Cup of Joy http://www.cupofjoy.org Cup of Joy is all about women enjoying the greatness of God. Mon, 20 Feb 2012 02:32:51 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Cup of Joy is all about women enjoying the greatness of God. Doris Bowen clean Doris Bowen robin@cupofjoy.org robin@cupofjoy.org (Doris Bowen) Cup of Joy is all about women enjoying the greatness of God. Cup of Joy http://www.cupofjoy.org/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://www.cupofjoy.org TV-G Stepping Away http://www.cupofjoy.org/stepping-away/ http://www.cupofjoy.org/stepping-away/#comments Sat, 25 Jun 2011 16:41:49 +0000 Dot http://www.cupofjoy.org/?p=816 Life has been extremely busy for our family. Scott and Addie have sold their house and has moved in with us until their new house is built, and adopting a baby. Christy and Jim have had to deal with health issues concerning Jim’s back, Kensie with Graves Disease and the other children having allergies. Cara has moved from Atlanta to California seeking God’s direction for her life. As I type this, I’m in awe of God’s activity in my families’ life. So thankful that He is leading and actively working in the lives of my children.
As for me, I have stepped away for a few days to pray and write. COJ’s next bible study is in Luke and I’m writing the study. The beginning of Luke the angel Gabriel comes to Zechariah and announces that his wife Elizabeth is going to have a baby. It is an answer to their prayers! Except now they are older and probably thought God had forgotten about them. I wonder if they had even forgotten they had prayed for a child. I wonder if they had stopped praying thinking that God had said No. After Elizabeth gets pregnant she hides in seclusion. First she’s lives with disgrace because she hasn’t any children now she has to hide because she’s having a baby. Thinking about this today and as I have “stepped away” from my usual life activities, I’m seeking God’s direction as well.
God had a plan for Elizabeth’s life and she had no idea what that plan would be. She just wanted a baby like everyone else. Having a child in that culture was evidence of God’s blessings. I’m sure she thought God was punishing her and if she did think that, she kept faithful to Him in spite of God’s silence. I think its very difficult to keep faithful when God is silent. The truth is God wasn’t silent. He was working!
Perfect timing and a perfect baby boy that will be used to usher the Messiah that they so longed for. I can’t help but wonder if we asked Elizabeth if the wait was worth it, she would respond by a huge YES! God’s plan is always greater and better than we can imagine. I guess that’s why it’s always best to leave the choice up to Him.
In pondering this truth in God’s Word today and in stepping away for a few days, I have come to know that God does hear our prayers and He does have a plan for each of our lives. No, I’m not praying like Elizabeth nor do I want another child so it’s not that I want to be Elizabeth. It’s that in this story I serve the same God as Elizabeth and I can know He hears my prayers, He answers in ways beyond I can imagine or think. He answers in His time and according to His plan. I guess the only response to this truth is to wait on God and not lose heart. Not just to wait but to believe that God is a rewarder to those who seek Him.
I need to step away and ask God to make this truth a reality in my own life. Knowing that God is working in my life whether I see it or not. God has a plan for me, He hears my prayers, He cares about every detail of my life!
I am thankful!
Dot

]]> http://www.cupofjoy.org/stepping-away/feed/ 0 The heart beat http://www.cupofjoy.org/the-heart-beat/ http://www.cupofjoy.org/the-heart-beat/#comments Wed, 18 May 2011 15:22:50 +0000 Dot http://www.cupofjoy.org/?p=776 Last Sunday Passion City Church had their first service in their new building. I was there along with most of my family members. It was a very exciting time for their church and for my sweet friends.  Louie has an amazing gift to lead us right to the heart of God and that night was no exception. Louie talked about the heart. He mentioned he had the opportunity to see open heart surgery and a heart transplant. This was something I did not envy him at all! As he began to tell in detail the procedure, Scott (my son) and I had to put our minds on something else or we would wake up with security over us due to passing out! Then Louie announces that Chris Tomlin and Lauren are expecting their first child and every day they would receive an update on the development of this new baby in the womb. When Chris told Louie the baby’s heart is beating and knowing how small this child is, it was such an amazing thing to think about this tiny child in the womb with a heart that is beating. Here was the question: “who started the heart to beat?” At that moment, I felt like I was the only one in the room. Everyone had left and God was saying to me “if the heart is beating, I made it beat”! This may not be an awe moment for you but for me, my eyes were filled with tears. You see, the night before, my sister had told me that she had discovered the survival rate for her stage and type of cancer is at MOST  11 years . She has had cancer for 7 yrs. The average survival rate was 5 yrs. I had a hard time sleeping that night after she told me this. God in His wisdom knew that I was struggling with emotions all Saturday night  so in love ,He said to me Sunday “I make the heart start beating and I make the heart stop”! I knew at that moment God was saying “will you just trust Me?”  There’s nothing I personally can do to keep a heart beating including my sister’s heart.Therefore, I’m to put all my fears and hopes in the One who does. God is in control not me! What good did it do for me to stay up all night worrying about Janice? Answer: Not one thing! All I got was bags under my eyes from no sleep. In reality if God decides to take me home before Janice, I’m going home! I don’t need cancer to end my heart beat.

So what’s the theme for the week? Putting my hope and confidence in a great God who has given me a new heart the day He saved me. When will this heart stop? When He says “come home”! So until then,  my prayer is this “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my HEART be pleasing in your sight. O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer! Ps. 19:14

Until He calls me home, my prayer is that with every heart beat, I will  know, follow and love Him and I’ll leave the beating to Him!

]]> http://www.cupofjoy.org/the-heart-beat/feed/ 0 God Establishes Our Steps http://www.cupofjoy.org/god-establishes-our-steps/ http://www.cupofjoy.org/god-establishes-our-steps/#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 14:29:12 +0000 Dot http://www.cupofjoy.org/?p=773 How often we make our plans and our “to do” list with one thought in mind “I plan to get as much done as I can today”! I get my “to do” list on Sunday for the entire week. I print it out and then begin my week with the list in my mind. I cannot tell you the exact percentage between sticking to my list or changing plans but I can say it’s 50/50. I’m not saying it’s not wise to plan. Of course, you are to plan but plan with an open mind and a heart to hear God’s leading should God decide you are going to do something totally off your list!

Let me explain this more clearly by telling you what happened several days ago. A week from today was Easter. We had a man from Uganda to spend Easter with us. This man is helping Scott and Addie to start a ministry in Uganda. His name is Richard. As we were celebrating Easter, we had our annual Easter egg hung (Richard could not figure out what this had to do with Easter) and I asked Richard was Uganda safe. My concern for safety had to do with the fact Howard and Scott would be leaving on Thursday to fly to Uganda. Richard assured me that Uganda was extremely safe. The following Thursday Scott along with 3 other men (which included Howard)left for Uganda with  great excitement and anticipation to see what God was going to do. Addie and I kiss them goodbye and off to the airport they go. Their plan was to fly to Amsterdam then Uganda. That night at  3:30 a.m., Cara, my youngest daughter, wakes up to find that her dog mollie had gotten sick during the night. She then gets up to take care of the mess and when she gets back in bed she knocks her water bottle off her end table. Her thought is “what in the world is going on”? Now, she cannot go back to sleep (this is another miracle) and decides to check twitter. Why? That’s a great question!

She finds a tweet from a girl (who she does not know but follows on twitter) saying that there’s riots in the city of Uganda and she is trapped in her room and was asking for prayer. Cara immediately calls Scott and he answers. (another miracle) Scott is in Amsterdam and about to board the plane to Uganda. Cara tells him of the unrest and riots. Scott immediately calls Richard (who told me Uganda was very safe) and he says “I do not think you should come”. At that moment, they go to the desk and tell the airlines they are not boarding the plane. The airline stewardess said “you have to board” in which Scott replies “no, I do not have to board and we are not boarding”. The airlines had to get all their luggage off which caused a big delay and they were not happy! An hour later, the airport in Uganda was shut down.  You see, God says in Proverbs 16:9 “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps”.  When Scott and Howard left,  their plan was to fly to Amsterdam then to Uganda. God’s plan was fly to Amsterdam, take a train to Belgium to wait out the riots, then take a plane to Uganda on Sunday.

Why did God have Scott and Howard board the plane in Atlanta to go to Amsterdam then to find out about the riots? Why did God wake Cara up in the middle of the night? Why did Cara check her twitter at 3:30 a.m.? Why did God then rearrange their trip to go on Sunday and not Thursday to Uganda?

Why, Why, Why! Often this is all we can ask but it’s not Why, it’s Who! The main question to be answered here is WHO controls all things? Answer: GOD  God has a plan for our lives and He will do whatever He needs to do to show us who He is! He is sovereign and He is in control. The safety element in this situation took back seat and now its all about GOD. What has stood out to me is how great GOD is and that He is in the smallest details.  He will direct our path, He will establish our steps! He is God and nothing is too difficult for Him! I can say at this moment they are on a plane to Uganda. Why all the delays? I have no idea but one thing I know is ” God is in control” and my comfort is in Who and not Why!

]]> http://www.cupofjoy.org/god-establishes-our-steps/feed/ 2 There are no words http://www.cupofjoy.org/there-are-no-words/ http://www.cupofjoy.org/there-are-no-words/#comments Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:22:07 +0000 Dot http://www.cupofjoy.org/wordpress/?p=41 It’s been 2 weeks since I have returned from Zambia. There’s truly no words to describe the sweet orphans and widows we left behind. We had an amazing time loving on both. Monday was set aside to honor the widows. We gave them name tags that they cherished. They are referred to by “widows”. Certainly, no one wants to be a widow but in their culture they are thrown to the streets. Left by themselves with their orphan child to fend for themselves. It was great to call them by name. On the back of their name tag we had written in their native tongue “Rejoice, that your name is written in the lamb’s book of life”!You do not need to be a widow to rejoice that your name is written in the book of life! It’s hard to rejoice about anything these days. Especially, if you watch the news. It may not seem like a big deal now that our names are in the book of life but read Revelation and I promise you this, there will be a time in your life or at the end of your life where you will “rejoice”!our COJ in Zambia was with singing, praying and lifting the name of Jesus. We also gave them a wonderful meal. One of the widows came and sat at my feet thanking me for the chicken she had just eaten. These ladies do not get meat. Sometimes, never and sometimes once a year! How excited she was to have her chicken and how blessed I was to be able to give it to her. I  knew God had made that available to her. Yes, I do believe God is interested in giving us chicken! He gives us all that we need and all things to enjoy. They have a saying “God is good all the time God is good”! They would repeat that over and over again. It was a great time and humbling for me to see these women praising God and thanking him for all things when I knew the circumstances these ladies have to live in and the danger each day will hold for her as she walks to provide for herself and family. Yes, I left but these ladies are still there.  I received an email saying they have vowed to take every Friday to pray and worship God alone.Seriously Father, these ladies are praying and worshipping you every day but intentionally every Friday?  Wow! Only you can draw them to you and only God can give joy in the midst of such  conditions. I went to honor these women for the Glory of God and I believe God was exalted because He promised He would. Before I went to Wiphan,  I was concerned about what to share with these ladies when I knew they had such hard lives and I wanted to exalt the Lord so that He would draw them to Him. As I prayed for our time. the verse in Psalm came to my head “Be still and know that I am God, “I WILL BE EXALTED AMONG THE EARTH, I WILL BE EXALTED AMONG THE NATIONS”. I  knew then that God was the only one who can say I WILL and do exactly what He says he will do. So, I left Atlanta knowing in my heart God would be exalted and that I was to go and love on His children. So I did! and God did exactly what He promised.  He told me “I WILL” and I believed Him.THANK YOU FATHER! I pray that you will continue loving on these ladies and protect them from evil .Protect them and hold them close to you. I have come to love 150 widows that I may never see again til heaven but one thing I know, my life is forever changed because God said “You go and I will be exalted”!Now, I need to “Be still and know He is God!Dot

]]> http://www.cupofjoy.org/there-are-no-words/feed/ 2 Father, breathe on us! http://www.cupofjoy.org/father-breathe-on-us/ http://www.cupofjoy.org/father-breathe-on-us/#comments Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:21:21 +0000 Dot http://www.cupofjoy.org/wordpress/?p=40 As I pack to leave tomorrow for Zambia, I’m humbled and thanking God for this opportunity to love on these widows and orphans. Widows in Zambia are thrown to the street because the false teaching they believe is when a woman’s husband passes away his ghost is attached to her and their children. They put her out on the street with her children. The only way to have the ghost removed is for her to have sex with a family member. Oh, what lies they are told! They need to know truth!In asking God what did He want me to share with these widows, I was overwhelmed.  ”What is it that I can share with them that will give them hope in the midst of this difficult life?” Trying to put myself in their place, which is impossible, I thought “if they don’t know scripture, if they can’t read, if they do not have the opportunity to know truth, what is it I can share that will never be taken away? I thought in my own life of the most precious gift I have from God besides salvation and His Word and I remembered the privilege of prayer. That’s it!!! I can share that no matter where they are, no matter what the situation, they can close their eyes and enter into the presence of God! They can cry out, they can sing, they can share their inner thoughts to the One that loves them the most. Because of the cross, we can call Him Father. Because of the cross I have access to Him. I can know that He wants to talk to me way more than I want to talk with Him. He is waiting on me, He is waiting on them to come to Him.Wow, no matter what our circumstances are or what country we live in, we can pray to the King. We can sing praises to Him, We can know that he hears us and He is aware of our lives. So, as I leave tomorrow, COJ will go with one thought and that is to let these sweet ladies know that they have the gift of prayer. They can “talk” to the One that loves them above all and nothing can change that. Nothing that happens in their lives will take this gift away! I’m so excited to be able to be God’s instrument to share this truth with them. BUT,,  I’m excited that I too have this privilege.  I think I will close this blog for now and take that opportunity to go share with Him how much I love Him and how I need Him to open their eyes to this amazing truth.I’m asking God to breathe on us as we go. If He does not open their hearts to this truth, there’s nothing I can say or do that can encourage them. I need Him. I need Him to draw them to Him and I know He will.  You know what I personally need? I need to bow before Him myself and chat with Him about our trip. We are going for Him and I pray they will see His Glory!

]]> http://www.cupofjoy.org/father-breathe-on-us/feed/ 0 Wow what a day! http://www.cupofjoy.org/wow-what-a-day/ http://www.cupofjoy.org/wow-what-a-day/#comments Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:50:43 +0000 Dot http://www.cupofjoy.org/wordpress/?p=39 It’s been almost a week since our luncheon and I’m still floating on a cloud. It was an amazing day for COJ. We had so many beautiful women at the Stanley’s. I so appreciate my sweet friends for allowing 100 women invade their home. The food was amazing. My board and Leadership Team can cook!!!  I love how  they work so great together. I know this is such a gift from God. They serve and they laugh together. What a joy for me to watch as they serve our Lord with a joyful heart.Joyce Lee gave a sweet testimony about her son and sweet family receiving love from COJ. She then gave a wonderful check and encouraged others to do so.  God began to work! I really think God wanted to show off for us that day because He definitely was there! We received 3 times more than we did last year.  This will enable us to do more for His Glory!Yesterday I received an email that God had called home one of the Cure children that attended our COJ Christmas Party for Cure. Kristin said as she met with the mother and grandmother at the hospital, the first thing they said was how much they enjoyed the Christmas Party. Now, I realize this party will not cure these children of cancer but it sure can give them a laugh or two. I’m so thankful they come as a family and that for a moment of time, they can forget cancer. Thank you Father!Reminding myself today that God is in control of all things. Nothing is too difficult for Him.  As I know Him more, the more I trust Him, the more I trust Him, the more I feel His presence. I pray that today that you too will seek Him with all your heart.Psalm 27:3-6Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.May He put a new song in your heart today!In Him,Dot

]]> http://www.cupofjoy.org/wow-what-a-day/feed/ 2 Running into the arms of Almighty God. http://www.cupofjoy.org/running-into-the-arms-of-almighty-god/ http://www.cupofjoy.org/running-into-the-arms-of-almighty-god/#comments Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:36:26 +0000 Dot http://www.cupofjoy.org/wordpress/?p=37 I would like to share with you a story I was reading from E.M. Bounds about prayer. I think you will enjoy this as much as I do!”A dear friend of mine who was quite a lover of the chase, told me the following story: “Rising early one morning, he said, I heard the baying of a score of deer-hounds in pursuit of their quarry. Looking away to a broad, open field in front of me, I saw a young fawn making its way across, and giving signs, moreover, that its race was well-nigh run. Reaching the rails of the enclosure, it leaped over and crouched within ten feet from where I stood. A moment later two of the hounds came over, when the fawn ran in my direction and pushed its head between my legs. I lifted the little thing to my breast, and swinging round and round, fought off the dogs. I felt, just then, that all the dogs in the West could not, and should not capture that fawn after its weakness had appealed to my strength. So is it, when human helplessness appeals to Almighty God. Well do I remember when the hounds of sin were after my soul, until, at last, I ran into the arms of Almighty God.When you are afraid and do not know what to do, where do you run?

]]> http://www.cupofjoy.org/running-into-the-arms-of-almighty-god/feed/ 2 Prayer-Our Only Hope http://www.cupofjoy.org/prayer-our-only-hope/ http://www.cupofjoy.org/prayer-our-only-hope/#comments Mon, 04 May 2009 20:02:01 +0000 Dot http://www.cupofjoy.org/wordpress/?p=34 I have just arrived in Washington, D.C. and it’s raining. As I looked out the window of the plane, my eyes could see the Jefferson Memorial. I had a sadness in my heart in thinking about all the men and women who have given their life, their time and their commitment to this wonderful nation for the freedom I now have to worship the One and Only God.  We had several men and women in uniform on our plane. I would smile at them and say “thank you for serving” thinking all the time how blessed we are to still have the freedom to worship and pray in public without worrying about safety. Howard and I are here with Focus on the Family to pray together for this nation. We will be in prayer meetings this week as it ends on Thursday, the National Day of Prayer. God, You are our only Hope! Please forgive this country for the laws we have passed to kill your babies and to allow man to determine their own right and wrong. May we return to your Word as the guideline concerning the direction of this Country! Father, is the rain, your tears of sadness as you see daily we are seeking our own pleasures rather than seeking your wisdom and your desire for your children to know and follow you? May you find many righteous in this place so that you will spare this nation. May I stand among the many and call upon your name to spare your judgment that we so deserve! Please hear the cries of your children to heal our land. Please return us to One Nation under One God. Jehovah!  

]]> http://www.cupofjoy.org/prayer-our-only-hope/feed/ 1 I still miss you dad! http://www.cupofjoy.org/i-still-miss-you-dad/ http://www.cupofjoy.org/i-still-miss-you-dad/#comments Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:44:34 +0000 Dot http://www.cupofjoy.org/wordpress/?p=33 Today is the anniversary of my dad’s death. How can it be so long ago when it seems like yesterday?One thing has changed. I cried and cried and begged God not to take him and today, I’m thankful he is in heaven. We are at the end of our Revelation study and thinking about our eternal state where there’s no tears, or sorrow and we will dwell with Him! I long to see the end of pain and sorrow. I long to live where there’s no more tears but mostly, I long to see the God I have given my life to and the God that has revealed himself to me as my Savior! Rev 21 says “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death!!!! No more death….. that sounds great.  Today as I think about my dad, the next verses say HE WHO IS SEATED ON THE THRONE SAID I AM MAKING EVERYTHING NEW!I think we need new here on earth. This life on earth is way too painful, scary, and does not satisfy no matter how hard we try to be satisfied with things here on earth.  Jesus knew I needed to be reminded of this today. As I’m trying to prepare for the bible study tomorrow, I have tears of joy that my dad is with Him and I have tears of joy knowing this life will pass and He will wipe the tears from my eyes. I can close my eyes and see Him take His nail scarred hand and wipe the tears and say to me “soon my child you will never cry again. You will see your dad and mom again but mostly You will be with Me forever- Your Father!”I can’t help but close my eyes and whisper, “I love you Jesus, please “come quickly “! Til He comes or calls me home,  I pray that I will be faithful! 

]]> http://www.cupofjoy.org/i-still-miss-you-dad/feed/ 1 May I live for you? http://www.cupofjoy.org/may-i-live-for-you/ http://www.cupofjoy.org/may-i-live-for-you/#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:22:14 +0000 Dot http://www.cupofjoy.org/wordpress/?p=32 Today as I study Revelation, I see so many people who come out of the Tribulation but to do so, they have to be martyred. For me, all I have to do is accept God’s death so that I can enjoy life and live eternally with Him.  It seems so easy  but I know the cross was not easy for my Saviour. As the martyrs died, they sung praises to their God. I have to pray that I will live the same way as they died! I hope that my days are filled with praises to my God.  As we see during the end of times, satan is able to deceive even more people. It is said over and over again that it is satan who deceives God’s children. I can think of people I know and myself as well, who are more comfortable at times  believing lies than it is to accept truth and live in the truth we know. Truth is hard to grasp because it’s usually totally opposite of what we “feel” . We can believe lies to where wrong seems right. Father, empower me so that I may live in your truth and be able to recognize the lies that come in my head!! May I remind myself of the truth that you are for me and that you have given your life to redeem me back to you! May I glorify you in all that I do. I pray along with Rick Warren:In Happy moments – I will praise you.  In Difficult times – I will seek You.  In quiet moments – I will Worship you.  In Painful moments – I will Trust You.  In Every Moment – I will Thank you!   

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