Joy Is...

Joy is...

Sunset dinner on the deck on January 2nd, 2020...

Enjoying a delicious steak dinner with the family..

With hubby...

And the kids who just got back from a little mini vacation. (Sorry, I caught someone with a mouthful of steak...)

Who would believe we could do this in January...in our shirt sleeves?  This is our belated New Year's Dinner since they were out of town.  This is the best (and cheapest) steak house in the county!  (bought the steaks when they were on sale cheaper than hamburger and put them in the freezer for a special day...like today!)

 Hello, It's Me! (Please don't laugh at my hair...it has become one thing that I am NOT joyful about...LOL)

Joy is enjoying a beautiful day and giving God praise and glory for all the wonderful things He has done. 

Joy is a last look at the reflections of the Christmas lights from our tree and other decorations in the window before I decide to take them down and put them away for another year...

Probably not going to get it done until either the weekend or next week, but I saw this reflection and it made me feel joyful, so I just had to take a picture.

I love this little saying...I think this came from our "Friday Foto Friends" days, (which I miss!)

Joy is:

 A whole house full of Amaryllis flowers starting to bloom!!!

Some of the bulbs had been in the dark box too long waiting to be planted, and so they have crooked stems, but as they reach toward "the light", they should straighten out and be tall and beautiful...

That sounds like a lesson from the Bible, doesn't it?

Here are a few thoughts about "light"...

John 3:19-21

"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, 

and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

For everyone practicing evil hates the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

But he who does the truth comes to the light, and his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

Matthew 5:14-16

"You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, 

and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, 

that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

I Peter 2:9

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 

His own special people, 

that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light..."

John 12:46

"I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me (Jesus) 

should not abide in darkness."

Ephesians 5:8

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Walk as children of light."

Ephesians  5:13-14

"But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, 

for whatever makes manifest is light.

Therefore He says:

"Awake, you who sleep,

Arise from the dead,

And Christ will give you light."

Isn't it amazing how God can shed light on even something like an Amaryllis bulb and give us lessons on life?  Why? Because He created the Amaryllis Bulb, and He can use anything He created to teach us how to live.  

This reminds me of an  old hymn, written by Philip P. Bliss, "The Light of the World is Jesus".

Here is a video of this song...I hope you will sing along...

1. "The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,
   The Light of the world is Jesus!
   Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in;
   The Light of the world is Jesus!
   • Refrain:
     Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
     Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
     Once I was blind, but now I can see:
     The Light of the world is Jesus!
2. No darkness have we who in Jesus abide;
   The Light of the world is Jesus!
   We walk in the light when we follow our Guide!
   The Light of the world is Jesus!
3. Ye dwellers in darkness with sin-blinded eyes,
   The Light of the world is Jesus!
   Go, wash at His bidding, and light will arise;
   The Light of the world is Jesus!
4. No need of the sunlight in Heaven we’re told;
   The Light of the world is Jesus!
   The Lamb is the Light in the city of gold,
   The Light of the world is Jesus!"
5. 
   

Thank you for taking time to reflect on the "joys" of the day...perhaps you have some very special joys that you are thankful for today as well.  Let us share our joys and let our "light shine" to encourage one another as we travel together in this "joyful journey of life".  Sometimes we may not feel so joyful, but when we realize that "The Joy of the Lord is my strength"... (Nehemiah 8:10), we realize that it isn't our own "joy" that keeps us going...but the Joy of the Lord...that gives us the strength we need to take one more step. Without His joy dwelling in our hearts, we miss out on His strength as well.  So Lord, please fill us with YOUR JOY, so that we will have YOUR STRENGTH when we need it most. Amen.