Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and you should see my desk right now…
No, it’s not cluttered with just any old kind of stuff; but my desk is cluttered – my desk and the corkboard behind it and the shelves around it are filled with lots of encouraging things. I mean, right now I am looking up on the corkboard right behind my work area, I’ve got a whole bunch of Scriptures listed and underlined. I keep them up there to encourage me throughout the day. I look up and I see Psalm 56: “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee.” And then I have tacked up Hebrews 13:5 where it says, “He himself has said, ‘I will never desert you nor will I ever forsake you.’” And let’s see, I can look over here and see John 14:27 where Jesus says, “‘Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.’” Wow!
Look, friend, I need to surround myself with these kinds of things – even quotations I’ve tacked up on the corkboard from Charles Spurgeon or C.S. Lewis. And talk about clutter, I’ve got so many little plaques that sit on my bookshelf – I can glance over here and I can see this piece of stone right now sitting on my second shelf and on it is carved these words: “Everything else will pass away, but God’s words will last forever.” Anyone walking into my office would think I’ve just got too much “stuff” on the shelves, on the corkboard, and on my desk. But there’s a reason. I keep all these reminders in my line of sight because with this quadriplegia of mine, with the daily encroachments of this wheelchair I’m in, friend, I dare not forget, I dare not disregard or fail to remember what is true about the Lord and his Word and my circumstances. I know myself too well. I know how easily I can slip back into fear or anxiety. And so, I have to surround myself with reminders of Christ-centered encouragement.
And you know what? If you are the type who occasionally deals with fears of the future or struggles with anxiety, I want to share all these encouragements with you. And this is how we can do it: just recently the team at Joni and Friends gave me a section on our website – our brand new website – and this section is called “Joni’s Corner” and on it I have posted the same kinds of things I have on my desk and much more, because I want you to fill your line of sight with great reminders that’ll keep your spirits fresh and focused on Jesus. And so I have filled my corner of our website with links to favorite websites I like to frequent; I’ve posted my daily devotionals, Joni’s Corner has lots of profiles of Christian friends who inspire me, I put there downloads of my favorite hymns (and I refresh the list every couple of weeks or so), and I’ve got photos and pictures, all sorts of things, there’s even a kid’s page for your children or grandchildren.
So come by and visit Joni’s Corner today at joniandfriends.org and, of course, while you’re there, please drop me a line or two and let me know what reminders you keep in your line of sight every day. First Thessalonians 5 tells us to “encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” So friend, let’s keep each other fresh and focused on our wonderful Savior by building each other up with the anchors from God’s Word that strengthen our hearts. You’re doing it right now by listening to the wonderful programs on this station… and after that, you can come on over to Joni’s Corner at joniandfriends.org for more encouragement. Finally, please watch what’s in your line of sight today… set before your eyes no worthless thing, set before your eyes whatever is pure and noble and praiseworthy, and you’ll keep your eyes and your heart bright.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
© Joni and Friends