The Body is Weak but the Spirit is Willing

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe..." Philippians 2:14-15

Today, or technically yesterday, was our fourth day of no air conditioning on our bus. On the third day I found myself ready to burst into tears. Do you want to know the honest truth why? *sighs* I wanted Ice Cream.

See, everyday we make a stop for lunch were we can eat our sack lunch and have the opportunity to buy some food also. Since Friday (the first day without A.C.) all I wanted was a McFlurry to chase away the heat. It was now Monday and I still had not had that McFlurry or any ice cream for that matter and we stopped at a KFC and my heart sank.

I could not get my mind off of wanting that treat. I just thought it would make me better, happier and less hot (driving through texas on a bus with no A.C. is a very . . . growing experience). I was holding back tears. Luckily, for me and for others who would have to deal with me on a bus, sweet Sylvia saw a place that sold ice cream, bought some, and gave a few bites to me. It stopped me from crying, but I still wasn't happy, not the way I thought it would have made me.

Every day on the bus we have a devotional time where one of us speaks about a topic with a verse and after words we have our own private time. After Lunch the verse above was presented and it just opened my eyes.

I had been complaining about the heat. Complaining that I wanted ice cream, that I didn't get it. How I was giving in to the lie that anything of this world would make me happy! It is only God alone! And I was letting it steal my joy! For the rest of that day I was still hot and sticky but I had this simple song in my head: 'The Joy of the Lord is My Strenth". And it was, and I was finally joyful and at peace. God is good.