Choosing Joy

 

Today, I want to remind you that joy isn’t just a feeling; it’s a choice.

 

Don’t get me wrong, it’s easier to choose joy when the feeling is there, but your emotions don’t need to have the final word. I can’t help but grin as I write this article because I’m re-playing in my mind typical morning conversations with my daughter. 

 

My baby loves to sleep and when you tell her that sleep is over, the amount of attitude that exudes from her little body is amazing. After wearing my patience down to the nub, I remind her that joy is a choice by asking her very “calmly” to ‘change that face, little girl!’ 

 

I’d like to report that my words carry deep influence and she is instantly obedient, but every parent knows the struggle. Her response is insightful though, “I can’t. I don’t know how.” Her words strike me every time because I know how she feels. Emotions can be overwhelming which, at times, makes choosing joy or a better attitude feel almost impossible. 

 

Over the last few years, I’ve sculpted my response to that question and have come up with a strategy to help her choose joy. It’s not a foolproof plan because the emotions win the fight half the time, but I believe I’m teaching her how to fight. I want to give my daughter the tools to make hard choices when everything inside of her is telling her to make the wrong one. 

 

So here is my strategy to choose joy: 

 

Worship God. This may be foreign to you but I’d encourage you to give it a shot. This simply means to sing and/or meditate on the goodness of God. There is a Bible story in Acts 16 about two missionaries who were thrown in jail and beaten. After the beating, as they sat in the jail cell, they began to sing and worship God. It’s an amazing story because, as they sang, an earthquake shook the prison and the doors swung open and their shackles fell off. The story ends with a jailer and his family deciding to accept Christ and a church was started in the Roman colony of Philippi. 

 

I’m convinced by this story, and by my own experience, that focusing on the presence of God changes your internal temperature in your current reality. There is something special about worshiping the God of the universe that puts our lives in the right perspective. My daughter and I worship God together almost every morning.   

 

Be Grateful. My initial attempt to help my daughter change her attitude is to ask her to say out loud three things she is thankful for. The first couple of times this didn’t go over so well. As I said, it’s still a struggle! The goal is to give her the tools to choose joy. At times, the tool can be a difficult one to use but practice makes perfect. 

 

Being thankful helps shift our focus away from our emotionally charged reality. Most bad attitudes come from unmet expectations, so the best counterattack is to think of the things that have met or exceeded our expectations. Remember Acts 16? The church that was started in Philippi? Well, a year or two later this church faced difficult circumstances and Paul (one of the missionaries beaten in jail) encouraged them to choose joy and to rejoice amidst their challenges. In Philippians chapter 4, he writes, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” 

 

Be a Giver. Once again, many of our attitudes are affected by the things we didn’t get; expectations that were unmet. Doesn’t this ring true in a season that can be overwhelmed by materialism and the “I want’s”? If we aren’t careful, disappointment can carry us to dark places and sometimes the only way to get us out of those places is to begin doing something practical. There is a fine line between being “fake” and practicing a practical discipline until your internal attitude catches up. 

 

I think of this every time I jump on the treadmill at the gym. My attitude stinks and I don’t want to be at the gym but I force myself to walk for 30 minutes and afterward I’m a completely different person inside. 

 

Being a giver is a discipline. It’s a practical way of saying that it’s not all about me. If you truly want to access a joy that supersedes your attitudes, you have to remind yourself that life doesn’t center around you.  

 

My prayer and hope for you is that you learn how to choose joy! Worship God as often as you can, fill your mind with the things you are grateful for, and give as much as you can. I truly believe if you are proactive in these things, your life will be full of joy. 

Blessings,

Pastor Chad 

Chad Fagundes is Men’s and Outreach Pastor at Koinonia Church in Hanford, CA. He can be reached at chad@kchanford.com or 559-582-1528.

None of us pray enough

Our church is entering a season where we intend to ‘up’ our prayer game – except, it’s not a game. Prayer is the lifeblood of every follower of Jesus. It is our desire that, at our church, God will see that, “my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” (Isaiah 56:7)

 

 Jesus’ death not only restored us to God but also gave us direct access to God through prayer. Before that, only the high priest was permitted to enter the temple once a year. He went into the holy of holies, where God’s Presence dwelt. On that one day, the priest made atonement for the sins of all the people. (Hebrews 9:1-7) Jesus’ death and resurrection gave each of us direct access to God through prayer.

 

Prayer is how we communicate with the Creator of heaven and earth. Prayer is how we worship God. Prayer is how we make our troubles, requests and the desires of our heart known to our Father in heaven. Prayer is how we support and stand in the gap for our family, friends, our church, our community, our country and our world.

 

If God’s people don’t pray, then heaven’s power does not connect to earth. If we don’t pray for ourselves and others, who will? If we are followers of Christ, prayer is our duty and our delight.

 

Here are a few questions to consider:

 

1. Are you worshiping God in prayer? Do you express your love and thankfulness to Him?

 

2. In your times of trouble, are you wallowing in the pit or crying out to God in prayer?

 

3. Are you expecting someone else to intercede for our world against sin and evil - or will you?

 

4. Are you praying for your children and grandchildren and for the next generation to know God and reject the temptations of Satan and of this world?

 

5. Do you know someone, or several ‘someones’, who need to know God in a personal way?

 

People NEED for us to pray:

·  for hearts to be softened

·  for people to have a humble heart to ask God for forgiveness

·  for God to provide an open door for an encounter with Him

·  for protection

·  for our families and communities to follow God’s plans

·  against the devil having have his way in our world and in our lives

 

6. Are you praying enough?

 

I know I’m not. Sometimes, it seems that it can never be enough. I can do more, however. So, I’m upping my prayer game because I strongly believe that God can do ANYTHING and that there is so much POWER IN PRAYER.

 

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.”

 (1 Peter 3:12)

 

 

Sylvia Gaston is Family Ministry Pastor at Koinonia Church in Hanford, CA. She can be reached at sylvia@kchanford.com or 559-582-1528.

Burning Questions for Bible Characters

Currently, there is a TV series playing on the internet and in an app called “The Chosen.” It explores the lives of Jesus’ disciples and imagines more details than were included in the Gospels. As a writer myself, I have been fascinated with how the writers and director of this series have taken what we know in the Word of God and dramatized it for us to get a better understanding of what it might have been like to walk alongside Jesus.

 

After watching several episodes, I began to think about what it would be like to interview other people from Bible? Such as…

 

Adam, what were you thinking?!

God told you not to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. What part of his command did you not understand? Not only did you eat the forbidden fruit but, when confronted by God, you blamed your wife! Not good form, Adam. In the end, you learned a very hard lesson and you and Eve went on to be obedient and faithful. Today, we can all relate to your temptation and your ability to overcome, learn and move on from terrible mistakes. (Genesis 3)

 

Rahab, how did you get the courage to help the spies?

You were already an outcast as a prostitute, yet you had the courage to hide the two men and tell the King’s guard that, “Yes, the men were here earlier, but I did not know where they were from. They left the town at dusk…” (Joshua 2:4-5) Then, you went on to ask the men to protect you and your family during the coming battle. Amazing! And despite your background, you were accepted into the Israelite community, married and your family tree went on to include King David and, eventually, Jesus.

 

Isaac, how did you feel when your father tied up your hands and put you on the altar for sacrifice?

I just read this chapter the other day (Genesis 22) about your journey to the mountain with your father. His faith was being tested as well as yours. You had to have to faith that he was leading you on a journey. You had no idea what God had asked of him, and you obediently followed his directions. You must have been frightened but, your faith, and that of your father’s, delivered you both that day.

 

Balaam, why didn’t you obey the Lord?

Your donkey was smarter and more obedient than you were! On the one hand, you knew that you needed to consult the Lord for permission to respond to King Balak’s request, and yet you took off on the journey and angered the Lord. Good thing your donkey was more afraid of God and His angels than you were! (Numbers 22-24)

 

Esau, why did you let your hunger rob you of your birthright?

I can really relate to why you would let your hunger rule your common sense. I, too, think of food first in most cases. You came home from a long day, encountered the wonderful aroma of Jacob’s stew, and simply had to have it! I feel the same way around spaghetti! When Jacob would not give you any stew without first giving him your birthright as first born, you let your stomach rule your head. (Genesis 25:29-34)

 

Simeon and Anna, how did you sustain yourselves through a lifetime waiting for the Messiah?

We have all had promises and events we have waited for, but the two of you were faithful in the midst of very dark times for Israel. Simeon, I have often thought of how you must have felt when you held the baby Jesus in your arms at the temple. You were gazing into the infant eyes of your Redeemer! (Luke 2:25-35). And Anna, you came upon the moment when Simeon was prophesying over Jesus (Luke 2:36-38). I can picture the two of you standing side by side, astonishing Mary and Joseph with your enthusiasm and joy.

 

Luke, how did you become such an amazing investigative reporter?

As a fellow writer, I am always impressed with your extensive research and documentation about Jesus’ life and the Acts of the Apostles. What was it like to interview all the people who witnessed the miracles of Jesus? You even traveled with Paul and watched him preach and wrote down all those details of his extensive journeys.

 

James, your brother Jesus came to you after his resurrection. You had thought him crazy. What were his first words to you? (1 Corinthians 15:7)

I can imagine that everything you had ever heard about your older brother began to make sense. You were fearful for your brother and the fact that the authorities were after him. It is so touching that Jesus appeared to you and then the rest of the disciples. It is no wonder that you went on to be one of the leaders of the Jerusalem church.

 

There are many more people from the Bible who would be very fascinating interview subjects such as husband and wife team, Priscilla and Aquila, who supported Paul in his ministry; Philemon and his slave, Onesimus; Timothy, Silas and Titus. In the Old Testament, Noah would be top of my list! I would ask him about seeing rain for the first time and what it was like to watch all the animals come to him to be loaded into the ark. Moses, David, Isaiah, Daniel…and the list goes on and on.

 

Next time you read your Bible, ask questions, not just about what you are reading, but about the interesting people that God spoke with, called to service and loved so very much.

 

 

Paula Aiton is a member of the Koinonia Church worship team and a freelance writer, musician and artist. Her blog, ‘God’s Glory Girl’, can be found at godsglorygirl.com

The Good Life

Happiness, health, financial security, mental and emotional wellness, and balance are just some of the things that most of us consider to be the components of ‘The Good Life’. Regardless of culture or socio-economic background, people long for these attributes in their lives. American people are struggling more and more with attaining these goals. Kathy Caprino, author and leadership coach, describes these qualities as something people “desperately desire, but can’t seem to attain.” Why? Because we are looking in all the wrong places.

 

For a lot of us, these things are conditional, and we base them around our current circumstances. We make our hope and happiness depends upon our relationships, our careers, how much money we have, etc. So, we pour ourselves into our circumstances and wind up disappointed because things never go quite the way we imagined them. If our life is based on the conditions of our circumstances, then are we really living ‘The Good Life’? 

 

Society tries to sell us the idea that it can be obtained by making lots of money, eating lots of food, drinking lots of drinks, and having the freedom to do whatever makes us happy. The problem with this thought process is that happiness is an emotion, and emotions are fleeting. Everyone is subject to pain and heartache at some point in their lives. It is a part of humanity. We can have perfect plans and but, as Kathy Caprino states in her article, “We just can't seem to grasp what we desperately want.” (The Top 8 Things People Desperately Desire, but Can’t Seem to Attain).

 

The truth is that ‘The Good Life’ is actually a side effect of pursuing a relationship with Jesus. When we follow Jesus, we trust that He is watching over us, guiding us, and listening to our prayers. This doesn’t mean that we will never experience pain or heartache. It means that, in the midst of pain and heartache, God is with us, comforting, providing, and caring for us along the way. 

 

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is in Matthew 6:31-33. “Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” 

 

This passage reminds me of everything I need to live. It isn’t dependent on what I can do on my own or on the current circumstances of my life but rather is found not when I’m seeking it. It is found when I’m seeking God.  Here are a couple things to remember when you find yourself unable to find what you seek:

1. Have Faith. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

-Hebrews 11:6

 

God wants to reward our faith! 

2. God’s plans for your life are good. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “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.”

 

God has a plan for each of us, and His plans for us are good. What a relief that we don’t need to rely on ourselves to reach ‘The Good Life’, but know that God already intends to bless us beyond what we can think or imagine when we seek Him first. 

 

 

Marina Guzman is Children’s Ministry Director at Koinonia Church in Hanford, CA. She can be reached at marina@kchanford.com or 559-582-1528.

 

Expect His Glory

Expectations can change everything. A few years ago, my family planned a week away to the beautiful Lake Tahoe. It was a beautiful adventure that was timed during the fire season. This left the normally breathtaking views to be nearly completely covered by a thick off-white cloud of smoke. It was still very beautiful, very fun, and a wonderful time with family.

 

But, many of our family members had researched Tahoe before we left and, therefore, had a slightly different picture in their heads. This set up many people to be a bit underwhelmed and therefore disappointed…by Tahoe! Even with the smoke, it was one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve ever seen, but I had lower expectations. I knew the smoke was there. I expected it, therefore I was less surprised and it was easier for me to catch the beauty.

        

I recently read the story of Lazarus who was raised from the dead by Jesus. Lazarus’ sisters, and even His disciples, had mixed expectations. They knew the Lord Jesus loved their brother and could do miracles, so they knew He could intervene. But they had no idea He would delay. Actually, Jesus delayed intentionally so that “they may believe.” It was for a strengthening of their faith that Jesus allowed that suffering to take place. He even shared in that suffering. He was not immune to it. He wept right alongside the siblings.

        

I believe that the expectations of Lazarus’ sisters for WHO Jesus was kept them from sinful responses to their loss. They knew He was the resurrection and the life and that Lazarus would return in the end. This Hope in the end and this Hope in Jesus allowed them to suffer and not blame God.

        

It is tempting to blame our trials on God, because we know God uses trials for our good…so it seems like He is the source. But God is the source of our healing, our strength, and the hope for future with Him. If we believe God will keep us from trials, or keep us from suffering, we set ourselves up for unmet expectations. Unmet expectations lead people away from walking with the Lord. I never want my struggles to hurt my faith. I want my struggles to strengthen my resolve to seek more of Jesus!

 

So, there are three things I can expect:

-Suffering

-God to be present

-God to be glorified

 

Romans 5 tells us that suffering produces perseverance, character and hope. I love that what the enemy uses to break us down, God uses to build us up!  God doesn’t want His followers to be weak. He does allow us to be sharpened and refined. Therefore, I can expect trials of many kinds.

        

Psalms 121 describes God, “He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” He’s not taking a break from keeping things running. Even in the vilest of situations, which seem like pure evil, we can be confident and live expectant that even in that darkness, God is present.

 

Just as Jesus declared in John 11, “God will be glorified!” He recognized that the death of Lazarus was going to lead to the miracle of life.

 

I want my life to point to the glory of God. I can choose to allow God to be glorified THROUGH me or DESPITE me. I choose through me. I will stay close to Jesus, and strong in trials, allowing God to receive the glory for carrying me through it all. God is glorified even in the difficult things. Plus, we know God is victorious over all things in the end, even all of the effects of sin. This is the expectation we can live with today.

 

How do these expectations change the way you see your today?

 

 

Candace Cortez is Executive Pastor at Koinonia Church in Hanford, CA. She can be reached at candace@kchanford.com or 559-582-1528.

Known by God

 These past couple of months have been troubling for all of us. In one way or another, we have been impacted by inflation, gas prices, rent, getting our kids ready for school, navigating new careers, as well as local and global events. My wife and I have been in an extremely fortunate position to be able to assist a few of our friends and neighbors amid these events. Since nobody is immune to the items listed above, I believe it is crucial for believers to reach out to those around us, all while being available to be used by God.

 

To be honest with you, my wife and I were able to assist those in need because God has blessed us with resources and, for another simple yet overlooked reason, we knew people around us in need. These people are friends, family members, and neighbors. This got me thinking about how we tend to gravitate to help people who we know. Just as we see our friends standing in the lunch line, we immediately cut the line because we see people we know. If we are driving around town and we see somebody familiar walking down the street, we are more inclined to give them a ride because we know them. This is nothing new, and I believe it is human nature to increase our chances of helping each other if we know the people who are in need.

 

Do you know that you are known by God? It is true. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are known by God. I am reminded of Galatians 4:8-9: “But in the past, since you did not know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods. But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elements?”

 

I love this passage for a few reasons. One, it has a direct contrast between knowing God and not knowing God. For those of us who follow Jesus Christ, there was a period when we did not know God. But now, since we know Him, there should be a difference in our lives, a complete contrast. Second, it is not enough to just know about God; the key is to follow God. In following Him, we become known by Him.

 

Think about that for a second: God knows you. That means, if you are going through challenging times, God knows you, and He is willing to help you. I think about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying for you and me - so intently that He was sweating blood. I think about the injustice He faced, as a victim of crimes He did not commit and suffering a horrible death. He has experience loneliness, pain, turmoil, abandonment, stress, and weariness. I have experienced some of these things a few times myself, and Jesus knows this in its entirety.

 

I think back to when I used to play soccer in high school, and I had to run mile after mile just to build endurance. Looking back, I vividly remember not minding the running so much; after all, I was not alone doing all those crazy soccer drills. The unbearable moments in life are somehow manageable when we know that other people are in the same boat that we are. Remember that God knows us through and through. He has experienced what we are going through, and He knows you.

 

Just as we go out of our way for those that we know, trust that God knows you and has not forgotten you. He knows what you need. He knows what you are going through. This truth should also drive us closer to Him as our will, soul, and mind can be strengthened by knowing that Jesus has gone through it. Not only did He experience what we have, He made it to the other side. He is in heaven seated at the right hand of the Father, in full glory and grace.

 

May I remind you that – if you know God – He has not forgotten you. If you are not sure if you are known by God, let me show you how to know:

 

But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.”

-1 Corinthians 8:3

 

What does it mean to love God? Let’s look at what Jesus said:

 

“If you love me, you will keep my commands.”

-John 14:15 CSB

 

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word…”

-John 14:23 CSB

 

It is clear that if we follow Jesus, doing as He has said and done, then we are loving God. For those that love God, they are known by God. God does not forget those who He knows, and He will always be there to encourage us along the way.

 

 

 

 Mauricio Paredes is Junior High Pastor at Koinonia Church in Hanford, CA. He can be reached at manny@kchanford.com or at 559-582-1528.

Hunger for God

We can be hungry for a lot of things: food, money, status, possessions. There are many things in this fallen world that attract us and create that deep desire for acquisition or the simple satisfaction of basic needs. When you've had a good meal, you feel content. When you've reached a milestone in your career, you feel accomplished. When the real estate agent gives you the keys to your new home, you feel excited and fulfilled. However, when you look deep inside your heart, are you truly satisfied?

 

There is a desire in us to be accepted, loved and protected. All of man’s endeavors can be traced back to this desire. In the end, the greatest desire of man is relationship, and the greatest relationship we have is with God.

 

In the book of Genesis, we learn that God had a very intimate relationship with Adam and Eve. In fact, even after they had sinned and eaten the forbidden fruit, God was walking in the garden looking for them. He was seeking them out; but His heart was broken when He realized what they had done.

 

“When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So, they hid from the LORD God among the trees. Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”   Genesis 3:8-9 NLT

 

Until Jesus redeemed us and reconciled us to Him, we were separated from that most beautiful relationship.

 

As a toddler, I learned that eating food made me feel better when I was sad or lonely. Despite being the youngest of eight children, I felt very isolated in our strict home. To comfort myself, I often stole crackers or slices of bread from our pantry. When I was 8 years old, I broke my arm. I used the sling I had to wear with my cast as a hiding place for the bread I took out of the cupboard. Thankfully, at the same time, my faith in God was beginning to grow and I began to look to Him for comfort. I still struggle with wanting food when I’m emotional, but my relationship with Jesus today fulfills me and gives me peace and contentment. Food will never fill that space in my heart that only God can fill.

 

What do you struggle with? Is it hunger for acceptance or achievement? I can relate to that, too. I believe that one reason I drove myself academically as a child was to receive positive attention from my parents, especially my mother. That desire for acceptance and acknowledgment followed me into adulthood. It took my growing relationship with Jesus to finally realize that, although it is good to work toward excellence for the glory of God, it is not healthy to drive myself for my own gain and accolades.

 

As you study the Word of God, it becomes clear that seeking anything in the world without first seeking God is a fool’s errand. In the end, desiring worldly possessions, money, comfort, and status will leave you empty and dissatisfied. As the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians:

 

“…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”  Philippians 4:11-13 NIV

 

How can you find this contentment and fulfillment? Make it a priority to spend time each day reading God’s word, even if you only have a few minutes. The natural outpouring of your time with God will be joy, peace and contentment as your desire changes from fulfilling your own needs to wanting to be obedient and share Jesus through your love, actions and activities.

 

If you find it difficult to commit time each day and keep focused while reading the Bible, here are some modern resources for enhancing your quiet time each day:

 

YouVersion Bible App: a comprehensive app that provides dozens of translations of the Bible along with hundreds of reading plans that guide you through the Bible or devotionals on topics such as marriage, work, youth, leadership, prayer and many others.

 

Abide: this app provides guided biblical meditations and prayers. The company also has a YouTube channel with many videos that you can watch or listen to that will help you enter into quiet moments with God.

 

Pray: this app is similar to Abide, but specifically features guided prayers. The prayers are usually only a couple of minutes long.

 

In summary, taking the time to feed your hunger for God is what will bring you the most contentment, joy and peace. If you are constantly pushing yourself for more, driving yourself to succeed, yet are struggling to slow down and be at peace, ask yourself this question, “What am I hungry for?” You will find the answer to that question in the presence of God.

 

 

Paula Aiton is a member of the Koinonia Church worship team and a freelance writer, musician and artist. Her blog, ‘God’s Glory Girl’, can be found at godsglorygirl.com