Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Word JOY ... What does it mean to you ???
This word JOY has taken on many meanings in my lifetime ... Right now I am wrestling with the word JOY not being such a pretty or happy word ... That may sound odd, but I have a tremendous amount of JOY flowing through me right now, but life is not really HAPPY so to speak ... It is funny, crazy, hard, utterly comical, peaceful, and really busy right now, but I don't feel this happy-smile kind of feeling and that is okay ...
Job 6:10
Then I would still have this consolation— my joy in unrelenting pain— that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.
Psalm 19:8
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
Psalm 92:4
For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
Acts 13:52
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 7:4
I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
Philippians 2:2
then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
1 Thessalonians 1:6
You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
I could go on and on with the scriptures on JOY, but it is never more real to me than it is right now that the JOY that is of the LORD is so VAST and has so much meaning that we can not comprehend all its power WITH IN US BECAUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ... HOW UTTERLY COOL IS THAT !!! Grab hold of JOY and do not let go ... It is a TRUTH that needs to be understood to enable us to see Christ and all that HE has for us here on this earth to further HIS KINGDOM !!!
HAVE FABULOUS WEEK MY SWEET FRIENDS !!! and let me know what JOY means to you ... I love hearing your thoughts ...
Job 6:10
Then I would still have this consolation— my joy in unrelenting pain— that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.
Psalm 19:8
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
Psalm 92:4
For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
Acts 13:52
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 7:4
I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
Philippians 2:2
then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
1 Thessalonians 1:6
You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
I could go on and on with the scriptures on JOY, but it is never more real to me than it is right now that the JOY that is of the LORD is so VAST and has so much meaning that we can not comprehend all its power WITH IN US BECAUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ... HOW UTTERLY COOL IS THAT !!! Grab hold of JOY and do not let go ... It is a TRUTH that needs to be understood to enable us to see Christ and all that HE has for us here on this earth to further HIS KINGDOM !!!
HAVE FABULOUS WEEK MY SWEET FRIENDS !!! and let me know what JOY means to you ... I love hearing your thoughts ...
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Last week, our preacher talked about joy. He said he'd heard somewhere about JOY being "Jesus first, Others second, You last" ... that just really stuck out to me!
He also said that joy and happiness are not synonymous, that joy is looking through pain/events/etc. and knowing of the good on the other side.
I loved this post because it's been on my heart this week. Praying for you, and thankful for your joy!
Being in the will of the Lord and knowing Him!
Being in the will of the Lord and knowing Him!
This post is exactly what I have been attempting to express in my life right now. 2 weeks ago my husband, myself and our 2 children were serving the Lord, caring for orphans in Tanzania, Africa. Our lives were completely uprooted when we had to return to the states, leaving everything behind in Tz because our daughter had become sick. Our oldest daughter has been diagnosed with Leukemia, and our work in Tz has come to a halt. While we could easily become angry at this situation, the Lord has given us such a great inner peace, and we can feel him holding us up in our time of need. We have chosen JOY!!! Even in the worst of times, because of our wonderful father God we have so much to be joyful for.
I love this definition of joy: the steadfast assurance that God is in control.
I love this definition of joy: The steadfast assurance that God is in contol.
I love what Abby and Promila said about Joy too! For me, Joy is hope in the grace and mercy of our Father. Joy is accepting things will go as unplanned, children will puke as you are walking out to go on a long overdue date, jobs will be lost, dreams will shatter, change, and be reformed as brighter, better versions of their former selves. I am totally digging "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp, learning to find Joy in the formerly mundane. Blessings to you for a Joy-Full week
Me tooo, me toooooo:-) I have been reading One Thousand Gifts...so, in popping on here, and, sitting in this moment Of Grace, I give thanks...and, well, JOY for me is you Gwen, Mama to one beautiful family. Big JOYFUL hugs to you and your precious team!
Eucharisteo!!!!
Joy is knowing that God has a plan and is using me in it!!!
This post is so true for me right now as well. God has completely changed our plans over the last month. We were waiting on a domestic adoption placement and now we are adopting 18 month old twins from Uganda. We could never in a million years imagined how He could work this out. But we stand amazed as He allows us to be a part of this awesome story.
In. His. Will.
That is joy for me.
Love & Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim
I've been "tiptoe"ing around this subject for a couple of weeks now. And I'm glad you mentioned it because it's gonna stretch me to investigate into it more. I am in the midst of studying another subject and came accross this passage in Psalm 27:6, "And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD."
Joy is a sacrifice that we are to offer God. I'm not sure I comprehend that but in the scheme of life, it makes sense doesn't it?
Thanks for sharing today.
GREAT post! Loved your thoughts.
I am walking through a time of MUCH JOY, yet at the same time as MUCH TOUGH stuff and trials.
Even in the midst of the TOUGH stuff, I do my best to focus on the JOY of the Lord ... to ask the HOLY SPIRIT to fill me with HIS JOY and PEACE.
BIG news over at my blog today. Much JOY at our house.
Laurel :)
JOY would mean seeing a picture of your daughter's new head.....hint hint hint
Jenn
Good point. So often we think we will be joyful when life is stress free, but there is always stress, there is usually always some pain. What does it look like to be joyful? I'll be thinking about this all week!
The Joy of the Lord is my stregnth. To me joy is knowing God is there, He is the constant, the Rock. Life is hard and we may not always be happy but we can have the peace that pases all understanding.