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 ... 

Here is the video to Suzanne's birthday surprise!  The card that she read at the beginning told her..."you have impacted so many people who want to share in the joy of your birthday!  We know that you are changing the world one heartbeat at a time...making history with every touch and ever smile.  You may not see it now but we believe that time will tell how you are changing the world.  So, we wanted to allow you to do something on your birthday that you LOVE..share your gift with someone else.  Want to bring an orphan home to Nashville?  We knew you would too !!!!

THANK YOU...to the 165 families who gave $11,000 in 5 days!!  We serve an amazing God who does amazing things through our ordinary lives.  ABIGAIL IS AN ORPHAN "NO MORE" !!!!