My joy...stolen or just misplaced

Have you heard people say, "Someone stole my joy"? Do you ever feel as though it has happened to you?

A few evenings ago I had a fun chat with some ladies on Facebook. I really felt happy and joyful afterwards. A bit later I had a not so pleasant exchange with someone 'in real life'. Immediately I felt deflated and sad inside. Isn't it funny how our emotions can change on a dime? I started thinking about the phrase 'someone stole my joy'. Did this person with whom I had a disagreement actually 'steal' my joy?

I suppose I need to decide where exactly my joy comes from. Does it come from people in my life? If so, then it would make sense they could take it away. Does it come from the Lord? Well then how could it ever be stolen from me? How can any person take the blessings of the Lord away from me? I guess the answer is, they can't.

So if people can't take away my joy and the Lord didn't take away my joy, then where did it go? It must be me who set aside my joy. Sometimes though, the problem is I set it aside then I can't find it. It's as if I'm wandering around looking for my phone...now where did I put that? Has anyone seen it? I've misplaced my phone. Only it isn't something so unimportant as my phone, it's my joy.

Do you ever struggle with misplacing your joy? What helps you to find it again?

John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

The Gift of Encouragement

When you least expect it, but need it most, God brings gifts and blessings to you. Yesterday I received the gifts of warmth and encouragement!

I was so fortunate to meet some new moms who were so welcoming to me and my daughter. It can be scary to encounter new places and new faces, but stepping out can bring wonderful rewards. We met a very kind mom who made a point of introducing my daughter to her two girls and offering to send us some information on a co-op. I hope we can set up some get togethers for the girls in the near future!

The second new mom was a wealth of knowledge concerning dual credit for our coming high school years. She will certainly be someone to keep in touch with. I shared with her some concerns about my daughter reverting back to being shy and not wanting to meet new people or go to new activities. She smiled and said as she looked at my daughter it was like seeing her's all over again. She was so encouraging telling me her daughter is now a freshman in college with so many wonderful new friends and has really come out of her shell. It was so awesome to talk with a mom who has already travelled the path I am about to. She made me feel like it will all be ok!

It was also a blessing to get some warm smiles and greetings from moms I have only met a time or two before.

I thank God for a wonderful experience yesterday. His love and concern for me and my daughter was made real right before my eyes through the sisters in Christ he brought into our midst.


1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Cleaning house

Today I'm in the process of cleaning house. It is easy to see the physical dirt in my home...dust on tabletops, grass on the carpet, crumbs on the kitchen floor. It is pretty easy to clean all of this dirt too using my swiffer duster and my new vacuum hubby bought me for Christmas.

What about the dirt in my home that I don't see, or don't want to see. This would be the dirt in my heart. Oh, I know it's there, but I would rather look away and say, "I'll just clean it up another day". But the Holy Spirit convicts us of our 'dirt', not so we avoid it and look away in disgust, but so we face it and call out to Jesus to clean us from the inside out. We have the Law to convict us of our sins and the beautiful Gospel to cleanse us when we confess and repent.

Jesus' kind of 'heart cleaning' is something we should want to do daily with it being at the top of our 'to do' list. Let's not relegate it to the weekly cleaning list as if it were no more valuable or important than running the vacuum.

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Our new grandson, TJ, born 12/12/12 at 11:00AM.

First day of eighth grade with our new puppy, Primrose.

Lauren's first time as an acolyte.

First day of seventh grade