True joy comes from the presence of God. In some of my darkest times, when I was depressed and very unhappy, I learned how to have the joy of the Lord. I can remember when my grandmother would tell me, "Pamela, you can have the joy of the Lord even in unhappy times". I would think to myself, "now, that makes no sense to me. I'm hurting and unhappy, there's just no joy in that!" And over the course of the last nine years, God has taken me on this awesome journey, that caused me to grow in Him, and understand that true joy comes from Him alone.
Let me start out by telling you that I have a nine year old, very medically fragile son named Cory. I was told that he wouldn't live to be a year old. "Praise God, the Great Physician", who has the finally say. Cory was born with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, chronic lung disease, fluid on his brain, blindness and a whole lot of other issues that are too overwhelming to list. When I was pregnant with Cory, he suffered brain bleeds in the womb. God has a plan for Cory's life, and I believe in the impossible, because my God specializes in the impossible "For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).
I was encouraged by doctors to terminate the pregnancy, because they didn't think he would live, and if he did, it would be a great burden. Well, life as I knew was over, but what doctors called a great burden, happen to be a great blessing! Having Cory saved my life, it began breaking selfishness, and pride. I was learning the true meaning of "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:" (1 Peter 5:6). Since the day Cory was born, each year we have spent two to six weeks in the hospital at least four times a year. Too make a long story short, I had to quite my full time public relations job and put my PhD program on hold.
In the course of the last five years, I've since married and now have a four year old son, Cameron. Let me just say that being married to a pastor is no cake walk. I even contemplated divorce. But every time I got into the presence of the Lord, I heard; "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10), or "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage: (Psalm 27:14). So in all the struggles with caring for a very sick child, learning balance with a very vibrant and healthy child, and warring for my marriage, God was dealing with Me! Breaking me, healing me, and teaching me joy in Him despite my circumstances. Teaching me that it's all in His timing and not mine, and blessing me with balance to prepare to finish my doctoral program.
So even in all the hell, I could have joy. "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Psalm 16:8-11). This is one of my testimonies. I chose to be obedient and wait on the Lord. At this very point in my life, God is restoring my marriage, and bringing healing into our home. I believe God is bringing healing and wholeness to my son Cory. We have been back and forth to the orthopedic doctor, looking at his spinal cord, and at one point we where facing three very serious surgeries that the doctor said he wouldn't survive. Well, my God is the God of miracles and healings. Cory's last x-ray showed that his spin was straight! God performed surgery! And I believe that this is only the beginning. I believe that God is healing Cory and raising him up to bring some doctors and a whole lot of other people to the feet of Jesus!
I don't mean to be so long winded today, but joy is a characteristic of God's love from His Holy Spirit. I have learned and continue to grow in the Spirit, and walk by faith, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). And even now, at times when nothing makes sense to me, I trust God, and stand on His Word. In the midst of storms, I speak life, I worship to charge the atmosphere and take authority over the enemy of my soul. Because of Whose I am, I have that authority. Jesus is all the world to me, my strength, my source, my everything. "...the joy of the Lord is my strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).
When I started blogging, I told several of my friends, but I wasn't getting any responses. I prayed, "Lord, I want to be a blessing to others. If no one is going to read my blog, what's the point?" And the week before I decided to stop blogging, I started receiving comments from readers. God sends you encouragement when you need it! I am so blessed and thankful for all of you who have responded to my blogs. I pray that you are blessed, encouraged and empowered by the Word of God. I want to thank each of you for encouraging me, and showing your love. God bless each of you for we are all part of God's family. And for those who don't know Jesus, today is your day! He is real and He died for all sinners.
So I leave you with this; "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost" (Romans 15:13). I joy in God's faithfulness. I know that regardless of what is going on in my life, as long as I walk in obedience, and keep my face before the Lord, everything will be alright. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
Be blessed!
Let me start out by telling you that I have a nine year old, very medically fragile son named Cory. I was told that he wouldn't live to be a year old. "Praise God, the Great Physician", who has the finally say. Cory was born with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, chronic lung disease, fluid on his brain, blindness and a whole lot of other issues that are too overwhelming to list. When I was pregnant with Cory, he suffered brain bleeds in the womb. God has a plan for Cory's life, and I believe in the impossible, because my God specializes in the impossible "For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).
I was encouraged by doctors to terminate the pregnancy, because they didn't think he would live, and if he did, it would be a great burden. Well, life as I knew was over, but what doctors called a great burden, happen to be a great blessing! Having Cory saved my life, it began breaking selfishness, and pride. I was learning the true meaning of "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:" (1 Peter 5:6). Since the day Cory was born, each year we have spent two to six weeks in the hospital at least four times a year. Too make a long story short, I had to quite my full time public relations job and put my PhD program on hold.
In the course of the last five years, I've since married and now have a four year old son, Cameron. Let me just say that being married to a pastor is no cake walk. I even contemplated divorce. But every time I got into the presence of the Lord, I heard; "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10), or "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage: (Psalm 27:14). So in all the struggles with caring for a very sick child, learning balance with a very vibrant and healthy child, and warring for my marriage, God was dealing with Me! Breaking me, healing me, and teaching me joy in Him despite my circumstances. Teaching me that it's all in His timing and not mine, and blessing me with balance to prepare to finish my doctoral program.
So even in all the hell, I could have joy. "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Psalm 16:8-11). This is one of my testimonies. I chose to be obedient and wait on the Lord. At this very point in my life, God is restoring my marriage, and bringing healing into our home. I believe God is bringing healing and wholeness to my son Cory. We have been back and forth to the orthopedic doctor, looking at his spinal cord, and at one point we where facing three very serious surgeries that the doctor said he wouldn't survive. Well, my God is the God of miracles and healings. Cory's last x-ray showed that his spin was straight! God performed surgery! And I believe that this is only the beginning. I believe that God is healing Cory and raising him up to bring some doctors and a whole lot of other people to the feet of Jesus!
I don't mean to be so long winded today, but joy is a characteristic of God's love from His Holy Spirit. I have learned and continue to grow in the Spirit, and walk by faith, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). And even now, at times when nothing makes sense to me, I trust God, and stand on His Word. In the midst of storms, I speak life, I worship to charge the atmosphere and take authority over the enemy of my soul. Because of Whose I am, I have that authority. Jesus is all the world to me, my strength, my source, my everything. "...the joy of the Lord is my strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).
When I started blogging, I told several of my friends, but I wasn't getting any responses. I prayed, "Lord, I want to be a blessing to others. If no one is going to read my blog, what's the point?" And the week before I decided to stop blogging, I started receiving comments from readers. God sends you encouragement when you need it! I am so blessed and thankful for all of you who have responded to my blogs. I pray that you are blessed, encouraged and empowered by the Word of God. I want to thank each of you for encouraging me, and showing your love. God bless each of you for we are all part of God's family. And for those who don't know Jesus, today is your day! He is real and He died for all sinners.
So I leave you with this; "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost" (Romans 15:13). I joy in God's faithfulness. I know that regardless of what is going on in my life, as long as I walk in obedience, and keep my face before the Lord, everything will be alright. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
Be blessed!
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