Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Joy List

140. Christmas shopping w/my hubby
141. A stack of neatly cut fabric
142. Children's enthusiasm
143. The "Check Engine" light not being lit up
144. A cat with a string
145. Glossy painted fingernails
146. Surprises
147. The jabbering as the kids approach the door when they get home from school
148. Hot showers
149. Rob's sense of humor
150. A house full of people

Monday, December 17, 2012

The Joy of 12/17/12

131. A purring cat on my lap
132. A peace that passes all understanding
133. Teenagers on fire for God
134. Mmmmm, coffee
135. When kids mispronounce a word
136. Exercise
137. Fellowship with new friends
138. Nativity sets
139. A clean house



Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

A Day Full of Joy Gifts

121. Watching my husband as he preaches
122. Flickering candles and the way the wax dribbles down the sides and hardens
123. Appetizers
124. Buying food in bulk
125. Shopping w/Robby for Megan's stocking
126. Realizing for the first time in my life that I haven't given any thought whatsoever to what I want for Christmas
127. Sunday afternoon nap w/my sweetie
128. Cooperation and being of use in small ways
129. The blending of talents and voices to create a beautiful offering
130. My daughter's amazing confidence





Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Joy, Joy, Joy

110. Friends who pray
111. Conversations with my children
112. An answer to prayer and peace in the meantime
113. Thoughtful gifts
114. Christmas goodies
115. Laughing
116. Re-learning a game with friends
117. An evening with friends
118. Praying for friends
119. New babies in the midst of sorrow
120. Receiving Scentsy order and prints of family pictures (It's like Christmas morning!)



Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Today's Joys

107. My fingers' memory of the computer keyboard
108. A peace so unexplainable it can only come from God
109. Sweet fellowship





Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.

Monday, December 10, 2012

12/10/12 Joys

100. Tender, affectionate words of affirmation from my love
101. A doctor who can see me tomorrow
102. My beautiful, sweet, courageous daughter
103. Friends with pickups
104. Robby's clean room - like everything is put away, nothing stuffed under the bed, closet is even clean
105. My children playing Legos together
106. Relaxing



Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Oh the Joy!!!

88. Watching cartoons from my childhood w/my kids
89. Teaching Sunday school kids the meaning of the name Jesus
90. Children leading us in advent services
91. A lazy Sunday afternoon
92. A young woman's anticipation of her first New Year's Eve kiss
93. The smell of fresh hot pizza
94. Belting out Christmas songs in the car
95. Coming home to a happy family
96. Rob and Robby playing Xbox together
97. Megan's love of music
98. Long, snuggly hugs from my hubby
99. Making plans with friends



Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Joy List - 12/8/12

81.  Sleeping in
82. Chocolate chip pancakes (made by Rob) topped w/peanut butter & bananas
83. The uplifting power of music
84. A Saturday with nowhere to go
85. Giving a piano to someone who can/will use it
86. Robby singing along w/Christmas music
87. Turning in my last assignment for this semester


Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.



Friday, December 7, 2012

Joy List for 12/7/12

Sounds of children pretending
Christmas lights
Packing Meg's sleepover bag
Pants with pockets (Why do they make them any other way?)
A clean-swept floor
Pease's chocolates

Fallen & Feeling It

     I've fallen behind on the Joy Dare and I'm feeling it.  I am a generally upbeat, optimistic person.  However, I am also prone to discontentment, envy, and self-pity.  It is a sad fact that living a life of joy and thankfulness is something I need to practice and learn.  It does not come naturally to my fallen nature.  I was doing really well about following along with Ann Voskamp's daily prompts for a few weeks.  Intentionally seeking out things to be thankful for has worked as kind of a course corrector for me.  But, as I do with most good habits, I let life get busy and forgot to look for joy.

     When I lose sight of the joy and beauty to be found, I get swallowed whole by the ugliness and despair in the world.  The human race is walking further and further away from God.  We are consumed by the pleasures of this life.  Our headlines are about the economy, how to look younger, what to get for Christmas, celebrity gossip, sex, losing weight, death.  It is depressing and offers little hope for the future.  Too often, I allow my entire day to consist of temporal worries and despair.  I do not take the time to saturate myself with God's word and promises.  I live like the rest of the world, fixated on the daily grind and wishing for things I don't need.

     But we have hope.  I have hope.  Jesus Christ has conquered death and sin and he will come again to take his people home.  I should not focus on the grim and despair and forget that the Holy Spirit walks this earth in all who have called upon the name of the savior.  We have power.  I have power.  I know the beauty and the hope and the joy and it is my privilege and responsibility to share that with a world in such desperate need.  I am not like this world.  I am not of this world.  I am a subject of the kingdom of God, a daughter of the King.  It's time to stop wallowing in the mud in tattered rags, bemoaning the fate of those around me.  I must rise, put on my blood-washed garments and shine with the reflection of God's glory.  I must make a difference in the world; that is why I am here.

     I must learn this art of gratitude and joy - not only for me, but for everyone I encounter.  So, I embark again on this journey.  I think I will leave Ann's prompts behind and just look for and focus on the gifts of joy that are given to me.  Since I am still learning, I will continue (or rather re-start) keeping a daily account on this blog.



Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.