tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post2617642465905755011..comments2023-09-29T02:54:36.953-07:00Comments on Words of Joy: When you're between a rock and a hard placeJoy Lentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-61130700882075582162013-08-16T07:21:51.611-07:002013-08-16T07:21:51.611-07:00Thank you so much for seeing hope in a post stemmi...Thank you so much for seeing hope in a post stemming from a place of discouragement, yet one which God has taken in a positive direction. I am also a 'many moons ago' fan of John Donne and the Metaphysical poets! These lines are a great help and inspiration. Bless you for sharing them here. Joy Lentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-32139492845382343552013-08-16T02:21:39.645-07:002013-08-16T02:21:39.645-07:00Joy, this is such a hope-filled blog, thank you. M...Joy, this is such a hope-filled blog, thank you. Many moons ago I came across John Donne's Holy Sonnets xiv and those timeless words: <br /><br />'Batter my heart, three person'd God, for, you As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;' <br /><br />It was inspirational to me then and I remember it now in times of doubt or fear, which threaten to usurp confidence. Thank you for sharing your experience and words of encouragement. C.F.Dunnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16068673219170377327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-34046907693594516812013-08-15T03:57:23.839-07:002013-08-15T03:57:23.839-07:00Jeanne, I am so thankful that God used my words to...Jeanne, I am so thankful that God used my words to help you. It's a sadly common place to be in for many. To know we are together in the struggle and can support one another in prayer is a wonderful reassurance. Thank you for sharing your thoughts here. Praying for you to be at peace as you work through this and to have release and freedom in Christ. Blessings. Joy Lentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-75694204579378938832013-08-15T03:51:21.997-07:002013-08-15T03:51:21.997-07:00Oh, that is so familiar, isn't it? We endeavou...Oh, that is so familiar, isn't it? We endeavour to move forward and see blessings in one area, then the enemy trips us up in another. Thank you for the reminder to stand firm and the knowledge that we are far from alone in our struggles. We can be strength and grace for one another as we all press through to the finishing line. Really appreciate your prayers, Adrianne. Joy Lentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-58618971624972744462013-08-15T03:46:31.087-07:002013-08-15T03:46:31.087-07:00Fiona, those verses are highlighted and underlined...Fiona, those verses are highlighted and underlined in my bible! They're ones I need to return to time and time again. Perseverance can feel so painful when we desperately want a trial or cirumstance to end or change. Yet it is the very thing that enables Christ-like character to develop in us. As we "keep coming back to God" in faith and trust, then He will make possible what seems impossible. Thanks very much for sharing here. Bless you.Joy Lentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-53215528939066814032013-08-15T03:39:23.037-07:002013-08-15T03:39:23.037-07:00You speak such wisdom, Mia. I found myself nodding...You speak such wisdom, Mia. I found myself nodding in agreement with this, "we have a tendency that makes us want to avoid working through the pain of the past. We want to fast forward ourselves into the Life of our Jesus". So true. And we tend to forget that His victory was wrought through pain and struggle. In the process of facing up to pain, dealing with it by God's grace and eventually coming out the other side, we grow, become refined and learn so much. Really appreciate your prayers, my friend, and send them your way too. Blessings. xxJoy Lentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-84597223690940918442013-08-15T03:34:10.857-07:002013-08-15T03:34:10.857-07:00Amen indeed, Eileen. So glad I'm not the only ...Amen indeed, Eileen. So glad I'm not the only one to experience having to eat my own words! It's strange how often God teaches us lessons even as we pen our thoughts to (hopefully) bless others with. Thanks for sharing.Joy Lentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-58569096279597427102013-08-15T03:30:35.018-07:002013-08-15T03:30:35.018-07:00Thankfully, there is always hope when we lean on G...Thankfully, there is always hope when we lean on God and His ability to heal and restore. I am so grateful for your prayers. Thank you, Lucy xxJoy Lentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486637586238798088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-67023687060054388892013-08-13T17:15:48.868-07:002013-08-13T17:15:48.868-07:00I had this very thing happen to me this morning as...I had this very thing happen to me this morning as I was getting ready. I was mortified as I remembered a time past (before I knew Christ, and a better way to live)and revisited my words and behavior. <br /><br />Your words said how I felt: "Now, vulnerable to feelings I'd forgotten, experiencing afresh pain slicing through me, wounded anew by words in my head, I cower."<br /><br />Thank you for sharing this, and blessings to you. <br /><br />Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15349470377982051548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-688835686468945402013-08-13T09:32:11.297-07:002013-08-13T09:32:11.297-07:00Such a familiar theme! I've found in my own li...Such a familiar theme! I've found in my own life that when I make a stand in faith (in whatever form), spiritual attack is usually not far behind. Stand firm, Joy, knowing that we have your back.Adriannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09854845923975840148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-39669329915683114742013-08-13T08:39:43.321-07:002013-08-13T08:39:43.321-07:00Very moving - and challenging, Joy. I find it easy...Very moving - and challenging, Joy. I find it easy to give up hope when a situation seems intractable. This week I've been drawn back to Hebrews 10: 35, which says something along the lines of "Do not throw away your confidence...you need to persevere". So I'll keep coming back to God, and trust that He will help me when life seems impossible. Thanks for sharing, Fiona.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-46392415221395678692013-08-12T15:17:03.694-07:002013-08-12T15:17:03.694-07:00Dear sweet Joy
My heart goes out to you, my friend...Dear sweet Joy<br />My heart goes out to you, my friend. Praying that Pappa wil whisper His peace and hope into your heart. I think we have a tendency that makes us want to avod the working through the pain of the past. We want to fast forward ourselves into the Life of our Jesus. But that it just avoiding the unavoidable. Hang in there, Joy, God works wonders when we cling to Him through discouragement.<br />Blessings XX<br />MiaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02765891733244054084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-87310323886169614802013-08-12T13:09:12.611-07:002013-08-12T13:09:12.611-07:00Beautiful, Joy! I can so relate to my own words a...Beautiful, Joy! I can so relate to my own words and messages coming back like that to me too. So glad that you shared this struggle with us. "The mountain mover stands ready on our behalf." AMEN!Eileenhttp://www.eileenknowles.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2006877034360892497.post-91127100650131382662013-08-12T12:58:24.033-07:002013-08-12T12:58:24.033-07:00It's so easy to lose heart, isn't it? Pray...It's so easy to lose heart, isn't it? Praying God gives you hope for the future xxLucyhttp://lucy-mills.comnoreply@blogger.com