Joy that cannot be stolen!

There is no place like home!  Not only did Dorothy say so in the Wizard of Oz, but I (Elizabeth) concur!!!  The trip in the States was a great time of being able to see family, friends, & ministry partners.  Time & time again I was blessed by God’s faithfulness & the generosity of Brothers & Sisters in the faith.  We have been praying for provision from our Heavenly Father & He has been responding.

Praise the Lord, Thursday, April 14, Leo & I were able to make a payment paying off almost half of my college loan debt.  We were downright giddy with joy & thankfulness to our Heavenly Father for His provision, as well as to many Brothers & Sisters who have faithfully been willing to be channels to His provision!  That night as we were celebrating & enjoying His presence and a time of intercession with the church body at the weekly prayer service, the enemy had conspired a plot with the intention of stealing our joy.

We came early to church that night, 6:30 p.m. and arrived home around 9 p.m..  As Leo was opening the gate I noticed that the front door to the house was ajar… not how we had left it.  Someone had broken in.  We called the police from the driveway & waited for their arrival before entering (just in case the thief was still hiding inside somewhere).

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.”  -Psalm 34:7

We don’t really have flashy or expensive possessions: car, motorcycle, small television, MacBook, Nikon camera… all still in their places.  We are convinced that either the Lord blinded the thief to walk past many of those things.  Either that, or as soon as he broke into the house of children of the King, covered by the protection of the angel of the Lord – a fear came over him to exit the house more quickly than he had entered.  The wooden door was forced open with a pic axe (which was left inside the house).  He walked through the living room & dining room, where nothing appeared to even be touched, to the bedroom we are using as an office/study and then to our bedroom.  There was a backpack by the office door which it appears that he took in order to take with him everything he stole: Leo’s computer, Leo’s iPod, electric razor, alarm clock, flashlight, a USB-photo card converter, a pair of Elizabeth’s tennis shoes, and some of Elizabeth’s jewelry.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  -John 10:10

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”  -Nehemiah 8:10b

Earthly possessions are just things.  It’s almost more unsettling the fact of someone breaking into our home & going through our things than what is no longer there.  That night we slept on the air mattress in the living room (as the front door was wide open).  Friday I went on a field trip with the boys of the Timothy School to a water park in Santiago (you can see pictures on Facebook) while Leo stayed home getting the wood door fixed as well as having a barred metal door made & put in for a little added protection.  Even while we were still sitting in the car waiting for the police, we recognized that the enemy wanted to steal & destroy our joy… not just the joy of what God has been doing in providing financially, but our hope, confidence, trust & joy in Him.   We are challenged even more to build up treasures in heaven…

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”  -Matthew 6:19-20

The joy that Jesus gave His life for on a cross so that our joy in Him may be complete.  When we look at the cross & the amazing display of incomprehensible love… the repeated tricks of the enemy fade away & we are caught up in thanking, worshipping, loving & finding inexplicable joy in our Savior.  This joy of the Lord is our strength… this joy cannot be stolen!!!

One Thought on “Joy that cannot be stolen!

  1. Amybabb Parsons on April 27, 2011 at 5:52 pm said:

    I cried reading this aloud to my husband. You and Leo have encouraged and strengthened us in our Lord. I am so thankful that He gave us both husbands whose hearts are turned to and tuned into the Lord. God is so good.We love you.

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