Joy Through the Storm: An Inspirational Collection

By L. Joy Douglas

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 14, 2010
• ISBN: 9781453557099

L. Joy Douglas

L. Joy Douglas resides in northern Indiana with her husband and their two “furry children”. Although still active in her profession as a hair stylist, writing has been her passion since childhood. This book is a collection of articles taken from a monthly column that she writes for www.ChristianOnlineMagazine.com. Her other interests include reading, photography, serving in the music ministry at her church, and dreaming of one day living in the country enjoying a simpler way of life.

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Copyright © 2010 by L. Joy Douglas.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2010911864

ISBN:   Hardcover   978-1-4535-5708-2

ISBN:   Softcover   978-1-4535-5707-5

ISBN:   Ebook   978-1-4535-5709-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

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without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Jesus, Be My Eyes

Reflections on the Resurrection

Wisdom Is My Super Hero

What I Learned from My Dog

Renewal

Just Like Dad

Me of Little Faith

Patience Pants

Leaving a Legacy

Musings On Human Nature

Letting Go

I Am Thankful for . . .

The Ultimate Interview

Snowflakes and Praises

This Is Love

Cracking the Submission Code

Rest

Guarding the Door

Goals, Dreams, Contentment & Success

Family

It’s Not About Me

Made to Worship

Confusion

Loss

Rambling

Bigger

Faithfulness in Uncertainty

Giving Thanks

Special Memories

Stillness

My Two Things

Listening to the Dreams

Joshua’s Easter Story

Beauty

He Knows

Principle of Replenishment

Your Ways

DEDICATION

To my husband Steve,

who will always be my hero.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to my family

for their constant encouragement,

Michele for always being there,

& Darlene for giving me my first chance.

JESUS, BE MY EYES

That January morning began beautifully. Even at 4:30 am, my husband was wide awake and in a silly mood. Getting ready for work, Steve teased me and told jokes until I was breathless from laughter. After handing him his lunch box and the cell phone, I kissed him goodbye and watched him drive away, offering my usual prayer for his safety.

Ten minutes later as I sorted the laundry, I was startled by the ringing of the phone. No one ever called at five in the morning so I instinctively knew it was Steve and that something was wrong. When I answered, all I heard was my husband’s voice weakly repeating my name. What’s wrong? I blurted out in a panic.

I don’t know, he replied. Help me, please help me!

By now I was fighting back tears, my heart pounding in my chest. Where are you?? He didn’t know. His voice faded. I screamed for him to hold on, that I was coming to find him.

Hanging up the phone, I stumbled up the stairs, frantically pulling jeans on over my pajamas, and sliding slippers on my feet. I grabbed my purse and fumbled for the truck keys and my glasses. It was at that moment that I realized I was in trouble. I had just undergone a series of six eye surgeries, and as a result my vision was severely clouded, making me unable to drive and causing night blindness.

Now, here I was in the middle of winter preparing to drive in the dark to look for my husband. Fear socked me in the gut, and I entertained the thought that by the time I found Steve, he would be dead or that I might be killed, driving completely blind.

Then, like the Psalmist, in my moment of despair I cried out to God. Jesus, be my eyes! I didn’t take the time to defrost the windshield. Screeching out of the driveway, I started down the road that Steve traveled on his commute to work. My head hung out the driver’s window and I couldn’t see the lines on the road. Twice I narrowly missed sliding into the ditch, but I never stopped praying, Jesus, be my eyes! Help me to find him in time!

Somehow the normal heavy traffic of that time of morning stayed a safe distance from my weaving truck, and I was able to make out enough landmarks to know which light to turn at. But I didn’t know if he had stopped in the street, pulled off to the side, or even into a parking lot. It would be so easy to go right past him. Jesus, be my eyes! There were so many lights glaring, so many colors moving in different directions. How would I ever be able to see him?

And then, just ahead on the right, I saw it. Tail lights, a vehicle parked awkwardly between the edge of the road and a cornfield. I pulled up behind the car and jumped out, leaving the truck engine running and ignoring the vehicles speeding past me just inches away. Inside, I found Steve slumped over on his side, one arm outstretched, the cell phone still in his hand. I was able to rouse him enough to get a moan and a few mumbled words, and then called for the paramedics.

It was not until many hours later sitting by his hospital bed in the cardiac ward that I broke down. As Steve rested, I told him what had happened, and about how I literally could not see to find him. We realized the miracle that God had granted us in our moment of need, when I cried out, Jesus, be my eyes!

For years, my favorite Scripture passage has been Psalm 142:3a. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who knows my way. That day, I truly understood what that verse means. When I am unable, God is able. When I am lost, He knows the path. When I cannot see, He will be my eyes. All I need do is ask, and trust.

REFLECTIONS ON THE RESURRECTION

As Easter approaches, the magnitude of that event in history leaves me in awe at times. Think of it. The Creator of all things was willing to die for every person who has lived and will ever be born! No mere mortal could have such a capacity to love so many they had never even met. Only the God of the Universe was capable of such love.

And it doesn’t stop there. Not only did Jesus die for our sins, but He rose again to complete the possibility of offering eternal life to us all! It did not end with a body on a cross and just the touching thought that He was a nice man who cared enough to sacrifice Himself. That was only the beginning. Leaving behind an empty tomb, He came back to prove His power over death and show us that through Him, we could all be victorious!

Then as I read in Matthew 28:3 & 4, it says, His appearance was like lightening, and His clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of Him that they shook and were like dead men.

It amazes me that One so powerful and awe inspiring and yes, even fearsome to those who don’t know Him is also the same God who comes to us in our time of need to