Announcement

I apologize for the lack of posts over the last week or so. The busyness of the Christmas season has engulfed me and I am having some difficulty finding time for everything.  Writing about joy during this joyous season is something that I desire to do, but the posts will probably be sporadic during the next couple of weeks. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Day 40

At 6:38 I finished a book. At 6:39 I sat down at the computer, and at 6:40 I started writing this post.

I greatly enjoy reading.  I enjoy a wide variety of genres and authors, from the unexpected twists of John Grisham to the delightful mysteries of Agatha Christie to the intellectual arguments of Malcolm Gladwell, who was the author of the book I just finished reading at 6:38.  The book was "Outliers: The Story of Success" and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys light yet fascinating educational literature. Gladwell has an inquisitive mind and a fresh perspective that I find highly enjoyable.  I hope to read some of his other books soon.

Also on my coffee table are two other treasures: "El Dorado" which is a sequel to the "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis.  I'm wrestling with my age-old dilemma: Re-read some of my favorites or spend my time reading new books.  I know those books are excellent, but there are so many other books out there that are excellent as well. I don't know if I'll ever find the perfect balance, or even if it exists. At least I get to read while I figure it out.

There are several reasons why I enjoy reading so much.  If I am reading fiction it gives me a break from real life and I get to go on a mini-vacation whenever I flip through the pages.  I enjoy non-fiction because I am interested in learning about things and events and people that I didn't know before and by doing so I broaden my world.  Books have so much to offer, and it saddens me that less and less people seem to enjoy reading and instead prefer the fast-paced world of movies, television, and the internet. Those things have much to offer as well, but not in the same way.  Reading disciplines the mind in a way that a movie never will.

I encourage you to read a book over the Christmas season. I know that I will be and enjoying every minute of it.  If you have a favorite book, please let me know about it.  That's how I heard about "Outliers" and many other books that I read.  I always love suggestions, and many times they become my favorites as well. I believe a good book should be shared, and I am happy to share my favorites with you as well.

Read, share, enjoy. That's the good life.

Day 39

The house was full of people: junior highers and high school students, college kids, young adults, parents, and even a few grandparents.  Conversation was everywhere, and the noise from the kitchen only added to the volume.  The snow had started again and drifted down around this house full of warmth and friendship.  We all waited expectantly for the guest of honor to arrive. It was his birthday party, and it was a surprise. When he did arrive we all shouted out a "Happy Birthday!" to him and then made him go first through the food line.  If it was his choice, he would have waited to be the last one like he does at every group meal.  After dinner we had a time of sharing what this man meant to us, and although I know he would have preferred the background to the spotlight, he didn't make a fuss and thanked people for their comments.

There are many ways to describe this modest man who thrives behind-the-scenes, but the best one is servant-hearted.  He is on the leadership team for three major ministries at our church, and he is highly involved with all three.  He gives of his time and money the way not many people do who are not paid ministers. On top of all his serving, he invests in people's lives and is always looking to deepen his walk with God. This is a godly man, and I have the honor to call him my friend.

If he knew I was writing this about him he probably wouldn't like it because he doesn't like attention called on himself, even though he deserves it.  But I wanted to honor him, although anonymously, because he is a person that we all should look to as an example.  He is not perfect and he is only human, but he an imperfect human who understands where his priorities should lie and invests in things that last. I wish I was more like that.  But I get my hope from knowing that if he can do it, then I can do it, too.  And that brings me joy.

Happy birthday and thank you for being my friend.

Day 38

Yesterday I had a good day at work. Most days at work are so-so; nothing really exciting happens, except maybe getting all of the new accessory freight processed and put away.  But yesterday was a good day because I was able to help people who needed help.  I helped three customers right in a row, and although it did not require much effort on my part, all three were exceedingly grateful.  It was a good reminder for me: It does not always require a lot of effort to help someone, and it requires even less effort to let someone know that you are grateful for their help. Because of those three people telling me thank you, and some words from a manager that let me know he appreciated my hard work, I had a good day at work.  It was as simple as that.

I could go on, but I have to leave in ten minutes and it's amazing I got as far as I did. Thank you for reading my blog.  I greatly appreciate it.

Day 37

"Family traditions counter alienation and confusion. They help us define who we are; they provide something steady, reliable and safe in a confusing world."
-Suan Lieberman

I came from a very structured family that was full of traditions.  Very nearly everything my family does at Christmastime is a tradition, from the music played when picking out the Christmas tree to who puts up what ornament.  Some might consider this restrictive or unimaginative, but I loved my family's traditions.  They were something to look forward to; they were something that anchored and grounded us a family.  Now that I am married, my husband and I have the opportunity to create our own traditions. I look forward to this. 

I believe that traditions are very important, especially for children. Like the quote says, traditions not only define us but also provide reliability and safety in an unreliable and unsafe world.  Next week we don't know if gas prices are going to sky-rocket or bottom out.  Someone we know might get sick; someone we know might get better.  Terrorist could attack us, a gunman could show up at our church, or God could take someone home.  This life is fraught with uncertainty.  But even though I don't know what next week or even tomorrow will bring, I know that when my family goes to pick out a Christmas tree, they are going to listen to "I Still Believe." I know that Dad is going to hang the stockings with two on one side of the fireplace and three on the other.  Mom will decorate the mantle; my sister the dining room. And it's probably going to look like it has for many, many years. But that's okay, because that means my parent's house is still the safe, reliable home that I know and love.

 

Day 36

The sun was shining brightly and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Neighbors were out in their yards. The mailman drove by.  The voice of Brad Paisley wafted through the warm air and across the lawn from the speakers positioned strategically in the garage.  The stage was set: time to put up the Christmas lights!

Nope, this setting was not an idylic summer afternoon three months ago; this was yesterday.  In years past, the extent that the outside was decorated for Christmas depended partially on how long one could stay out before one's fingers had lost all feeling. Not this year.  My brother and I enjoyed stringing and wrapping and bedecking in sixty degree weather. Ah, it was lovely.

About four or five years ago, my brother and I took over hanging the outside lights at my parent's house.  I don't remember exactly how that came about, but I think it had something to do with a greater artistic vision for the Christmas decorations than my Dad was willing to attempt.  So we decided to do it ourselves.  Every year there is the traditional figuring out of the ideal alignment of plugs and outlets, and the stringing of lights down the hallway and back up again to make sure all of the lights work. We always listen to Brad Paisley's Christmas album, probably because that is what we listened to the first year and it seemed like a good tradition to keep. My brother does the roof while I tackle the trees.  It's a good system.  Afterwards I drank a cup of peppermint hot chocolate, not because I needed it in sixty degree weather, but because it felt like the right thing to do.  I love Christmas.

Day 35

This last weekend was a joy. 

Thanksgiving was very nice with my extended family.

Working twelve hours on Black Friday was a little less nice.

But then came the wonderful part.

After I got off of work on Friday night, my husband and I headed up to the mountains to spend the weekend with my family at my parent's cabin. We talked. We played games. We ate delicious food.  We hiked. We shot guns.  We read books.  But most importantly, we were together.

The quote at the beginning of my blog says, "But life's joys are only joys if they can be shared." I'm not saying it's impossible to have joy if you cannot share it, but joy is so much richer when you do have someone to share it with you.  My joy this weekend did not come from the fact that I read, ate, played games, shot guns, and hiked.  My joy came from doing those things with people that I love.  Every day I am realizing a little more how important my friends and family are to me, and how much I would miss them if I ever left.  


On my journey of discovering deeper joy, I am finding that the people who surround me play a huge role in that journey.  They do not dictate whether I have it or not, but they do have the power to enhance or detract from it. And on a personal note, I have the power to do that to the people I come in contact with as well. I pray that I will always enhance someone's joy and never detract from it.


May your week be filled with joy.

Announcement

Due to Thanksgiving, travel, and family activities, please look forward to the next post on Monday, November 28

Day 34

I am just going to say it: I just made the most beautiful apple pie I have ever made, and possibly ever seen. Although pictures don't do it justice, here it is:

And an artsy shot for my fellow artists:

Ta-Da!

This is a big moment in my life. I always dream of making beautiful pies, and I always attempt them whenever the need for pie comes up, but something always seems to go wrong. Pie crust and me are not friends.  My mom can make pie crusts like a ninja: the perfect consistency, not too wet and not too dry, rolling them out beautifully without sticking to the counter or rolling pin, and then scooping them up and draping them in the pie pan like it’s the easiest thing in the world.  It’s not.  If you have ever made home-made pie crusts you know that there is a bit of trick to them.  Now, I’ve watched my mom make pie crusts for years, and I have made pie crusts under her tutelage, but as soon as I start adding water my crust usually starts fighting back. It gets worse once I start rolling it out, and by the time it’s in the pan it usually has the appearance of a patchwork quilt.  My crusts rip, and tear, and stick, and crumble, and I never seem to have enough dough no matter how much flour and shortening I start out with. 

But not today.  Today I used  a pie crust recipe that I have only used once before, and like the first time, it held together and worked like a champ.  The filling didn’t bubble out, the lattices didn’t tear, and the crust turned a lovely golden brown without getting too dark.  I’m pretty excited about the filling too. It’s too bad that I don’t actually like apple pie, but I am sure someone else in my family will enjoy it.  The artist in me is satisfied with making something beautiful; eating it couldn’t increase my joy.

I'm sure you have heard the expression, "It doesn't matter what it looks like; it will still taste good."  The logic side of me agrees with that statement, but my creative side cringes at it.  I believe that if you can make something look more appealing, then you should. I also think that if something looks good, then people will think that it tastes better than if it was plain. I guess all I am trying to say is that I believe God gave us a great gift when He gave us beauty, and I don't like wasting it. That is why my beautiful pie brings me joy.

On this day before Thanksgiving, I am thankful for beauty.

Day 33

In middle of Kohls, behind the jewelry department and in between the women's and the men's sections, there lies no-man's land. This is the section that contains way too many styles and colors of purses, belts, scarves, hats, slippers, gloves, and other random items that can't find a home anywhere else. It's the section that people get to before realizing that they have no idea where the sock department is. Or the shoe department. It's the section that is almost always in need of tidying up because it is the forgotten land between departments. This is where I work.  This is the Accessories Department. I call it no-man's land because people who work at Kohls seem to avoid it like the plague. Every truck day, however, I get sent to work out the freight for the accessories department.  It's not a difficult or very skilled job; probably the most difficult thing is fighting off the monotony. Open a box, unwrap the merchandise from the plastic it is ensconced in, removed any additional pieces of paper or plastic whose purpose in life is to be annoying, and put the stuff away.  More times than not, in order to get the new merchandise out the old merchandise needs to be reorganized to make room.  This is why it always takes longer than it seems like it should. Despite the slowness, and the endless individually-wrapped merchandise, and the fact that I have to clean as I go and there never seems to be room for the things I need room for, I am fond of the accessories department. I have been there long enough to get over the monotony and frustrating part, and have the knowledge that although I feel slow, I can probably do it faster than almost anyone else in the store. Plus, I am really good at telling people where the sock department is. And the shoe department.

 My job is not very exciting or challenging and I would be lying if I told you that I loved it.  However, I don't hate it either, and for retail, Kohls is an excellent place to work.  My store has good management an I like the people I work with.  And, on top of all that,  it was a miracle that I got a job there in the first place. It was only by the grace of God that I was selected out of thousands of people for one of the original 130 positions when the new store opened. It wasn't anything I did; God allowed His favor to rest upon me, and I am incredibly grateful to Him for His provision in my life.

Why write about this now? Because I needed to remember.  It's hard to find joy at 5:42 in the morning when I'm driving to work in the dark and the cold. It's hard to find joy when I get back from work and my feet hurt and my knees hurt and I'm exhausted after only working four or six hours. I imagine it's going to be hard to find joy after I work for twelve hours on Black Friday. But it shouldn't be hard, because every time I go to work, and every time I come back, I have experienced  a miracle.  God gave me a job in the middle of a depressed economy.  He has always provided for my needs, even when I was without work, and He always will.  He also gave me a job that is decent, if not terribly motivating. My job could be so much worse than it is, and I am blessed to have the job that I do.

So on this day two days before Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my job.

Day 32

As you might have noticed, last week I only managed to write one post, and it was a simple one at that. This was not intentional. I had every intention of writing every day like I normally do, but life had other plans. Somewhere along the way time morphed into super speed, and it was all I could do to keep the house resonably clean and get dinner on the table while running around like a crazy person doing this, that, and the other thing. I know it is only going to get harder as the Christmas season approaches and with it a deluge of festive activities. I love Christmastime, and I love everything that goes along with it, but there is a tendency to get burned out by the running around and the endless activities, especially since I want to do it all. I felt burned out at the end of the this week, and it was only crazy for about four days! So as I am pondering joy and thinking about busy schedules, here are some ways I thought of to keep the joy in Christmas.

Focus on Christ, not the mas(s) of things to do: People have developed catchy sayings to help us remember this: "Remember the Reason for the Season!" "Keep Christ in Christmas!" These are all well and good, but I need a little more than a snazzy catch-phrase to keep me focused. When I am feeling stressed or overwhelmed, I need to take a step back, re-focus, and remind myself the purpose behind the project.  The reason behind everything should point to Christ in some way or another.  Whether that is having a beautiful home that guest feel welcomed and valued in, or a thoughtful gift that makes someone feel loved, the things I do I do ultimately for Christ.

Enjoy the little moments:  This the same thing as finding little joys in life.  Slow down enough to enjoy that song on the radio or the beautiful Christmas lights twinkling in the darkness.  It is easy for even the things you love to become a chore when they are just one of the dozens of things that need done.  Don't let that happen; enjoy the things you enjoy and don't let time rob you of that joy.

Onthe reverse side, if something about the season particularly annoys you, have a distraction technique ready.  For me, hearing the song "Santa Baby" has the power to put me in an immediate bad mood. Since I know this about myself, whenever I hear "Santa Baby" I use it as a reminder to pray for someone, and then I am no longer thinking about how annoying that song is.

On crazy days, take a song break: One day I was busy from the moment I got up in the morning. Around four o'clock in the afternoon I felt myself lagging, but I knew I didn't have time to take even a fifteen minute nap. I did have time for a song, however. I put on a worship song, laid on my bed, and calmed my spirit and body for three and a half minutes. It wasn't much, but it helped. If you want to keep with the spirit of the season, "The Night Before Christmas" by Brandon Heath is the most gospel-centered Christmas song I have ever heard, and it keeps the focus on Christ. I'm sure I will have a post just on this song, so you can stay tuned for that.

Those are just some of the ways I hope to keep the joy in the busy Christmas season.  If you have a technique that you use, I would love to hear about it!  The more focused we are on Christ this season, the more joyful we will be.

Day 31

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full."

I John 1:1-4

Amen.

Day 30

Sunday is family day for my husband and I. We go over to one of our parents' houses and watch football, play games, take naps, maybe do some laundry or whatever else comes up. I like Sundays. We are blessed to have both sets of parents living in the same town as us, and although that would not be the ideal situation for some people, it is for us. We both love spending time with our families and in-laws, and being able to see them regularly is a joy.

I know that having in-laws that you really enjoy being with is not very common. Having both spouses feel that way about both sets of in-laws is even rarer. Because of this, I am extremely humbled that God would grant it to my husband and I. There was a time in our relationship when it seemed like having a good relationship with one of our families would be impossible. You never realize how much you value something until it is taken away, and God did take it away for a time. But by His grace He restored the relationship. I don't take that relationship for granted anymore; I treasure it instead.

I realize this post is short and sweet, but that's all I can think of to say. If you have a good relationship with your family, praise God! If you don't, work on creating one. I know firsthand that relationships can be restored, and you are never too far away for God to work. There is hope, and may that bring you joy.

Day 29

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope throught the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith-- the salvation of your souls. " I Peter 1:3-9

I know a lot of people who are being grieved by various trials right now. This past week has been especially difficult. Sometimes when you are caught up in a trial it is so hard to get perspective, and that is why I love this passage from I Peter. Yes, we are going to have trials in this life, but they are only for a little while. The more important thing is that we have hope in Jesus Christ, and these trials are used to test our faith in Him. The hope we have in Christ far outweighs the suffering in this life, for the end our faith is the salvation of our souls. I also love the phrase, "if need be." As much as we don't like them, we need trials in our life. Without them, we become out-of-shape Christians. Trials keep us close to God and spiritually fit. I don't know about you, but I grow the most as a Christian when life is the hardest. I have to in order to survive.

My prayers are with my struggling friends, that God will use these trials to draw them closer to Him. May their hope in Christ bring them joy.

Day 28

There's a mom cooking in the kitchen. Her little four-year-old daughter comes in and asks, "Mommy, can I help you?" The woman knows that if her daughter "helps", it is going to take twice as long and be twice as messy. But she doesn't hesitate, and with a big smile on her face she answers, "Of course you can, sweetie." What prompted the daughter to ask in the first place? She loves her mother and wanted to show that love. What prompted the mother to respond the way she did? The same reason.

That is how I see our relationship with God and how we serve Him. We are the loving children; God is the loving parent. We want to show our love by serving God, and God in His mercy and grace lets us. Let's be honest: God can get things done much faster and cleaner than we can. He fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish while the disciples were standing around scratching their heads. We can't do that. Sometimes we try to serve God and things go horribly wrong, and we don't understand why. But the greatest privilege that I can think of is that God chose us, fallen, sinful humans beings and said, "You are going to represent Me on earth. You are going to be My hands and feet. Whatever you do in My name is going to reflect Me, and people will draw conclusions about Me by your actions." God knows that we are going to mess up, but He loves us and therefore lets us show our love for Him through our imperfect service.

God gave me the opportunity to be His hands and feet yesterday. It was a privilege. It was a joy.

Day 27

As promised, here is a picture of the completed (or nearly completed) Christmas stockings. All I have left to do is figure out how I want to add our names to the cuffs and add hanger loops.

Awww, aren't they nice? : )

Overall, I really enjoy sewing. However, I would not consider myself a very talented sew-er. Yes, the finished products look nice, but I don't know if I've made something that didn't require me to rip out stitches and re-sew. The plus side is that I am really talented at ripping out stitches. These stockings were no exception. Yesterday afternoon I had to re-sew the cuff on my stocking three times. Most people would probably learn from their mistake the first time, but not me! It was a good lesson in patience and perseverance. Even that couldn't diminish much of my joy at the finished product. The harder you have to work at something, the more you appreciate it. I saw a picture of some stockings I liked, but from then on I designed everything myself, and made plenty of mistakes in the process. It's kind of like an analogy of life: You have your goal in mind, you make plans to reach that goal. Sometimes the going is rough and sometimes it is easy. Sometimes your plans work and sometimes you have to back-track and try something else. Sometimes by the time you reach your goal it doesn't look like what you had in mind, but that's okay because you made it. (Maybe I'm stretching this analogy too far, but I felt like this post needed more substance than just me ripping out stitches. Take it or leave it.)

I thought this post was going to be about why I enjoy creating things, but posts sometimes take on a mind of their own. Kind of like getting to the goal in the life analogy : ) Just kidding; enough analogies for today. I guess I will save that for another day.

P.S. If it would bring you joy to tell me how nice my stockings are, it would bring me joy as well :)

Day 26

The Joy of Sunday Morning: Part 5

Fellowship

I have been at my church for thirteen or fourteen years so I know a lot of the people that attend there. On Sunday mornings, there is absolutely no way that I could talk with all of them, so I have to just pick a few. That in itself is a joy though. I am surrounded by my family in Christ, and there is A LOT of us! Half of the people I know well could be gone, and I still wouldn’t get to see everyone. Also, even if everyone I know was absent one Sunday, I could have genuine fellowship with someone that I have never met before because of our connection in Christ.

So what is Christian fellowship? It’s not just talking, although talking is involved. Fellowship is when two or more believers encourage one another in their faith and in their Christian walk. I guess the simplest way to put it is that fellowship is intentional; it doesn’t usually happen by accident. Fellowship is important because Christians are not called to live out their faith by themselves. We need other people to encourage us when we are struggling, remind us of the truth, strengthen our faith, and walk by our side through all of life’s ups and downs. This is accomplished through fellowship.

In spite of being vital for healthy Christians, fellowship does not occur as often as it should. As I mentioned before, fellowship is intentional, which means it requires some effort. We are busy people, and good fellowship requires time. It requires investing in people’s lives and allowing them to invest in yours. But that is not the only barrier to fellowship. My brother shared this quote with me a couple of weeks ago, and I have been pondering it ever since:

“He who is alone with his sin is utterly alone. It may be that Christians, notwithstanding corporate worship, common prayer, and all their…service, may still be left to their loneliness. The final break through to fellowship does not occur, because though they have fellowship with one another as believers and as devout people, they do not have fellowship as the undevout, as sinners. The pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner. So everybody must conceal his sin from himself and the fellowship. We dare not be sinners. Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when a real sinner is suddenly discovered among them. So we remain alone with our sin, living lies and hypocrisy. The fact is we are sinners. But it is the grace of the Gospel, which is so hard for the pious to understand, that it confronts us with the truth and says: You are a sinner, a great desperate sinner; now come as the sinner that you are, to God who loves you … He does not want anything from you, a sacrifice, a work; He wants you alone. God has come to save the sinner (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together).”

True fellowship has the potential to bring us with great joy, but so often we never give it the chance. We think we are strong and can live life by ourselves, only to find that it doesn’t work out as well as we had hoped. Not surprisingly, God’s way is the best.

May you find joy in fellowship.

Day 25

The Joy of Sunday Morning: Part 4

Ministry

One of the lesser thought-of joys that takes place at a church service is ministry. This does not just apply to the pastor and the worship team, but to the dozens of people who serve as greeters, ushers, nursery workers, Sunday School teachers, A/V personel, janitors, and in the numerous other jobs where people serve. It is a joy to serve others, and it is also a joy to be served.

Every Christian is part of the Body of Christ. We all have a responsibility to be a part of a local church and to use the gifts that God has blessed us with to serve other believers. This is what God has equipped us to do, but it is not mearly a duty. Serving others can and should bring us great joy. We all have a unique part to play, and no one else can fulfill our part better than we can. When we serve in the way that God intended, not only do we bless others, we also bring glory to Him. I know first-hand the blessings and joy that comes from serving. Yes, sometimes it's inconvenient and sometimes there's no glory in the task, but that's not the point. The point is that when you obey God and serve Him, He will bless you for your obedience. No one else on earth might know what you have done, but God knows, and that's what matters. And that should bring you joy.

The other side of ministry is being on the receiving end. Everyone knows the saying, "It's better to give than to receive," but I don't think that's true in this situation. Yes, it is a blessing to minister to others, but it is also a blessing when someone ministers to you. Think about the worship team that can sing so much better than you, or play instruments that they are talented with. Think about your pastor who can preach with wisdom and insight, about nursery workers who care for children so their parents can listen to the service without interruption, and for the janitors who keep the building clean. This is a blessing to us, is it not? And, it should bring us joy when we are blessed by other people fulfilling their role in the body of Christ.

Serve and be served. Minister and be ministered to. This is the way the body of Christ was intended to work, and we all have our part to play.

Day 24

The Joy of Sunday Morning: Part 3

Worship

"Worship changes the worshiper into the image of the One worshiped"
Jack Hayford

Out of all the joys of a church service, I enjoy the worship time the most. I love coming to the doorway of heaven and proclaiming the praises of my God, Savior, King, and Lord. There is something about singing poetic lyrics with beautiful harmonies that conveys so well what I want to tell Christ. God blessed us when He gave us music, and I love using it to praise Him. I also have the greatest respect for worship song writers, because they take the truth found in the Bible and put the words together to form such beautiful expressions of adoration. I also love the variety of worship songs. Some are prayers that we pray to God: "We cry out for your love to refine us, cry out, for your love to define us, cry out for your mercy to keep us blameless 'til you return." (Reign in Us) Some are words that God has spoken to us: "I thought of you before the world began to breathe, I knew your name before you came to be. I saw the very day you'd turn away from me, and how desperately you'd need to be redeemed." (Reign in Us) Some are proclamations of God's character: "Almighty, most holy God, faithful through the ages; Almighty, most holy Lord, glorious almighty God." (Almighty) And some are the gospel in glorious simplicity: "Living He loved me, dying He saved me, buried He carried my sins far away, rising He justified, freely forever, one day He's coming, oh, glorious day." (Glorious Day)

I'm afraid that I don't always find joy in worship with the right motives, though. Worship is about proclaiming the attributes of God: His holiness, love, mercy, grace, worthiness, greatness, and the list could go on. Worship is about God, but like everything else, I can make it about me. For one thing, I have favorite worship songs. I feel like I can worship better with songs that I like, but really it shouldn't matter if I like the song or not, because it's not about me. As long as the song glorifies God, I should be able to worship the same as with songs I love. I also like worshiping because when I am completely focused on God, I can escape this world and its troubles for a little while. Although it's good to completely focus on God, I should not use it as a form of escapism. Yes, I should long for heaven and to be with Jesus forever and ever, but I still need to live well during my time on earth.

As with every part of my walk with God, I want to worship well but I am still so human, and need His constant grace for when I fail.

May you find joy in worship.

Notice

I will be out of town for the next three days, so please expect the continuation of the series to resume on Saturday.

Day 23

The Joy of Sunday Morning: Part 2

Truth

We are constantly surrounded by lies. This might sound melodramatic, but it’s true. We are so used to it that we automatically adjust the input we receive without even realizing it. Think about it. The news we see on television or hear on the radio or read in the paper comes from a source that has a particular point of view. Sometimes they will skew or omit facts purposefully, and sometimes without realizing it. We see advertisements that promise us happiness or love or fulfillment if we buy their product. We hear politicians promise us utopia if we vote for them. We eat “health” products that fill our bodies with chemicals. For every good deal that we find we have to scour the fine print for the catch. Business agreements need to be conducted with pages of conditions and with lawyers present. Photographs are altered and passed off as legitimate. Even the weatherman confidently tells us what to expect from nature, only to be proved wrong repeatedly. We know these things. We have accepted them as part of the society in which we live. We know that we must take the things we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell with a grain of salt.

But one of the joys of Sunday morning is that we can go to church and hear the truth. God’s Word in the Bible is completely true. It is not twisted, exaggerated, altered, or conditional. When the pastor or worship leader reads Scripture, we can have absolute confidence that we are hearing completely unadulterated truth. There is a caveat even hear, though. Although we have confidence that the Bible is true, that does not mean that it is always clear. There are many things in the Bible that are difficult to understand and figure out. Assuming that your pastor is a holy- and God-fearing man, he will take the Scriptures and endeavor to search them to learn the truth and teach it to his congregation. However, your pastor is a human just like you and me, and he is probably not 100% correct on his understanding of everything in the Bible. This does not mean he is trying to deceive you, just that he is doing his best with the resources God has given him. We all have a responsibility to search the Word of God for ourselves and learn the truth that it contains. But the joyful news is that it IS truth. The gospel is true. The character of God is true. Our responsibility on how to live as Christians is true. The life of Christ is true.

Hearing the truth in every situation might not be easy, but when we hear the truth found in the Bible it should fill us with joy. May the Lord grant that it may be so.

Day 22

The Joy of Sunday Morning: Part 1
Introduction

What is the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear “Sunday morning church service” ? Is it obligation, tradition, or even boring? How do you feel about going to church on Sunday morning, and more importantly, why do you feel that way? Unfortunately, for many people going to church is not the highlight of their week. They might go because they are expected to, or because they want to keep up appearances of being “good Christians.” I found this proverb, and think it is fitting: “Some go to church to see and be seen, Some go there to say they have been, Some go there to sleep and nod, But few go there to worship God”. This is not the way it should be, however, and this is not the way Christ intended us to view it. Christ is madly in love with His Church, His bride, and He calls us to love it as well. The Sunday morning service is just one aspect of what the Church of Christ Jesus is, but it is a fundamental part. A church service brings the family of Christ together to worship God, hear His Word, fellowship with one another, and minister to one another. It is just one setting in which the Body of Christ can perform the tasks that God has called it to do. For this reason, Sunday morning church services should fill us with joy. Do they?

This is the first part of a five part series on this subject. I love going to church on Sunday mornings, and I hope that everyone who reads this blog does as well. Gathering together with the body of Christ is a privilege, and the fact that we can do it so easily and without threat or danger in this country is an added blessing. I have broken down the things that take place on a typical Sunday morning into four categories, and will look at each of them in turn. I pray that you will be edified and encouraged with this series.

Note: I realize that many churches offer services on alternative days and times than just on Sunday mornings. Please realize that I am just using "Sunday morning" as a general term for going to a church service, since that is the most widely recognized.

Day 21

I got a call from a friend today that reminded me that life is hard. I don't know about you, but I'm a fixer. Whenever I hear of someone who is going through a hard time, I want to fix the problem the fastest way possible. Too often that is how I pray as well: "Dear God, please heal so and so. Please provide so and so with a job. Please help so and so overcome this battle." I don't actually pray like that, but many times at the root of my prayers is the exact thing that I wrote above. There is a problem. I have a solution. Unfortunately, too often I pray for my solution and not God's solution. I know as well as anyone that God uses different phases of our journey to mold us and refine us in specific ways. Does God care if we have a job, or good health or whatever else we "need"? Yes, He does. However, what's usually more important than the job, or good health, or victory from a particular sin is the journey that God takes us on to get us there. Faith and trust in God is not usually built when sailing is smooth. We discover who we are, and more importantly, who God is, when the storms of life come. He is our provider, He is our strength, He is our fortress, He is our help. The list could go on and on. The lessons God teaches us during the storms are ones that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. I look at it like building blocks. God teaches us to trust Him, and then He teaches us how to trust Him more, and then He teaches us how to trust Him even more. The Christian life should never be a stagnant one. If we aren't pushing ourselves to grow, then God will.

I once was praying to God about a situation. I don't remember exactly what it was, but it was a big issue. I remember praying for my solution, and God asked me if I wanted the situation to turn out the best way, which was His way, or my way. I had to wrestle for a minute with that one, because there was a lot at stake. My way and God's way are not always mutually exclusive of each other, but neither are they mutually inclusive. God's best way could have been to answer my prayer exactly as I prayed for it to be answered, or it could have been the exact opposite. That's the tricky part about trusting God: we know His way is best, but we might not see it like that at the time. I told God I wanted the best way, even if it meant losing everything.

I don't really remember the outcome because I'm not exactly sure what situation was. But that doesn't matter. The point is that God had strengthen my faith and taken me on a journey of building a relationship with Him that allowed me to trust Him completely in that situation. Sadly, I don't always remember that lesson when I pray. But I pray that I will. And I pray that you will.

Day 20

Tonight my husband and I have the privilege of having my brother and his girlfriend over for dinner. I have been looking forward to this all week, and I will tell you why. First of all, I love entertaining. I love having people over, feeding them good food, enjoying their fellowship, and getting to know them better. How much do I love entertaining? Well, I just spend 40 minutes setting the table. I know, I know that's a long time. But I had to try about half a dozen napkin folding masterpieces before deciding on the appropriate one, and then there was the trudge in the snow to retrieve some fall leaves, and then the big decision about which color fondue fork everyone would get (I'm serious). Yes, it was some work, but I enjoyed every minute of it and it is completely worth it if they feel welcomed and loved.

Second of all, I especially love hanging out with my brother, and now with his girlfriend as well. I am really looking forward to getting to know her better. The first time, and longest time, I have hung out with her we bonded through nearly starving to death in Denver after a Bronco's game. We just barely pulled through by eating Jelly Bellies and black market Burger King jr. whoppers. It was quite the adventure. Over the past few months I have interacted with her in more normal circumstances, and she has been lovely to get to know. We are planning on playing a funny/embarrassing game tonight, so that should cause good bonding as well. There's nothing like making fools of yourselves to really forge friendships.

Fun, laughter, friends, family and snow. What a perfect evening.

Day 19

I don't know if you have noticed it or not, but it has been nineteen days and I have yet to write about the thing that brings me the second greatest joy in my life apart from the gospel and being a Christian. Why have I not written about it? Well, it's complicated. I'm not sure how to do it in a way that is edifying to my faithful readers. For you see, the thing that brings me the second greatest joy in life is being married to my wonderful husband.

I could go on and on about why I love my husband and how he brings me so much joy. However, if I did that, who would I be encouraging? I know the feeling of someone who is single and wishes to be married, and I don't want to make it ache any more than it already does. God's timing is not our timing, and sometimes God's timing has a lot of loneliness in it. On the other side, I don't want to create discontentment by having married people start comparing their spouses with my spouse. So really, a discussion on that topic would not edify many people, except maybe my husband and me.

So let me go another route. One of the greatest factors needed for joy, no matter whether you are married, engaged, or single, is contentment. If you are single and discontent, marriage is not going to make you joyful, at least not for long. Joy comes from a heart that is content, no matter the circumstances, no matter the relationship status. I can be in the perfect marriage, but if my heart longs for a bigger apartment or a better job or more friends, that perfect marriage cannot compensate for the discontentment in my heart. On the flip side, joy can spring from the tiniest apartment in the worst part of town when ends are barely being met. It's not the circumstances and it will never be the circumstances that will bring you joy. Circumstances might make you happy for a while, but happiness is a fragile blossom while joy is a deep root.

To end, let me quote the apostle Paul. In Philippians 4:11-13 he says, "For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be live humbly and how to live in prosperity. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

I pray that you find joy in your contentment.

Day 18

I stumble through the woods, seeing the leaves on the ground and hearing them crackle beneath my faltering feet. I'm covered in dirt, so covered that it has seeped into my pores and seems to reach to my bones. It irritates my skin, making me scratch at it, but it only makes it worse. All I want is to be clean again, but I can't find anything that can help me. I search in vain. I just want to be clean! And then suddenly the trees thin out and there's a little clearing, and in the clearing there is a man. At first I think that he, too, is covered in dirt, but as I get closer I see that it is actually blood. His blood, coming from so many wounds I don't know how his skin is holding him together. I look into His eyes, and in them see the deepest well of suffering and pain that a person could ever endure. And the worst part is not that I am unable to prevent this suffering,

But that I caused it.

This man is dying, and I killed Him.

I want to tear my eyes away in shame, but something compels them to stay. His eyes, those pools of sorrow, are also a well-spring of love- love that overflows and pours over me. I look down, and I see the dirt that was covering me washing away. It only takes a moment, and then I am clean.

Step out of the story with me. Take away the forest. Replace the clearing with a hill named Golgatha. Replace innocent dirt with permeating sin. And put the man on a cross. What do we have, my friends? We have where guilty was replaced with innocent, condemnation replaced with grace. A place where righteousness replaced wickedness and justice coincided with mercy. We have the truth that we are all sinners, and Christ came and died for our sins when we were without hope. He took the punishment for our sin on the cross, and then he conquored the penalty for our sin by defeating death by rising again from the dead. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Why the gospel, you ask? Because, my friends, in order to understand true joy, you have to go to the place where your sin was hideous and your soul was black. For only when you see the depth of your depravity can you understand the depth of grace needed to cover it. Only when you understand that Christ died on YOUR cross and took the punishment for YOUR sins, can you understand what love really looks like. And only that can bring true and everlasting joy.

Ponder the cross. Look at the cause of unimaginable suffering and find the ultimate paradox: true joy.

Day 17

I found this poem by William Henry Davies. Like many poems, the wording is rather cumbersome to those of us who don't read poetry on a regular basis, but the content is very thought-provoking. I hope it gives you reason to pause and ponder for a moment.

Joy and Pleasure
by William Henry Davies

Now, joy is born of parents poor,
And pleasure of our richer kind;
Though pleasure's free, she cannot sing
As sweet a song as joy confined.

Pleasure's a Moth, that sleeps by day
And dances by false glare at night;
But Joy's a Butterfly, that loves
To spread its wings in Nature's light.

Joy's like a Bee that gently sucks
Away on blossoms its sweet hour;
But pleasure's like a greedy Wasp,
That plums and cherries would devour.

Joy's like a Lark that lives alone,
Whose ties are very strong, though few;
But Pleasure like a Cuckoo roams,
Makes much acquaintance, no friends true.

Joy from her heart doth sing at home,
With little care if others hear;
But pleasure then is cold and dumb,
And sings and laughs with strangers near.

Day 16

On Sunday, my brother wrote an excellent post on his blog, Everyday Strangers. It was titled Genuine Worship and it urged the reader to examine themselves during worship and think about if they were half-hearted, just going through the motions, or putting on a show for others. Here is my brother's heart for worship and for writing this post: "I want people to be able to genuinely worship on every song that we sing. I want people to experience the grace of God like never before and fall down in amazement. I cannot command someone to have genuine worship because it is a heart issue. What I can do is pray for them and encourage them to seek Him day after day."
If you would like to read the whole thing for yourself, and I highly suggest that you do, here is the link: http://everydaystrangers.blogspot.com/2011/10/genuine-worship.html

My brother's blog post got a lot of attention this week. When I received the weekly update for Ignite, our church's college and career group, I saw his post at the beginning of it. Our pastor saw the update as well and was so impressed he asked permission to put it on the church-wide email update that went out today.

Apparently my brother stepped on a few toes with what he had to say, because a few hours later our pastor sent out another email explaining the post and that the intent was not to condemn, but to encourage individuals to examine their hearts for genuine worship. This makes joyful and proud of my brother at the same time. He had the courage to write about a controversial topic, and what he had to say did indeed create some controversy. However, that means that he got it right in his post, for only when truth is spoken can a person be convicted by the Holy Spirit. I don't believe someone should step on toes just because they can, but I also know that that was not my brother's purpose in writing. He genuinely wants people to worship with their whole heart, and I believe he encouraged people to do it better by asking some tough questions. If someone felt condemned or judged, it's probably because they know their heart isn't in the right place when it comes to worship, and his post touched a nerve. My prayer is that instead of feeling judged, those people will examine themselves and come to the Lord with a heart full of genuine worship. Our Lord deserves nothing less.

May your heart be filled with joy in worship.

Day 15

I'm really joyful right now. It's one of those days where life is just right. I worked this morning for seven hours, and I actually feel like I got something accomplished today. Also, I don't have to work again until Monday, which is a nice feeling. My brother shared a new song with me, and it has become a favorite. Ironically, the lyrics have a similar flavor of this blog: enjoying the little moments with the ones you love. If you would like to hear it, it is Lady Antebellum's "Heart of the World" from their "Own the Night" album. Additionally, I have planned the menus for two dinners next week with friends, figured out what I am bringing to Ignite and small group, figured out dinner tonight, and am looking forward to getting started on making the Christmas stockings. I realize that I have already mentioned the stockings twice in this blog, am I'm sure that they will get mentioned again since creating things gives me great joy, so I'll be sure to post a picture of them when they are done. I'm also looking forward to the worship night on Saturday and the time we get to spend with family and friends over the next week.

This is the type of joy that I want to live in every day, the type of joy that I want to bring to others. It's not big and flashy; it's quiet and content. It's the joy that comes from a job well done, and the anticipation of good times in the future. It's the joy that comes from living life well. I've tasted it, so now the goal is to learn how to live in it every day. My journey has just begun.

May the God of peace grant you joy.

Day 14

My goal in this post is to come up with a list of ten little joys that I have experienced today. As I am beginning to write this I don't have ten things already in mind, so we'll see how this goes. Of course, if I don't get to ten, I can just rewrite this intro and change the number : ) Enough babbling, here I go:

1) I started working on the reception decorations for a friend's wedding. I love weddings, I love helping with weddings, I love being in weddings, and I loved my own wedding. They bring me joy.

2) My husband was able to come home for lunch. There's nothing like seeing your best friend to brighten up a day. Sometimes I wonder if we will ever be able to spend enough time together, because it never seems like enough.

3) During lunch, we were able to eat up four left-overs. I had chili that was a week and a half old, so we'll see if I still consider that a joy later on : ) However, our refrigerator has been overflowing with left-overs for a while, despite our best efforts, so it was nice to clean it out and not waste that food.

4) I went shopping and got eggs on sale for a dollar a dozen. I love it whenever I get a good deal on anything, but getting eggs on sale is extra special to me for some reason. (Yes, I'm strange. Try to get over it.)

5) I heard one of my favorite songs on the radio while shopping. I had forgotten about this song despite it being one of my favorites, so I was happy to be reminded of its existence once again.

6) The tree outside of our apartment building is a beautiful shade of orange. I have always loved orange trees because they are so much more rare than yellow and red ones, especially in Colorado.

7) I enjoyed the sun wrapping my car in warmth as I drove. As the relentless grind toward winter continues, I know the days of being warm outside are slipping away.

8) I had a lovely cup of chai while working on the computer.

9) I had enough dishes to do a load in the dishwasher. Usually we hand wash our dishes. Ah, the little things in life.

10) I know this is future, but I know it will bring me joy. My husband and I are going over to my parent's house for dinner tonight, and it is always enjoyable to spend time with them.

Ha! I did it. You should consider trying it yourself, and see what comes up. I'd love for you to post your list in the comments section so that you can encourage others as well.

May your day be full of joy.

Day 13

It was supposed to be a fast trip to the fabric store. All I needed was two more small pieces of fabric so that I can get started making some Christmas stockings. I started looking, found some possibilites, then grabbed a number for the cut table while finalizing my selection. I was six numbers away and there were two or three cutters working at the counter. I figured I had about ten minutes before my number was called so I picked the couple of fabrics I wanted and then just looked around for awhile. It was a long while. When the number before mine was called I meandered closer to the counter so I wouldn't miss my number being called. I stood there, and stood there, and stood there. For probably fifteen minutes. Oh, did I mention that I was supposed to pick up my mom at four? It was past four before I got to the cut table, and I had been waiting in line for around 30 minutes. For six people ahead of me. With three cutters at the counter. Grrr.

When I got to the checkout line and saw that it was so long that I wasn't even in the designated aisle where it normally starts, I called my mom and told her that I was going to be late. She was very understanding. She always is. But I was still frustrated and unhappy. I ended up being there for over an hour for two dollars and sixty-eight cents worth of fabric. Not cool.

You might be wondering where the joy turns up in this story. It doesn't. That's the problem. As I was driving home I was thinking about what I was going to write about in my blog, and I thought about this situation and my response to it. Can we all agree that it took way longer than it should have for me to get my two little pieces of fabric? Yes. Did I have a reason to be frustrated? Probably. Did I have to be frustrated? No. That was my choice. I didn't think about that at the time, but although it felt like the natural reaction to the situation, I didn't have to let myself be frustrated. I do not have to be controlled by my emotions; I have the ability to contol them. I had the choice to be joyful in that situation, but I chose not to be. The employees at the fabric store didn't take my joy from me; I willingly let it become missing in action.

Now that I've worked through that, let me search a little deeper. There have been times when I have had to wait in long lines and it hasn't bothered me at all. What was the difference in those situations? I wasn't supposed to be picking someone up at a certain time. Someone wasn't relying on me. That is where the frustration came in. However, my mom was understanding and was willing to wait. So why was I still upset? (Give me a minute, I'm thinking.)

I was frustrated because I don't like letting people down. Digging down deep I realize this is a pride issue. Sigh. I should have known. I could also probably throw in a bit a selfishness because that is the other issue that seems to be at the root of everything else. Pride and selfishness: the deadly duo.

I don't want to write an essay, so I will try to wrap this up. Let me sum up what I learned today about joy, or the lack thereof. I let my pride and my selfishness replace my joy in a frustrating situation. See, I can be concise. I pray that I will do better next time.

Day 12

Okay, okay. I know I've missed two days in a row. And that's bad. BUT, I have an excuse. On Thursday I received very, very exciting news that filled my heart with joy. However, that news was not public knowledge at the time. SOOO, as much as I wanted to share it, I couldn't, and nothing else seemed worth writing about in light of the BIG news. So that's why I haven't written in two days. The other reason is that I've been extremely busy and really haven't had the time to write even if I wanted to.

So are you ready for the big news?

MY BROTHER STARTED DATING A VERY SPECIAL YOUNG LADY THIS WEEK!!!

He has never been in a relationship before so this is a very exciting milestone in his life. And my life. The gal in question is very sweet and I am so happy for both of them.

When I heard the news, I started thinking about what I call "residual joy." It's something that causes someone close to you great joy, and because of that you feel joy as well. I think that that is a great gift from God: the ability to feel joy and happiness because of someone else's joy. I could be having the worst day possible, but if I hear good news about someone else, that fills me with joy in spite of my own circumstances. I remember hearing the news of my friends' engagement while my relationship with my boyfriend was going through a very difficult period. These friends and us had started dating around the same time and it was very easy to think that if circumstances were different, it could have been us getting engaged. I could honestly say, though, that I was very happy and very excited for them, and that in a way my own sadness and pain couldn't diminish the joy I felt for them. That's what I love I about joy: it doesn't depend on circumstances, it depends on the condition of your heart.

One of the goals for this blog is to separate the "good things are happening to me therefore I'm joyful" joy with the deeper joy that comes from being loved with the steadfast love of Christ and which doesn't depend on circumstances. Don't get me wrong, we should be joyful when God blesses us in life, which He does abundantly. But we also need to be joyful when life is hard. When you can do that, you have discovered the beginning of true joy.

May your joy be full.

Day 11

I said at the very beginning that in order to understand true joy, you have to understand true suffering. I don't think anyone knew this better than the apostle Paul. At the very beginning of his ministry, right after his conversion on the road to Damascus, God sends Ananias to Paul with these words: "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake." And Paul did suffer for Christ, very much. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul writes a list of everything that he has endured for the cause of Christ: flogged with thirty-nine lashes five times, beaten with rods three times, ship-wrecked three times, stoned, put in prison, and the list goes on. Paul lived almost every day with the threat of bodily harm, and many times it was more than just a threat. And yet in the next chapter of 2 Corinthians, Paul writes these words:

"And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ mas rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Paul learned not only to enduring suffering, he learned how to find joy in it. He learned that when his own strength failed it was an opportunity for Christ's strength to shine through and bring glory to God, and he rejoiced in that. What a testimony to the rest of us.

I love that passage from 2 Corinthians 12. It reminds me that God works in the midst of suffering. And although I don't suffer like Paul did, there are times when I have suffered because of painful circumstances in my life. Whenever that happens, I go back to that passage and pray that I may say with the apostle Paul, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

May God grant that it may be so.

Day 10

It started out with four of us, I think. A small group to be sure, but enough. Most of us barely knew each other, but that would change soon enough. Our little group would grow, then shrink, then grow again as people came and went in life. It started out as a Bible/Christian book study, and technically it still is. But that's not why the little group meets every Tuesday. For the girls that go, Tuesday night Bible study is a time to share their lives with people who care, who listen, who empathize, even if they don't always understand. Women often don't want a solution to their problems as much as they just want to be able share them with a sympathetic ear, and that's what Tuesday night Bible study is. It's a time of laughter and fellowship, of tears and prayers. The prayer request/sharing time usually goes well over an hour to get through the five or six girls present. That's true fellowship, my friends. Christians coming along other Christians and encouraging them in their walk with Christ.

I had the privilege of being a part of the Tuesday night Bible study for two and a half years. During those years I had a lot of ups and downs, and those ladies were there with me through it all. They rejoiced with me and cried with me, and I with them. We didn't solve each others problems as much as help bear them. It was the closest group I have ever been a part of.

When I got married, my schedule had to get re-organized to compliment my role as a wife. I can't do everything that I did before I got married, because I need to spend time with my husband and work on building that relationship. Because of that, I bid a sad farewell to the Tuesday night Bible study. I still see most of the ladies at other points throughout the week, so I am able to keep the relationships going. And tonight it gives me great joy to visit the group once again. It's a special night, and I wanted to come back for it. I look forward to fellowshipping with those precious ladies once again, and being filled with joy in the presence of Christ.

Day 9

The music swelled, the people rose, and like a whispered prayer, the song began:

I want to be close, close to your side
So heaven is real, and death is a lie
I want to see angels singing above
Singing as one...

And suddenly I was acutely aware of how small and pathetic I was. As the worship leader had just reminded us, we are faint and grow weary. We have good intentions to have a longer, more consistent quiet time, we have good intentions to pray more, and we have good intentions to not stumble in sin time and time again. But more often then not, we don't do it. We are weak. We are human. We are faint and grow weary. But we serve a God who is not faint and does not grow weary. We serve a God who loves us in spite of our weakness.

Hallelujah, Holy Holy
God Almighty, Great I AM
Who is worthy? None besides Thee
God Almighty, Great I AM

Yes, that's the God we serve. Untouchable in holiness, yet clothed in humanity. Awesome in power, yet overflowing in love.

I want to be near, near to your heart
Loving the world, and hating the dark
I want to see dry bones, living again
Singing as one...

For me, true worship is true joy. There is something about worshiping God that transcends this earth and takes me to the doorway of heaven. I can leave my troubles behind and bask in the presence of God. What a privilege; what an honor.

Hallelujah, Holy Holy
God Almighty, Great I AM
Who is worthy? None besides Thee
God Almighty, Great I AM

The mountains shake before Him
The demons run and flee
At the mention of His name
King of Majesty
There is no power in Hell
Or any who can stand
Before the power and the presence of the Great I Am
Great I AM, great I AM

Amen.


"Great I AM" -New Life Worship

Day 8

Two little joys to write about today, both having to do with the same thing.

Joy #1: I cut my husband's hair for the first time unsupervised last night and I did not destroy his head. This is a good thing. In fact, not only did I not destroy his head, he was actually very pleased with the results. Ca-ching! Gold star for me. (In case you are unfamiliar with my gold star award system, I award myself gold stars whenever I feel like I deserve them. This is due to the fact that there is a complete dearth of other people giving me gold stars. Egotistical? Perhaps.)

Joy #2: I received my own semi-annual haircut this afternoon. I don't pamper myself very often, but twice a year I get my hair cut, and I love it. I go to a beauty college near where I live, and for ten dollars they wash your hair (which includes a head massage), cut it, and style it. You can't get a better deal than that. Although on the whole I'm not a touchy/feely person, I love it when people play with my hair. Of course, there are certain societal rules about this, and I'm sure that if my best friend walked in the room and started running her fingers through my hair that I would be little freaked out and wouldn't enjoy it. However, getting a haircut is one of those times when it's perfectly okay for someone to run their fingers through my hair, so I soak it up. Another reason I like it so much is because for two days out of the year, my hair looks like I want it to for the other 363 days.

I know these are small things, but that's really the point of this blog. Of course there's joy when someone gets married or has a baby, but I want to experience joy every day, not just on the momentous days. I hope that as you read this blog, you start to look for little joys in your own life and find them. If something brings you joy, don't feel the need to justify it or explain in away. Simply enjoy it, and be thankful.

Day 7

"Happy is the person who not only sings, but feels God's eye is on the sparrow, and knows He watches over me. To be simply ensconced in God is true joy. How small a portion of our life it is that we really enjoy! In youth we are looking forward to things that are to come; in old age we are looking backward to things that are gone past; in manhood, although we appear indeed to be more occupied in things that are present, yet even that is too often absorbed in vague determinations to be vastly happy on some future day when we have time."

C. C. Colton

I love quotes. To paraphrase from another quote that I don't really quite remember, "a quote articulates what we are thinking much better than we could ourselves." But that's okay, because to quote the words of Ambrose Bierc, "Quoting: the act of repeating erroneously the words of another."

Okay, okay, I've had my fun. Now to get serious. I really like the quote I put at the beginning because it describes the way a lot of us live, but at the same time we don't really realize that we are doing it. I would propose that people live this way because they have a slight fear of really enjoying life and being content. Why? Because we fear that if we are content with where we are at, then our situation isn't going to change. This is true, is it not? We think this way for some reason. We hold off enjoying life fully until we reach that next step, except joy never comes because there is always another step to get to first. Enjoy today! Yes, hope for things in life. Yes, look forward to a brighter tomorrow. But don't glamorize the future so much that present tarnishes. Be joyful today, and if tomorrow is better, then be joyful some more.

Another reason we aren't joyful is because we don't feel like we deserve it. This can be caused by guilt of our own actions and mistakes, or because we know people who are suffering, and it doesn't seem fair for us to be happy if they are not. Both of these reasons rob people of joy, but these thoughts have to be fought against and destroyed if you want to feel true joy. If you are Christian, there is nothing that you have done that Christ didn't pay the price for on Calvary. When you feel guilty about sin, confess it, and then let it go. To continue to beat yourself up over past sin cheapens Christ's sacrifice and ultimately rejects God grace. Christ saved us because we were sinners in need of a Savior, not because we were perfect and fun to be around.

The other reason we feel guilty is because of others' suffering. I struggle with this one. I look around and I see friends who are sick, who need jobs, who need families, who are hurting, who have lost loved ones, and I tell myself that I don't deserve to be happy when there is so much suffering in this world. Here is another quote I like that touches on this subject:

"We rejoice in spite of our grief, not in place of it. " Woodrow Kroll

Joy does not replace suffering, but it does ease it. Happiness is determined by our circumstances, but joy goes so much deeper. Living in joy is choice, and we can choose it even in the hardest times. Joy in life doesn't cheapen what someone else is going through, and many times a joyful person is a refreshing balm to a weary soul. And, as Virgil said, "Perhaps the day may come when we shall remember these sufferings with joy."

May you be filled with joy, my friends.