It's been a busy time...

I realize life isn't going to slow down, but I would like it to just breathe once and a while. You know like a great big inhale, hold it and then let it out. Yeah that would be nice.

Something that has been weighing on my heart is joy. Now that may sound odd to say joy is weighing on my heart, but I have been going through my days without joy. I've been grouchy, easily swayed to a negative attitude. That is not the image of my Lord shining through me.  I feel joyless, instead of joyful.  I have to wonder if my home wouldn't be filled with joy if I was filled with joy.

It says in Psalm 30:5b. that weeping can last through the night, but JOY comes in the morning. and in

Psalm 28:7 it says The Lord gives me strength. He is like a shield that keeps me safe.  My heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart jumps for JOY.   I will sing and give thanks to him.   
And it is a fruit of the spirit.
 
In Galatians 5:22-23 it says 
²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

How much I want to portray all of those fruits. 
 

In the midst of writing this post, as in right at this spot, I talked to my mom. I closed this post, and chose a different post for the day, something lighter and more inviting. A post of my children and how I am proud of them. 

Then as I am going down my blog roll, I stop at Ann Voskamp's blog. I sometimes miss this one as it is near the bottom of the blog roll, and honestly hadn't read it all this month. Do you know what she is doing this month, 31 days to crazy JOY.  I read today's post and near the bottom I read this:
 
If you don’t fight for joy, it’s your children who lose.  What do I want my children to remember — my joy in clean floors, made beds and ironed shirts — or my joy of the Lord? You will be most remembered — by what brought you most joy. The joy of the Lord is your strength and the person of Christ is your unassailable joy – and the battle for joy is nothing less than fighting the good fight of faith. His cheeks in my palms, they’re so white, so wet. It’s his eyes — if you’ve put the fear of yourself into a child, how is there room for the joy of the Lord? Joy isn’t an optional feature to the Christian life — it’s the vital feature of the Christian life. Battle for joy or lose your life. Or other’s lose theirs.

I sat here tears streaming down my face. She said what I want so much. My children, my legacy to be the JOY of the Lord.   I can tell you I will be reading the posts from the beginning so I can quicken my journey to JOY of my Lord and not just JOY but CRAZY JOY.


God's timing is always right. 

Have a blessed day