There is just so much noise out there in the world isn't there. I can personally name at least 3 noisy areas in my life right now: What do I eat for health? How should I be looking after my mom? Grace vs suffering? I want to eat healthily, make good choices. Sure, like everyone else out there dealing with menopause (urgh) I want to lose weight (or not put it on), I want a healthy eating lifestyle as apposed to a diet. But THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY CONFLICTING OPINIONS OUT THERE. One source says eat like this, the next 3 sources contradict an aspect of that way, the next one completely blows all the other options right out of the water. All, in some small way have a morsel of truth, practicality, some sense in them. But WHAT DO I DO? My mom needs a lot of care right now. I feel that as a Christian I should look after her. Added to that she is petrified of hospitals (her husband went in for something minor and never came back...
The joy of the Lord is my strength, the joy of the Lord is my strength, the joy of the Lord is my strength.... It rings through my brain when I am struggling and feeling really down. I usually feel this way when I don't see a way forward, a problem can't be resolved by me, etc etc. And I hear this in my head. Then I asked myself the question, "What does that even mean?" What does the joy of the Lord is my strength mean? So I decided to dig a little deeper, ask the questions and know so that when it comes flowing through my thoughts as it does in moments when I am down, I will know exactly what His joy being my strength means. So, to the scripture: Nehemiah 8 vs 10 : Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." In context Ezra is reading...