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Is It Okay To Hide In The Barrel?

7/22/2014

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The rodeo clown has an important role to play in the safety of the participants.  It isn't always an easy task and I am sure there are times when the heart rate of the clown must skyrocket.  Getting a bull's attention at close range is not necessarily what I would call fun.  I could see myself having a great desire to jump and hide in the barrel at the first sign of danger.  (Thus, I sit in the stands as a spectator rather than as a cowboy or a clown.)

I am not a rodeo clown, and yet, there are still times that I would like to jump in a barrel and hide.  The difficulties and anxieties of life can take a toll and weigh me down.  Although running away and hiding can seem appealing, it is generally not the most effective means of coping.  There has to be a healthier and more productive manner in which to address the problems of day-to-day life.

One thing I was taught years ago was that I am responsible for my joy.  If I believe that I am a child of God I should be filled with joy.  If I allow my joy to be taken away by others or by the difficult circumstances of life, I am walking in the flesh and not in the Spirit.  It took a lot of years before I started grasping the real depth behind that thinking.  I finally started to understand a little bit of it when I distinguished the difference between happiness and joy. Problems may be filling my days and I find that I am not necessarily happy about the way things are going. However, I should still have the joy of the Lord despite the difficulties.

I am grateful for the gift of prayer.  The older I get the more I realize that God really does speak to us in the depths of our being.  There is grace; there is strength; there is peace and contentment when we engage in the act of prayer.  Let us walk boldly in faith.  

"For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control."
(2 Timothy 1:7)
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    This is my personal blog.  The opinions expressed are those of Deacon Vernon and the blog's readers.  This site operates independently and is not affiliated with any other entity. The information I provide is on an "as-is" basis. I make no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information on this blog. I will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information. Furthermore, I will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use.

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