Monday, October 12, 2009

Joy.....

We heard a message yesterday on Joy. Real Joy. Lasting Joy. The only Joy that is truly Joy. The Joy that comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He gave us life and He gives us Joy in the midst of it. But am I always joyful?!! Does this life ever get me down? Why yes, yes it does. But should it? Honestly, no. It shouldn't. I know your probably reading this going are you kidding me?!! This life so should get us down, I mean with all the craziness in the world today and all the sickness, especially in children, nope, no Joy there. Or is there?

Joy is not happiness. The word happiness comes from the word happenstance. So as circumstances change, certainly so does our happiness, but not so with Joy. Joy is a deep-seeded, deep-rooted truth for the Believer. We know that in the midst of this life and all its craziness, God is there. If you have a personal relationship with Christ you know in your darkness moments, He is there; guiding you, helping you, loving you, and your heart is joyful, even in the midst of sorrow.

Joy doesn't mean plaster a smile on your face and have everyone believe that you never experience pain. That is not Joy. Joy is Jesus in the midst of your situation.

I knew a lady once when I was teenager, that ALWAYS, CONSTANTLY had a smile on her face. I went to church with her. She and her husband had two boys, wonderful kids. Her husband was our song leader (tremendous talent), and she ALWAYS sat in the pew with a smile on her face, NO MATTER the situation. This puzzled me as a teen, but led me to want to be just like her. Happy I mean. I wanted that kind of happiness/joy. Because to me, at that time in my young life, the two were interchangeable.

Well, as I grew up and got on my way in life, I would see her from time to time, still with that smiling face of hers. There was never a hint that she ever had a problem. I started to wonder
what was wrong with me, but brushed it off. I was living my life now, and it just didn't look like that. I was still puzzled, but thought she must have it all figured out, and I just didn't.

Well her and her husband celebrated 25 years of marriage, to which the whole community came together and gave them a surprise reception, they were truly surprised, and so were we, when 6 months later they got a divorce. That really threw me for a loop.

You see, that smile she had put on her face for so many years, wasn't real. None of it was real. There were problems on top of the problems in their marriage and lives. And no one knew. At least I didn't. I had NO idea. It was just crazy.

That incident remains with me today. That wasn't Joy I was seeing in her face, it was real pain, masked by a fake smile and very hurt feelings. Joy is NOT plastering on a smile in the face of real pain. It is trusting our very real God, with our very raw feelings and letting Him help us, and out of that real relationship there is Joy in knowing that God is on His throne and He is in the midst. Jesus said that He would NEVER leave us or forsake us. NEVER. Let that soak in. He is with you dear child.

I want to leave you today with two very real prayer requests. I know there are MANY out there, but these are the two in blog land that are at the top of my prayers right now. Little Kate McRae. If you have not read her story, please go here and read the latest and pray for this little 5 year old darling and her family. They could definitely benefit from your prayers.

And the other is a 12 year old boy Andrew, also fighting brain cancer. His mother has a blog and you can find it here. Both of these young people, need our prayers. Our fervent devoted, faith-filled prayers. So please put them on your prayer lists and pray daily for these young ones and their parents. I can't imagine the pain they are experiencing at this moment RIGHT NOW!!!

I'd like to leave you with thes verses:

John 15:10-11 "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

Complete joy, that was Jesus' prayer for us. So whatever your days holds, go forth in complete joy.

Love you wildly & crazily,




PS Tomorrow is the BIG REVEAL!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!! Oh what could it be? Any guesses RJ? =)

7 comments:

  1. Dawn,

    Thank you for sharing such a wonderful truth. I think sometimes I let my circumstances get in the way of that deep-seeded joy.

    The story you shared about the now divorced couple is truly sad. I, for one, don't want to display a fake smile in the midst of trials, but I do want to know that the joy of Christ is in me and shines through giving people hope that comes from a relationship with Him.

    Have a blessed day.

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  2. Dawn,

    I think all of us would love to experience more joy in our lives so much so that it would bubble out and overflow from us and making everyone else around us joyful.

    I will add these two wonderful children to my prayer list and pray for them for complete healing and comfort to their families. Thank you for making this request known to all of us.

    Hmmm perhaps your reveal is a new hair cut and hair color???

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  3. How funny your post is about joy... I was looking through my notebook this morning & came across something simple I wrote down...
    JOY - Jesus Overwhelming You (each letter of Joy)!!! How cool is that!

    MMMMMM... let me guess... you've knitted something???? You're back to running? You're moving to LOUISVILLE????!!!!!

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  4. Great post. It's a fine line between experiencing joy and showing happiness. I know people like the lady you described. I know deep down that they are hurting, but they choose to show happiness.

    You're having a baby? Grandbaby?

    PS - I didn't run in the Turkey Trot, because I run only for exercise. I wish I LOVED it, but I don't. It's always been a dream of mine to run in races, but when I started running, I realized it's just not enjoyable to me. So, I get my time in on the treadmill and I'm done with it. Isn't that sad! Ha!

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  5. What a great post :) I am CHOOSING joy as I watch my fall disappear to the tune of 3 inches of snow...not in MY plans, but obviously in His! Thanks for the reminder!

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  6. I needed this reminder today. Thanks so much for this post!

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  7. I lost the battle today as I lost my temper. Going to my knees to make things right and get my joy back. Thank You dear friend!
    Blessings ~ Lisa

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