To rejoice first starts with a choice.
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Tag joy
Joy In The New Year
In the middle of 2020, I had a very significant dream that has carried me through the rest of the year.
There is a part of this dream that I believe carries a significant key for the beginning of 2021. That key, I believe, is JOY.
The dream, there were two tall mountains with a deep gulf between. On one mountain was a large group of the Church-at-large; ministers, leaders, pastors, and just sons and daughters. They were all standing shoulder-to-shoulder, covered in armor, looking intently at the mountain top on the other side of the gulf.
The other mountain, however, had a demon of darkness on it. It was taller and broader than any of us on the “Church” side, and it had the most intimidating demeanor that I have ever encountered.
There are several details that I will not share here, but the few details that I found most noteworthy would be, firstly, that the “Church” people – although feeling the emotions of fear, intimidation and even for some, despair – did not run. They bravely stood ground, and not one of them flinched. Secondly, and most noticeably, they began to throw their heads back and LAUGH. The Church had their armor, were ready to swing swords and shields were indeed in place, yet they began to laugh and laugh. And with every roar of laughter from the “Church” side, the demon of darkness began to SHRINK. In fact, the darkness shrank until it was no longer even there.
When I woke up, I felt such an intense sense of urgency to learn to walk in this inherited fruit called joy.
The Lord showed me that joy is a language from Heaven, FOUND IN HIS PRESENCE, and it cannot be comprehended by the enemy. How can he understand joy, especially since his heart is so filled with hate?
Joy is a frequency that fills up the airways, meaning it blocks out all the noise of the enemy. Joy is louder than the attack, and therefore diminishes the attack’s power and its ability to intimidate.
We know that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and we know that we can have the fullness of it in His Presence (Psalm 16:11), but I feel that in the coming days JOY will be a great tool to destroy the demons of darkness.
During worship one night while pondering JOY and this dream again, the Holy Spirit asked me the question: “What happens with fruit?” Fruit is sweet and meant to be consumed and enjoyed. But it also turns into wine. I feel like there is a new wine of joy and celebration coming to the Church in the coming days, as we become inebriated by the fullness of the Presence of our wonderful God. I am convinced that this is a new facet of Kingdom that the Lord wants to pour out afresh!
I believe that JOY is no longer going to be a buzz word or something to work toward in 2021. JOY is a fruit, and our absolute inheritance as sons and daughters that can come boldly into the Presence of the King.
Intimidation and darkness will shrink at the sound of our joy, and it will become louder than the darkness.
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. – Romans 14:17
— Mandy Woodhouse
Share A Little Joy
“Some days, JOY is a gift. Other days it’s an all out Battle.” ♥♥ Fight on Girl.
” A Joyful Return to Zion” ~ PSALM 126:5,6
Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing. Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.
♥♥ My ‘one’ word for 2018 is JOY!! I’m learning the tapestry of JOY is weaved with so many vibrant colors and some that may not catch your eye at first glance. Yet, as the Lord gives me a new lens to see through His eyes, there is beauty beneath the surface!!
I would like to share with you a little of my journey that the Lord is walking me through. Quite honestly, I question the Lord at times, if I hear him correctly with all that’s been whirling about me in this season of profound loss and grief. My precious Mother walked through the pearly gates of Heaven a few months ago. I cannot express in words how this journey has left me forever changed and without understanding of what life looks like, NOW!!
Seeking Him for renewed hope in every moment and waking up each day. I ask the Lord to ‘breathe new breath into my lungs’ every day, because my health struggles take so much out of me. So, adding the symptoms of grief and loss. I am feeling affected on so many levels. I feel like I’m learning to walk all over again, one foot in front of the other, step by step. I run towards the Father and trust that He will catch me when I fall and pick me up when I stumble and when I lose hope to try again.
In Psalm 119:114-116 the Lord reminds me that, “He is my hiding place.”
I have found JOY in the midst of the ruins and broken gems. I have found REST in the midst of chaos and great loss, that only the LORD can give! I am learning that the JOY OF THE LORD is my strength! It’s not found in the empty promises of this world. It’s not in the busyness I find my sense of ‘whose I am’ but, IN HIM! He asks me to “Seek Him First.” Always!! He asks me to ‘Pray without ceasing.’ He asks me to ‘Worship Him’ through songs of Praise and to sit quietly, in His Presence, in the good times and hard times. He calls me by name and tells me ‘I am His own’ and He will never leave me nor forsake me. He carries me when I cannot find the strength to go on and reminds me that no matter what, ‘I AM HIS, Daughter’ and He watches over me. He tells me, “I SEE YOU AND I HEAR YOU.”
Yes, even in the little things, He gives me JOY!! SELAH
Angels in my day when I need someone the most. A sweet child’s laughter that makes me giggle. A friend I haven’t seen in years but, God knew when to send them across my path again. A friend that picks me up to go for a drive in the sunshine ~ I am reminded of God’s beauty I so often take for granted, as I look up again.
All these little things bring me great JOY!! In the midst of my tears, He gives me JOY. In the midst of the Ruins, He shows me ‘Beauty in the Broken Gems.’
HE SEE’S YOU!! YOU ARE HIS CHERISHED ONE!!
HIS DAUGHTER WHOM HE ADORNS WITH A SACRED LOVE. YOU MATTER TO THE FATHER WHOM HAS CREATED YOU FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS!!
GOD BLESS YOU & KEEP YOU & MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU! HIS BEAUTIFUL PEARL OF GREAT WORTH, A ROYAL DIADEM!!! AMEN.
“Thank you for inviting me to share a little bit of the tapestry of Grace that God is weaving in my soul.🌹❤️
~Fiona Jackson
Hungry For More
There is nothing wrong with a good shopping spree, but when the hunger for more is never satisfied, that’s where the problem lies.
We must realize that life is worth more; God’s more is more than enough and brings us more and lasting joy than any ole shopping spree ever could.
When we allow God to do the filling that is how our life gets put back together. That is how we have more joy than an ordinary day.
~XXOO Michelle Bollom
Why is everyone hungry for more? “More, more,” they say. “More, more.” I have God’s more-than-enough, More joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees. At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep, For you, God, have put my life back together. ~ Psalm 4:6-8 MSG
The Broken Way
I have been trying to read “The Broken Way” by Ann Voskamp for weeks. It is so deep and rich that I have to keep stopping and pondering and reflecting.
I felt the Lord telling me to READ- so I was obedient and finally picked it up again and am barely on chapter 3 tonight when God spoke to my heart so deeply showing me that in understanding the Broken Ways – in many areas of my life, one in particular with a relationship that ended last year that was painful, that I now know both our paths to abundance and abundant life were meant to be without each other.
I was actually able to thank them and God for the years of memories. I felt every ounce of residual hurt just melt away in an instant and no longer felt any sadness or unforgiveness at all.
I can truly see the beauty in the breaking now and know God had a much bigger purpose for the pain.
Talk about a full healing moment!
As Ann states in the book-
“Wounds are what break open the soul to plant the seeds of a deeper growth. Maybe the deepest wounds birth deepest wisdom.
Brokenness can make abundance.”
I can’t wait to see what else this book will open up.
If you loved 1000 Gifts – You will love The Broken Way.
~ XXOO Michelle Bollom
Restoration Stories – Constance Carter
Mom says I was singing before I was talking. I don’t remember it, but I don’t doubt it.
More than 50 years ago I was born three months early in a small town where I was stuck in an incubator for a month with no human touch. I had to fight just to breath. Only God knew how He would use this test. Though my parents were given no hope for me, God had a plan.
I lived, yes I did, and I grew up in church.
I remember the devil being after me. One time when I was five he was standing in my doorway and wouldn’t let me out. I screamed but nothing came out. Angels later ministered to me. That’s the last time I remember seeing angels but I don’t doubt they exist.
When I was 12 a “friend” got me to puff on a cigarette and drink some wine. Not a good idea at all. Why did I do it? Why? Just prior to that I was singing in church and putting tracks in people’s mailboxes. I was knocking on doors telling neighbors about Jesus. I heard the whole world had to know before He would come back. I wanted to do my part.
Then I backslid for way too long.
I never ever felt right about it either. I ran away from home at 14 years old. Really I thought I knew everything and really I knew much of nothing. I had to find out the hard way.
Finally, when I was 27 years old a man professing to be a satanist began talking to me about the book of Revelation. I knew I had a Bible that my praying Grandma had given me. I got up, found the Bible, and locked myself in the back room. I read the entire book and it felt like The Light was shining just on me. It was New Year’s eve 1987. I began my journey back.
After nine miscarriages and a seriously failed relationship, I began a new life. I saw an ad at a local music shop. “Christian band looking for a singer”….. I answered the ad. God knows what He’s doing. I was hooked. I went back to church and started serving. I was later recruited into Bible School. Yes, that’s what I said. I didn’t want to do it at first because I was in a band and we were playing gigs. I had written a jingle for Altoids and they were paying us to play the jingle at each gig. Wow that was fun. I was even on the radio, and was known as the Altoids lady for a minute. God had a different plan.
While in Bible school a friend got a job at a prison and asked if I would like to bring my pastor and come minister. That was the beginning of this long chapter in my life. Since 1994 to the present, I‘ve been a servant in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice System, and the State of Louisiana prison system. After being licensed and ordained in 1999, I became a volunteer chaplain at a men’s maximum security prison where I served for seven years. I formed a non-profit organization, Lionzbride Ministry, and the rest is history in the making.
The next chapter is not known, thank God, or I might mess it up. God plants seeds inside of us even before we are born. He does have a plan and we don’t have to know it all, but it really helps to know Him. His sheep hear His voice and come running.
No matter how far we go in the wrong direction, while there’s still breath, there’s still time to turn around and run in the right direction. God never tires. His arms are wide open. His love is better than life itself. Hold on to Jesus.
Stand firm when he attacks. Trust the Lord; and remember that other Christians all around the world are going through these sufferings too.~ 1 Peter 5:9 TLB
~ Constance Carter
Got Joy?
Joy is mentioned over 150 times in the Bible. The verb Rejoice is mentioned over 200 times.
I think God is trying to tell us something!
God desires for us to be joyful, so He put joy in us.
“I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.” John 15:11 (Amp.)
The Disciples had joy. We read in Acts chapter 13 verse 52: “And the disciples were continually filled [ throughout their souls] with joy and the Holy Spirit.”
Is your Joy Tank running low? Is it empty?
There is a way to fill it up again!
In Psalm 16:11 it says, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”
Fill it up by getting into God’s presence!
Find some time to get quiet before the Lord. Talk to Him like you would a friend. Seek Him with all of your heart. You are His child and He WANTS to visit with you today and everyday.
He wants to love on you and fill you with joy.
In God’s love,
Tracy Mason
Restoring Hope (even now)
I loved this blog! I know you will enjoy.
Every year is a year of Restoration!
~XXOO Michelle Bollom
I firmly believe this is a year of restoration… I may not understand everything (and probably won’t) but Papa is a restoring God. Those hopes that have been differed in my own life and yours have been heard. Those sleepless nights where it seems everyone else is having their desires met have not gone unnoticed. […]
https://gottaworship2005.wordpress.com/2016/01/19/restoring-hope-even-now/
Joy
Define:
Joy can be defined as the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune, the prospect of possessing what one desires, or the state of happiness.
Affirm:
James 1:2-3 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
Recall:
If you haven’t taken a moment to go see the Disney Drama “Inside Out” at the movie theater, I highly recommend you go see it. What I thought was going to be a cartoon kid like— film, turned out to be movie with an adult like thought provoking plot. Without sharing all the details of the movie, I will try my best to share a quick overview and my lessons learned.
The movie is about an eleven year old girl name Riley and her five emotions that are alive in her head-referred to as headquarters. Her emotions are Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger. Each emotion plays an important role in her life. Joy has worked very hard to keep Riley’s memories as happy one’s; while overall Sadness feels that she has very little to no relevance.
All of this changes when Riley’s family relocates from Minnesota to San Francisco. On Riley’s first day of school, Joy tries to control headquarters and orders Sadness not to touch anything. Joy advises Sadness to remain in a circle. Sadness steps out of the circle and begins touching Riley’s core memories. While trying to get Sadness back in the circle, Joy and Sadness gets carried away into Riley’s long term memories- leaving Disgust, Fear, and Anger in command at headquarters. During this time, operating on disgust, fear, and anger alone, Riley’s core memories which shaped her personality began to crumble.
Joy and Sadness were then left with the pursuit of navigating through life (long term memory) to find the best route to headquarters, where core memories resided. After several days, while reviewing Riley’s long term memories, Joy gets the realization that Sadness had been necessary in Riley’s life- her realization- Sadness is the emotion that queues others to act when Riley needs help.
GOD created us to be emotional beings. Just like Riley we will feel various emotions. We will experience disgust, fear, anger, sadness, and joy. EXPECT IT. We cannot expect to grow in the spirit and live an unemotional life.
Because of our emotions:
Examine our hearts.
Become aware of carnal desires.
Learn how to love others deeply.
Get closer to GOD.
We all want to get closer to GOD. Instead of fighting our emotions, or questioning GOD about why we feel emotional, I challenge you to examine how you feel and ask GOD to help you grow in that area. Just like Riley we need to experience a little emotion in order to grow.
At the end of the story, Joy and Sadness made it back safely to headquarters. Joy treats Sadness as an equal; as a result Riley’s core memories and personality were reshaped based on her experiences.
When you get displaced from a place of comfort, your emotions will stir up. It is so important for us to take our emotions to GOD. Your faith is being tested and will produce steadfastness. Declare to be steadfast! Count it all as JOY! Let GOD reshape you. I DARE You!
Exercise:
Dear God,
Thank you so much for allowing me to experience various trials. Your scripture commands me to count them all as Joy. For it is in those moments, that I learn to exercise my faith and remain steadfast in your word.
Commit to the challenge.
I DARE you. ~ LeReca Monik
#mydearestsister #Idareyou #restoredministries #itstimeforachange#anewyou #LiveRestored
Joy & Happiness
I’ve often been told by visiting my friends or family members that I always look happy. They have known and seen my painful struggle with hardships in finances, divorce, betrayal and loss but still I always appear cheerfully encouraged.
I tell them I found joy in my heart. That’s the part they don’t understand most. How do you get joy in your heart when you go through hard times?
I thought that is very a good question.
Is there a difference between Joy and Happiness?
As I prayed to Holy Spirit to orchestrate my thoughts, I was led to:
“Joy of the Lord is your strength”
-Nehemiah 12:42-43.
This means God strengthens us spiritually in the midst of suffering with the joy given only by the Holy Spirit.
In my opinion Happiness is a decision or a perspective. It is unrelated to my circumstances. Happiness, like most things, is dependent on our relationship with God who is unwavering and eternal. We don’t base our life on circumstances, but on God.
My example was my mission trip. In Guatemala, I visited children who have very little or nothing yet were happy. Food, shelter and safety is all they needed.
Happiness is unrelated to stuff.
True joy however is far deeper than happiness. We can feel the joy in spite of our deepest troubles. Happiness is temporary because it is based on external circumstance, but joy is lasting because it is based on God’s presence.
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalms 30:5
“And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His Salvation.” Psalm 35:9
I read a devotional article “Choose Joy: Because happiness is not Enough”, by Karen Warren co-founder of SaddleBack Church with her husband Rick Warren in Lake Forest, California.
She wrote; “the meaning of Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of your life. the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.”
My conclusion to the question on Joy and Happiness is, yes; I’m happy because I choose to be happy, knowing God is with me every step of the way.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge him and he will set your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-7
This is where I find my joy; Knowing a deeper truth that He is in control no matter what my circumstances are and I trust hope and love deeply in Him. ~ Angela Lipe-Pattengill
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