joy.

Joy is a source of delight. It is what lies underneath all emotions, no matter what happens to a person.

I love the word "joy." For me, it immediately makes me think of my grandma and the summers I got to spend with her growing up. If you've known her for any amount of time, you've heard her say: "The only way to have true joy is to have Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last."

This month at church, we're talking about Joy. I honestly haven't been a "regular" at church lately, and when I was, none of the sermons ever struck me like today's did. I think part of it is the emotional connection I have to the word "joy." Anyway, the verse says something like "whatever is true, whatever is noble and pure, think on these things" and then Pastor Bryan was talking about how we get caught up in lies that take away our joy. Totally true. It made me think about my aunt who always says "feelings are real, but they're not always true." {I get that this is pretty random, haha sorry!} So basically, he was saying that to have true joy we need to focus on things that are true, pure, and eternal. I get the true thing and the pure thing. [not that I always do....] I want to put a sign on our TV that says: "Does this please Him?" I wonder if it would change what we watch....

The part that made the most impact to me though was when he read Phillipians 1:21-24, "²¹ For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. ²² But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. ²³ I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. ²⁴ But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live."
Basically he was writing a pro/con list of which is better, living or dying, and then saying he could not choose which would be better. That blows me away. Honestly, I know I'm going to Heaven and I get the basic awesomeness that Heaven will be. But really, if I think about it... I'm selfish. I still want to live here on Earth a while longer. I guess really it's good that I don't have to choose. :)

I want to have more joy. I want to be more joyful and rejoice about more. I guess I know what things I need to do.... :)

Pretty random.... Just thought I would share (sorta) what I thought was pretty neat about today.... :)