Can I be real for a moment?
What a silly question. I mean what are you gonna do, say no?
I've been thinking a lot about Joy and what it means. I have missed what it is, but have been made painfully aware of what it is not.
Joy is not pain. It doesn't keep company with lies or deceit. Joy isn't found in secret and it isn't private or hidden. Joy is not found in selfishness or in manipulation. Joy is not some mystery we have to figure out. Joy is not found in the company of sin.
Joy is arms wide open, face to the sky, soaking up gentle fall sunshine while the cool breeze envelopes my body in a refreshing hug.
Joy is holding my sweet great-niece and seeing my sister and my niece in her precious newborn face.
Joy is full and free and all-in... with no reservations or fear.
Joy is thankfulness for what GOD has given and nothing more.
Joy is... light and freedom and beauty and friendship and love and trust and faithfulness.
Joy is trusting that God knows what he's doing and that He SEES me, KNOWS me, and still LOVES me more than I could ever love myself.
Joy is not dependent on my bank account, feeling significant or validated, on my health or the health of those I love. Joy is a gift in the midst of the most soul crushing circumstances.
Joy is knowing... KNOWING... that, when I lay my head down at night, the Creator of the Universe sees me and knows my heart. He knows every fear, every frustration, every funky thing that puts a glitch in my day...he KNOWS. Beyond that, I can trust HIM to work it all out, in His time, in His way, and I can be assured that His way will bring HIM glory. What a privilege to be allowed to be used by Him and be part of His story!
Well whaddya know.. I guess I do have an idea of what Joy is. Go figure.
It is too easy to allow Satan to deceive us into thinking that God is holding out on us. It is all too easy to allow Satan to weave a web of deceit. He is a liar and a thief. The is NO goodness in him. I must remind myself of this... and you should too. Any shiny object he offers has deadly strings attached. What he offers to fulfill you WILL bleed you dry. It will. There are no exceptions.
Joy and sin do not cohabitate. They cannot both take up residence in your soul. It took much too long for me to understand this.
I choose Joy.
Much love and big big hugs!
K
What a silly question. I mean what are you gonna do, say no?
I've been thinking a lot about Joy and what it means. I have missed what it is, but have been made painfully aware of what it is not.
Joy is not pain. It doesn't keep company with lies or deceit. Joy isn't found in secret and it isn't private or hidden. Joy is not found in selfishness or in manipulation. Joy is not some mystery we have to figure out. Joy is not found in the company of sin.
Joy is arms wide open, face to the sky, soaking up gentle fall sunshine while the cool breeze envelopes my body in a refreshing hug.
Joy is holding my sweet great-niece and seeing my sister and my niece in her precious newborn face.
Joy is full and free and all-in... with no reservations or fear.
Joy is thankfulness for what GOD has given and nothing more.
Joy is... light and freedom and beauty and friendship and love and trust and faithfulness.
Joy is trusting that God knows what he's doing and that He SEES me, KNOWS me, and still LOVES me more than I could ever love myself.
Joy is not dependent on my bank account, feeling significant or validated, on my health or the health of those I love. Joy is a gift in the midst of the most soul crushing circumstances.
Joy is knowing... KNOWING... that, when I lay my head down at night, the Creator of the Universe sees me and knows my heart. He knows every fear, every frustration, every funky thing that puts a glitch in my day...he KNOWS. Beyond that, I can trust HIM to work it all out, in His time, in His way, and I can be assured that His way will bring HIM glory. What a privilege to be allowed to be used by Him and be part of His story!
Well whaddya know.. I guess I do have an idea of what Joy is. Go figure.
It is too easy to allow Satan to deceive us into thinking that God is holding out on us. It is all too easy to allow Satan to weave a web of deceit. He is a liar and a thief. The is NO goodness in him. I must remind myself of this... and you should too. Any shiny object he offers has deadly strings attached. What he offers to fulfill you WILL bleed you dry. It will. There are no exceptions.
Joy and sin do not cohabitate. They cannot both take up residence in your soul. It took much too long for me to understand this.
I choose Joy.
Much love and big big hugs!
K
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