​Can you believe that?  That among all the things that happen in our lives, many that seem quite difficult, we are called to JOY.  Not “poor me”, or “how can that be happening?”or “I’ll never make it”  but JOY.

At this time of preparing for our TD weekends and all the tasks that go with that, it is easy to feel pressured, wonder if we, or others, are doing what should be done. But, that is not what the weekend is about. The Joy that I experienced my first TD weekend still causes me to smile. And, I count on that every year.

Malachi 4:2 (NIV)  “ But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.” What a delightful picture of how we are to live and do our work.

As I hear the word JOY, there are a number of songs, especially ones sung by children,  that come to mind:  “I’ve got the Joy, Joy down in my heart”, “The Joy of the Lord is my strength”

As we prepare for our TD weekends, living with Joy is especially crucial. It is so easy to begin to feel overwhelmed with the tasks and questions but we are called to rejoice. I love the picture created in Zephaniah 3:17 TLB, “You have come to live among us. You have been mighty to save me. You have given me the victory! You rejoice over me with gladness! You love me and don’t accuse me. Is this a choir I hear? No, it is You exulting over me with a happy song.”

Psalms 5:11 TLB  “Because I have put my trust in You, You have made me to rejoice. I keep shouting for joy because You defend me. Because I love You, You have filled me with happiness.”

As I began this meditation, I focused on my/our choosing to live with Joy. And that is important, but how exciting to be reminded that God has Joy in us, in our lives.
We cannot do this on our own, not even live our life on our own, let alone prepare for the great TD weekends. But, He will bring wonderful things to pass as we look to Him—let Him work in our lives and bring rejoicing. Whatever your task, do it with JOY.

JOY is a choice. It does not depend on what is going on but what I focus on. JOY can be the oil that lubricates our interactions with each other as well as help our body and mind be healthy. It is a healing tool.  
​
Blessings to you,
Jeanie Hershey, TVTD Spiritual Director

Last evening, before going to bed, we heard news that totally changed some “really good” plans we had.  And, to all human eyes, things really couldn’t be changed to fix the situation.  What sadness! It wasn’t at all what we had wanted/anticipated happening.  Can I/will I say “Okay, thank you, Father God”?

When I awoke during the night and spend some time in quiet meditation, I had to face the fact that often/at least sometimes, I don’t follow through with plans. I find other options. I went back to bed with renewed commitment to be more persistent in follow through.

Debating with myself if I should set the alarm to get up early for my writing, as on my schedule, I decided to not do that. “Lord, you just wake me up when you want me to get up.” So, can you guess what happened in the morning? I awoke at the time I had earlier committed to getting up so I could write. However, in the morning that seemed pretty early and I found myself saying, “I think I will just turn over and get some more sleep.”

In the midst of turning over—not a very long time—I was reminded of my commitment to get up when I was awakened. Would I now say “Okay” and do it? Or do the roll-over act?

It pains me deeply to recognize that at times, many if I am honest about it, I decide my way is actually probably better than God’s way. Instead of seeing Spirit Guidance as the great gift it is, I choose my own boulder-strewn path and stumble along.
The writer of Romans talks to us about this. In chapter 12, he encourages us to place our life before God.

 “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”
​
One of my first questions when reading this passage: Does God really care about these everyday activities? Doesn’t He have more important things to do? But yes, I am reminded that not only does He care, He wants to be involved in all areas of my life. This is the God who knows the number of hairs on my head. Pretty involved!
WOW! OUCH! Can I get an “OKAY”? What is going on in your/my life that God wants you/me to turn over to Him so He can bring out the best in us?

In our everyday life, we face numerous decisions—some minute by minute. And now with TD weekends coming up soon, we have even more to make.  Oftentimes, there does not seem to be any criteria for making the decision—let alone see the future. It is so easy to get focused on the decisions to be made that we get frustrated rather than looking with joy and thankfulness at all that God is doing for us to make these wonderful weekends.

It is easy to focus on the busyness rather than God’s promises of being there for us. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;    don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.

An Old Testament story that I have relied on over the years when facing any difficult situation is: 2 Chronicles 20:1-26. The Israelites are facing a situation that could wipe them out. Jehoshaphat, the King, is shaken. He goes to God for help and orders a nationwide fast.
 
Then, Jehoshaphat calls on God to deliver them. He acknowledges God’s power and work and affirms his belief that God will listen and give victory—because of who He is. The King goes on to acknowledge that they are helpless, don’t know what to do, and are looking to Him.
 
Jahaziel, an ordinary person in the crowd, was moved by the Spirit of God to speak. He encourages them: Don’t be afraid; …this is God’s war, not yours. You won’t have to lift a hand in this battle; just stand firm, and watch God’s saving work for you take shape. Don’t be afraid, don’t waver. March out boldly tomorrow—God is with you.   (Does this mean that we have nothing to do—just get to lazy around?  No.) Jahaziel adds, Believe firmly in God, your God, and your lives will be firm! 21 I It is delightful to me that their first order was to sing, Give thanks to God, His love never quits.

Look what happens--As soon as they started shouting and praising, God takes over and wins the victory.  YEA!  A victory with added blessings that they could not even imagine.

Think of that for us with Tres Dias activities. We are not on our own for any part of TD—no matter your assignment. As we come to Him in prayer, He goes before and wins the battles and gives amazing blessings. What would you like to see happen?

From the beginning of time, God has desired to be there with us, loves us dearly, and has plans for us—far beyond what we can see.

Today we can still claim those promises—lean on God rather than our own understanding and also know that the battle is not ours— Because of the New Covenant, and our receiving that, Christ paying the price for us to have a new life, He also gave us the Holy Spirit for our life.

The Holy Spirit wants to be an active participant in our life—not just when we are in trouble or need something special, but as an on-going part of our life.  He gives us the New Life—transforms us into God’s plan for us—what we could not do on our own. He goes before, beside, behind us and brings the victory.

Letting the Spirit of God guide us means that we give it over to Him and let Him do the work that needs to be done. We take our hands off except as He directs us. God created us for, and delights in, our communication with Him. And, just maybe, we need to sing! How do you feel?
 
How do we know His voice, His answer?  He gives us a sense of amazing Peace.

Blessings to you,
Spiritual Director Jeanie Hershey, 
Contact Me

​

Celebration! 
How much we have to celebrate and yet how easy to let that go. Recently, in our Bible Study, we celebrated. What a fun day it was. We still studied and gained from that but how invigorating to joyously laugh together. The table was set with bright red table cloths, matching plates and napkins, and purple plastic wear. And, of course, some goodies such as Hershey Kisses, truffles, mints, fresh strawberries and grapes.

Our recent classes have related to New and Old Covenants. Some insisted that we pay attention to and obey the old commandments. Others thought that our focus should be on loving others. All this as we looked at how to bring others to Christ.
I spent much time praying and studying related scriptures. At 3am one morning, The Holy Spirit showed me a verse that made me shout and want to celebrate the New Covenant. I about woke up Lyn!

Romans 13:8-10 gives us the reason to celebrate. It makes it so clear that it is not the Old Testament commandments we focus on. We have no power to keep those. But, we are to recognize that Christ met all those commandments. We accept His gift of our being set free because He paid the price. Now, the commandment that He calls us to is to love others, share His great love.  We drive others away when we do not focus on that message.

His only reason for dying on the cross was to pay the price for what we cannot do—keep the commandments. He does not judge us for not following the commandments. He judges us for not accepting the great price that He has paid. He does not want us focusing on the Old Covenant. For, that has been fulfilled, completed, and abolished. YEA

Romans 13:8-10 (MSG)  “ Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code—don’t sleep with another person’s spouse, don’t take someone’s life, don’t take what isn’t yours, don’t always be wanting what you don’t have, and any other “don’t” you can think of—finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.”
 
Hebrews 10:10 (NIV)” He set aside the first in order to enact the new plan--God’s way—by which we are made fit for God by the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus.” 

(Message) “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

We can now have a joyous faith because of our fearless trust in God and His sure Word. No longer do we have to be concerned if keeping each detail—necessary under the Old Covenant.  It is not based on Works. This does not excuse behaviors but gives the focus. Is that not reason to celebrate? ?
Titus 3:4-5 (NIV) 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

“But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, He saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this.”      
​
​CELEBRATE!  Get out the fine china, crystal glassware, and silver! Time for a party!

​Lyn was going to an event and he needed some cash. Since his billfold was not helpful in supplying that, it seemed logical for him to stop by our bank  ATM and get some cash.

When he called me, he was in somewhat of a panic.  Not only could he not get money out, but he couldn’t get the card back.  Money was in the account but he couldn’t access it.

When I called the local number, the man on the other end was helpful in that if Lyn would call him, he would then guide Lyn through the process.  But, Lyn didn’t answer his phone when I called him back. This was getting to be a huge issue—disrupting my quiet evening at home.

My next “helpful” move was to call the bank again—hoping they hadn’t closed down yet. This lady was quite straightforward, and non-sympathetic, in her response (by my perspective). Lyn would just have to wait and go back to the bank when it was open in the morning, identify himself, and ask for his card back. In the meantime, no card to use and no cash.

The Spirit directed me away from my frustration by reminding me to look at God’s ATM. A new perspective for me.  What lessons do we see in this scenario?
​
First, I was glad that God isn’t a machine or act uncaringly to us. It is so delightful to have a loving and caring relationship with Him.

A similarity is that for each “account”, whether heavenly or earthly, I need to be “in the system”.  Even if it is not about a card getting lost, I can’t get funds from my ATM if I am not registered and have my own specific card.  With God’s ATM, we don’t have a physical card to carry. Rather it is a heart card, registered in God’s system by our accepting His Gift of Salvation.  We are His children and part of His heritage.
However, it is not enough to just be in either system. We must do the “work” of asking for the funds/gifts.

Our funds in God’s ATM are secure—safe from fraud. Despite our bank’s best efforts, fraud can still happen. While recently on vacation, I received a call from a “fraud unit” of our bank asking me if I had approved a specific transaction. If the transaction was deemed fraudulent, my card would be shut down and I would have no access to our funds until I received a new card and account. 

A key difference is that our local ATM has limited funds—limited by our contributions to the account. In contrast, God’s ATM has unlimited Abundance that He supplies out of His great riches.     
​
Which ATM is our primary account?

Dear Tres Dias gang,  
What a special group you are to Lyn and myself. We have been asked by Secretariat to serve in the position of Spiritual Directors for Secretariat and our Tres Dias Community again. We are happy to do that. One of the things that I will be doing is to send out meditations on a regular basis. Many blessings to each of you.  Jeanie

******************************************
I thought I knew—but I didn’t-
Lyn and I have shared the same bed for many years—more than what some of you are old.  Over those years, we developed which side we sleep on—no matter where we share a bed.

Recently, Lyn has needed to turn over on the one side, away from me, because of the hip pain he experiences.
What I want to tell you with this scenario, is that this morning, I realized I had the wrong hip in mind! I had thought that he was turning on the bad side to ease the discomfort. Instead, he was lying on the good side to take weight off the hurting side. How could I have been that wrong?

Why is that such a big thing? Why would I share about our sleeping habits?

The Holy Spirit loudly whispered to my heart/mind, “Jeanie, that is what my people do so often. They think they know about someone and make their judgments. But, they really don’t know.”

When someone hurts us, or someone else, by word or action, we think we know.  We make our judgments, and carry that story with us, and often share with others.

BUT, we really don’t know!
And, as we react to what we think we know, but really don’t, walls build up among us—even as we are part of a family, a church family, our Tres Dias family—or whomever. We lose the fellowship and unity that Christ wants us to experience. 

It would be one thing if we felt misunderstood, felt hurt, or whatever by what happened and then let healing happen. But, it is when we let that hurt fester within us—don’t want to deal with that person again, tell others how wronged we have been, or some such action, that the “enemy’s walls” are erected. And, even such snow storms as we are having, can’t knock those walls down until we let Jesus heal us through His redemption.

​Churches, organizations, families are broken apart over such incidents. More stories about persons who used to be part of our TD family, who became hurt and withdrew, have surfaced.  Did anyone intend for that to happen? No. But it did. How do we find healing? How many over the years have we lost from our Tres Dias family because of such actions and responses?

Let us “claim” the Scripture in Ephesians 2:14. “You, Jesus, are our way of peace among our family members. You have broken down the enemy’s wall that used to separate us. All of us that used to be upset with each other are parts of You, and in that way, we have become one.”

I would guess that we have all been hurt and have hurt. Yet, the Spirit of God is always ready to mend that the world may see our love for each other and know we are His disciples.

Have a wonderful week.

Note:  I can be reached at [email protected] if you have questions or comments.

Jeanie