By Chaplain Joy Le Page Smith, MA

You might wonder, “Where are you going with this?”

As a chaplain, I find many people do not think much about whether there is life after the one we are living now. Since daily life is quite preoccupying, it seems this is a matter that is easy to push aside. This is also true for people in regard to individuals completing their official end-of-life paperwork. I have witnessed many difficulties arising from the question, “Who can be the voice for this dying patient who cannot speak for herself or himself?”

According to the Pew Research Center, about three-in-ten U.S. adults say they have created 1) a will that describes what to do with their assets and belongings after they die (32%), and 2) a living will or advance health care directive in case they are unable to make their own medical decisions (31%)

Most people think death is not a sure thing—so, they do not want to think or plan for it. This seems to indicate the majority of our population are in denial about the fact that no one knows how much time they will have on this planet.

However, when people get to their 70’s and 80’s they are more apt to prepare wills and medical end-of-life paperwork. It is easy to understand why. If one is fortunate enough to live that long his or her human body has begun to change. Changes can be hard to take. Every day these are seen in the bathroom mirror, plus felt in various body parts. There is no ignoring it. And this serves as a reminder of the fact that no one can hang out here forever.

One woman told me while hospitalized, “Aging changes everything! I feel cheated. I get emotional about so many doctor appointments and sometimes need to make mad rushes in an ambulance to the hospital when my heart acts up like this.”

I knew she was widowed and said, “It must be extra hard to be alone at this time. Do you mind telling me, what helps you get through moments when you feel alone in the world–and cheated by the ageing process?

She said,” I think of my family and my grandchildren. I think of the love they have for me. I also find help in reading my Bible as I feel loved there, too. But my eyes are getting bad and it is hard to read . . . I cannot attend small church groups that meet during most weeks of the year. And I can’t get to church much as I do not feel well enough to dress up, then drive myself there. Sometimes I am housebound for weeks on end. I miss having people around me.”

I thought of the fact that not many people in their 70’s and 80’s are seen in the services we attend.

The patient was very thankful for our visit and was receptive to my offer to pray with her. Thankfully, she told of her pastor having paid a visit to her bedside.

During old age, we live on the truth that a better life with God is what comes next. Scripture tells us God is love. I believe we are given the gift of life to learn to love. Loving God, self and our neighbor, for the most part, finds us following the Good News Jesus taught.

Other powers that support us during the hardest times of life come in believing in God’s promise that there are better times ahead for His children. Although being a senior citizen is tough I believe God uses the growing old process. Never before has life extended a better opportunity to grow in humility, patience and kindness (especially to your spouse). Endurance and gratitude do–without a doubt hold power.

These “fruits of the Spirit” come at a price . . . and they are beyond priceless. They are “the gold” and the goal post for a Christian getting ready for what’s coming next–“the real deal.”

Be sure to know all parts of the journey count—the good, the bad and the ugly. We learn from every phase of life. Often what gains a mammoth amount is learning to control ourselves. Nothing is lost–no pain, or sorrow . . . no suffering experience . . . as all helps to bring us more and more fully into being who we can be for goodness and for God. His purposes can and are being fulfilled in us. The rewards in heavenly places do come. Some here and many later. Scripture tells us these will be beyond what we can imagine.

The patience and endurance God has shown to me is beyond what I as a human can comprehend. I sometimes wonder, “Why do You love me so much?”

I hear in my heart, “Because you are mine; my very own child.”

I hear in my heart, “Because you are mine; my very own child.”

Joy Le Page Smith, MA, is a Board-Certified Clinical Chaplain. Her two websites are reaching readers in up to 77 countries. They carry many helpful articles addressing life’s difficulties:

 Healingwithjoy.blogspot.com

Healing-with-Joy.com 

By Chaplain Joy Le Page Smith, MA

(Initials of C.A. are used to grant anonymity.)

People often ask “what do chaplains do.” Below a “patient verbatim” extends an example of how a chaplain works with a patient.

While doing patient rounds, a doctor asked me to see a patient. He handed me a room number and said, “This woman is having severe pain in her stomach. Yet, after doing every possible test I cannot find a cause.”

When I arrive in her room the woman is curled up in a ball and does not appear to want a visitor. I sit in a chair nearby. Time passes. Inwardly, I pray for wisdom, as compassion is already there. In time, she faces me. I say, “Your doctor tells me you have a lot of pain.”

She says, “Yes, I do. But he isn’t able to help me. All my tests are coming back normal.”

I see her eyes are beginning to well up with tears.

Tell me about yourself, C.A.” I ask.

“Well, I’m in my sixties. These were supposed to be my Golden Years.”

“Aside from being sick, right now, what do you find to be enjoyable in life?”

“Nothing.” Now, tears are slowly making little paths on her cheeks.

“Are you retired?”

“I was forced to leave work.”

“What does it mean to you to be forced to stop working?”

“It is hell! That’s what it is,” she says with great fervor. “I think that is why I’m in this hospital bed!”

For the next hour, the woman reveals her story. Her elderly mother became ill two years before. There is no other family member who can take care of her mother except this daughter. She speaks of feeling saddled with a situation she has no way of avoiding. Now, her face hardens as her history spills out. Her mother abused her while she was a child. No measure of a meaningful relationship developed between them. Tears begin to actively flow. I wait, knowing there is more. Yes, now the sobs are coming as she tells of being a Christian . . . yet holding hate for her mother all these years.

“I tried to care for her…but those memories just kept coming back. I never felt safe around her. Even as an adult, she pushed my buttons. I think she must have enjoyed it!”

Sobbing begins again. (Many tears have accumulated through a lifetime of resenting this mother.) Here, in the hospital, she faces her sorrow full throttle.

“Have you ever talked to anyone about this?” I ask.

“No. I’ve been too ashamed to admit this. It is something I can’t get over.”

“What about your pastor. Do you think it could be time to let your pastor in on this?”

“No!” She nearly shouts. I am a deacon in my church. Please understand! I cannot go to him!”

“OK, I understand that. You said earlier that you believe your stomach pain has to do with the care you feel duty-bound to give your mother. It is obvious a lot of emotion is present as regards this relationship. Would you like to pray with me for a healing of those painful memories?”

“Yes. But first…I need to tell you how sorry I am for what I have done.” Silence follows. I know not to talk when there is this kind of a pause. She is gathering courage to go on.

“I have been hitting my mother.”

“Oh,” I say. While taking this in I’m searching for words. A big breath is needed as I realize this confession carries as much guilt and shame for this patient as it took courage to tell me.

I say to her, “I am so sorry. This is a lot of pain for you, isn’t it?”

She covers her mouth, then says, “Oh, yes! And, now I’ve finally told someone. I hate myself for doing this–and I am afraid I will do it again!”

Knowing that within this hospital we are a team and that we will not let that happen again to this woman’s mother, I continue here. I can extend to her what priests, pastors, and chaplains find in our hearts for those who confess.

“God forgives when we confess our sins. God waits until we are ready to bring Him into our pain.”

She cries again, saying, “I have asked to be forgiven every time I hit her. I fear her verbal jabs at me. At times, these are more than I can bear and I’m not able to control myself. Now, I can’t forgive myself for how many times I’ve slapped her face–even while hating myself for doing it.”

“My dear lady, things will change now that you have told me this. Our staff here at the hospital will see to that. Changes will be made. You will no longer be taking care of your mother.”

“What will happen to her?” She is startled. Her elderly mother’s care fell to her, as her mom has no money to provide for herself.

“I can assure you that this is beyond you, now. Experts will figure out what happens next. Your mother will be cared for. And you will not be doing the care. That is something you can count on.”

I feel sadness for this woman, knowing the state steps in when elder abuse is involved. Here lies a safety issue that mandates reporting. Therefore, this patient’s future remains to be seen, as elder abuse compels a legal judgment. I hope that judgment can be delivered with compassion. Still, my part of the hospital’s teamwork is to tend to the patient’s spiritual care. I encourage her to seek her pastor’s help from here on. priests, rabbis, pastors and imams are part of the hospital team. Although not on the hospital’s staff, all of them are important players in the work of helping and healing patients. As a hospital chaplain, knowing this is comforting. It is of vital importance that ongoing spiritual care be made available to this woman. She will soon leave the hospital and no doubt receive the emotional care, going forward as decisions are made. The significance of abusing her mother will be felt—and dealt with.

“Would you like for me to read a passage of Scripture?” I ask.

“Yes. I would like that.”

I turn to Isaiah 1:18-19 and say, “Let me condense this passage a little bit to show what happened just before God spoke these words to His children. God was tired of watching sin continue within the ranks of His chosen people. God had succored them and performed outstanding miracles among them. He had extended mercy over and over again while seeing their bad behavior. But they continued doing what they knew they should not do.”

I am watching her face while talking, making sure she sees my compassion, not judgment.

“God faces up to the children of Israel. He tells them that their behavior has to change. He then says something that may be very meaningful to you today. God says they are forgiven–fully cleansed–and will meet with blessing if only they will be obedient and have a change of heart. God leaves no doubt in their minds what He wants. He expects His people to follow the ways and the will of the Lord.”

I pause, watching her demeanor. She is with me, soaking in what I’m saying. So, I continue, “Now, listen to these beautiful words: ‘Come now, let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’ God is assuring His people that once forgiveness is given, the heart is cleansed. God does not hold past sins against us when we are truly sorry.”

She looked at me with hope in her eyes. In the stillness of a long gaze, I sensed something was already taking place in her heart. I want her to take the lead. So, I wait.

“Would you please pray with me?” she asks.

“Certainly, I will. But I would like you to start the prayer.”

She is willing and I am moved while witnessing her fervent prayer for her heart to be cleansed “as white as snow.” She also asks God for a change of heart toward her mother. I see a sincere outpouring of sorrow to God. I pray next, asking for this patient to begin the process of forgiving her mother for those difficult, early years–and for the healing of her mind, her spirit, and her body. Together we say The Lord’s prayer. Afterwards, she adds, “Thank you, God. I feel such peace!”

I know this patient will be discharged soon. I have no idea what will take place for her once a social worker and I talk. It will be the social worker’s job to report the abuse to the authorities. Then, the state will make sure continued care is provided for her mother. By the time this patient is discharged, the team here will have a plan in place for her mother’s ongoing care.

Working as a staff hospital chaplain means the next day’s demands take priority over the previous day’s challenges. I wish to know more about the future of this patient. Yet, part of a chaplain’s job is to let go and move on. Back at the chapel, however, I had some emotions to work through and more prayers to say for these two women. Even to this day, I pray for each of them to be healed whenever the Holy Spirit brings them to mind.

Joy Le Page Smith, MA, is a Board-Certified Clinical Chaplain. Her two websites are reaching readers in up to 77 countries. They carry many helpful articles addressing life’s difficulties. Visit Healingwithjoy.blogspot.com or the hone page at: Healing-with-Joy.com 

By Chaplain Joy Le Page Smith

Have you ever trusted someone–thought they were your friend only to receive a dreadful blow as a result? Many of us, probably the majority of us in varying degrees, have been deeply hurt by another… maybe by a former spouse, or an abuser who took us by surprise and made our world seem much less safe.

God never asks anything of us unless it is for our good, our growth and enhancement in preparation for the larger picture– say eternity. “You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies,” (Jesus in Matthew 5: 43-45). Wow! Imagine it! Such a tall order. Yet, we can succeed at “letting it go” by setting our wills to forgive that person (as many times as it takes). Otherwise, this matter can lie on our souls like battery acid. Therefore, the inability to let a matter go will continue to hurt us deeply.

So how do we “love our enemies?” The mere thought of “that individual” can be painful. Well, Jesus said to pray for them. I did this in two very hurtful situations within my life and found I did not think of it as “loving” those two persons, but that action no doubt was seen as being loving in God’s sight. That act of setting my will to “let God be God,” as per my being harmed, then to pray for my enemy to change—actually changed me—by giving me a sense of freedom.

Believe me, that effort took a lot of work to bring me to the place where I could genuinely pray for the souls of those two. This was not easy or short-lived. However my determination to pray for them to reconsider their behaviors—for the sake of others as well as for their eternal good–worked wonders. I could finally let go of the hurt. This brought strength to me once it was fully worked through.

You might ask, “How can I do that? I was brutally harmed?” With God’s help we can do anything. And we cannot hide from ourselves, saying “It doesn’t matter.” It does greatly matter to our souls! Being honest with how deeply we were hurt is vitally important. Telling our story to a counselor, a pastor, a priest or a rabbi is vitally important as well. This helps us to shove it up and out of our souls… given time, we can let it go.

The saying “let go and let God,” truly helps us realize that we cannot change what happened and we cannot change anyone. But God can.

Forgiveness helped me to keep telling myself that God was with me and kept me alive. Being alive is a very great gift… having the ability to finish my growth, becoming who I could grow into being is priceless.

Old memories do arise. They come back. I use a visualization that shows me kicking that memory (not the person) in the hinney, seeing the memory fly out of my mind. The unconscious mind is where healing is needed. That is the part of one’s mind that responds to the images we give it. On the other hand, our minds give us pictures through dreams, mental images and sometimes visions.

Taking the path of becoming all God knew we could be when we were first conceived opens the door to becoming a “magnificent me.” Yes, it works to think highly of ourselves. It supports our being as wholesome as we can be.

Try it. You will like it!

Joy Le Page Smith, MA, is a Board-Certified Clinical Chaplain. Her two websites are reaching readers in up to 77 countries. They carry many helpful articles addressing life’s difficulties:  Healingwithjoy.blogspot.com or, Healing-with-Joy.com 

Be sure to check out Joy’schildren’s video FREE. 

By Chaplain Joy Le Page Smith

A “fellow” chaplain who is also a treasured friend called after reading the post of titled, “At what age do you think you daughter will be ready to read this?  She said, “Your article could help extend some ‘candlelight’ for young people, but you can’t stop there. What about readers who have difficult memories arise as they read what you wrote for the woman whose story you promised to “get it published.” Can they trust you to be there for them?” 

Yes.  She is right. I had to deal with my own triggered memories of a bad experience in keeping my promise to write the woman’s story. The truth of old, buried pain can surely arise to hurt once again when it is triggered. Whether it is something sudden, abusive or alarming that happened to us–or to a close loved one–we don’t want to be forced to revisit it. We feel assaulted again. And we do not like the moldy-mildewed feelings that arise.

Some of us do some self-blame. For some reason we seem to always have “what ifs,” thinking we could have done something to keep “that” from happening. This is false guilt. It does not serve us well. There is no help whatsoever in thinking “It was my fault.”  And, it is not fair to ourselves.  We all make mistakes. We cannot “do” this life without them. Mistakes teach us what works well and what does not work well.

Scripture is very specific about this: God does not want us to live with guilt or shame. The Scriptures show us the need for repentance when we have chosen to do something wrong. The way forward is bringing everything that concerns us to Him through prayer.

One of the most beautiful passages is in Matthew 11: 28-29, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Everything we ever do or experience is in “cold storage” in our brain. It is in our subconscious mind and can arise. This, at times, helps us when memories come up. And at other times it is for sure a memory can hurt us. The files of Jeffery Epstein that have in part been opened have brought up very difficult memories for many people.

Many years ago the Lord gave me a way of coming to Him, allowing Him to relieve me of a painful memory, about a plaguing situation that had me stirred up. It is a visualization that works with what is currently happening or what is coming up from my subconscious mind:

I call this “An Inner Healing Exercise” and use it when the experiences of life are difficult or painful. For best results, lie down (or sit quietly) envisioning the entirety of your torso covered by a huge sponge. See the Lord Jesus placing this sponge on your body, holding it there (or sightly over your body). Envision Him as sending love into your soul.

Next, purpose to let go the difficult feelings while visualizing them being released from your body and soul into the sponge. (I visualize vapors leaving my body while releasing the feelings.) Do this as long and as often as you need to while letting go of the pain you are feeling. At points, envision Jesus coming alongside and with His big hands He squeezes the sponge dry, then gently extends it again so we can do more releasing.

The subconscious mind works with pictures, images created by dreams, or by our creating them consciously. For this reason, an exercise such as this allows the message of healing to be received by the subconscious mind where healing is needed.

If tears flow, this is good. It will help you release the painful emotions and bless your body with relief. Tell yourself that love is flowing like a river into your heart and throughout your entire body, replacing the pain. Offer thanks to God as you receive healing. This is a process; it takes varying degrees of time, depending on the depth of the pain.

I find the exercise even more helpful when it is possible to fall asleep within the process of releasing the pain. This allows the healing to move deeper into the subconscious mind where restoration is needed.

We learn how to defeat false guilt by recognizing it, then releasing it. We can say, “My spirit is done with that” when we feel responsible for something that is out of our control–or carries false guilt.  

“False guilt comes from saying no to people . . . . The only true guilt comes from saying no to God.” From Paul Tournier’s Guilt and Grace.

Visit Healing-with-Joy.com for many articles dealing with the difficulties and uncertainties of life.

Prepared by Joy Le Page Smith, MA

Each Scripture passage listed below has strengthened, inspired or encouraged many people through the ages. Much of what God is about can be found within these readings. These brief offerings, one from each book of the Old Testament followed by one Biblical passage from the New Testament, capsulates intrinsic truths for a vital and vigorous life.  [Biblical chapters is shown at the end of each passage followed by a colon then the verses follow.]

All Scripture quotations, in this publication are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ® NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. All rights reserved worldwide. (Unless an exception is identified.)

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Exodus 3:14 – “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘ I
AM has sent me to you.'”

Leviticus 11:45 – “I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be
holy, because I am holy.” [“Egypt” can be seen as representing our sinful state before we
hear God’s call to us to be like Him.]

Numbers 14:18 – “The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.
Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; He punishes the children for the sin of the fathers
to the third and fourth generation.”

Deuteronomy 6:5-6 – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your
hearts.” [See Exodus 20 for the 10 commandments and Matthew 22:36-40 for “the greatest”
commandment according to Jesus.]

Joshua 24:15 – “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves
this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or
the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we
will serve the Lord.”

Judges 6:14 – “The Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have . . . am I not sending you?’”

Ruth 2:12 – “May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by
the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”

1 Samuel 16:7 – “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man
looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

2 Samuel 7: 22 – “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there
is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.”

1 Kings 2:2-3 – [David’s charge to Solomon] “I am about to go the way of all the earth. So, be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in His ways,
and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and requirements, as written in the Law of
Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go”

2 Kings 23:3 – “The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the
Lord–to follow the Lord and keep His commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart
and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the
people pledged themselves to the covenant.”

1 Chronicles 16:15-16 – “He remembers His covenant forever, the word He commanded, for a
thousand generations, the covenant He made with Abraham, the oath He swore to Isaac.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and
pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will
forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Ezra 3:11-12 – “With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; His love to
Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because
the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.”

Nehemiah 8:10 – “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Esther 4:14 – (Message to Queen Easter) “Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

Job 13:15 – “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him; I will surely defend my ways to His face.”

Psalms 34:7 – “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers
them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.”

Proverbs 19:20 – 22 – “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.
Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails . . . What a man
desires is unfailing love: better to be poor than a liar.”

Ecclesiastes 12:1, 13, 14 – “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days
of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them’. Now
all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His
commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into
judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”

Songs of Songs 8:7- “Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one
were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.”

Isaiah 6:8 – “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for
us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’ He said, ‘Go and tell my people.’” Isa. 30:21 – “Whether
you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the
way; walk in it.’”

Jeremiah 29:11-14 – “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper
you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me
and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you
seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back
from captivity.’”

Lamentations 3:22-33 – “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust—there may yet be hope. Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace. For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.”

Ezekiel 18:22b- 23 – “’Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live. Do I take anypleasure in the death of the wicked?’ declares the Sovereign Lord. ‘Rather, am I not pleasedwhen they turn from their ways and live?’”

Daniel 9:18-19 – “Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the
city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but
because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act!”

Hosea 2:23 – “I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those
called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people;’ and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”

Joel 2:13 – “Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is
gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and relents from sending
calamity.”

Amos 5:14 – “Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with
you, just as you say He is.”

Obadiah 1:17 –  “But on Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be holy . . . .”

Jonah 2:6-7 – “But you brought my life up from the pit, O Lord my God. When my life was
ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.”

Micah 6:8 – “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of
you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Nahum 1:7-8 – “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in
Him, but with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of [Nineveh]; He will pursue His foes
into darkness.”

Habakkuk 3:19 – “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
He enables me to go on the heights.”

Zephaniah 2-3 – “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight
in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Malachi 3:16 – “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing
in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.”

One Passage from Every Book in the New Testament

Matthew 1:24-27- “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into
practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams
rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its
foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put
them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down,
the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great
crash.”

Mark 1:14-15 – “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good
news of God. 15 ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent
and believe the good news!’”

Luke 9:20 – “’But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered, ‘God’s
Messiah.’”

John 3:16-17 –“ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the
world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Acts 4:31-33 – “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they
were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 32 All the believers were
one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they
shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.”
Romans 3:23-24 – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

1 Corinthians 13:3 – “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of
these is love.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 – “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting
away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary
troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes
not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen
is eternal.”

Galatians 5:22-25 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Ephesians 1:5-8 – “In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in
accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has
freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with
all wisdom and understanding.”

Philippians 1:9-11- “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in
knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may
be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes
through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

Colossians 2:13 – “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh,
God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins”

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 – “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your
own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win
the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”

2 Thessalonians 3:11-13 – “We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are
not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ
to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of
doing what is good.”

I Timothy 4:12 – “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an
example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

2 Timothy 1:8-10 – “So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.
Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and
called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own
purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰ but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

Titus 3:3-5 – “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all
kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one
another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not
because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the
washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously.”

Philemon 1:4-7 – “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your
partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who
began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right
for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in
chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.”

Hebrews 4:14-16 – “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into
heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a
high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been
tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

James 1:22-25 – “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his
face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he
looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues
in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

1 Peter 1:3-4 – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he
has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you,
who by faith are shielded by God’s power until of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in
the last time.”

2 Peter 1:3-4 – “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our
knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given
us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the
divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

1 John 3:16-18 – “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we
ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions
and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in
that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in
truth.”

2 John:5-6 – “And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have
had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in
obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that
you walk in love.”

3 John 1:11- “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is
good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.”

Jude 20-22 – “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and
praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22 Be merciful to those who doubt . . .”

Revelations 3:20 – “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and
opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Dear Reader,

If you are interested in entering the peace, comfort and joy God gives to those who belong to Him (our Creator)—plus eternal life—here is how to start:

“Jesus, I want to begin following ‘The way’ You taught. Please cleanse my soul from the wrongs I have done. Strengthen and feed my soul so I can grow, becoming the person You knew I could become when I was first born. Amen.”

For support in your decision and your growth in faith please see the post “Being God’s child is a choice”

Healing-with-joy.com hold many articles that help with the difficulties of life. Also a FREE video of my children’s book.

By Chaplain Joy Le Page Smith, MA

This post is different from all others and  it is “a hard read.” It is extended here to inform for the purpose of protecting women. The story below is accompanied with some facts that are difficult for most of us to comprehend: slavery is present–both sexual and labor slavery–in the USA. The following life experience shared below reveals a ploy used by devious, perpetrating men who are sexually abusing women. Then, after the abuse, which totally weakens a woman causing her to feel alone, vulnerable, overcome and undone–this is when the prospect of prostitution as a lucrative livelihood may well be proposed. 

The woman who entrusted this story to me knows she has little time to live. She came to me, a chaplain, asking if she could trust me to publish her story, adding, “I don’t want to die without knowing that by telling it, I am lighting a candle for other women.”  

I could see how painful this matter is for her. She added, “Although it shakes my soul to tell it, doing so holds power to help keep others safe.”

While promising to publish her story, I assured this woman anonymity will also be granted. Title proposes a question for parents:

At what age do you think your daughter is ready to read this?

If you think “never,” think again. The subject, here, involves a larger problem in our country than we, the US citizens, have wanted to acknowledge. After reading the latest issue of Time magazine which carries an article involving Jeffrey Epstein, I knew my story must be told.

Back in the 1960’s I had no idea there was a monstrous scheme alive and well in the small city where I grew up. My ignorance was pay dirt for the team of men who “befriended” my friend and me at a bar. They were handsome and appeared to be successful businessmen. After dancing with us, we were invited to a party. We were both divorced, members of the same Sunday School class at church, and in our early 20’s dancing was our “fun thing.”

Neither of us had experienced more than a couple of occasions where alcohol was served. We could not know how drinking can alter judgment. We both agreed to go to the party; however, the men took us in separate cars. I learned later that my friend was taken to the party. I never told her why she did not see me there. This was a team unfolding a devilish scheme.

There was no party for me but rather I was taken to a vacant apartment in the most exclusive part of downtown, overlooking the city’s expansive park and surrounding mountains. As we arrived, I thought this would be the place where the party was being held. But when this “new friend” unlocked the door of an apartment, and ushered me in, no one else was present. Once we entered, he immediately began trying to touch me! I was shocked to the core and highly frightened realizing the deception I had walked into and now THIS! I asked to be taken back to my car.

He got very close to my ear and said loudly, “You will have sex—with a beating, or without a beating.”

I quickly recognized I was in real danger; no one knew where I was. No one knew where they could find me. The man was obviously stronger and much larger than I was. It was clear I could not fight him off and with my health history being beaten would carry a strong possibility of my not surviving it. The only way I could get out with the least amount of harm—was to make a very huge sacrifice. Complying would bring my best hope to be taken to my car without “the beating.”

When I was taken to my car I was also asked, “Would you like a job that pays well?” I played along asking about the job and was told, “It’s spending evenings with businessmen entertaining them. Really good pay.” I was still in a huge amount of shock, fear and angst, hoping to get out of his car as fast as possible and home to my children. I, with my children, lived in the home of my parents after my divorce. That evening my children were being cared for by their grandparents while I had an evening out with my girlfriend. So I played along saying, “OK.” He said, “You will get a call soon.”

A call did come very soon. Thankfully, the number I gave was the only number I had, my parents’ phone number. For it was my father who answered the call that came late one evening. He must have smelled a rat. I heard him shouting in rage from my bedroom telling the caller he had better NEVER call his daughter again!

It took years before I was ready to talk to a counselor. One session was all I could handle.  It helped me let go of the shame I had had for so long after giving in to what was demanded of me. My counselor said, “What you did saved your life! You are alive today because you made a quick and wise choice under exceeding pressure.”

I recalled seeing this man at a class reunion and that he was an attorney, married to a classmate. I later felt sad and guilty over not feeling able to report to the police what had happened. But my life was already broken apart through a divorce that lasted nine months as my former husband had started a legal battle intending to prevent me from divorcing him. It seemed obvious the courts were mostly favoring the requests of men back in the 1960’s. I decided to move on in a survival mode so my children could have as normal a life as possible.

I had a mental breakdown soon after arriving back home. The damage done included being sexually assaulted in such a way as after the fact, I felt like I had agreed to it.

Even after so many years have passed, considerable guilt accompanies the memories if I let them arise. I have known my inability to speak up undoubtedly allowed this same scheme to continue hurting the lives of others. Along with that, having my life threatened if I did not obey a perpetrator’s mandate made my world seem exceedingly unsafe.

The experience of losing my ability to decide how my body would be touched makes the memory of being assaulted hard to release.

Life has been affected in several ways after being raped. Some days I feel fear about taking a walk within my own good neighborhood. A feeling indicating “something bad might happen” is familiar. This is an apprehension that has to be shaken off at times.

The reason victims do not want to tell their stories after being raped is because something has been taken away from us. I have innately felt “if people know what happened to me, they will think less of me.” Of course, that is not true. Still, a victim of sexual abuse wants to live beyond it. We do not want to think about it as we do not want our thoughts or the thoughts of others to include that dark, painful place in our past. We live our lives best in the goodness of the present. Life itself is a present.

Be sure to check out my homepage: Healing-with-Joy.com for many articles about to help with difficulties in life. View children’s video FREE. 

By Joy Le Page Smith, MA

This means those who believe in Him have opened their hearts to Him when they “heard the knock.” What a privilege it is to have heard the knock! I am referring to the scripture, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock, If any man [or woman] opens the door and answers, I will come in, (Revelations 3:20). 

From there on, we glorify God with how we lead our lives. What does that mean? Well, it does not mean we are perfect. We are growing into His perfection. We are on a very beautiful growth path. We hear His nudges and are learning to follow. Like I heard the nudge to call a friend last week to ask how she was doing. She cried and said, “How did you know I was having a hard time?” It was the Lord who knew while I, like all other believers, try to keep ears open to that Voice within. It is an exciting way to live.

It is hard to believe our lives “glorify God,” but this prayer of Jesus’ in John 17:10, helps us understand. He was praying for His disciples and said to His Heavenly Father, “All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.”

As followers of Jesus–more than any words we say–our lives tell the story. We no longer are all about serving ourselves. No, we have “sight and sound” coming within our hearts that find us doing what we can to also make life good (or better) for others, as we encounter them within our daily lives. We have no need to make it obvious. “It just happens.” It is in our hearts to do what God prompts us towards. At points we may not be very well liked by some who are looking on. 

Jesus knew His teachings would make us different and He said “I have given them your Word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world,” (John 17:14). Some persecutions can come to believers who are following the guidance of God as they live their lives.

Jesus was hated so much by the religious leaders of the day that He was killed–hung on a cross between two thieves to die! Even people who think they know God, yet are following a regime of their own making, can be majorly misled. God’s Word is trustworthy for those who honor it as coming from the Divine Creator of all that exists.

A post titled, “How can we trust the Bible to be true?” holds answers to questions you may have. You can use the search option of this blogsite to reach it, or use this link: http://healingwithjoy.blogspot.com/2024/10/can-we-trust-bible-to-be-true.html

May we all be highly blessing within this day . . . as we celebrate the life or our Lord and how He came to live among us and to teach us how to live holy lives. (Not perfect, mind you, just “holy.” And, we learn as we go.) 

How wonderful it is that the grave could not hold our Lord–and His shed blood is known to cover our sins as we receive Him as Lord, Master of our souls, and seek to follow His will for our lives.

By Chaplain Joy Le Page Smith

While treading on earth’s surface, the webbing that captures the feet of many are easy to see. Human nature, left to itself, generally finds us pursuing fame, fortune, popularity, personal power, and the pleasures of the flesh. These temptations can lure us big time.

Fortunately, it is possible within this life experience to avoid those temptations of our carnal natures, as the Scriptures of the Holy Bible urge us to “overcome” the world.

There is only one who has lived perfectly on this earth fully resisting the temptations of the world. It was God’s very own son, Jesus Christ, who died because people present at that time did not take on the powerful challenge of the truth He extend—the truth is that all could have received His Spirit. However, at that time in history (and many times since) believers in Jesus have had to give up their lives because of following what He taught as “the way.” Yes, they were martyred for their faith. The darkness of the world opposes the Light that comes from Christ.

When we choose devotion to Jesus’ teachings, we are giving ourselves to the cause of Christ through continually listening to how He leads us. This affects the way we treat others and how we take care of ourselves. It is a loving way of life.

Jesus who came to the earth, lived among us, earned a living as a carpenter. He experienced all we must endure. He then portrayed the ultimate way of laying down one’s life. For, His death fulfilled God’s rescue plan. Through the gift of His life, His death, His teachings, our souls can be saved. Yes, SAVED. We take up our crosses within life and follow the way of Christ–the Anointed One—therefore gaining eternal life. Meanwhile, in the now, we have empowerment to live beyond the webbings of carnality; we overcome the desire to go our own way and do our own thing. How? Because God makes us “new creatures.” God now lives within our souls as we “believe and receive” His guidance day-by-day.

Jesus knew overcoming the flesh, the world and the devil would not be easy. But His teaching “the way” now finds us mastering life through His love.

 Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” If this sounds engaging, try it as the peace that comes through living “the way” is quite amazing.

Being a Christian who follows “the way” is about choosing to live into a loving relationship with God. It finds us doing what our hearts call us to do that lightens the load of another. Even small, caring things can touch and lift lives, although often unseen at the time. Imagine what it would be like to make time—holding space in life–for visiting a person who is sick or to take a meal to a couple who is going through a tough time. There are many ways we can invest ourselves as we listen and follow as God leads.

The Bible says in 1 John 4:10-13, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.  By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” Yes, His spirit abides in the souls of believers.

We are at the time of year when “Easter” is celebrated. This is our Paschal Season, a 50-day liturgical period in which we recall and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, His ascension, and the descent of the Holy Spirit. It is a time during which believers reconsider wholeheartedly the fact we have been redeemed from our sins and our failures no longer hold sway. We rejoice in God’s amazing, loving rescue plan and how it empowers us daily to truly live this life God calls us to embrace! And that, my friends, is a life laden with joy.

Be sure to check out homepage: Healing-with-Joy.com for many articles offerikng help with difficulties in life. View children’s video FREE. 

By Chaplain Joy Le Page Smith, MA, BCC

One of the hardest things for senior citizens is to stay upright. But this can be a problem for people of any age.

I was surprised–my life turned upside down–when I got up from the kitchen counter and found myself face down on the floor. recently. I had no idea why my “get-up-and-go” did not work out as usual.

Unfortunately, my right (dominant) upper right arm is broken, my shoulder shattered—plus diagnosed at the hospital as having a head injury.

When the dominant hand is not available your life is immediately changed. The fall happened six weeks ago and has taken about that long to get over the shock of this happening to me. I think of those who live with pain continuously with little hope for change. What a blessing it is to pray for others as much as for myself.

My next thought is that I could share with readers something that is helping me get past this. If you are someone suffering despair, heartache, or physical anomalies presently, I would like to extend to you an easy-to-say healing prayer.

While breathing slowly, say aloud or only in your heart, while inhaling a long breath, “I’m breathing in the love of God and His healing power.” Then while exhaling that breath slowly say, “I’m sending my love to God with praise and thanksgiving.”

For me, after saying this breath prayer several times, it brings my soul into a place of rest and peace about where I was and what is happening to my body that has so greatly changed my life.

Another thing that is helping me, a lot, is right before falling to sleep at night my husband and I pray “God bring your joyous presence into every atom of our bodies, head to toe, healing whatever is needed to be healed.”

We go to sleep with that prayer, asking God to allow our lives to be as healthy as He intended when He first began the creation of our two souls–which was a long, long, LONG time ago!

Faith is a wonderful thing!

“…count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”  James 1:2-4

By Chaplain Joy Le Page Smith. MA

It happened to be the only time in my history in which every drawer, cabinet and closet in my house was clean, meaning set in order. Our entire house received a “going through” as my mother would say. Even the door to the pantry can now be left open without shame or blame. Not a weed could be found in our yard and the plants were each trimmed and fertilized. The garage is next. We had a goal towards “spic and span.” But In the process of this, there was a surprise. 

Our three sons were young, having growth spurts and Gary and I were . . . let’s just say “not quite prepared” for finding startling pictures in our 11-year-old’s bottom dresser drawer. “What to do” rang in our heads. We decided to pin each of those pictures on the four walls of the kid’s bedroom. It felt  kind-of fun.

But, when he came home from school, went to his room—our son did not come out of his room for a very, very long time. We sat at the dinner table calling for him to come join us. Finally, he did. His face was solemn and white as a freshly washed sheet. He looked—well—stunned.

Needless to say we never saw girlie pictures in our home, again. Fortunately, our son was healthy enough to take this in his stride. It could have been different. And, after the fact, as parents know—that was a dumb thing to do to a kid! I have always felt some pangs of guilt when I remember his face that day.

Well, no one alive is guilt free. And, as adults, how about venturing into our mental drawers, meaning those places where we hold beliefs and ideas that do not serve us well? So often these are hidden away and we do not think they are of any harm . . . then a phrase or statement pops out of one’s mouth that reveals them. Oops.

Take for instance a statement I heard a person say recently, “What does God have to do with anything?” Well…maybe EVERYTHING. But, none-the-less, the man was entitled to that belief—even to express it, given freedom of speech.

Our beliefs do formulate childhood for the most part. Some experts have agreed that by age six, a person’s belief system is reasonably well formed. It is probably safe to say only a small portion of humanity questions beliefs formed early in life. And, we know that adults believe what they want to believe.

It is highly uncomfortable to change a belief. Mostly, we much prefer to leave things “as is” when it comes to long held beliefs. So, people often get stuck with self-confidence, self-sufficiency or self-assurance that can produce prejudice and pride if we do not keep an eye on our beliefs. How much self-scrutinizing are we up for when it comes to our beliefs; frequently, we excuse happenstances opting to spew “it’s all’s good,” or some other self-justifying statement. However, problems come when our beliefs find us behaving in ways that cause us to lessen our authenticity, meaning we become people who are less likely to make a difference in the large scheme of things. Of course God is always there to do nifty clean ups when we ask for help.

For some of us there is a resentment drawer. The mere smell of it keeps us from opening that one too often. Still, we dare not leave it to smolder. I feel sure the Lord would say, “Forgive it. I have forgiven you, after all.”

These are deep places of the soul that deserve periodic pondering.

Thinking of what Holy Writ says about this brings Luke 8:17 to mind, “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.”

Back to our mistake with our son, it did not take long for us to know that we had hurt him by what we chose to do with those pictures. Comfort comes in something a minister once said, “If parents were perfect, children would grow up worshiping them, instead of finding their own need to connect with God.” To repent simply means to be sorry, then turn and go in the opposite direction. “Looking back, I recall the sweetness of apologizing while also reminding our son to remember what we’ve said about wanting to see naked bodies. We then promised this 11-year-old could clean his own drawers going forward. We hugged and finished our dinner.