Joy to the World

I am convinced that one of the enemy’s goals is to rob me of joy as I serve the Lord. Fortunately, his schemes become evident to me more quickly now, but that doesn’t mean I am immune to his fiery darts.

For several months after we arrived in Manila, the imminent visit from Joey and his friend James in December was one of the things that kept me going. I couldn’t wait to see them and share our lives here in the Philippines with them. Due to scheduling conflicts, Joey didn’t come with us when we went down to Puerto to join in the new church’s Christmas celebration. I was disappointed, and I suppose that put a “chink” in my armor through which Satan could begin his work. Expectations have gotten me into trouble more than once in my life!

Here I was, walking into the village where God had done amazing transformation in people’s lives, with my husband and a good friend, and I was allowing the enemy to hang his little rain cloud over my head. Not only that, but I had this distinct thought of “I hope I don’t see Joy today.” Joy is a 10 year old girl who has become dear to my heart. She lives in the village, and had recently begun attending the church. The last two times I was down there, she had asked if I brought the picture of us together that Alex had taken, but, sadly, I had forgotten to get it printed. Once again, I forgot to bring it with me, so I was hoping I didn’t run into her.

While Alex and James were paying the women for their bracelets, I wandered out into the pastor’s yard to take some pictures of “village life.” Little kids were running, some were sitting and singing around one playing the guitar…it brought a smile to my face.

Then here comes Joy and her friends, bounding up to me. To be honest, as soon as I saw her, even though I didn’t have the picture with me AGAIN, I was happy to be there. I sat down and the girls gathered around me and we started to chat and get more comfortable with each other. I told them I wanted to learn more of their names, so took a picture of them and wrote down their names in order so I could remember. (I always have to write things down now! Ha-ha.)

Joy was carrying around the small English/Tagalog New Testament I had given her months before, and suddenly she said, “Oh, I have a verse I want to show you.” At first she was remembering the wrong reference, I Corinthians 3:20, so we looked…No, maybe it was II Corinthians…nope. Did Galatians sound right? Then someone said “Revelation.” That was it! She turned to Revelation 3:20 and read a verse often used in sharing the gospel, although that is not the true context of the verse. But God’s word is alive and sharper than any two-edged sword, right!?! I took a picture of her as she read with her friend looking over her shoulder. Apparently Pastor Al had shared this verse with her. She said, “After I read this verse, I prayed it. Pastor Al taught me how. Do you want to hear my prayer I prayed?” Of course! So she began, “Dear God, I know I do bad things, like hit friends at school…” (I had to laugh inside at that one…Joy is pretty spunky, I could see that happening, ha-ha.) Then she said, “I can do it better in Tagalog, is that okay?” Sure! So she closed her eyes and recited her whole prayer of salvation in front of me and all her friends. Praise GOD!

This was so exciting!!!!!!!! No wonder Satan did not want me to see Joy that day! God was going to knock my socks off! Joy to the world! The Lord has come and is working in Puerto Galera! One more life over which angels have rejoiced!