Tag Archives: joy

Dejected? Discouraged? It Is Time To Say “No More”

leejohndrowteamHave you ever been down? Felt dejected or discouraged. And then someone tosses you the scripture about “righteousness, peace and joy” or “why so downcast o’ my soul?” Yep, I sure have been there.

In my earlier life I was severely prone to depression. I was treated medically for depression. I was suicidal at one dark time in my life that ended me up in the hospital for 90 days. The loss, the gun, the whole darkness. I battled suicide for years. Even in the beginning years of my Christianity I was tied to depression and sought the answers in Him while being medicated with a cabinet full of meds. And then one day I said “no more. I have nothing to lose”. I walked away. Continue reading Dejected? Discouraged? It Is Time To Say “No More”


Walking In The Geography Of The Kingdom

“The power went out. They are after us.” And then I looked at the clock. It was still lit and kept on moving. Even more concern. The very fact that I still had time with out power was a concern in the dream. I awoke and the only light in my room was on my clock.

I lay there and contemplated the reality of the dream. What it could mean? Continue reading Walking In The Geography Of The Kingdom

Are You In Irons Or Encountering A Lull?

I admit I get agitated by the thinking that we are always contending for some thing. Always got to work hard or harder. I do believe in the finished work of Christ and the need for us to to deliver the world from itself by exposing the lies that work against peace and rest. I don’t believe leaving my place of rest.

I do understand. Last night a few of us gathered for a meal and at some point we prayed about children and generations to come. Amongst us there are personal desires and needs. Recently my wife and I stepped into a world of change that while not unfamiliar has brought new challenges. Things to overcome. Continue reading Are You In Irons Or Encountering A Lull?

A Dog With Two Bones- A Tale Of Choice

A Word To Hear
A Word To Hear

In one of my dreams a person had multiple choices before them and the words, “Caesar, Caesar” were being shouted out to them. Upon awakening, I came to the conclusion that the words were really “seize her” pointing out the answer to a choice.

When I was young I was told the story of a dog with two bones. In a nutshell it comes down to choices. The dog could not decide on which bone to choose, so it chooses none and does not eat. Too often in life we have a choice. Continue reading A Dog With Two Bones- A Tale Of Choice

Incoming …A Lot In Between

My old home-The Harmonyville Grist Mill
My old home-The Harmonyville Grist Mill

Many years ago I built homes. We built some pretty extraordinary homes. In the early years we built in the Golden Triangle of Stratton, Bromley and Magic Mountains. Later on over in the western part of Vermont. We built doctor’s offices, indoor swimming pools and lots in between. Continue reading Incoming …A Lot In Between

Enjoying The Body of Christ

wedding 033Despite tech issues, I was simply reminded life is not all that serious.

Yesterday I had a simply great day with friends and family at our church gathering in New Hampshire. The music was great and the people were friendly and fun to be with. The message my friend Scott delivered was a joy to hear.

I know for many, church is not always a fun place to be. Words of condemnation coupled with guilt, pain and other hurtful feelings can often keep you from the very place of understanding and joy God has for you. I have to say my church gathering is a joy to be around. (I also need to say not all church was like that for me.) Continue reading Enjoying The Body of Christ

A Trip To Inerton – A Dream August 5th, 2013

This morning I awoke about 4 from an unusual dream even for me. In the dream I was aboard an airplane. The airplane was flying over the Atlantic Ocean. On board with me were 2 associates. Two young women were accompanying me to what I believed to be the Olympics. As the plane began to descend, I asked where we were going, one of the young women responded, with “Inerton.” I replied with, “that’s weird, I have never heard of it.” As we were preparing to land there was tremendous explosion nearby. The plane shuddered and arced away sharply. “They have blown up the airport” I was told. “We will make an emergency landing because the gear was damaged.” As I looked out the window I saw flames and smoke. As the plane descended I began to see that we were going to land on a highway. Everything went into slow motion. As we dropped the wings began to hit poles and finally with a loud screech, we came to a stop and we settled. Doors began to open and the women and I were taken down the emergency ramps. (It was then I realized there were no other passengers, but only us and the staff.) As I tried to look around a large black car came up near us and we were scrambled into it. The car took off at a normal speed, no emergency maneuvers or evasion techniques that I could discern. Continue reading A Trip To Inerton – A Dream August 5th, 2013

God’s Sense Of Humor

(Written over 4 years ago)
Over the years one of my life, I have found that the Lord has a wonderful sense of humor and fun. (Have you ever looked at a platypus?) One of my greatest struggles to get into the kingdom, was the sense of piety(Usually false) and dried up faces. “If God is that serious, I think I will wait a while.” That was my thinking. A dried up church with dried up people.

Admittedly, I was prankster. (I still think “pranks” are fun as long as they do not hurt people.) I did not have to wait for April Fool’s Day to pull a stunt. Convincing siblings that the island we were camping on was going to sink, because “look the hole we dug is filling with water. Get in the boat!” Creatures in drawers and refrigerators. Add to the fact I grew up in an era of “children should be seen and not heard,” and you can see I was “oppressed.” I spent a lot of time in my room, coming up with new tricks. (One time I tied fish line to hangers in my sister’s room and ran it through the floor boards, and my parents spent a long time looking for that “animal,” as I gently pulled the string from the safety of my room.)

But, I finally became a believer despite my best efforts. I felt if Jesus was life and I was His representative, then I should bring life where I went. And the more I read of Jesus, the more I came to understand, He was pretty cool. I found as I read the Greek, it revealed a “man” who used sayings and words of the time, and brought about “plays upon the words” in His challenge to follow Him. Think about it…did Jesus know there was storm coming? I think so. Or He could not have berated people about their knowledge of the weather. So was He having some fun…” Am I saying God is all “fun and games?” Not hardly. But if we leave the fun out of the message we have dried up churches. I take a lot of things seriously in the Kingdom, but I am not going to work hard on the things that have been given to me.

I have challenged church gatherings that if they are going to have joy in their hearts, could they tell it to their face.

Why am I saying this? Because the church is starting to lose it’s joy. We are looking at the wold and thinking we have to walk that way. Not me. I am not saying you have to laugh all the time, but you do have a God that laughs in derision at His enemies. My children and grandchildren bring joy…and laughter to my heart. No one will ever convince me that is bad. When out of your mouth comes streams of doubt, unbelief and bad words, it is time to go back to the well. Only Sunday morning I began to think about the laughter of heaven. It was a challenge for me to think about heavenly things and not be wrapped up in the world. When my grandson Jacob laughs, who cares about the rest of the world.

Laughter is good medicine. All along, the Bible has endorsed laughter, all along we have sensed it to be true, and now, now science cites research and observations that confirm the Bible’s claims. How about it: Let’s make today one of joy and one of laughter. Make you feel better–I promise