joy of the lord

Gift of Joy

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And the Lord their God will save them in that day as the flock of His people; for they are as the stones of a crown, sparkling in His land. For what comeliness and beauty will be theirs! Zechariah 9: 16,17 NASB

My grandsons had to be cleaned-up from our adventures, puddle jumps and rock-tossed circles in our pond. I was in the process of cutting zig-zag carrot medallions for their dip, but they were ravenous. To distract them, I began to hum “This Little Light of Mine.” I challenged them to guess the song. Their eyes twinkled with amusement as they joined in the game.

To teach God’s grace and love in the mundane is a gift of joy. 
   
Lunchtime delays also gift the lesson of the fruit of the Holy Spirit: longsuffering, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22, 23)

Jesus invites His children to make room for His presence while we feast. 

The Lord makes us like a warrior’s sword. Yes, grandparents! Our voice is a powerful tool to spread the “good news” and bring glory to His name. It starts in our home with the young and vulnerable. His arrows go forth to protect and defend us against the giants. The battle belongs to Him. We are His beloved flock—rescued, delivered, cared for, guided and sustained. In all ways! His comeliness and beauty will be ours. 
     
Comeliness, like an old soul, is not a word to skip over. In Hebrew:
Good. Best. Beauty. Gladness. Welfare. Joy. Fairness. Desire. Plenty. Spiritual Blessings.

Nor is joy! Short and sweet, but full of depth and meaning. Joy in Greek:
Calm delight. Gladness of heart. Good cheer. To rejoice. Humor. Laughter. Bliss. 

While happiness is based on our circumstances, joy is a gift from God to treasure.  We can know joy, even when the hour is late and lonely, and the hospital hallways echo hollow hope. The strands of joy:

Agalliasis- a display or expression of joy through song and dance. To welcome gladness. 

Euphrosune- a healthy frame of mind. Wellness. Good cheer. Mirth.

Chairo- a result of God’s grace. Heartfelt. To rejoice. Be well! (A salutation’s bounce.)  

The joy of the Lord is our strength, even when broken bones, damaged joints, and cancer slows our steps. We lift our eyes and seek Him and His perspective. We can find humor in mishaps, vulnerability, and want. Besides, weariness and weakness gift opportunities to lean. God’s grace abounds in intimacy with Him. We’re gems in His crown, sparkling in His land with worth and purpose. Our lives testify of His glory and power. We trust that the fruit of our labor will be plenty. The Lord delights to give good gifts.

The following day, the boys and I found a humming bird nest on the backside of our pond. Cattail fluff, twigs, leaves, and wiry weeds were woven into our messy locust tree and song. Summer’s final flight drew near. However, there is joy! 

Whatever you face, may God bless you with His gift of joy: His song, dance, laughter, and wellness of mind!

Lily Mae

Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10 NASB. 

Joy of the Lord

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Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10 (NASB)

 

Joy- a fruit of the Spirit

Sunday mornings are for hugging my coffee and thoughts. I exhale slow then take another deep breath. Our home is quiet except for the faint hum of the refrigerator. I nestle into my worn and manly Queen Anne chair. It suits my husband better with its hunter green, brick red, and brown stripes; however, it’s become my favorite chair at the early hour. The rest of the world sleeps and no one fights me for it.

Joy

I think about the day before when I almost tossed my computer into the trash in a fit of frustration. When my youngest son heard my verbal scuffle, he sat in the rocker beside me and tried to distract me. I raised an eyebrow in annoyance, and he fired back, “She’s an angry elf!” That was all it took- my sides nearly split. Somehow, he knows how to disband my irritation almost every time. I’m not sure if it’s his good looks or dry humor or because he is the youngest. Regardless, joy creeps into my muck.

Joy comes easy with little ones and sticky Rice Krispy treat smiles. The cereal is flung across the counter onto the floor as my grandchild tries to decide whether or not to stir, taste, or eat it. I want to stop time. His eyes are filled with delight, and he soon wears the evidence of his marshmallow snack in his hair and on his shirt.

Joy

We gather as a family for a birthday celebration and feast on zamboozies, a meat-filled, fried pastry, and apple and shoofly pie with dabs of ice-cream. Then we each sing our own version of “Happy Birthday”, and the birthday host sings louder than most. And so, my smile stretches across the length of the room. I’m thankful for my husband and the noisy laughter that comes with our tradition.

Joy

God has planted royal beauties in the grit and gravel and set boundaries with His morning glories. Recently, we’d noticed that my favorite purple vine had infiltrated our front bushes and the edge of our fields and woods. It had also risen to the top of our tallest pines, and we’d never planted them this year. God sings with delight over us.

Joy is two-fold.

When joy is hard to express, we look to the heavens and rise, and then we look outward and offer a cup- coffee for two, words of mercy or inspiration, or a simple smile. Joy is a choice, a commitment, and a practice. Nehemiah made a way for the exiles to return to Jerusalem and repair and rebuild their walls, gates, and homes. And Jesus made a way for us to come home.

Joy

I bend over the sink and let soapsuds slip through my hands and plates and utensils as I also wash the crumbs from my mind. The Lord our God is in our midst. A victorious warrior has already won our battle. Another day closes as I step toward community and embrace authenticity and heart connection.

Thank you, Jesus, for your shed blood and the way you have set us free!

 

Lily Mae

 

~He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. Zephaniah 3:17 (NASB)