Wonder Of It All!

We go to the contemporary service at our church so usually we don't sing many hymns. But today was different. We sang a hymn this morning that I have never heard of before and absolutely loved it.

The Wonder of it All
by George Beverly Shea

There’s the wonder at sunset at evening
The wondrous sunrise I see
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is the wonder that God loves me

There’s the wonder of spring time and harvest

The sky, the stars, the sun

But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul

Is the wonder that’s only begun

CHORUS

The wonder of it all

The wonder of it all

Just to think that God loves me

Oh the wonder of it all

The wonder of it all

Just to think that God loves me

I know, I talk about my friend Mari all the time and I'm sure everyone gets very tired of hearing about her and our silly antics. So sorry. I have to subject you to it again. I have many friends. They are all incredibly special to me but only one knows EVERYTHING I'm going through. She's with me through almost every tear and many moans and groans. She's committed to me. She told me she is willing to go through the hard things I go through every single day. And she didn't lie. She has, she is, and I know she will continue.

And, I have committed to her, also. Through everything she goes through, I will be with her. We listen, pray, admonish, praise. We giggle and tease each other -- LOTS! We are true sisterchicks. We text, email, phone, and we get to actually see each other through web cam (although her laptop that houses the webcam is disabled - ugh.) We've started losing weight together. Yesterday we took a walk 3,000 miles apart. It was a double work-out since we were talking to each other on the phone.

But anyway, my point is, I am totally amazed that Mari loves me. And she's totally amazed that I love her. We love each other unconditionally. This love has taught me so much about God's love. God loves me. God loves you. Can we comprehend that? Does it even amaze you one bit? Think of all the people from the very beginning of time. Abraham, Moses, Joseph... God loves us just like He did those great men. God loves us!

Spend a little time today thinking about that, why don't you. "Oh the wonder of it all just to think that God loves me!" He really really does!

John 3:16-18 (The Message)

16-18"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him."

Aloha!!!!
Cha cha cha!!!!
Laury

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Texting Love:)

Lately, my niece Cassie has been sending me pictures of her new baby Michael. He is adorable!

My little sister, Rachel, has also been sending me pictures of her daughter and son, Annley and Anthony.

I have a couple of people who text me regularly. They always lift me up and keep me smiling. The problem is I like to keep them on there so I can read them and be encouraged BUT it deletes them. Ugh... I lost some very cool messages I wanted to remember forever. One of them was from Nik, my youngest son.

He texted me one night, "U R best mom in world." That was priceless but now it's gone. Soooo, I thought I would write a blog on texting love:) That way I would have texts that I still have left, for all time, here on my blog.

• LuvU Babe.
• LuvU 4ever.
• O babe. Hang in there. We will take it one day at a time.
• Powerful emotional heartfelt gut crying full of love prayers are going out for you.
• Squeezes and hugs.
• So proud of u. U made it.
• Lol. U made me smile.
• MissU. LuvU. Am crazy 4 my vbgf.
• Am loving u to the max.
• Makes my heart happy.

And one especially funny one from my very best friend, Mari:) Her husband asked if we were trying to break last months texting record. He said that he is sure he will use us as a future sermon illustration.

I admit it, I am a 45 year-old texting addict:) But you know what? I love it!

I love sending out texting love, too. Try it, you just might like it!!!!

Aloha -- cha cha cha!!! -- Laury

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School Days!

"School days, school days
Dear old golden rule days
Readin' and 'ritin' and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hickory stick"

Ugh...  School is starting, tomorrow in fact, for me.  Most parents are glad, I know, but I'm the one that has to go.  It's my job.  BUT I got all summer off.  There lies the problem.  I had big plans for my time.  I wanted to organize the house, organize me, get stories sent to magazines, get my work printed out and put into a notebook, finish a tween book...  Well, I don't think I did any of that, sad to say.  I did have two truly wonderful, fantastic vacations, though.  That accounts for two weeks out of my summer. 

Other than that, I can't even think what I did.  That is really sad and so much time wasted.  I can't believe the summer is gone.  Ugh... 

But now, I'll probably get lots more done.  I'm one that needs a routine, someone that forces that routine, anyway.  Laury-enforced just doesn't cut it.  So tomorrow, I'll be going again. 

School days, ugh...  :)  and let me tell you -- it's so not taught to the tune of the hickory stick anymore.  Maybe if it were, I wouldn't be dreading it so much. 

But I do love it.  Once I get there, I'll fall in love with the kids all over again.  Hope so anyway.  Usually I'm excited about going back.  This time I'm a little scared that I can't handle it.  But I always do, for the most part, and I usually enjoy it, for the most part.  So, hi ho hi ho, it's off to school I go....  hear me whistling as I post this entry?  Hi ho hi ho hi ho -- cha cha cha!


*by Will Cobb and Gus Edwards, 1907

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Invisible Illness Week

Below are some ideas to reach out to family and friends who might have chronic illnesses. There are more than you think. They may be sitting beside you at church or talking to you in a grocery line. Hopefully we're hard to spot because we don't want to "be sick." We want to carry on our lives the best we can. I want to thank everyone that reaches out to me. I surely couldn't do it without you. I am so very blessed that God plopped you down into my life for "such a time as this." Thank you, my friends! -- Laury:)

51 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friends

Posted: 23 Aug 2008 11:00 PM CDT

When is the last time you reached out to encourage a chronically ill loved one? If you are ill yourself, chances are it hasn’t been long at all. Understanding what people are going through the makes it easy to reach out to them.

Here is an article from Lisa Copen, founder of Invisible Illness Week. It can be reprinted without permission if it’s left “as is” and includes the footer at the bottom with the link back to our site!

——————————

51 Ways to Encourage Chronically Ill Friends

By Lisa Copen

“A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world.” ~Lois Wyse

1. Ask, “What events in your life are changing and how are you coping with the changes?”
2. Understand that she lives in a constant state of making decisions for which there is no guarantee that she is making the right choice.
3. Put meals in disposable containers and attach a note saying “This doesn’t need to be returned.”
4. Add stickers to envelopes for a cheerful touch.
5. Arrange for your friend’s kids to have a night with your children.
6. Don’t make a person into a project.
7. Ask, “Would you be willing to talk to a friend of mine who has recently been diagnosed with a chronic illness and offer her some encouragement?” It makes one feel good to know that her experience can offer someone else hope and that God still has a purpose for her life.
8. Wash his car and put a little note inside for him to find later.
   Remember important anniversaries, both the good and the bad. No one else will.
9. Ask, “Do you want company the day that you wait for the test results? I could come over for a couple of hours.”
10. “No matter how little you have, you can always give some of it away.” ~Catherine Marshall
11. Just listen . . . until it hurts to not say anything. And then listen some more.
12. Ask her, “How do you feel God is working through-or despite-this illness in your life? I’m interested.”
13. Ask, “What do you wish people understood about your illness?”
14. Don’t make her feel guilty about things that she cannot do.
15. Treat her to a gift of movie rentals via postal mail through a service ($7-15 a month).
16. Ask, “Would you be comfortable with having your name on a prayer list, so that others can pray for you?” Don’t assume.
17. Instead of saying, “I will pray for you,” say, “I’d like to pray for you right now, if that’s okay.”
18. Mop the floors.
19. Ask if she would be interested in writing something for the church newsletter, maybe even about the subject of living with chronic illness.
20. Buy a brightly colored umbrella as a gift.
21. Ask, “Do you have an errand I can run for you before coming over?”
22. Ask her to do spontaneous things, like go to a concert in the park, or just for a picnic. She may be more likely to participate since she knows if it’s a good day or a bad day.
23. Don’t say, “So, why aren’t you healed yet?” or “I wonder what God is trying to teach you that you just aren’t learning!”
24. For a unique gift, provide brightly colored paper plates, napkins, and utensils in a gift bag with a note that says “For when you don’t feel like doing dishes.”
25. Get her a pretty box to keep all of her notes of encouragement. Remind her to get it out and read things when she is feeling down.
26. Be her advocate. If you are at an event and walking/seating is an issue because of her disability, ask her if she’d like you to take care of it. If she says you can, be firm but not rude. Don’t embarrass her by making accusations of discrimination or by making a scene.
27. Ask, “Would you be interested in a prayer partner from our church?”
28. Purchase matching coffee mugs for you and your friend, and then commit to pray for one another each morning while using them.
29. Say, “While you’re in the hospital I’d be happy to take care of your pet.”
30. Don’t tell her about your brother’s niece’s cousin’s best friend who tried a cure for the same illness and. . . (you know the rest).
31. Find out which charity is most important to her and then give a donation in her honor.
32. Ask, “What are your top three indulgences?” and then spoil her soon.
33. Hold the door open for her. They are heavy!
34. Don’t tease her and call her “hop along” or “slowpoke.” Comments you mean in fun can cut to the quick and destroy her spirit. Proverbs 18:14 says, “A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?”
35. Say, “I know you must need someone to just vent to occasionally. I may not fully understand how you feel, but I’m here to listen anytime.”
36. Ask your church youth group to come over and clean up the yard during seasonal changes.
37. Don’t ask her, “How are you able to make it financially?” If she wants to share a burden she will.
38. Ask, “What would you advise me to look for in a new doctor?”
39. If your friend has a disabled parking placard and you are driving, allow her to tell you where she wants to park. If she’s feeling particularly good that day, she may not want to park in the “blue space.” Don’t be disappointed that you’ll have to walk farther.
40. Don’t gossip about others. She’ll wonder what you say about her. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).
41. Proverbs 25:11 says,
    “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” Be kind, gentle, and respectful.
42. Accept that her chronic illness may not go away. If she’s accepting it, don’t tell her the illness is winning and she’s giving in to it.
43. Don’t say, “Let me know if there is anything I can do.” People rarely feel comfortable saying, “Yes, my laundry.” Instead pick something you are willing to do and then ask her permission. Try the coupon in back!
44. Ask her to share her testimony at an event.
45. Buy a magazine subscription for her on her favorite topic.
46. Plant a rosebush to view from a window.
47. Understand that you don’t need to know all of the details about the illness in order to be helpful. He’ll share with you what he’s comfortable with you knowing.
48. Don’t ask, “Why can’t the doctors help you?” or insinuate that it must be in her head. There are millions of people who are in pain with illnesses that do not have cures.
49. Avoid having gifts be “pity gifts.” Just say, “I saw these flowers and their cheerfulness reminded me of you.”
50. Send tapes of church services your friend misses to her with a copy of the bulletin and a note.
51. If she doesn’t have a cordless phone, get her one. Phone headsets are also nice.

Lisa Copen is the founder of National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week and the author of Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend, which can be found at bookstores everywhere.

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Birthday Moments!

These are my wonderful "home" friends, with me on my birthday. We all had a great time and they loved making me wear the cake birthday hat so I would be thoroughly embarrassed:) We had some lovely aloha moments! Can't wait until we have reason to get together again.

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Aloha Moments!

   
Aloha!  No, I haven't been to Hawaii but I have been reading, Sisterchicks do the Hula! by Robin Jones Gunn.  They are very fun books that we, as women, with sisterchicks of our own, can certainly relate to!  I learned, yes, I learned something from this entertaining read:) what aloha means. 

Alo means presence or in the face
ha means breath or spirit
so Aloha means breathe into the face or share spirit with one another.

Of course, that reminds me of how we were created, "the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."  Genesis 2:7 (NIV)

God came face-to-face with the very first man, Adam.  Forehead-to-forehead.  That closeness was all that was needed to breathe life into him and from that first breath, all the people from then to now were created.  Amazing.  Mind-boggling.  (Wow!  Shaking my head to clear it so I can continue!)

People who share aloha are those who draw close to another.  They come close enough to trust another with the essence of who they are, close enough to breathe in your face.

Tonight I will share aloha with my friends as we go out together. 

And I still remember looking at Mari; forehead-to-forehead, that last morning, right before we were leaving for the airport.  I wanted to memorize her because I had no idea when we would see each other face-to-face again.  Our aloha moment.  We shared spirit with one another for sure.  She is my sisterchick.  God plopped her down into my life for all time.

And I have so many others that I wouldn't dare to even begin to name.  God knows I need friends and He has been so good to provide them for me.  Friends of all ages, from all over the world. 

But until you can share an aloha moment with them, the deal just isn't sealed, not in my book anyway.  The internet leaves a big old hole where aloha should be.  I can't wait to share more aloha moments with my very dear friends. 

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Dare to Begin to Be Happy

Abundant Life, breathe on me
Awaken Joy, hidden deep
Seek me out that I may give
Abundant Joy, so I may live
Help me to speak, carefully
Only the words, You breathe in me.
(Marita Thelander, August, 2008)

In an earlier blog post I talked about Zoe, which means abundant life, something I haven't been walking in recently.  My friend Marita wrote an entry for Hide-and-Seek for the FW challenge that I know was just for me.  It is called, "Breathe On Me."  She doesn't like to toot her own horn so I will toot it for her a bit.  She came in 5th place in the advanced level of writing, which is very good.  But anyway, in it she wrote a poem and this morning she put it to music and it has now become a song - a wonderful song full of life and joy.

Lately I've been floundering.  It seems I've gotten pretty good at that.  Mari had to remind me to choose joy today and every day.  Some people are just natural joy-walkers and some of us really have to work hard at it at certain times of our lives.  This is one of those times for me.   Maybe it is for you, too.  It is so tough being a woman and having to deal with changes in our bodies as we grow older.  Anyone going through that knows exactly what I mean.  We don't understand it but we can certainly relate.

For some reason, tears flow continuously lately.  I had a friend tell me that her grandma used to say her bladder must be located near her tear ducts.  I know it sounds really disgusting but just think about it -- it's so true:)  This is what David had to say about tears:

Psalm 124:5-6
 5 Those who sow in tears
        will reap with songs of joy.

 6 He who goes out weeping,
       carrying seed to sow,
       will return with songs of joy,
       carrying sheaves with him.

Oh, how I hope David is right!  I would love to go out weeping and return with songs of joy.  That is what I'm praying for.  That is what so many of my friends are praying, too.  So many have spoken into my life, these words, abundant life words! 

I'll be a whole 45 years old tomorrow and so, what I am wondering is this:  does it get any easier?  Do you ever get to an age when you stop making mistakes?  Do you ever figure out balance?  Ugh...  I want to choose joy for my 45th year. 

Read along with me from Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard:

"At last, He (The Lord) said, as she knelt speechless at His feet, "at last you are here and the 'night of weeping is over and joy comes to you in the morning."  Then lifting her up He continued, This is the time when you are to receive the fulfillment of the promises.  Never am I to call you Much-Afraid again."  At that He laughed again and said, "I will write upon her a new name, the name of her God.  The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.  (Ps. 84:11)  This is your new name," He declared, "From henceforth you are Grace and Glory."

And the Lord also told Much Afraid this, this that I hold onto:  "Dare to begin to be happy."  Today is over, almost anyway.  Tomorrow is a new day.  It's my day.  Tomorrow I choose to begin my 45th year of life daring to begin to be happy.

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Splatters of Thoughts!

As I started reading some of my friend's blogs today, I had the great idea of borrowing some quotes from them.  So much truth is shared in this splattering of thoughts.  All are truly great women of God and I didn't even get to my whole list:)  I hope you enjoy, are convicted, and even go visit their blog sites.  I'm not feeling very well so am holding onto the bed as it spins around.  Kind of hard to have really good things to share with all of you because of that. But this works wonderfully.  I love my wonderful writing friends!

"Through His constant presence, we have everything we need--not only for Godly living, but for our difficult times as well. Thank goodness, God is our full-time parent, teacher, counselor and friend. Today, let's praise Him for the fact that we don't have to walk into the classroom of life alone. For without His constant help and presence, we would most certainly get a failing grade.  Joshua 1:9 "This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Laura Shaw 


"What do you hunger and thirst for the most in life? If you are discontented with life, then you need to search your heart for what you hunger and thirst after. The answer lies in your cravings!"  Beckie Stewart http://godsgraciousgems.blogspot.com/

"I don't think there's many of us that like seeing food spoil in our fridge, but do we even stop and think about things in our lives that are going to waste? Gifts, and opportunities, and even responsibilities God has given to us to use, not waste—are we using those ingredients and making the most of them? Are we using them for God or just forgetting about them after we tuck them away in our lives?"  Patty Wysong
http://pattywysong.blogspot.com/

"Yet, sometimes God's will for me feels more like a root canal than Dairy Queen. "Lord, do I have to be kind to that woman who insulted me?" "Is punishing my child really Your will for me?"  "Is submitting to my husband necessary?" It is at times like this that I will often plod in His direction rather than taking my full stride--if I head in his direction at all."  Joanne Sher
http://joannesher.blogspot.com/

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Oops!

This week I sent a personal email to a group address.  I wouldn't have even known I did it but it came back to me through the group.  It's so silly the things I do sometimes.  I just can't believe it.  The person it was intended for was very worried and she wasn't around a computer to know what I wrote.  I tried to assure her it was fine but she wasn't convinced! 

It did remind me, though, that everything I do and say needs to be done so that it's pleasing to God.  People are watching, especially non-Christians, immature Christians, and our kids.  We need to set a good example.  We will make mistakes because that's just what we do, but we need to really try to be intentional in our actions. 

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love...  (Eph. 5:1)

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord."  (Eph. 5:8-10)

I may have embarrassed myself and my friend just a bit because I was a bit corny and did talk about some personal things but it was nothing that would cause anyone to stumble -- this time, anyway.   For that I am very grateful:)

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Monday Manna -- Are You There, Lord?

"My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"
Your face, LORD, I will seek."
Psalm 27:8

Wow! The verse Kristen chose for her first Monday Manna is powerful. How did she know this was something I've been struggling with? How did she know?
I'm struggling with time management. Many mornings I spend reading Christian blogs that friends have written. I read the verses and the funny stories that illustrate the verses. I spend time reading and responding to emails. I might google helpful writing sights. Many times I am texting/ emailing/ IM'ing friends to encourage them or to whine:) And by the end of the day I many times am appalled at the amount of time I spent reading other people's thoughts and not forming thoughts of my own.

I need more time seeking the Lord myself and not through what other people have blogged. I need to manage my time intentionally. I plan to spend time seeking the Lord this week and every day thereafter. We all need to encourage each other to read and pray and seek for ourselves.

What a great beginnings to Monday Manna, Kristen! Thank you for this verse you shared with us! Some things we do are so easy for us and other things need to be done intentionally. I need to watch myself and intentionally arrange my day to include seeking the Lord. I know that I am blessed tremendously when I do so why do I fail to seek Him so often? What a strange bird I am!

I know the Lord is there. I guess the question should really be, "Where am I?" Be sure to check out other Monday Manna thoughts at Kristen's Exemplify blog. http://www.kristenschiffman.com/

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Peej, Chrissy, and I are having a great time at Dee's house. We went to Holmes County today and met Dee's husband's cousins who are Amish. We got some great pictures. We had some good food and wonderful views of the countryside.

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Drippiness and Coasters that Roll:)

 
I am experiencing all sorts of emotions - anger, irritation, extreme love, happiness, joy, loneliness...  I am very hard to keep up with.  Just try to live with me and you will realize why my husband's hair is white!  Its so hard being a woman anyway, and then on top of that I am dealing with a new medicine that I'm pretty sure is messing up my moods, and then being in pain so much makes me very irritable.  I am having a hard time handling it all.  It is definitely a roller coaster ride and if you are even a little close to me, you've ridden that coaster with me too. 
 
I am praying for discernment.  I need to know when enough is enough for this medicine.   I don't want to get in too deep before I decide there is a problem and then have to try to dig out of it.  Been there, done that, don't want to do it again.  Uh-huh. 

On Wednesday I am off again.  This time Peej, another FW friend, is picking me up and we are traveling to Ohio to visit other FW friends.  I can't wait.  We are going to have a wonderful car trip, I am sure of that!  Peej and I have never met before, which is very sad, since we both live in Illinois, but you all do realize how LONG Illinois is?  I think she's about 4 hours away.  We'll know for sure on Wednesday when she actually makes the drive. 
 
I'm sure we're going to have late nights talking and giggling (well, Dee, Chrissy, and I anyway)  I think Peej goes to bed early.  I'm sure we'll have times we pray, too.  Chrissy loves to pray and I can't wait to be able to experience that with her.  Chrissy's from Australia, by the way.  She's traveling across the US to meet her FW friends.  I'm praying for her safety as she does that.  Right now, I believe, she's in Arizona visiting the Grand Canyon and Beth:) 

The sad thing about internet friendships is that you most probably will never meet face-to-face.  That is really hard to accept.  And a sad thing about friends that live near is that we are able to get together more but don't.  Ugh...  which is worse?  One there is nothing we can do about but the other there is.  We just have to make the time.  Someone needs to push things along.  Be the bully.  Set things in motion.  Once a month that my "home" friends and I try to get together just isn't cutting it so much anymore.  Its crazy when I sit in church and long to be with one of my friends who is on the Amen side or the hallelujah side or whichever:)  I think I'm at a time in my life when relationships are very important to me. 

While I figure all this out, I strap on my seatbelt, take along whoever is brave enough, and let the ride begin.  Along the way I wipe the tears that fall down my cheeks at the oddest of times.  I drip and I coast and I roll.  Anyone want to come along?  I saved a seat just for you! 

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ZOE!

Today in church, I heard an excellent sermon and it goes right along with my quest to find my friend, Joy. Our minister, Greg Taylor, preached about abundant life from John 10.

"I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Greg taught us that zoe is Greek for new life, an incredible life, an abundant life. That is what we get when we take Jesus at His Word and believe in Him. But we, or I should say, I, don't always walk abundantly. Sometimes I let little things like fences get in the way. Mari said this in my last blog:

"Don't let that fence keep you from such beautiful joy. You have friends on the other side ready to break your fall, 'cuz I am about to push your butt over that fence. And when I tumble after you, the whole lot of us will laugh and bubble over in a tremendous party of joy!"

Joy is with me. She's just been hidden the past few days. She has occasionally stuck out her head and waved at me. I get great joy from spending time with my family. One day Jim and I were at Walmart and Nik was walking along behind us. He threatened to give us points for PDA (public display of affection) That was so much fun, especially when I gave him a reason to be embarrassed!
It gives me joy to spend time with our neighbor kids. They make me smile BIG.
I get lots of joy from my newest addiction, texting on the cell phone:) its fun to send little messages to Mari and Laura throughout the day.
I also get loads of joy from being with my friends, whether it is online or actually being with them in person!
I enjoy praying with others on the phone or online. That always gives me lots of joy.

But ultimately, Jesus is the source of all my joy. Its to Him I need to go when I get down and overwhelmed. He is my joy and my salvation.
Psalm 51:12, " 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
Psalm 95:1, "1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation."

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart!

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Joy Comes in Costume Sometimes

The picture of this giraffe gives me joy.  I don't know why.  Maybe because she's so content.  She has an odd body but she fits it and it fits her.  When she's hungry, she just reaches up to a high branch and nibbles at some leaves.  This giraffe makes me smile:)  I'm sure God smiled when He created it.  How could you not smile when looking at it? 

"Celebrate God all day, every day.  I mean, revel in Him!  Make it as clear as you can
to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. 
Help them see that the Master is about to arrive.  He could show up any minute. 

Don't fret or worry.  Instead of worrying, pray.  Let petitions and praises shape your

worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.  Before you know it, a sense
of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.
Its wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."
Philippians 4:4-7

Mari agreed that I am stubborn, just like a mule stuck in the mud, but she's committed to pulling me out, no matter how long it takes.  She said I could stand on her back to get over the fence.  I have so many friends like that, I am very blessed.  Laura texted me and when I told her that I was looking for joy today but couldn't find her, she said this, "Joy comes in costume sometimes."  I suppose she's dressed as a giraffe for me right now:)  Joy the Giraffe.  There you go.  The giraffe now has a name.  And Shirley, a cyber friend has invited me for cookies and tea but we are busy deciding just what kind of tea I would like.  Yes, I think I found joy.  They are disguised as jewels:) as awesome friends, as God's creation.  Maybe I just stepped on one wrung of the fence, you think?  A little closer to getting to Joy. 

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Joy Just Out of Reach

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