COME ON IN

 

Hi greetings, I want to share something that is happening in 2021! JOY!

After the Thanksgiving holiday, my husband bought a wooden 2X4 sign with the word “JOY” on it to put on our front porch. Mmmmm…not what I wanted but Okay, I guess. Hesitantly I kept it.

The word JOY is suddenly being given to me in cards…someone who sent me a JOY song…besides the Christmas carol, JOY to the World is playing in stores and on the radio…mmm…is something going on here? This is the time of the year where I begin to get a word or catch phrase to do a Christmas card and sometimes it leads into a word for the New Year. Could this be the word? Feeling like, such a small word, really?

On Christmas Eve, I asked God to confirm the word “JOY” for 2021. As I am laying in bed, reading a devotion entitled, COME ON IN, I notice that the word JOY is mentioned eight times! True JOY entered the world as a baby, as the angels profoundly proclaimed JOY TO THE WORLD. Jesus is Joy! All through that night I was filled with the Spirit and feeling so elated with the feeling that this word for the year felt confirmed. Filled with confidence and courage, I recorded a video for Instagram on Christmas restating and inviting followers to COME ON IN for 2021 to the majestic baby born, JOY! The verse used in the Devo was “John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” 

In the midst of all the Christmas prepping, decorating, baking, dealing with the invasion of the virus in 2020, the true meaning of Christmas, highlights my Christmas Eve, filled with fresh perspective, “Hold on to God's promise that He will appear to us all as JOY! Wow the beauty of it all! The journey is confirmed as people have unknowingly sent me the word Joy. At one day at church, someone taps me on the shoulder and says, "I want to pray for you, what's your name?" I reply, “Elaine and your name?" She says, “JOY!” Friend, I cannot make this stuff up! I am overfilled with JOY!

As I tell this story to another friend, she tells me of her trial and how this story encourages her to be strong for 2021 and for what is ahead. Her thoughts take on a new direction, the path changes from doom and gloom to JOY and HOPE! She sent me a bracelet with the word, JOY on it! Joyful is my Father in heaven to let this story continue. To pass it on and tell others of this adventure. Yes, it is becoming an adventure. I love a good adventure!

One night I awoke excited about the joy journey, semi dreaming…A sunny day accompanied with the perfect temperature, I am aboard a European train car (European train cars have huge windows), the sky was blue, and with the windows open, my hair blowing, I was yelling, “COME ON IN!”  Join the adventure, a joy ride, with Jesus there is JOY. #jesusjoy 

The next morning, I hop out of bed and do not want to forget the dream, I quickly gathered my art supplies, as I grabbed into the cabinet, an old 2019 calendar falls out. Where it came from and why I still had it, I do not remember. But the artwork on it is exactly what I was picturing in my head. The only difference was instead of a train car, this artist had passengers on an airplane. After drawing many cars and passengers, I asked God, “What's next?” The vision increases with idea possibly, badges, stickers, mmm…for now it became a laminated doodle of a person yelling out the train car, “COME ON IN”! Funny I customized some with the people I know who for sure would join the adventure. You can see them on my Instagram or down below on this stationery (thanks to my hubby for designing it…big hug to him).  Next, I felt called to look up the word "JOY" in the Bible. In short, but not really in short, (check out my blog, elainejames.blogspot.com) I have been praying and blogging what to write as I view the use of the word JOY. The idea is to inspire us to dig deeper for perspective and meaning in 2021. God new exactly what to put on my plate for the year, a JOYOUS FOCUS! We have a lot of time in 2021, so will you join me in looking up the JOY verses with me, read my insight and journal your own? Each time my circumstances start to get me stirred with worry, overload, I stop, remember, in 2021, my sanity will come from the certainty I received by accepting, Jesus as my Savior. This word search will saturate us with His truth about JOY and the result, will make us steadfast and grounded to deal with everyday life, REJOICING! Jesus said, “I have told you this so that my JOY may be in you and that your JOY may be complete.” Request your laminated picture so you too can remember, you joined the adventure!

Friend, COME ON IN, BE COMPLETE! With all the JOY Jesus has given me I write this. Blessings, joy, favor to you!

Elaine