Anyone can be happy when things are going well, but only the true joy of the Lord can keep you going when times are tough. Don't settle for a cheap imitation...always choose the Real Thing - which is the Joy of the Lord!
During an outting tonight with some folks from my church small group, I was reminded of this sermon. After our dinner was over, we took our conversations outside and my friends toddler, Isabella, decided that she had been cooped up waaaay too long and really needed to use up some energy. While the other couples talked, I followed her up and down the sidewalk, up and down the sidewalk, up and down the sidewalk, up and down the sidewalk...you get the idea :) Now, we are currently experiencing an extreme spring cold snap here in the ATL and the temperature tonight was 42 with misty cold rain.
I'm not sure how many people would have enjoyed chasing a toddler up and down stairs and sidewalks in the freezing drizzle, BUT it was an amazingly joyous time! God can grace you with joy in times when you least expect it...and may not even be aware of it until after the fact. When I got in the car to leave, I realized that only God could have brought joy out of running around in the freezing rain and I was very thankful to Him for allowing me to experience that joy tonight :)
Romans 15: 13 (Amplified)
May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in
believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy
Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.
Tonight, I feel like I had a "bubbling over" moment with Miss Isabella...and it was fantastic! While God can use anything to teach us, tonight, I'm thankful He used a sweet little girl and not something else...like a talking donkey :0)
Numbers 22:28
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