Unexpected Joy

 

As Christian poets and writers, we have an endless source of ideas in our Judeo-Christian Bibles (aka OT and NT.) We’ve also encountered hard times and heard about those difficulties that happened to friends, family, or the day’s headlines. With God’s guidance, connecting those experiences with appropriate scripture can help our readers to know they’re not alone, and, more important, have the Lord on their side. The Psalms offer many examples of this, so let’s look some other numerous examples in the Bible:

 

In Lamentations 3, the prophet Jeremiah wrote about his misery. Here’s how the King James Version of the Bible presents those times:

1. I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of His wrath.

2. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.

3. Surely against me is He turned; He turneth His hand against me all the day.

4. My flesh and my skin hath He made old; He hath broken my bones.

5. He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.

6. He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.

7. He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: He hath made my chain heavy.

8. Also when I cry and shout, He shutteth out my prayer.

9. He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, He hath made my paths crooked.

10. He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.

11. He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: He hath made me desolate.

12. He hath bent His bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.

13. He hath caused the arrows of His quiver to enter into my reins.

14. I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.

15. He hath filled me with bitterness, He hath made me drunken with wormwood.

16. He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, He hath covered me with ashes.

17. And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.

18. And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:

That’s a lot of trials and tribulations!

At times, many of us have wondered if our prayers were being heard. I have, and after the deaths of close friends and family members, I’ve felt terribly sad and lonely. I suspect you, too, can identify with some of Jeremiah’s difficulties.

Occasionally known as the “weeping prophet,” Jeremiah lived over 500 years before Christ, and yet his faith in God sets a good example for us to end laments today in our contemporary writings.

 

Jeremiah's Hope

 

19. Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

20. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

21. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

22. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

23. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.24. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.

 

For other examples, fast forward to the New Testament: Everyone who was acquainted with Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, surely knew how much she wanted a child, but many, many years went by, and nothing happened. Her family likely shared her sorrow, but when they heard of the birth of John, all that immediately changed.

 

“Elizabeth’s neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown very great mercy, and they shared her joy,” Luke 1:58.

 

After the crucifixion and burial of Jesus, His disciples and other followers suffered profound grief, confusion, and disappointment. Then early Sunday morning, the women who had stayed by Him, went to the graveside, only to discover the tomb open and an Angel of the Lord in brilliant white clothing sitting on the huge stone.

 

“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell Jesus’ disciples,” Matthew 28:8.

 

That Bible passage illustrates the ultimate joy through Jesus’ resurrection, but that joyful delight came after the saddest day ever experienced – even for God the Father.

With the Lord in our lives, our writings in every genre can express the joy of the Lord. Readers can relate and take hope as they learn of difficult times and see how God brought unexpected joy and good as only He can.

 

Mary Sayler

 

 

 

 

 

Learning to Love the Whole Body of Christ

Losing any part of the human body causes pain and the subsequent adjustments needed to compensate. The more body parts lost, the greater the pain and time needed to cope. And yet, over the centuries, this very loss has happened to the Body of Christ.

Some Christians get distrustful of attempts to reconcile or reassemble, and I once fell into that wary category too, but the Lord had something else in mind. As God-incidence would have it, various job transfers gave my family the opportunity to get to know almost every denomination: Evangelical, Fundamental, Pentecostal, Orthodox, and Liturgical.

With each move, we looked for a church home where we felt the presence of the Lord, and, with each change, we learned to love yet another part of Christ’s Body on earth.

Initially, for instance, hymn lyrics and tunes were a priority, which encouraged singing praises and words of faith – still remembered decades later. Another church home emphasized Scripture, taking us through the whole Bible in three years or less and helping us to recognize God’s purpose and perspective from Genesis through Revelation.

Other churches focused on the Holy Spirit, making us aware of God’s desire to live with us and within us, today and forever, whereas Liturgical denominations filled us with appreciation for God’s creation through prayer, poetry, and art.

Do you see how each part of the Body has a place, a purpose, and something to add to the whole?

God loves all of His children! As we make an effort to understand where our siblings in Christ are coming from, we begin to realize we have the same Heavenly Father, the same Savior and Lord, and that our differences are primarily personal preferences and gift we’re given – gifts mean to be shared to edify the whole Church.

Even if we don’t feel comfortable visiting a church without an invitation or a member to accompany us, we can get to know denominations with which we’re not familiar by investigating their denominational websites and focusing on what we have in common.

With God’s help, we can pull ourselves together and do whatever we can to bridge our differences, make peace, and repair the breach. What a positive and powerful impact the whole Body of Christ on earth will make on our troubled world.

 

Mary Harwell Sayler

 

A few of many relevant Scriptures:

Romans 12:5, “Though many, we are one body in Christ, and individual members of one another.”

Colossi an 3:15, “Let the peace of Christ govern your hearts for to you were called to be members of one body.”

Ephesians 4:16, “Christ makes the whole body fit and united through the support of every joint. Every part does a job, so the body grows and is built up in love.”

 

Where Do You Want Your Words to Go?

 
“Ouchy! Ouchy, I stubbed my toe!” Hopefully, such words do not need an audience. Even if we’re in a room with a compassionate person, who says, “Oh, Poor Baby!” we really don’t need to commemorate those words in writing.

Unfortunately, many writers, including Christians, crave attention for every woe and complaint, often going on and on as though no one will understand without lengthy explanations. That sounds like a harsh assessment! But it’s true, and I pray it gives us all cause to pause and question our purpose in writing.

If we say, “God called me to write!” Excellent reason! That happened to me, too, so our job then is to follow up by writing FOR him and letting HIM write through us. (Oh, I pray He does so now!)

Decades ago, I sensed Christ Jesus showing me His nail-pierced palms and saying, “Heal My hands.” Since I think of churches around the world as being the Lord’s hands, I took that encounter to mean He wanted me to do what I could to help bring the church Body of Christ back together, holding hands, working together, and making a unified difference in the world. At the moment, we seem more polarized than ever! But I keep praying and writing whatever God puts on my mind.

But, back to the topic of considering where or to whom our words go. When my children were growing up, I wrote Sunday School take-home papers for young readers – both Bible stories and little contemporary stories children could relate to as “take-aways” for their lives. This meant using short sentences – the younger the reader, the shorter the words and paragraphs too.

Later, writing for teens required another vocabulary and more grown-up tone, even if the overall message remained the same. For example, children of all ages need to know that God WILL work things out for good for all who love Him (Romans 8:28.) And, yes, for all who are called according to His purpose, which most likely includes children who do even know yet what that means. Regardless, how you approach that or any topic must consider the most relevant level – beginner to advanced. 

So consider using a favorite scripture as a theme, then deciding where you want your words to go. To whom will you speak? Then, as you think about your choice of readers, ask yourself:

What do we most likely have in common – love of God, problems with relationships, enjoyment of a hobby or activity, the same denominational preference?

What type of tone might be most effective – playful, serious, conversational?

Do I want to inspire readers by offering daily devotionals, uplifting poems, encouraging articles, stories illustrating problems overcome by faith in God?

Do I enjoy research? If so, what topics would I like to investigate – scriptural takes on worship, medical issues, artistic endeavors, technical concerns, mental health, insomnia?

Do I want to educate or inform?  For instance, when a “military neck” became a pain in the neck and an aching back affected mobility, I wanted to find out various causes and treatments, so I started researching medical journals (found online via state libraries) and trustworthy websites such as NIH (National Institutes of Health.) Each entry required at least six reputable resources, but eventually, the research lead to two life-health encyclopedias written for Facts on File with a medical professional in the field to proof the entries.

The above examples offer only a few to consider before writing. Then, let each theme, purpose, and genre draw readers with whom you can connect, speaking in an appropriate voice. Of course, if you want to write about the strong reactions caused by most toe-stubs, go for it, but don’t tip-toe around. Investigate. Research. And, always, always be the very readership God had in mind for His written word.

Thank you for commenting below, asking questions, suggesting topics for future posts, and subscribing to this blog. May blessings abound in your writing life in Christ.

Mary Harwell Sayler

 

 

 

Let’s Hear It For John 3:17!

 

Church-goer or not, anyone who’s watched football on TV or been to a game has surely heard of John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes on Him will have everlasting life.” That’s a promise –the most vital one the Lord gives, assuring us of His plan for our salvation.

Unfortunately, many people do not believe they’re worthy of such a hope. Or they think Christ came, but not for them. And that’s where John 3:17 comes in. As the verse says: “For Christ did not come into the world to condemn the world, but that, through Him, the world might be saved.”

What constitutes the world? The earth and the physical beings who dwell here. That means people. And, “people” includes every human being, every person, me, and, of course, you.

The guarantee of John 3:17 has nothing to do with how good we are or how depraved! Whether we’re little-goody-two-shoes or people too ashamed to hold up our heads, God’s will is for all to be saved – for all to spend eternity in the presence of His endless love.

So, how do we get there? Jesus Himself answered that question. When people asked, He replied: “This is the work of God, to believe in The One He has sent,” John 6:29.

For Christ didn’t come into the world to sentence us and jail us in hell! The Lord wants our faith in Him to enable us to receive the forgiveness, saving grace, and eternal love He offers to all who believe.

 

© 2025, Mary Sayler

Betraying Jesus

 

At the crucifixion, all the sins of the world landed on Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice freely given by the unblemished Lamb of God – God’s Son, Who took all our blemishes to His grave, left them there, and, on Easter, arose without them.

If, however, we think all the blame of this landed on Judas, the definitive betrayer, we would be wrong. For, as Jesus carried our sins, Judas carried our blame.

Hopefully, this poem, published decades ago in A Time of Singing will help to clarify.

 

Is It I, Lord?

I, who love you more
than others, more than self,
deceive you? Never!
An enemy perhaps – or a friend,
(trying to be kind, you understand.)
But not you, Lord.
Oh, no! Oh, no, not you.

Then who or what or how
will someone else
betray you now?

Through hurting words –
cruel cutting swords
of eyes or lies, deceiving...?
In their own righteousness,
believing...?

Oh, my God!  My
God, it is I!
It is I
who crucify.

 

©1984, Mary Sayler

 

God messaged me through music

Since I grew up in church, hymn lyrics provided the primary poetry in my life. Well, that and Robert Lewis Stevenson’s A Child’s Garden of Verse. Decades later, I can still recite some of the latter. And I still like to swing and eat animal crackers but without the cocoa. However, the words to hymns escape me until the music begins and kinetic memory beckons me to sing along.

During the day, I usually turn on instrumental versions of classical hymns to fill my home with memories and uplift my spirit. Often, those same old favorites run through my mind, and I like that good company.

This week, though, an internal recording got stuck on a tune I’d heard but couldn’t recall the words. What made this disconcerting was hearing the phrase, “And shall be till I die” play on automatic repeat!

I tried to change the music in my head, but after a short intermission, there was that phrase again, “And shall be till I die” – playing over and over and…. So, I did what most people now do. I Googled the phrase. Up popped “There Is a Fountain” with sheet music showing five verses, the second-to-last of which ended, “And shall be till I die.”

By this time, I was sure God was trying to tell me something, so I couldn’t help but wonder if He were telling me I’m going to die. Yes, we all are, but I was hoping to wait a while. Nevertheless, with a little trepidation, I read the lyrics of that fourth line, and here’s what I found:

“Redeeming love has been my theme; And shall be till I die.”

Yes! Thank You, God! I can live with that theme! And, Lord willing, that theme – that purpose – shall continue in me until I die.

Amen!

 

©2025, Mary Harwell Sayler

 

 

God, me, and overhanging trees

Living on a fixed income means keeping down expenses and praying for God to provide, especially when something untimely – like a hurricane – happens. In Florida, such a storm caused an unexpected surge in my homeowner’s insurance, even though I hadn’t needed to make a claim.

After many emails, a few phone calls, and a couple of changes in coverage and companies, I lowered my insurance bill considerably. Two months later, however, the new company advised me that the branches hanging over my roof had to be cut back in thirty days or the policy would be cancelled.

Actually, I’d been concerned about those ancient branches but figured I couldn’t afford to have them removed. With no choice now, I started looking for a professional tree service but couldn’t decide who to call. I needed a recommendation. And I prayed for the Lord to provide someone I could trust.

Since I had a lunch engagement, I went. Coming out of the restaurant I saw a half-dozen county workers in yellow slickers, so I walked up to them and asked, “Do you know someone reasonable and reliable I can call to cut back several tree branches?” They pointed to the guy in civies standing right behind them.

As God-incidence would have it, the man owned a tree service!

We agreed on a time the next day for an estimate, but rain forecasts caused us to reschedule for the following morning. And then he didn’t come. Or call. I even left a couple of phone messages but didn’t hear back.

I was so very sure God had arranged for this help that I decided to wait until Monday to call someone else. But who? After Sunday worship, I asked my church family if they could recommend a reputable and affordable tree service. A friend pointed to a card on the bulletin board and said, “They’re the ones who did work for the church.”

Monday morning, I called, and the owner of the company said he could come right then. He did. And his estimate was less than I expected, even though he agreed to do more. He even accepted credit cards! And he promised to come the next day.

We chatted a bit, and he said, “You might be wondering why a professional service would be available this quickly.” Well, yeah. Then he told me how, for a couple of weeks, a glitch in his phone had hindered calls. Sometimes the phone worked; sometimes it didn’t, so he finally went to buy a new one, but keeping his old number. He was coming out of the phone store when I called – the first call on his new phone.

Perfect timing! But as you know….

Things don’t get perfectly timed unless God orchestrates the circumstances.

And I would not have made that call when I did if I hadn’t waited until Monday to find another tree service.

And I wouldn’t have waited if I hadn’t believed God provided that first possibility, which He obviously did.

The Voice Bible translates Romans 8:28 like this, "We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan." 

Even tree branches aren't out of His jurisdiction to orchestrate - anything, anywhere.

Amen.

 

©2025, Mary Sayler