COME ON IN

When my kids were little, we be like driving along always listening to some children's CD. Yes, a CD. Some youth may wonder what that is, it dates us! Anywho! 

The CD: Mom I have lost my joy. The mom, "really what's going on? When is the last time you saw her?" The boy, "That's it I just don't know." The sister interrupts, "Mom do you think he is talking about the cat, Joy?" Yes, the mother responds! The girl, "No, mom we are talking about his true "Joy"! To which the mother responds with a giggle, "I know how to get it back."

...weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning -Psalm 30:5

We all burst out in song....We got that Joy, Joy, Joy...down in our heart! 

The children's tune comes across loud and clear. Choose Joy! You can't get your joy by naming your cat or dog joy, you can't perform better and get joy! But you can keep knowing God's truth about joy and find inner joy. Looking at the words and receiving their meaning. 

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-Romans 15:13

Trust in Him brings us inner Holy Spirit led joy!

You maybe asking why are you writing this Elaine?

Let me explain:

On December 24, 2020, laying in bed I recounting my past days to prepare for Christmas...the word joy is appearing frequently. This happens annually where I where I begin to see a word for the new year to be my focus, last years was Light. It is funny it starts to appear. It takes me a moment to wake up and pay attention. Have you experienced that? You are sleeping and you begin to wake up and you are suddenly aware something is happening. Next, I pray God are you revealing something to me?

Let's see, you tell me...

I say to my husband...I need signage for the Christmas message to be real and I want to display it in front of the house. Like...MERRY CHRISTMAS. He comes home with "Joy". I am asleep on that one. "Okay", I sort of disappointedly say back to him. I I I I wanted, Merry Christmas! (sleeping then, awake now...I realize HE wanted JOY!)

Getting back to Dec. 24, I'm praying God confirm this, I keep seeing the word and I am not...honestly...convinced. Next, I open a new devotional I got at Salvation Army look up the date and the title of the devotion is, Come on In. It comes from John 15:11-I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your may be complete.

I count the word "JOY" in that small devotion eight times! You know at Christmas we always talk about, "Love coming down." At Christmas abundant "Joy" came down probably for the first time. In the life where we think we have everything in place and joy appears at Christmas...then it fades and we wonder why, "Why do I have family and the decorations and presents and suddenly I feel lonely?" True joy came in the lowly manger through the baby Jesus! How do you get that joy, we must declare, say "Yes", and shout, "Come on in, Jesus." He stands waiting. Joy comes when we hold out our hands and receive the greatest gift ever. Jesus!

I love that, so much so I am filled up to shout it out back to whoever wants to listen. I have found people giving me joy ornaments or verses jumping out with clarity. I even had a girl approach me at church asking, "What is your name, my name is Joy...can I pray for you?" God brought JOY to pray for me. Does He have a sense of humor, I hope so!

Let the Choose Joy, abundant joy, joy infilling beginning and continue through 2021. I will try to be diligent to document these sightings so my joy may be complete. 

I am already observing the Apostle Paul's greetings are frequently sprinkled with Joy, like in Philippians, "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day. When I read that I ask myself questions and acknowledge some facts. Paul a leader, prays for his flock who he is called to, He prays with joy for them because they have a partnership in the gospel and the gospel is pivotal point for life. He delights when He thinks of them in prayer. Amazing! I delight when God brings leaders in my life who with Joy pray for us the flock.

I will post the pictures of my sightings recently so we can giggle together over God's delightful revelations. People post their joy sightings without knowing that I am on this "Choose Joy" journey.

May the God of all hope fill us with Joy in 2021, his joy is different than the world.

THE POSTMAN

The midday sun was blinding my eyes, yet, it was 32 degrees out. I delight in a walk where I can lift my face to heaven, relish the warmth and talk to God. I looked up and spotted a postman walking from a delivery at the neighbors door and he was limping.

I picked up my pace and asked with joy, "Is your ankle okay?" He said, "It's not my ankle it is my siatica!" Remembering the pain of my own siatica I declared, "Oh that can be so painful, what are you doing for it?" Calmly he said, "It will go away, I did some stretching and eating right (?, not sure how that helps, but oh, well)" I replied, "Icing it to death is the secret." To which he agreed he needs to go home and do that. 

As always a postman is in a hurry and I did not want to delay him in his work, I ended with, "I hope it gets better soon, I will pray it does", to which he just responded, "It will not last I did stretch." He seemed a little uncomfortable with the idea of prayer. He was cheerful and kind.

I promised a prayer so...Lord heal him...let him relate it to this incident and  lead him to a discovery of Jesus. Giggling with delight over the prayer...Lord make him a magnet to the things of Jesus. May Jesus sightings be everywhere...so much so that he will be like every since that lady said she would pray for me I keep hearing about prayer and Jesus. I pictured in my head...him running into all creative ways Jesus will get his attention. How this prayer will change his life. I am excited for him. I am not magical...I just believe in Jesus and the power of prayer. I trust God wants this more than I can imagine.

Before I knew it he passed me with a honk of his horn. 

Ask anything in my name and I will do it! John 14:14

Jesus go get him! Make him a magnet for you! Amen.

MARY DID YOU KNOW? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

 

Mary did you know (the song goes) that one day your baby will walk on water? "He will be the son of the most high", declares the angel of the Lord and "He will save the people from their sins!" When I read this, it was like I read it for the first time...slowly asking questions..who is He?, Why was He born and given to Mary?, Why should that matter to me? When I sought this answers many years back I saw the world and a reason to exist completely different. I got a new set of eyeglasses! My heart and soul seemed to sense a peace that I can't explain. You have to seek this for yourself. I recommend you pray and ask God, "Are you real? If so, please show me yourself" Then read Luke Chapter one, in your bible, youversion app, google or biblegateway on your phone. 

The song, MARY DID YOU KNOW, sung by Mark Lowry is great! 

Aww...you maybe irritated that the angel said and, "He shall save the people from their sins". Many years ago I had the same reaction, because I was a really good girl (in my eyes I was good) but I really looked at my heart and asked myself, "Are you saying you are perfect. In no need of change or help." No, I was not became my honest answer.

I was guided to look up the answers to life questions...why was I born...is there a God...do I have purpose...why do I feel empty, like something is missing?

Mary lived out what was written in a book over two thousand years ago. She did not have all the answers, yet, she said yes to the plan foretold by the angel of the Lord. We have the book and the answers...SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Dear God, help me to find meaning and new life. Amen. Thank you in advance.

Christmas is a time where the word,  BELIEVE, started