What is Joy?

Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines it this way:

joy noun \ˈjȯi\ -

1. a :  the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight
   b :  the expression or exhibition of such emotion : gaiety

2. a state of happiness or felicity : bliss

3. a source or cause of delight

joy verb -

1. :  to experience great pleasure or delight : rejoice

2. archaic : gladden

3. archaic : enjoy

The Bible speaks of both joy and happiness.  Many times we are told to rejoice, and Jesus teaches on having fullness of joy.  Yet Jesus also taught in the sermon on the mount many ways to be blessed, or happy.  Joy is usually described as something which cannot be taken away when circumstances change, while happiness is based on circumstances entirely.  One site describes it this way: 

Happiness is an emotion in which one experiences feelings ranging from contentment and satisfaction to bliss and intense pleasure. Joy is a stronger, less common feeling than happiness.  {source – not necessarily recommended}

I think the difference between the two will be more clearly seen as we continue to study where joy comes from, and how and when God instructs us to have joy.

“Our joys on earth we are liable to be robbed of by a thousand accidents, but heavenly joys are everlasting.” 
--Matthew Henry

A Study on Joy

Recently the Lord has led me to do a topical study on joy in my quiet time. I want to document some of that journey here, as I have time to express in writing what God is teaching me.

It has been wonderful to be home from deputation and on a mostly “normal” wake-up schedule.  We implemented an “okay to get up” signal for the kids to ensure that we could get a measure of time with the Lord before the kids converge on the day.  This has been amazing to my devotions, which suffered greatly over the last couple of years while we traveled!

My study is utilizing an inductive Bible Study method which I am learning through the Busy Mama Bible Studies several times a year from Doorposts.  These have radically changed my quiet time, and allowed me to go deep even in just a few minutes while I walk through the Little Years with my kiddos.  I am enjoying using these Moleskine Cahier notebooks for each study, and my Prismacolor pencils are never far away.  (I even got Ben hooked on using them in his quiet time!)

The reason I began this study is because my pastor preached through several of the words we typically see around at Christmastime – words that the world uses, but doesn’t really understand (like love, joy, peace).  I realized that I have been struggling to have joy in my walk with God, because I have been disappointed at His choices for my path, and frustrated that His timing is not my timing.  I want to show joy and contentment to my kids and my husband, not selfishness and frustration.

To kick off my study, I created a pretty reminder to help me choose joy each day.

You can download it here, in JPG or PDF format.

The Lord is my Rock

Photo from Moab, UT

Sometimes life overwhelms me and I feel like I’m sinking.  Sometimes I’m sinking in laundry and dishes; other times it is in self-pity or guilt.  I can never pull myself out of that desperate place on my own.  I have to remember that the Lord is my rock.  He is a firm foundation, even when I feel like life is ever-shifting around me.  He never changes, even my kids’ schedules and my emotions are on a roller coaster.  He is my defense from those darts of guilt and shame and condemnation that the enemy flings my way. 

When I was in Moab, UT and I saw this rock, Psalm 18:2 came to my mind. Psalm 28:7  came to mind also.  It says, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.”  When I go back to the fortress, my heart is helped.  When I put my trust back where it belongs, I find rejoicing and my song returns.

New Creatures

Photo Credit: Me, Moab UT – Butterfly on a Mimosa Tree

Today I am thankful that I am a new creature in Christ!

Apples of Gold

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”
Proverbs 25:11

It can be hard to speak the right thing at the right time!  It’s even harder to teach your children how to discern what to say and when to say it.  A friend shared this acrostic at a baby shower recently to help us determine if our words will be “fitly spoken”.

A – appropriate

P – pleasant

P – pure

L – lovely

E – encouraging

S – soft

Let’s have “apples” of gold words today!

Philippians 4–Contentment

I have been struggling recently – with the waiting for the next step in ministry, with the exhaustion from the current stage of life, with the inconsistency of deputation life, and more.  I know that at the root of many of my up and down feelings is a discontent with where God has me right now.  I want to be content, but I still hear the lies of the enemy in my ears and often my emotions follow. 

As I did a brief word search on the word content I came to Philippians 4, and Paul’s classic declaration on the subject – “I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”  I decided to read the entire passage and look at some cross-references too. 

This is what God brought to me. I love how He drops us to the place in His Word which is exactly what we need for the moment.  He is the Master of bringing just the right word, email, verse, encouraging text, reminder, and more to encourage my weary heart!

-- Stand fast in the Lord, Phil. 4:1  Don’t give up yet!

-- Rejoice in the Lord, alway…, v.4  There is always something to be thankful for.  Rejoice in Who God is, and what He has already done.

-- Don’t worry about anything, v.6 – the future, the rest of the day, the “what if’s” which are piling up in your mind.

-- In everything, by prayer and suppication, let your requests be made known unto God, v.6 – take it to God.  Not Hubby.  Not Mom.  Not BFF.  Take it to God.  Tell it to Him.

-- Pray with thanksgiving, v.6 – There is always something to be thankful for!  Even this house, the waiting, the seemingly slow responses to prayer, the difficult kids, the tiredness.

-- God’s peace will wrap itself around your heart and mind, v.7 – He will bring peace, even in the midst of the storm.

-- Whatsoever things are true…think on these things, v.8 – Feed yourself truth.  Don’t believe the lies.  Don’t sit there and sulk in the lies of the Enemy.  Tell your hear the truth, and think on it!

-- Be content, no matter where you are, v.11 – No matter what!

-- I can do all things through Christ, 13 – But only in Christ.  Not in self.  Not in mostly Christ and some of self.  Only in Christ.

-- God shall supply all your needs, v.19 – A house.  The energy.  Emotional strength.  Patience.  Finances.  ALL YOUR NEEDS.

-- Unto God be the glory, v.20.

It was interesting to me to search on the word content in v.11.  Did you know that the root of this Greek word is the same word which appears as “sufficient” in the verse below?

“And He said unto me, My grace is SUFFICIENT for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  2 Cor. 12:9

Be content, because His grace is enough.  It is sufficient for whatever I need, in whatever situation, at whatever time.  And because I have His grace, I can be content with whatever situation, at whatever time.

All Kindreds

As I finish up my study of Psalm 22, I looked at verses 22-31 and how many times it is mentioned that the LORD will be praised and worshipped.  The circle starts with Jesus, and adds another band of worshippers throughout the verses as the circle expands.  Look at the list of people who will praise the Lord!

1. “I” v.22
2. Ye that fear the Lord v.23
3. All the seed of Jacob v.23
4. All the seed of Israel v.23
5. The afflicted v.24
6. I (“my praise”)
7. Meek v.26
8. Those that seek Him v.26
9. All the ends of the world v.27
10. All the kindred of the nations v.27
11. All the fat upon the earth v.29
12. All they that go down to the dust
13. Seed v.30
14. “They” (the seed) v.31
15. A people that shall be born

The culmination is that even the unborn generation will be counted among those who praise the Lord!  However, it is verse 27 that struck a chord with me.  Around the throne in heaven we know that there will be redeemed people from every kindred, tongue, people, and nation (Rev. 5:9).  This verse tells us the same thing – people from all kindreds of nations will praise the Lord!  And its exciting to me that there are people from all nations right here in New York City where we are planting a church.  We have the opportunity to see God fulfill His Word as we will people of all nationalities!