Joy :)
Joy, unspeakable joy - rises in my soul, never lets me go :) I love that addition to Joy to the World that I've heard recently ... gotta love Chris Tomlin.
I want to share with you guys what I get so joyful about. Let me start by asking a question? Have you ever taken a mental snapshot of a moment and filed it away so that you NEVER forget what it was like in that moment? I have done that quite a bit in my life.
For example, my last home basketball game in high school will forever be in my mind because I knew that I would never play on that court again, and nothing would ever be the same because I would soon be graduating. I was right. So, I remember that very vividly.
Another example - I will never forget the moment when I was walking around in my hospital room with Kylie at 2 days old, and it finally hit me - she's mine. God gave us this precious child to raise for Him. I looked up at Toby, tears in my eyes, completely joyful in that moment.
There are many snapshots that I've systematically put into my mind that bring me much joy - some of the snapshots bring sadness and some of them excitement. But, they all make up the chronicles of my life.
There are a few snapshots that I get so excited, joy overflowing, giddy about. They involve my family and friends. Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of helping to bring people to God's throne through worship. God gave me the talent of playing piano when I was in 7th grade, and I am so thankful for it. Because of this, I have been involved in many worship services that I may have otherwise missed.
Some of the sweetest moments I can remember in college is just worshiping and singing with my family and friends. Watching them overcome with the realization of how God loves us is awe inspiring. I have taken many snapshots of my friends worshipping God in their own way. Watching them pour their heart out in song, with tears, on their knees - these snapshots are in my mind. I see Tim Chung holding his heart, eyes closed singing to our God. I see Toby Bullock overcome during worship sitting down to pray. I see Casey Crossland McCrotty eyes lifted to heaven praising Jesus in song. I see Adam McCall praising God, singing with a knowing smile on his face. I see my MBSF'ers singing in a van on the way home from a program on a Wednesday night. I see Josh Yowell playing guitar and getting choked up during a song unable to finish because of being overwhelmed. I see Megan Trusty Bertin hands raised pouring out her heart to praise our Saviour. I see so many more of my friends and family worshipping our Lord, and in all of this I see JOY!
I'm overcome as I write just thinking about how exciting it will be when we are all together singing and praising God in Heaven where we will spend eternity. How can we not become joyful thinking about this? These snapshots that I have of us worshipping our Lord will all come together one day in real time as we praise Him with the rest of the redeemed. And, I tell you - I can't wait :)
Whew! I'm about to start singing on my lunch break! God is so very gracious to us. He loves us beyond comprehension. I cannot wait until "my faith shall be my eyes!" "This robe of flesh, I'll drop and rise to seize the everlasting prize!" - one day we will see Him, and we can shout while passing through the air, "farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer." AMEN!
I want to share with you guys what I get so joyful about. Let me start by asking a question? Have you ever taken a mental snapshot of a moment and filed it away so that you NEVER forget what it was like in that moment? I have done that quite a bit in my life.
For example, my last home basketball game in high school will forever be in my mind because I knew that I would never play on that court again, and nothing would ever be the same because I would soon be graduating. I was right. So, I remember that very vividly.
Another example - I will never forget the moment when I was walking around in my hospital room with Kylie at 2 days old, and it finally hit me - she's mine. God gave us this precious child to raise for Him. I looked up at Toby, tears in my eyes, completely joyful in that moment.
There are many snapshots that I've systematically put into my mind that bring me much joy - some of the snapshots bring sadness and some of them excitement. But, they all make up the chronicles of my life.
There are a few snapshots that I get so excited, joy overflowing, giddy about. They involve my family and friends. Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of helping to bring people to God's throne through worship. God gave me the talent of playing piano when I was in 7th grade, and I am so thankful for it. Because of this, I have been involved in many worship services that I may have otherwise missed.
Some of the sweetest moments I can remember in college is just worshiping and singing with my family and friends. Watching them overcome with the realization of how God loves us is awe inspiring. I have taken many snapshots of my friends worshipping God in their own way. Watching them pour their heart out in song, with tears, on their knees - these snapshots are in my mind. I see Tim Chung holding his heart, eyes closed singing to our God. I see Toby Bullock overcome during worship sitting down to pray. I see Casey Crossland McCrotty eyes lifted to heaven praising Jesus in song. I see Adam McCall praising God, singing with a knowing smile on his face. I see my MBSF'ers singing in a van on the way home from a program on a Wednesday night. I see Josh Yowell playing guitar and getting choked up during a song unable to finish because of being overwhelmed. I see Megan Trusty Bertin hands raised pouring out her heart to praise our Saviour. I see so many more of my friends and family worshipping our Lord, and in all of this I see JOY!
I'm overcome as I write just thinking about how exciting it will be when we are all together singing and praising God in Heaven where we will spend eternity. How can we not become joyful thinking about this? These snapshots that I have of us worshipping our Lord will all come together one day in real time as we praise Him with the rest of the redeemed. And, I tell you - I can't wait :)
Whew! I'm about to start singing on my lunch break! God is so very gracious to us. He loves us beyond comprehension. I cannot wait until "my faith shall be my eyes!" "This robe of flesh, I'll drop and rise to seize the everlasting prize!" - one day we will see Him, and we can shout while passing through the air, "farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer." AMEN!
"My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed."
Psalm 71:23
JOY!
My mama calls babes like her "little Bundles of Joy".
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