Thinking About Joy...

Thinking about JOY these days as I am about to give a little talk at out sweet Girl's Night.

Joy and Happiness must be different because it was for the Joy that was set before Jesus that he endured the cross (1).  I don't think Jesus, being human, was very Happy at that moment but he saw the bigger picture, the Joy set before him....my Dad said the Joy he saw was me/us...those who he was dying for to repair the mess of sin so we could enjoy fellowship with God.

Joy is something deeper, stirring the depths of who we are, strengthening us (2) and at times causes us to let out a whoop.  I was surprised, as I read the Joy entries in the Old Testament, how many of them were stories of how the people were so moved by the presence of God invading their world that the had to shout for joy. Sometimes I think I am a little to cynical or white or reserved or something because, though I can feel excited and thankful in God's presence, I don't always give expression to the "shout" that wants to burst forth.  I love the way our black brothers and sisters are so able to give voice to what I feel inside but don't. I have always enjoyed worshiping with African American friends and the videos our kids send back of their times of worshiping with the brothers and sisters in Kenya provoke me to jealousy and hopefully to putting more expression into my worship and the Joy of being in the presence of the Most High God, my God.

More "Joy" to come....

1.  Hebrews 12:2
2.  Nehemiah 8:10