Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. .....Even angels long to look into these things.  Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.  As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 1 Peter 1:8, 12b-13.

The root of joy is again revealed to be Christ himself.  Not simple joy, but that which is inexpressible and glorious!  Because of the unchangeable God granting us all we need to believe, we see beyond now.  

In C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce, the characters from hell find their day in heaven unendurable because the reality is so real.  The grass hurts their feet, because they are only used to a shadow of reality.  What we have here appears so solid, so real.  But in truth, Real Reality is much for real.  Our  joy is altered when we loose sight of what, and Who, is real.

The word used for glory (referring to our joy) is defined in Strong's dictionary for Greek words as:

1. to think, suppose, be of opinion
2. to praise, extol, magnify, celebrate
3. to honour, do honour to, hold in honour
4. to make glorious, adorn with lustre, clothe with splendour
1. to impart glory to something, render it excellent
2. to make renowned, render illustrious
1. to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged

The emphasis is mine, but I think that considering the context,these words are most appropriate.  Our salvation, a gift, gives us something to celebrate!  He is giving us something excellent.  And the here and now cannot dampen the joy of what truly is.

We are privileged to be granted these things that the angels year to comprehend.  Not because we are worthy.  Because He has chosen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zDaXKeoqR4

This joy is not self absorbed-seeking it's own happiness, making itself happy and wallowing in it's own hard -won feeling of satisfaction.  This joy is a result of the gracious gift of salvation from our Creator and Redeemer. And it spurs us to obedience and holiness.  Our joy starts in Him.  And our joy is not about us, it's about Him.

This is essential.  The pursuit of joy, in my mind, was so "self".  But joy is not a pursuit, it's a result of a gift.  Joy is not a lake with no out-flowing streams.  It's a "state of being" transformation that results in action, in purfication, in obedience.  Not a begrudging following of rules, but a glorious enabling to do what we have created to be and do.  


Romans 6:17-18NIV
¹⁷ But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. ¹⁸ You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Today, I'm referring you to another blog for some good thoughts on joy!

Read the April 25, 2012 blog on Meet Me in the Meadow

http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/04/joy/

Learning...a little

The goal of blogging twice a week was waylaid by my health.  But it's good to be back.
In pondering a post for today, I thought of how one needs to apply what is learned.  
One aspect that I am learning is resting in the Lord.
During these times when the Lyme disease disables me, there has been a strange peace.  At first, I thought it was solely because I really couldn't do anything about it.   I began to see mercies- knowing that I can't do much, has kept me from things that would distract me from my purpose.  There is no sense of "ought" because it is simply out of the question.   
Entrusting people and situations to the Lord has become more of a reality as I realize-even more- that there are things I cannot do.  Ok, those who know me personally now have tears running down their faces from laughter.  Really, finally, I'm coming to understand.  Not only in a head way, but a real was...not just gnosis, but epignosis. Joy proceeds out of knowing He is kind, He is king.
So, what about joy have you been learning these days?

More from Webster's 1828 Dictionary:

VEN'TURE, v.i.

1. To dare; to have courage or presumption to do, undertake or say. A man ventures to mount a ladder; he ventures into battle; he ventures to assert things which he does not know.

2. To run a hazard or risk.

On my own, joy seems such a venture.  But joy, rested in Christ, is not uncertain in it's success.  The joy of the Lord is our Strength.  And He never changes.

Rest well, in that knowledge!

Precarious Joy

My joy is precarious!

precarious PRECA'RIOUS, a. [L. precarius, from precor, to pray or entreat; primarily, depending on request, or on the will of another. 1. Depending on the will or pleasure of another; held by courtesy liable to be changed or lost at the pleasure of another. A privilege depending on another's will is precarious, or held by a precarious tenure. Well, according to the 1812 Websters Dictionary definition!   My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less By: Edward Mote My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteous; No merit of my own I claim But wholly lean on Jesus’ name On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace; In every high and story gale My anchor holds within the veil. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. His oath, his covenant, his blood Sustain me in the raging flood; When all supports are washed away, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. When he shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in him be found, Clothed in his righteousness alone, Redeemed to stand before the throne! On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. Hymn # 368 from Lutheran Worship Author: John Stainer Tune: Magdalen 1st Published in: 1836

Not exactly my way

When we know our Father is in charge, that the maker of the universe knows, cares and has a plan bigger and higher than ours......


This week I face a dream come true.  The details have not worked out the way I had dreamed for a decade.  Yet, I anticipate that that was of the Father's hand to answer another heart-cry.  Then illness threatened the whole thing for us.  Enemy attack or part of His plan?  Either way, my trust is in Him.


  What does the Father have in mind for this?  I do not know...yet.  Truth be told, I may not understand "why".  I do know that the God of the universe has given me a heart's desire, that I do not deserve, cannot earn, and cannot make happen myself.  So while it is dressed in clothes other than my choosing, I will be thankful, and by His grace, choose to believe it is His will, His best.

Mary, journeyed to the New World as a Pilgrim.  In the fictional account, Mary recalls the words of her mother after her father passes away before setting foot in their much-longed for home...

"'Tis far easier to embrace sadness than to reach for joy."  Her mother spoke truth.  From now on, I shall work to take to joy over sadness, Mary decided, as God is my strength."


Wendy Lawton's work Almost Home may be a work of historical fiction.  The truth is not.