On April 1, 2020, I wrote in my diary that social distancing and other restrictions to prevent the pandemic from spreading would be extended for 30 days. Along with most people, I never imagined the massive spread of disease and loss of life that would occur in the year ahead. In the eyes, speech, and movements of those around me, I see and hear signs of weariness. Can we find the strength to “hang on a little longer” as many health care workers urge us to do?
I believe we can.

On this Easter weekend, I find renewed comfort and hope for strength in the promises of Scripture, such as the one quoted above. You can find that verse and the following poem on pages 190 and 191 of my book, Songs of Joy in the Valley of Tears

God's Promise of Strength

God will strengthen my mortal body;
That's the word I heard him say.

God will strengthen my mortal body:
That's the one I possess, today.

God will strengthen my mortal body.
It may be old, but it's not decayed.

God will strengthen my mortal body,
If from wisdom I don't stray.

God will strengthen my mortal body.
I will trust him and obey.

God will strengthen my mortal body;
That's the promise he made to me.

God will strengthen my mortal body
And raise it up on resurrection day.

Jane Ault

“Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”

1 Thessalonians 4:17 NLT

The pandemic which began in 2020 resulted in unimaginable and unexpected grief for the entire world. If you are one of the many people who lost a loved one during that time or in 2021, I hope you will reach out to Jesus who loves us far more than we can imagine.

Jesus’s amazing statement, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (John 11:25 NLT, along with the promise that he will return gives me great comfort and hope that I will be reunited with my sister who passed from this earth on June 11, 2020.

As I remember these promises, I find the grace to grieve. After a three-month break, I am writing blog posts, again. My hope is that as I share my story, you will find the courage to share yours.

The grace to grieve is the grace to cleave–
Cling to Jesus when I’m tempted to leave,
Find in him strength for today,
When my sister, my friend, has gone away.

The grace to grieve is the grace to believe
Others can help me if I choose to receive
Them into my journey and openly weep.
We are all wounded and hurting sheep.

The grace to grieve is the grace to care
About others in pain, choose to be “there”.
When I choose to be present in their journey
My faith and love become more sturdy.

In grieving alone, we are never finished
Our sorrow is buried, not diminished.
In grieving, together, there are breakthroughs of laughter
In which we find strength for what will come after.

In grieving together, we discover fresh purpose
Actually, discover we have a surplus
Our hearts overflow with hope and love
And we share it with those who don’t have enough.

 
  "Though he was God,
     he did not think of equality with God
     as something to cling to.
  Instead, he gave up his divine privileges."
 --Philippians 2:6-7 (NLT)
  
  
 What Did Christmas Mean for Jesus?
 
 No words of mine are adequate
 To describe what it must have meant
  
 For the God of this universe
 To make it safe for us to converse
  
 With him, face-to-face, without a mask;
 Before his purity, we’d not last.
  
 We’d disintegrate, fall apart.
 (Arrogance would not be smart).
  
 He saw our sad condition
 And descended from heaven
  
 Into a human’s body;
 Depended on that mommy
  
 To nourish and to feed him;
 Let a human dad train him,
  
  Teach him the sharpness of a nail.
 (With a nail he’d be impaled).
  
 His hands developed calluses.
 His feet walked on roads of dust.
  
 He always listened to the Spirit;
 Never bragged about his merit;
  
 Distributed kindness everywhere,
 Taught us about submission and prayer;
  
 Got angry at injustices,
 Was honest in all his practices;
  
 Taught us what it means to live
 In harmony, and truly give
  
 God the honor he’s worthy of—
 Become united in perfect love.
  
 For doing this, he was mocked and killed.
 It was for us, his blood was spilled;
  
 It was for us, he conquered evil.
 It is for all, he’s prepared a table—
  
 A table of festivity
 That far exceeds what we now see.
  
 What joy awaits us if we choose
 To give up, now, what we will lose;
  
 And grasp, by faith, the final prize
 That Jesus sets before our eyes.
  
 Only then, will we recognize
 What Christmas meant for Jesus Christ.
  
  
 Jane Ault
 12/25/20 

The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world.
    Everyone will praise him!
His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring,
    with plants springing up everywhere.
Isaiah 61:11 (NLT)

 
 HOPE
  
 While death is spreading through the earth,
 God is working in ways unseen.
 Peace and righteousness will spring forth.
 Evil and injustice have no claim.
  
 Like seeds planted in fertile soil,
 Nurtured in love and faithfulness,
 Light-filled energy will prevail.
 I sing with joy and gratefulness.
  
 Join me, my friends, do not despair.
 Focus your eyes on Jesus, Give
 Him full attention. He is here.
 In his power and victory, live.
  
 Jane Ault
 12/23/20 

For a few days, I fed on news reports, set no boundaries on my Google searches, and paid no attention to the time I spent doing this. As this activity increased, so did the level of anger, anxiety, and depression in my soul.

Last night I went to bed. I tossed and turned for a long time. After sleeping for three hours, I woke up. The same negative feelings flooded my mind. ”

What could I do?

Help me, God!” I prayed.

Nothing happened. My feelings did not change. I repeated my prayer.
“Help me! Help me! Help me!”

I waited. Repeated my prayer. Waited.

After a while, these words from Psalm 103 popped into my mind–
“Bless the Lord, my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.”

I continued repeating and meditating on this verse, eventually fell asleep, and woke with a joyful melody in my heart. What relief!

In this season of isolation and uncertainty, it would easy for me to fall back into anger, anxiety, and depression. What can I do to increase and maintain joy in my heart so that when Thanksgiving arrives (in 12 days), when Christmas arrives (in 41 days), and when 2021 arrives (in 47 days), I can celebrate truly celebrate?

This is my plan to increase and maintain a joyful heart. I will change my focus to one of gratitude. Every day, for the next 47 days, I will

• Read Psalm 103 (verses 1-5), reflect on God’s blessings, and thank him for them
• Write down as many gratitude statements as I can think of
  • Read them aloud before I go to bed
  • Read all of them on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years’ day
• Send a “Thank you” message or affirmation to at least one person

How joyful is your heart? Does it need a little encouragement? If so, I invite you to join me and adopt my action plan. Start as soon as you can.

Or make up a action plan of your own. Share it with me and/or someone else.

Perhaps the first and second lines of my poem would better be written: “In this week that’s called ‘Election undecided'”. What a stressful time this is for our country and for the world! Let us continue to encourage one another, pray for one another, and work toward reconciliation and unity.

In this day that’s called
“Election undecided”,
When the world awaits
Him who will be “knighted”—
Magnificent God,
Creator and Blesser,
Righteous and Loving,
Your reign is forever!
 
Open our eyes
To see what you’re doing;
Open our ears
To hear what you’re saying;
Place in our hearts
A desire to please you;
Create in our wills
Resolve to obey you.
 
Oh, Father of lights,
Sustainer of all life,
Have mercy on this world
Filled with violence and strife;
Oh, great physician,
Healer of all disease,
Cause us to repent
That war and pain may cease.
 
May your will be done.
May your kingdom progress,
As your children live
In obedience:
Cherishing your word,
Following your command,
Expressing you love
In ways that you’ve planned;
 
Not living my chance,
Nor distracted by threats;
Not yielding to fear,
Nor to greed’s excess;
Displaying, instead,
Gentleness and self-control;
By the Spirit’s help,
Possessing our soul!
 
Jane Ault
11/4/20

Why do I vote? Who do I vote for?

The usual answers to the “why I vote ” question are

• It’s a privilege
• It’s an honor
• It’s my responsibility
• I can exert influence on politicians

Beyond that, voting causes me to clarify what I believe and take a stand for it. It tells me something about myself. I want to be shrewd, not stupid or naive, i.e, lacking in experience, judgment, or information.

Though I might lack experience in politics, I can become informed and learn how to make wise judgments. In making decisions about who to vote for, I consider more than presidential debates.

Here are some questions I ask myself when answering the “who do I vote for” question?

• Do I think through what I believe and why I believe it?
• Or I let others choose for me?
• Do I take into account the character of the candidate or do I disregard it?
• Do I consider all of the issues or just pick my favorite one?
• Must I vote totally for one party or could I split my vote?
• If my friends or family are strongly in favor of one candidate or party do I automatically vote with them?
• If I vote differently, am I willing to share that decision?
• What place does my faith have in determining how I vote?

As the above Proverb tells us, there’s a danger in being naïve.  We have a tendency to take shortcuts and to make quick judgments and hasty decisions without thoughtfully examining evidence and asking pertinent questions.

We can be tricked into believing safe people are dangerous and dangerous people are safe. How do we know who is safe and who is not?

Jesus compared people to sheep. He was called the “Good Shepherd”. He displayed his goodness in the way he treated people and in the way he honored Our Father in heaven. He lived a life of perfect love and integrity, truthful in all his interactions and fair in all his decisions.

He warned us about people who claim they are “good” but are actually thieves. He called them “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” He did not say, “Beware of sheep in wolves’ clothing” because a sheep never wears a wolf’s clothing. Sheep are not out to deceive people. They’re just set on following a path and they need guidance in order to find the right path. They need a shepherd.

When Jesus looked at the crowds of people in the world around him, he said that they were like sheep without a shepherd. I don’t think much has changed since his day. The world is full of sheep. Sheep can easily be deceived. They need a shepherd.

That shepherd needs to be a safe person. A safe person is someone with integrity. Someone who never deceives us. Someone who always tells the truth. Someone who is patient, kind, and good. Someone who does not expect perfection. Someone who does not condemn us when we fall down. Someone who walks beside us and helps us recognize dangers, not only points them out but teaches us to recognize the dangers ourselves. Someone who teaches us how to have discernment.

We need to ask questions. Appearances can be deceiving. A safe shepherd does not go around comparing one sheep with other sheep. They are all equally cared for and protected. He or she does not condemn sheep. He or she does not go around causing divisions among the sheep. A safe shepherd brings sheep together and teaches them to live in peace, unity, and understanding.

Because his or her self-worth is settled, a safe shepherd confidently makes decisions. He or she is not looking for approval or even acceptance. Nor is a safe shepherd hungry for power or control. A safe shepherd has control of his or her own life, shows us how to gain control of ourselves, and assists us in escaping the control of abusive shepherds.

When I look at the world today, I’m concerned. I see a lot of naïve sheep and very few safe shepherds. Yet I do not despair because Jesus is still alive. As we look to him, listen to his words, and follow the guidance of the Spirit he has given us, we will gain discernment and not be deceived by wolves dressed as shepherds.  

I often feel angry about the destruction I see in the world around me and hear about in the media. How do I manage my anger so that I don’t add more of it to the mixture?

It helps me to remember that the tree of anger often grows out of a root of pain and/or fear. In order to discover the fear or pain, I slow down. Stop. Quietly listen to my inner conversation–the unspoken thoughts.

It most helpful, when I ask Jesus to be with me in this. I have a little talk with him. He listens. Then, as he gently addresses the roots of fear and/or pain in my heart, my anger melts into tears of relief. I feel loved. I can think more clearly. I gain self-control.

Gentleness is more powerful than anger because it’s an expression of love. Love does not threaten. It listens. When I’m threatened, I feel devalued and afraid. When I’m listened to, I feel valued and safe. Safe enough to talk about my anger, fear, and pain.

The “tanker full of anger” I describe in my poem might be someone you know. Maybe you. If so, find or be a person who can listen with love and speak with gentleness.

I’m a tanker full of anger.
Don’t get in front of me.
My throttle’s fully open;
If I were you, I’d flee.
 
I’m a tanker full of anger,
Roaring down life’s highway;
My brakes are not working.
I think you better pray.
 
I’m a tanker full of anger.
It’s a very heavy load.
If I don’t dump some of it,
I’m afraid I’ll explode
 
I’m a tanker full of anger.
Unlit dynamite,
I was created over time
By things that were not right:
 
Prejudice and pain,
Injustice and neglect,
Losses that I suffered,
Failures to protect,
 
Beliefs and attitudes
That pushed me away,
I’m a tanker full of anger.
I wish that you would stay—
 
I wish you would help me
Unload successfully,
Not injure self or others,
Handle grief, effectively.

10/8/2020
Jane Ault
 

The clock moves on
but God is still,
Hurried flesh knows not his will.

Like Mary, we must turn aside,
deny ambition,
give up pride,
leave our projects,
choose to wait.

We cannot love unless we hate.
We cannot live unless we die.

God will not rule
while we still try.
He will not force us to repent
but soon our days
will all be spent.

Jesus waits.
Time hurries on.
Choose Jesus, now, before time’s gone.

(Poem from, “Heart Connections: Finding Joy through Openness with God” by Jane Ault 2003.)

Last night I couldn’t sleep. I got up and read a few chapters in Paul Tournier’s book, “The Healing of Persons.” In it, he speaks about the necessity of accepting realities and conditions of life, such as the boundaries of time and limits of aging.

I’ve resisted these limits for too many years, priding myself about my ability to keep going regardless of my age. As I read last night, the Holy Spirit spoke to me. He showed me I’ve been lying to myself. To believe I am capable of doing everything I did when I was a few decades younger and doing it with as much speed as I did back then is a lie.

Does accepting my present limits mean what I have to offer has less worth? Not at all! The reverse is true. For example, when I accept and yield to speed limit signs, I feel more relaxed. I stop looking around for a police car.

The truth is: Refusing to accept and set limits makes me more limited. When I involve myself in everything, I fail to accomplish important things. What are the important things? There is only one.

In a conversation he had with two women, Mary and Martha, Jesus defined the one important thing in life– connection with Jesus.

Consumed with many things, Martha felt worried and stressed. Focused on Jesus, connecting with him, Mary found joy and peace. (This story is found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10.)

Jesus is my teacher. As I stay connected to him, he gives me clarity about everything else in my life. What to do. What not to do. His Spirit is my personal instructor. As I read Scripture, he highlights the words I need for the day.

Jesus is my Creator. As I rely on him, he gives me the strength to do that which is important. Jesus is my Saviour. When I miss my cues and wander off into rabbit trails, he corrects, forgives, and restores me.

Jesus is my constant companion and closest friend. When others I’ve loved have died or moved away, he’s remained. Staying connected with him is the one essential of life.

Is “devastation” not an appropriate word to describe the condition of this country and the world? Often, I weep. My heart pounds. I can’t sleep. I feel outraged. I don’t want to express this with hurtful and destructive words. Neither do I want to hide in fear.

What do I do? I pray. I spend time in silence. With Jesus. I sit on my deck or go for a walk and view the clouds, trees, water, sunset. I listen to singing birds and quacking geese.

After a while I have peace. The Spirit stirs up a new melody in my heart. I write a song or poem. The following is an example. May your heart be encouraged as you read it.

Troubled heart, remember Jesus
He is good. He is kind
To the fallen, he shows mercy
He’s the healer of your mind
 
In the midst of deep anxiety
When you’re tossing in the night
Ask the Spirit for discernment
Receive his comfort and insight

He says, "My child, I love you
"Come closer to me
"You were a captive to Evil
"I died to set you free."
 
Fearful heart, call on Jesus
No one’s higher than he
In his strong arm, he will hold you
When in the smoke you cannot see
 
In the night of terror and darkness
When all normal help is gone
What you knew is nonexistent
Listen to your Savior’s song

He says, "My child, I love you
"Come closer to me
"You were a captive to Evil
"I died to set you free."
 
Anxious heart, cling to Jesus
Treasures of this world are dung
Unless you’re willing to release them
You won’t win the victor’s crown
 
In a time when many shout
“Arm yourself!” or “Retreat!”
Stand for justice, love, and mercy
Stay with Jesus on the street

He says, "My child, I love you
"Come closer to me
"You were a captive to Evil
"I died to set you free."
 
8/25/20
Jane Ault