Allll Aboard -- for the Joy-of-Life Bandwagon!

Yesterday is gone and THIS IS THE DAY the Lord has made, so let's be JOY-full and be glad for it!

When you’ve had as many DAYS on this earth as I’ve had, you recognize each new day as a blessed day of start-overs, do-overs, rejoice-overs and be-glad-in-it overs. I live in a 55+ community and when we say to each other “Good Morning! How are you doing today?”, you'll usually hear “GREAT! I woke up. I'm still here!" LOL! So if we’re still here – whatever age we are -- that means that God has plans and purposes for us to fulfill in this new day. My favorite "life" quote is: “If I'm not dead; I'm not done!” So that means I must be the best and do the best I can at who God created me to be each and every day.

Being my best is riding daily on the joy-of-life bandwagon – not only for my good which invigorates me and gives me purpose, but to help others (those who get all caught up in the seriousness and practical demands of life) get back the joy of life, too. You know those folks that wake up on the wrong side of the bed. They get so focused on making a living, that they succumb to life by living each day in an almost robotic routine. They forget the child within them and they lose a lot of the flavor and spice of life. They don’t stop to smell the roses, to be struck with wonder anymore, like they did as children. I love this photo of the little girl chasing the chickens -- that's the closest photo I could find that defines me in my wild chicken chases!! I purpose to be the last one standing!

I never want to EVER lose that youthful pleasure and joy of life throughout the entire length of my life. Here's why I'm campaigning for a fully occupied joy-of-life bandwagon with others who want to live audaciously, free of the dismal, woe-is-me hang-ups. I love being silly with my friends, my children, and my grand-kids. I love belly laughing with them. Since I’ve been caring for all these animals, I’ve been belly laughing so much at myself and with others who are laughing with me. Last night, another two of the hens were out and this morning another of the smaller hens was out. I'm so silly that I like to think that God and my mischievous husband are the masterminds behind these little chicken culprits. They're probably belly laughing in heaven as they watch me tearing through the bushes after them.

You might ask me the secret to waking each day with being intentional with joy. It’s the same as when a friend of mine was expressing some major health concerns she was having. Not because she had issues, but her family had them, and now she was fearing the same thing would happen to her. I gave her many scriptures to take like they were a prescription daily – speaking to her body and mind with God’s promises and words. The same with me -- when I start to feel depleted of joy…I take a “God’s Word” scripture “The joy of the Lord is my strength” Nehemiah 8:10; "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy." Psalm 16:11

Here's the truth of the matter -- none of us are free from life’s challenges, tragedies, pressures, or even suffering. We have known the sorrow of loss, the fears, and challenges of illness, but we don't have to allow any of those things to crush our child-like playfulness. We can prove that true joy and happiness can even be experienced in the midst of life’s challenges.

Being more like the “little children” that Jesus encouraged us to be to enter the Kingdom of God just may be the attitude of living life fully, with great joy and gusto, too!

I've got a seat reserved for you on the joy-of-life bandwagon with me.. Come on. Get on board! The ride is oh so sweet.....and hilarious. Just maybe you'll see a frenzied, but joy-filled blonde-haired lady chasing chickens down the road!! It will be worth the ride!

The JOY of the Lord is My Strength

Day 280 of Photo Inspirations -- The JOY of the Lord is my Strength
After a full, vigorous, packed-full-of-fun week with my sweet boys in Seattle,  I returned home and early the next morning I was headed for a 4-day fast-paced, action-filled women's retreat.  It was a retreat where women were refreshed and restored, however, for those of us on the Leadership Team -- it was a work-out, and it was worth the work-out to see so many, so blessed.

But, I came home....depleted of energy and, from where I had fallen a few weeks before on my hip and leg....I was aching and in pain. I was hobbling. My mind was being taunted by the enemy saying "You're going to be hobbling like that from here on out!"  I even started imagining what that might look like.

But, I love how the voice of my Good Shepherd speaks to me.  I turned on the TV on and saw Joyce Meyer with a little devil on her shoulder (something her team made for her to emphasize a point). She was telling the audience.  "We all know the enemy is a liar, but how many of us just let him continue to lie to us and even consider what he's saying?  We called this conference  'Mind, Moods & Attitudes' and tonight I'm going to teach on the mind!"  Then, the voice of Satan came from the sound system...."The mind?  You've got to be kidding!  Don't you think you teach too much on the battlefield of the mind?  People are sick of hearing about the mind!  And, that outfit you have on looks ridiculous!"  Initially, Joyce, in her dramatic way, showed how Satan was getting to her, but of course, in her hilarious style, finally did what we're supposed to do -- she put him in his place by speaking God's Word and told him to "SHUT UP!".  Then she knocked him off her shoulder.  She WON!

Immediately, I took that message to heart, because I had been taunted by the enemy telling me "You're tired.  You should slow down.  You're going to be hobbling the rest of your life!"  But, I did what Joyce did.  I shouted, "Shut up, Satan!  I am healed.  By The stripes of Jesus I am made whole. The JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH!"  I got it.  My part is to stop the enemy's lies in their tracks.  My part is to start rejoicing in God's love and faithfulness.
 
Nehemiah 8:10 "The joy of the Lord is your strength."  Joy is the second characteristic of the Fruit of the Spirit and I took it personally.  I know that joy doesn't come from success, circumstances or a lack of adversity. It's a gift that comes from spending time with the One who created it.   My Lord and I had some one-on-one time, and "His strength, that is made perfect in MY weakness", consumed and strengthened me.

This opportunity to teach on the Fruit of the Spirit over these next few weeks is teaching ME -- loud and clear -- that God has given us the opportunity to WIN over the adversary in our everyday lives!  God has equipped us with everything we need to win....and win big time.  I'm so thankful for His profound love that wakes me up and sets me straight in the knick of time.

Excuse me......I need to go eat MORE fruit!!!