Joy Me Up, Scotty!

"Beam me up, Scotty" was a catchphrase from Star Trek. It came from the command Captain Kirk gave his chief engineer, "Scotty" Scott, when he needed to be transported back to the Starship Enterprise. I’m saying “Joy Me Up, Scotty, because I want to be transported to a place of joy. Get me out of the mulligrubs and doldrums into being “high” on joy!

I’m waiting at Chick-Fil-A to pick up my granddaughter from her Tuesday shift. It’s always amusing to hear the stories from her day because some very interesting scenarios can take place in a fast food restaurant. I can judge what kind of day she has had by her demeanor as she comes out the door to my car. Joy is all over her today. She literally skips and leaps to my car with her Chick-Fil-A bags of food. This day the joy she exudes is because her boss granted her request to get off work early to be with her grandmother. Oh, joy, joy – for her and me! I love our upbeat, joy-filled conversations on these days! I’m magnetically drawn to her spirit of joy and it makes me respond to her with joy! We are transporting each other to a joy-filled place.

Seriously, joy can literally turn our day around. Psalm 28:7 says "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart LEAPS for joy, and with my song I praise Him." I want to be a LEAPER! Isn't joy so attractive on people? I want that joy to rub off on me and I really want to be that one who exudes joy so much so that people want to hang with me. JOY isn't surface happiness -- if all is going well, then we're happy! Joy comes from deep within, and we have it in spite of gray skies and tough circumstances.

James 1:2 says: "My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials....", REALLY? Count the trials for joy??? As we mentally shift from the “woe-is-me mentality” into the “count-it-all-as-joy mentality,” then our inner joy will be released from the inside to the outside. Our actions will mimic our thoughts.
After all, we know our Father has it ALL under control. Indeed, we can be JOY-FULL and FULL of JOY!!!!

You Know You're Having a Great Day When....Joy Conquers Fear

Day 188 of Photo Inspirations -- You Know You're Having a Great Day When....Joy Conquers Fear
Yesterday, as planned since this time last year, I headed to the Tulsa Expo Center for "The Affair of the Heart" where there's over 450 artisans and craftsmen under one roof. I love attending this annual event because I get to take in the incredible talents of those exhibiting their wares: gorgeous handcrafted jewelry, wood crafts, paintings, yard sculptures, clothing, quilts, handbags, furniture, gourmet foods and more.   I'm amazed at the creativity of those artists.  (They must be just like the FATHER -- creative!)

Walking through the exhibits, I saw a long line at KVOO 98.5 Country Radio's booth.  I guess country music qualifies for "creative". They were giving the chance to spin the wheel for a prize -- guess the number the wheel will stop on and you win a prize of your choice.  There wasn't a cruise or diamond ring in the prizes, but the thought of being a winner, enticed me to play.  I said, "4".....and what-do-you-know, it landed on "4".  "Ladies & Gentlemen, we have a winner!"  This book, "Chicken Soup for the Soul -- Find Your Inner Strength" was my prize choice.  I'm with Sunny Leigh, the Radio Host/DJ in this photo.   Thanking them for the win, I thought to myself, "You know you're having a great day, when you pick a number and it's the winner!" LOL!

I came home and opened the book and found it is made up of stories of those who turned pain to purpose. It fell open to this chapter "Joy Conquers Fear".  This short chapter was by Kim Seeley -- a Mom whose daughter was tragically killed at age 19 in an automobile accident.  She felt grief  She felt guilt  that she had not kept her daughter safe, and fear -- the fear that just  expects something else tragic to happen in her life.  But soon, she thought "What type of memorial to her would it be for me, her mother, to carry this shroud of grief and pain around for the rest of my life? Her memory would be better served by my seeking joy and happiness than by wrapping myself in a cocoon of fear and anger."   And next, the words of this chapter that I loved the most....that speaks to me, and hopefully to those of you who are still living in the past and are still shrouded with grief over a loved one's passing or another disappointment.  I knew why I was a winner today.....it came packaged in these words:

"So, today I choose joy.  I seek beauty in nature.  A beautiful sunset brings a sense of peace.  The changing colors of the autumn leaves are a source of wonder.  The ocean waves and their ebbs and flow connect me to the rhythms of the Maker Himself.  I have joined the choir again, something I had given up for many years. I find joy in the smiles and laughter that my little grandson brings to my world.  I will not allow the fear I once had to control me.  I am embracing joy.  There will be moments that hit me out of the blue, a stray song or random picture that will bring me to my knees in tears.  But I will rise.  And I will allow joy into my heart and and into my life, for JOY CONQUERS FEAR."

And Kim's words are my words, too.  I will ALWAYS choose JOY when faced with the options.  Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart LEAPS with JOY, and with my song I praise Him.”