I'm joining momstheword for Making Your Home Sing Mondays.
Don't you just love that phrase? Making your home sing...
It definitely has inspired me. I want my home to sing! Not whine. Not scream. To sing!
And I want it to be a song that God enjoys--one that blesses his heart.
Lately, He's been showing me how to do just that. How to make my home sing for him. How to fill my life and my home with his irresistible joy. And it's not the answer I thought it would be because I'm all about the "quick fixes" and the "instant change". I thought slapping a happy face on would somehow make joy appear. And it helps, don't get me wrong ^_^ But true joy is an attitude of the heart--a fruit of the spirit. True joy is a deep contentment, a fullness, a freedom, and is absolutely contagious. It can be instant. There are many times when I get lost in worshiping my Father and he fills me with a joy so indescribable I can't contain it. And then thirty minutes later, I get stressed with the endless demands and needs and I lose the joy. But he wants me to abide in His joy. To remain in him and to keep producing the fruit of joy!
Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15: 1-4
I've been posting about joy a lot lately because God, my Gardener, has taken out the pruning shears! Much like the rose bush in my front garden, I need to be trimmed to produce more loveliness. Certain things I do to bring temporary joy have to be prioritized so that I can get the real, eternal, indescribable joy that only my Jesus can give me. Certain things I do that dry up the fruit of the spirit in my life have to go as well. Such as having an unthankful attitude, or indulging in self-pity, or other selfish behaviors. I only have to come to Jesus and remain in him to keep the joy that he so desperately wants to give me. But what does it look like to remain in him?
I have to draw strength from him much like a fruit draws nourishment from the vine--I must come to him thirsty and cling to Him throughout my day. His Word is the living water that sustains me and the more my heart is drenched in it, the more fruit, the more joy I will produce. Memorizing scripture is something I have always wanted to do because I know that the benefits will be incredible. I only do it here and there and then I wonder why I lose the joy so quickly (and the other fruits of the spirit, too, for that matter!) To have my Lord's words on my lips throughout my day is like sipping on sparkling water. He wants to refresh me. He wants me to have joy "unspeakable and full of glory"!
A friend of mine had a dream recently and in her dream a little girl was swinging so high on a swing set that she actually swung over the top of the bar (how many of us thought we could do that?) and she was elated! The look on her face was one of complete and absolute joy. In her dream she felt the Lord saying that he wanted to give his daughter that kind of joy!
God is holding his joy out to you and me today. In his hands he holds delights. Let's grasp those hands and hold on tight! Let's make our homes sing with the joy of the Lord!
15 comments:
Joye,what a beautiful post!Have a great day. Blessings, Faye
Awesome post. I too want that Joy in my house all the time. Love all your encouraging posts.
What a beautiful post - I was really encouraged this morning. Thanks, Joye!
Amen! Great post and great reminder to walk in the joy of the Lord. Us Mom's can really change the atmosphere of our homes.
Bless you!
Beth
by the way, I just posted a fun blogging award for you on my blog - check it out!
Oh my goodness! How inspirational!! I want to have that joy every day too!! I have been horrible about not reading my Bible and I love how you said it's like sipping sparkling water throughout the day. I loved that!!
Awww - this post makes ME want to sing! The swing dream speaks to my heart so! Lovely!!! Thank you for this encouragement!
You're more than welcome! It is a CRAZY crown, isn't it? I always enjoy reading your blog, because I'm always encouraged by your insights. Thank YOU, Joye!
What a beautiful post! It matches your name!!!
You are absolutely right that we need to remain in the Vine. We draw our strength and our joy from Him.
Our joy comes from Him, regardless of our circumstances.
I find that sometimes I am "out there" in my own strength, which will fail me. Don't know why we would want to do that when His is right there!
Thank you for joining us today and reminding us that we can be joyful in Him!
What a lovely post...
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.
Where?
Down in my heart!
Where?
Down in my heart...
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.
Where?
Down in my heart to stay!!!I'll be singing that all day long now...hehe...and LOVING EVERY MINUTE!!!
-sUMMER
I love your happy, joyful spirit! It's encouraging! Darling children!
Thank you for visiting from Momstheword! I just love getting such great inspiration from her :) And your post was just what I needed to hear! It's easy to have that fleeting joy...and turn around and be so stressed and unhappy! I would love to follow you along...your blog is so cute, and your family is adorable :) LOVE the photos of your bargain tips, too...beautiful!
You are the winner of the Spread the Joy giveaway!!! How appropriate. :) Just need your address to send you the prize, dear. Lovely post...Blessings, Jen
It is so refreshing to hear a young mother talk about Joy! Joy is a choice, and choosing is hard sometimes, sometimes you just want to pout and whine! I was feeling sad after the girls left from a wonderful weekend, and I was reminded that I should be choosing to be joyful over getting a visit instead of whinning because it was over...It's all about the "feelings", and we know from scripture you can not rely on them! From one Joyful sister-in-Christ to another, thanks for reminding me to do what is pleasing to our Savior! Blessing Shi~
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