May 3rd, 2024

God is good all the time…..

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony – Rev 12:11

The hard memories from a year ago….

They continue to surface….

In all of us…

We have no choice…

We embrace the emotions….

Shed some tears…

Sometimes the memories are apparent….

Sometimes the emotions come all by themselves….

Without an apparent memory….

Just a cloud….

Not sure where it came from…

Greif….

Masked in a changed temperament…..

Less patience….

Less joy….

Less optimism….

Quick to frustrate….

Quick to cry….

Sometime the emotions…

Sometimes the signs…

Just come upon us….

Not triggered by a specific memory….

Just triggered by the season….

By the cloud that tries to follow us….

We have never let rain slow us down….

We have always chosen to play in the rain….

We are doing that in this season as well…

We shed the tears….

We cast them off….

We embrace the good memories….

When the tears come….

The thoughts of her pain….

The thoughts of the continual nausea….

The thoughts of her body shutting down….

We cast them out….

Intentionally….

We talk about our favorite memories….

We pull back into the joy she brought to our lives….

We choose a different path….

We grieve in the moment….

But that is a dark place to stay….

We pull out with the memories of her laughter….

Her joy….

Her love for the Lord….

Then we land in celebration….

Celebration in the spirit….

She is healed…

She is whole….

She is having the time of her life….

For eternity….

She has her ultimate victory…

What the punk meant for evil….

He has turned to good…..

She has her ultimate victory….

We have an intimacy with the Lord like never before….

Yes we miss her in the flesh….

But God….

His faithfulness….

Exceedingly….

Abundantly….

More….

Than we could ask or think….

I have no idea….

Where the path is taking us….

But it is His path….

And it is far better than my path….

I rest….

In His peace….

His love….

His faithfulness…

His goodness….

His mercy….

His grace….

Which is sufficient….

His victory….

His gentleness….

His patience…..

His joy…..

I find rest….

In Him….

He will never leave me….

Nor forsake me….

His Word is absolute authority….

His Word is truth….

Which never changes….

Facts can change…..

Truth never does….

His Word…..

He is the same today….

He is the same yesterday….

He is the same forevermore…..

That is where we turn….

When it gets tough in the flesh….

We turn to Him….

He continues to coddle us…..

To carry us through this season….

Not just to survive through this season….

But to prosper in this season….

Prosper in every way….

In health…

In finances….

In relationships….

In our relationship with Him….

We are not just getting by….

He is prospering us….

In every way….

I have been called to raise five world changers….

I promised my healed wife in heaven….

I would not mess them up….

They are a reflection of her and Jesus….

They are incredible children of God….

I am dating an amazing woman of God….

She has one child….

The thoughts of my five was a little intimidating….

It was a mountain compared to one….

A mountain she is willing to climb….

She said….

If I am called to add five children into my life…..

I cannot imagine a better five children….

Early on….

When we were talking about my five….

I had to correct her….

There are four….

Plus the Joseph effect….

She asked with an innocent giggle….

What is the Joseph effect….

I responded….

There are no words….

You will find out in time….

The Joseph effect….

There really are no words….

He knows more people than I do….

We are the last to leave everywhere….

Not because of me….

Not because of the others….

Because of Joseph….

He is socializing….

Mostly with adults….

He is 8….

He knows everybody….

He knows no strangers….

He knows no limits….

His life is always an adventure….

He never stops singing….

Whistling…..

Jumping….

Dancing….

He is full of joy….

Always….

I had my oldest son come to me….

Dad, there are a bunch of police next door….

Six cars and growing….

Assault weapons out….

I asked everyone to stay in the house….

I walked over…

They met me half way….

It was a SWAT training exercise….

They were here for the day….

They invited us to come watch…

They were so good to explain….

To show us the weapons….

Let us listen in on the debrief…

On the scenarios….

One at a time….

We filtered back to the house….

Except for Joseph….

He was full of questions….

They were full of answers….

They were so patient with him….

Joseph took them a mid-morning snack….

Fruit and granola bars….

He has such a grateful heart….

Such a servant’s heart….

I watched off and on from the window….

Keeping an eye on Joseph….

He can sometimes overstay his welcome….

I watched one detective….

Spend at least 30 minutes….

Walking around the squad car….

Pointing out stuff….

Answering the continuous questions…..

The detective was so patient….

Joseph just had expanders put in his mouth….

His speech is a little impaired as he adjusts to the appliances….

The detective was so patient….

At one point….

Joseph took his bible over…

He sat in the grass…

He read while they trained….

After lunch…

He wanted to pray with them….

I asked him if he wanted me to go with him….

No, I think I got it dad….

He circled them up….

Prayed protection over them….

Prayed Psalm 91….

He is a prayer warrior….

Near the end of the day….

He charged into our house….

Dad…..

DAD…..

I need my nerf guns….

We are going to have a battle…..

Sure enough….

He grabbed every nerf gun….

Every nerf bullet…..

He charged back next door….

We all followed….

It was slow to develop….

The officers needed a little training….

The boys patiently taught them how the guns worked….

With the same care and patience the officers showed them earlier….

The battle began….

Teams slowly formed….

Joseph was dominating…..

It was every bit of an hour….

Fun….

Sweat….

Laughter….

From all….

Joseph….

The SWAT team….

The spectators…..

I think everyone had an amazing time….

He has a new list of friends….

He will never forget….

He will see them out and about….

He will run to them….

Even if it is a year from now…

He will run to them….

As if they were best friends….

The officers will remember him….

His new friends always do…..

That is the Jospeh Effect in action….

They changed his life….

He changed theirs….

That happens with almost everyone he meets….

I cannot hold back the tears….

The tears of joy….

The tears of a proud father….

I can see it….

His healed mom in heaven….

Standing with Jesus….

Jesus nudging her….

Pointing at Joseph….

That’s my boy….

My healed wife in heaven corrects Him….

No, that MY boy….

They wonder off arguing….

Who’s boy he is….

That is the Joseph effect….

There is a group of amazing 18 year old boys we know….

They argue over which one of them Joseph likes most….

That is the Joseph Effect….

His presence is full of joy….

He is a thermostat….

He changes the temperature of a room….

That is the Joseph Effect….

He can make anyone smile….

He can make anyone grimace….

That is the Joseph Effect…..

He pours out the love of Jesus in all that he does…

The Joseph Effect….

It is not something to be described….

It can only be experienced….

He has given himself to the Lord….

The Lord is using him….

The Lord is using all my children….

I can write just as much about each of the others…

Each in their own way…

Are world changers….

Making a difference for the Lord…..

…..All the time God is good.