them out for all the world to see. Let's name them one by one and see what God has done. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Now and forever. Amen.

Until next time, grace and peace.

For the Times You Don't Feel Like Going to Church

Can I be honest with you for a few minutes? A few Sundays ago, I didn't want to go to church. We had a full weekend with out-of-town company and a bout with a stomach bug. I stayed home on Sunday morning with the sick one and planned to trade off with Dennis for the evening service. 

But when 5 o'clock rolled around, the last thing I wanted to do was get ready to go. I told myself I didn't have enough time to shower. I dragged around the house. I plopped down in my chair with a book and a big cup of Coke Zero. But finally, I got still enough to listen to the tiny little voice in my head telling me to get off my tail and go.

The truth is that we won't always feel like going to church. We'll make excuses. We'll drag our feet. We'll pretend that we're too busy. But practicing faithfulness has to be something that we do, regardless of how we're feeling in the moment, because we all know that feelings are fickle. They can turn on a dime, and they can't always be trusted.

God, on the other hand, is the opposite of fickle. He's faithful. And I show my gratitude for his faithfulness by trying to mirror it in my own life. Sometimes that means ignoring how I feel and doing what I ought simply because it's right.

When I got to church that night, we sang one of my favorite hymns, and I was reminded anew why we Christians do what we do. We go to church week in and week out because we desperately need a touch from God. We give, we serve, and we love all because of what Christ has done for us. For no other reason. Because he has given me life, I'll serve him with mine. 

I'm including the lyrics to that old chorus in this post because I think sometimes we all need to be reminded of why Jesus did what he did. When we forget that, we lose sight of everything that really matters. I hope these words encourage you as much as they do me. May we never stop longing for the touch of our Savior.

Until next time, grace and peace.

I Will Serve Thee

I will serve Thee because I love Thee;
You have given life to me.
I was nothing before you found me.
You have given life to me.

Heartaches,
Broken pieces,
Ruined lives
Are why you died on Calv'ry.
Your touch is what I longed for;
You have given life to me.

—William & Gloria Gaither, 1969