My friend, Rachel, chooses joy. It’s just one of the many things I like about her — how she has determined in her heart to be all about J-O-Y! So now, whenever I see the word “joy,” I instantly translate that into the word “Rachel.”
Words are so powerful … what we set our minds on … what we speak about others and ourselves … I would dare say that choosing to anchor her life to that one word — JOY! — has changed the course of my friend’s life and the lives of those she interacts with.
Don’t get me wrong. Rachel is no Pollyanna running around hollering, “Joy! Joy!” when difficulties need to be dealt with. She lives real life, with all it’s disappointments and struggles and challenges and questions. She just refuses to abandon Joy.
I weigh my Monday posts carefully, thinking what words, what thought I want to share with you as we leave the weekend behind and shoulder the week ahead. This is my prayer for you — each one of you — today:
May your walls know joy;
may every room know laughter
and every window open to great possibility.
JOY!
In Your Words: What brings you joy?
I’m participating in author Amanda Dykes Housewarming Party to celebrate her new website! Please drop by and visit her Welcome Page for a chance to win a signed copy of Wish You Were Here, as well as prizes from nine other authors: Melissa K. Norris, Joanne Bischof, Michelle Ule, Michael K. Reynolds, Sarah Sundin, Kathy Fellure, Catherine West, and Olivia Newport.
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My granddaughter’s smile.
Ah, Sandra,
I didn’t know you had a granddaughter. You look way-too young!
There’s the joy contributors that hopefully make everyone’s list: my Lord, my husband, my kids, my friends, my home, etc. Now don’t get me wrong, those joy-givers are IT, but there are a few other things…I do mission work in the Bolivian Andes with Quechua (ketch-oo-wah) Indians. These people are the descendants of the Inca, the builders of Machu Pichu. Now they are the most despised people group in Bolivia, (and Peru, Argentina, Chile…). But when we stand there, watching them watch us and see their eyes as the Gospel is spoken to them in their our heart language? To see them comprehend and accept Jesus? For 500 years, outsiders have taken everything from the Quechua, now, we go in and give them our songs, our time, our love, school supplies, soccer balls and clothes. And we give them solar powered short wave radios to hear the daily broadcasts from the Quechua Christian radio station. I’m choking up just thinking about them. To be present when the cry of the broken is answered? Oh my, pure joy.
Dios Tata benday si suchune!
Awesome, Jennifer! I have friends who have been in Quito ten years now, sharing the gospel.
Wow!! I want to see Ecuador someday. Our teams base out of Sucre, in Bolivia. Then we go DEEP in-country. I’d go tomorrow.
Lovely, Jennifer.
Beautifully spoken, Jennifer!
Joy, indeed. Eternal joy.
JOY!!!
Great post, Beth! Not the me part but the truth about JOY part! Let His JOY be our strength!
Amen, Rachel. And thank you for inspiring today’s post.
What brings me joy? The Son…and the sun, the bird singing outside my window, seeing photos of my granddaughter as she competes in dressage, knowing I’ll be there in another month, making a difference in someone’s life…
Smiling as I imagine all the things that bring you joy, Pat.
I really love this, Beth. My word this year is JOY! I think the greatest joy I have is when God reveals something new to me in His word. I always want to shout it to the world…so I blog it…you know. Same thing. Thanks for sharing this! I had to pin it to my Pinterest board. Awe-some!
I enjoyed your blog post today too, Jess. And I pinned it to my Pinterest board too!
Remembering all that’s been done for me and how short my time here is.
Wisdom + Joy = Wendy Paine Miller.
What brings me joy–worshiping with a room full of believers and listening to them sing to Jesus. Sunrises, boy-hugs, remembering the depth of God’s love for me, my husband’s embrace, and when he tells me he’ll take care of the kids on “my” night to do this, sunsets. Seeing God “show up” in the midst of difficult circumstances. There’s more, but that’s my list for now.
Ah, yes. Moments of sweet worship with other believers … love that.
Love, love this post today, Beth. (And I love Rachel, too. And you!)
What brings me joy–being with family. Just spent the day yesterday celebrating my dad’s birthday and was reminded all over again of how blessed I am.
I’ve met some of your family, Melissa (waving to Ollie and his parents!), so I understand why you love them so.
What brings me Joy? I think it’s just the knowledge that God has it all under control. I can’t even begin to count the number of times He’s shown me this throughout my life, and even more so this year. Just when I think the bottom is going to fall out … again, He goes and gives me wings to fly over it. He is an amazing God!!!
Joy and peace, Connie. Joy and peace.
I love the word JOY! And the feeling of it!
My kids bring me joy. Being in God’s creation brings me joy. Feeling warm sun on my face brings me joy. Worship brings me joy! God is good!!! 
Yes, Lacie, God is good!
JOY!
Beth,
This is such a wonderful post to begin a week on – Joy. Such a small word but packed full of possibilities, isn’t it?
Bless you for the reminder,
Becky
Yes … JOY. Packed with possibilities. And I’ve loved reading what JOY means to everyone.
Joy comes in so many sizes, shapes and colors in my life. I revel in them ALL! But it’s more often the small things. Counting my 7-year old nephew’s freckles while he watches, cross-eyed. Watching my kitty cats curled up together, snoozing. Finding a blooming flower in my garden. Enjoying the small things makes it so much more possible to actually enjoy the HUGE joys that God blesses me with.
So many vivid, joy-filled images, Donna.
Thank you for joining the conversation.
You bring the Joy of the Lord to so many!
Love those words.
I’m easy. I find joy in a sunset, or in a smiling face.
Sunrises … sunsets … Colorado has some of the best!
I love “she refuses to abandon Joy.” What a wonderful thing to refuse …
Yeah, Rachel Hauck … she’s a keeper … and a blessing in my life.
So many things bring me joy, but nothing more than connecting at a deep emotional level with someone. I love one-on-one talks, especially with someone who shares my faith. Good stuff.
All of this was reflected in your blog post today, Lindsay.
Giggles and shaking with excitement. The immediate emotion to my left.
I shared you book Baby Changes Everything with a clerk at a store in Denver yesterday. We were chatting about being older moms. Have a joy filled day.
And now you’ve brought me Joy, Stacy. Thank you!
I was out of pocket yesterday but you’ve got some great comments here. As a teen I learned a simple Gospel song: “Jesus and Others and You, what a wonderful way to spell JOY.”
For me it’s grandchildren’s smiles and antics, and mission trips–connections. God makes us way and fuels our joy levels in many ways, and the more we give away, the fuller we are.
Family and possibility.
Love that cheery graphic to go with the quote Beth!