Joy
I cannot add anything to what Ann Voskamp has already said in this chapter of her book "One Thousand Gifts", except the continuation of my own list as I continued to be surprised by joy in even the hardest, darkest days. . .
How to live in a state of awe when life is mundane and ordinary? I murmur eucharisteo thanks . . and the world expands and heightens and deepens and surges with the glory of God and I can feel the body decreasing and the soul increasing and joy filling the breadth between.(p. 168)
Expectations kill relationships. . . Without expectation, what can topple the surprising wonder of the moment? (p. 169)
Is it only when our lives are emptied that we're surprised by how truly full our lives were? Instead of filling with expectations, the joy-filled expect nothing - and are filled. . . The humble lived surprised. The humble live by joy. 'God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.' (Matthew 5:5) The humble are the laid-low and bowed ones, the surprised ones with hands open to receive whatever He gives." (p. 170)
"He must increase, but I must decrease.''(John 3:30) Humility isn't burden or humiliation or oppressive weight but humility is the only posture that can receive the wondrous grace gifts of God. (p. 171)
I humbly give God thanks for the gifts. I practice eucharisteo. And in that place of humble thanks, God exalts and gives. . .more of Himself, which humbles and lays the soul down lower. (p. 172)
I know it well after a day smattered with rowdiness and worn a bit ragged with bickering, that I may feel disappointment and the despair may flood high, but to give thanks is an action and rejoice is a verb. . . While I may not always feel joy, God asks me to give thanks in all things, because He knows that the feeling of joy begins in the action of thanksgiving. True saints know that the place where all the joy comes from is far deeper than that of feelings; joy comes from the place of the very presence of God. Joy is God and God is joy and joy doesn't negate all other emotions - joy transcends all other emotions. 'I will take joy' (Habakkuk 3:18). . . 'Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.' (James 1:2) (p. 176)
'Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!' (Philippians 4:4) . . .The moment the hand is clenched tight, fingers all pointing toward self and rights and demands, joy is snuffed out. . . The demanding of my own will is the singular force that smothers out joy - nothing else. 'Pride slays thanksgiving. . . A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.' (Henry Ward Beecher) (p. 177)
Are there times that a sense of entitlement - expectations - is what inflates self, detonates anger, offends God, extinguishes joy? And what do I really deserve? Thankfully, God never gives what is deserved, but instead, God graciously, passionately offers gifts, our bodies, our time, our very lives. God does not give rights but imparts responsibilities - respnse-abilities - inviting us to respond to His love-gifts. . . The secret of joy's flame: Humbly let go. Let go of trying to do, let go of trying to control. . . let go of my own way, let go of my own fears. (p. 178)
Fullness of joy is discovered only in the emptying of will. . . Dying to self demands that I might gratefully and humbly receive the better, the only things that a good God gives. . . To follow Christ to the table of eucharisteo, the table of surrender that gives thanks for what is given - this is joy! . . Joy is always obedience. . . Only self can kill joy. (p. 179)
This is the way a body and a mouth say thank you: Thy will be done. . . "No one who ever said to God, 'Thy will be done,' and meant it with his heart, ever failed to find joy - not just in heaven, or even down the road in the future in this world, but in this world at that very moment." (Peter Kreeft) (p. 180)
151. A good night’s sleep
152. Cool morning in the desert with soft breeze
153. Up close with Common Squirrel Monkeys at the Phoenix Zoo
154. Beautiful velvet stripes of the Sumatran Tiger
155. Silly antics of the prairie dogs eating their lunch
156. Desert beauty in rock formations and plants
157. Refreshment of lunch and some air conditioning after the heat of the zoo
158. Cuddling with my hubby
159. My family’s laughter
160. The return of our lost iPod Touch from the mall
161. Snuggling together on the bed as a family
162. A special picture note from my Cuddle Bug
163. Insurance deductible finally being transferred to the new insurance company.
164. How does a sea creature made up of 90% water with no brain, no heart and no blood exist? God’s creation of jellyfish is amazing!
165. The slow graceful movement of the octopus
166. Sweet, chocolate ice cream
167. Seeing my boy begin to swim
168. The warm sun on my face
169. Vacation
170. Home
171. Bible-teaching church and a pastor who loves his flock
172. My parents willingness to take our stinky dog for a week; only my mom would sleep on the couch with a restless dog!
173. Enjoying Beetles music with the family!
174. Hubby playing games with our boy even though he’d rather rest
175. Grandparents who help out with the grandkids
How to live in a state of awe when life is mundane and ordinary? I murmur eucharisteo thanks . . and the world expands and heightens and deepens and surges with the glory of God and I can feel the body decreasing and the soul increasing and joy filling the breadth between.(p. 168)
Expectations kill relationships. . . Without expectation, what can topple the surprising wonder of the moment? (p. 169)
Is it only when our lives are emptied that we're surprised by how truly full our lives were? Instead of filling with expectations, the joy-filled expect nothing - and are filled. . . The humble lived surprised. The humble live by joy. 'God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.' (Matthew 5:5) The humble are the laid-low and bowed ones, the surprised ones with hands open to receive whatever He gives." (p. 170)
"He must increase, but I must decrease.''(John 3:30) Humility isn't burden or humiliation or oppressive weight but humility is the only posture that can receive the wondrous grace gifts of God. (p. 171)
I humbly give God thanks for the gifts. I practice eucharisteo. And in that place of humble thanks, God exalts and gives. . .more of Himself, which humbles and lays the soul down lower. (p. 172)
I know it well after a day smattered with rowdiness and worn a bit ragged with bickering, that I may feel disappointment and the despair may flood high, but to give thanks is an action and rejoice is a verb. . . While I may not always feel joy, God asks me to give thanks in all things, because He knows that the feeling of joy begins in the action of thanksgiving. True saints know that the place where all the joy comes from is far deeper than that of feelings; joy comes from the place of the very presence of God. Joy is God and God is joy and joy doesn't negate all other emotions - joy transcends all other emotions. 'I will take joy' (Habakkuk 3:18). . . 'Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.' (James 1:2) (p. 176)
'Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!' (Philippians 4:4) . . .The moment the hand is clenched tight, fingers all pointing toward self and rights and demands, joy is snuffed out. . . The demanding of my own will is the singular force that smothers out joy - nothing else. 'Pride slays thanksgiving. . . A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.' (Henry Ward Beecher) (p. 177)
Are there times that a sense of entitlement - expectations - is what inflates self, detonates anger, offends God, extinguishes joy? And what do I really deserve? Thankfully, God never gives what is deserved, but instead, God graciously, passionately offers gifts, our bodies, our time, our very lives. God does not give rights but imparts responsibilities - respnse-abilities - inviting us to respond to His love-gifts. . . The secret of joy's flame: Humbly let go. Let go of trying to do, let go of trying to control. . . let go of my own way, let go of my own fears. (p. 178)
Fullness of joy is discovered only in the emptying of will. . . Dying to self demands that I might gratefully and humbly receive the better, the only things that a good God gives. . . To follow Christ to the table of eucharisteo, the table of surrender that gives thanks for what is given - this is joy! . . Joy is always obedience. . . Only self can kill joy. (p. 179)
This is the way a body and a mouth say thank you: Thy will be done. . . "No one who ever said to God, 'Thy will be done,' and meant it with his heart, ever failed to find joy - not just in heaven, or even down the road in the future in this world, but in this world at that very moment." (Peter Kreeft) (p. 180)
152. Cool morning in the desert with soft breeze
153. Up close with Common Squirrel Monkeys at the Phoenix Zoo
154. Beautiful velvet stripes of the Sumatran Tiger
155. Silly antics of the prairie dogs eating their lunch
156. Desert beauty in rock formations and plants
157. Refreshment of lunch and some air conditioning after the heat of the zoo
158. Cuddling with my hubby
159. My family’s laughter
160. The return of our lost iPod Touch from the mall
161. Snuggling together on the bed as a family
162. A special picture note from my Cuddle Bug
163. Insurance deductible finally being transferred to the new insurance company.
164. How does a sea creature made up of 90% water with no brain, no heart and no blood exist? God’s creation of jellyfish is amazing!
165. The slow graceful movement of the octopus
166. Sweet, chocolate ice cream
167. Seeing my boy begin to swim
168. The warm sun on my face
169. Vacation
170. Home
171. Bible-teaching church and a pastor who loves his flock
172. My parents willingness to take our stinky dog for a week; only my mom would sleep on the couch with a restless dog!
173. Enjoying Beetles music with the family!
174. Hubby playing games with our boy even though he’d rather rest
175. Grandparents who help out with the grandkids
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