Need Some Joy?

Job 8:21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.  
 
We all need joy in our life in order for life to make sense, right? Otherwise, how miserable it would be to just exist and feel no joy at all. We have all met people from time to time that have been robbed of their joy due to life's circumstances. I think it is disheartening  when I meet people who rob themselves of their own joy. No matter how much you try to help them see the good in life they see the negative, always complaining and in a state of major self pity. Let's be honest, we are all guilty!
 
There are people who should not have any joy because of life's circumstances and yet they do have real joy.  That is amazing to me because they manage to enjoy God's blessings in the midst of it all. 
 
Joy comes from God and He gives it to anyone who wants to receive it and even when life happens and bangs us up, it will be where we least expect it. 
 
Joy has come to me in many forms....some times from a scripture, a child, a friend, a flower, a butterfly, the ocean, artwork, etc....and when I least expect it! 
 
In times of joy, all of us wished we possessed a tail we could wag. - W.H. Auden

 This picture was taken on one of my walks on March 31, 2008.

We are Blessed to be a Blessing

Genesis 12:2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you
And make you great; And you shall be a blessing.
 

 Let’s strive to make a positive impact on those around us. Those who we share life with and those that God brings in our presence. Letting them know we care about them and value them being in our lives by the things we say and by the things we do each day. We can bless others with what God has so generously given to us such as with our finances, with our talents, and with our words of encouragement, just to name a few. 

I Peter 4:10 

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God

My husband’s siblings, cousin, nieces, nephews, and friends in Sanibel, Florida May 2025

Restoration

Psalm 33:18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.

written January 11, 2001:
My 20 year old daughter was sharing with a friend of hers, who was going through some struggles, the principle of restoration. She said that restoration should be like every time she returns to our church because everyone there always welcomes her back with open arms and no questions asked.

I thought it was a very powerful statement and says a lot for our church. No matter where she is spiritually, she always feels welcome when she comes to worship. That is what church is all about ~ Grace!

Grace, grace, God's grace... Grace that is greater than all our sin... 

Not everyone has had as good an experience as my daughter with the church. Some people won’t attend church because they have been hurt. I understand that and I’ve been hurt myself but remember the church is not a building of people gathered on Sunday mornings. We are the church! When we criticize the church and say, “I don’t like church people” it grieves me. Church buildings are filled with all kinds of people. Some are true believers and some are not but what a mission field we have to serve and lead them to Christ! When people say, “I don’t like church people” I know they are talking about the Pharisees but in essence they are talking about “Christ followers.” We should thank God they are in our churches because they also need to hear the truth and the truth could penetrate their hearts and minds. God commands us to love Him and to LOVE OTHERS - even the unlovable!

 This picture was taken in my kitchen March 18, 2012. I picked these Amaryllis from my garden.