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| Friday, October 17, 2008 |
| Blob |
 The word 'blog' sounds a lot like the word 'blob.' The former has become the latter on Joyeful Things. Just taking up space. I was talking to my friend, Jan. She noticed that I haven't blogged since June 28th. That makes about three people that have commented about my blogosphere absence, which probably constitutes my entire readership. :) So I thought I'd write something.
My days are pretty busy. And noisy, filled with voices; engines; a variety of alarms and ringtones. And when they aren't, I try to have days that are slow and quiet. Lately, I've had more of the busy ones.
But even if I only have a wee slot of time, the most quieting thing I can do is spend it hanging out with the Lord. How Someone so immense that He creates universes and fills the heavenly Temple with the train of His robe can be so communicative and so quiet at the same time is a miracle in itself. But He's the only One in whose presence I find total peace and quiet. So I like talking to Him.
"I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints—" Psalm 85:8 |
| posted by Joye @ 3:05 PM |
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| Saturday, June 28, 2008 |
| V ery B onny S isters |
This was VBS week. The most exhausting and most enjoyable week of the year, because the gkids stay with us so they can attend. This week we - - played Wii - saw Kung Fu Panda - played in the fountain at Shops at HV - swam - ate at their fave restaurant (Mama's Daughter's) - had a fantastic pillow fight - attended the VBS carnival - I'm feeling every bit my age today. And I haven't even finished cleaning the house after our wild week. - Happy Saturday! |
| posted by Joye @ 10:00 AM |
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| Friday, June 20, 2008 |
| So I don't forget |
I wanted to write this down so I won't forget it.
One of the sweetest moments occurred while we were at my mom's recently. Mom, my brother, Mike and I watched the movie Amazing Grace together one evening. It's a powerful story. When it ended and the credits rolled, we all sat quietly. Then I clicked back to the main menu and selected the Chris Tomlin music video of the title song. The silence turned from thoughtful to prayerful with an unanticipated few minutes of worship as we listened to the music. I had my eyes closed as I praised God. When I looked around, the guys were looking intently at the screen and my mother was in tears.
When the song finished, we all muttered something lame like, "Wow."
Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of a family who loves You. I don't take that for granted. |
| posted by Joye @ 5:24 PM |
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| Friday, June 13, 2008 |
| THE BODY ELECTRIC |
I've been addicted to watching the Discovery Health network lately.
I'm fascinated by how the human body reacts to mysterious foreign invasions.
I'm awed by how it tolerates much and regenerates itself after sustaining life-threatening injuries.
I'm thoughtful of how precious and singular is each person's life.
I'm saddened by how one's physical trial can cause so much pain for the sufferer as well as the people who love him.
I'm maddened by the inexhaustible capacity and fervor of the prince of this world to inflict pain.
I'm thankful that the Creator of the human body is sovereign and brings order out of chaos.
I'm hopeful for the Day when our-wonderfully-and-fearfully-made bodies will function as they were intended.
My mom had eye surgery yesterday to relieve pressure from glaucoma. My dad received his second radioactive iodine treatment several days ago to kill the cancer from his thyroid. My stepmom was diagnosed with tick fever three days ago and is very sick.
Have you read Isaiah 64? Part of it says,
"Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.
I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.
"Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed." Isaiah 64:17-20
I'm looking forward to that. |
| posted by Joye @ 1:01 PM |
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| Tuesday, January 29, 2008 |
| Our Choice |
My reading schedule took me to Exodus 25 today. It's the chapter in which the Lord instructs Moses to tell the sons of Israel what He requires as a sanctuary for Him, "that I may dwell among them." He proceeds with a very, long shopping list of the choicest materials. But the part that caught my attention was verse 2:
"Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution."
He told them what He required to have fellowship with Him, but left it up to the individuals as to what they wanted to do about it.
Jesus does the same thing in the New Testament. He tells us what is required of us to have fellowship with Him, but leaves the response up to us. We can give a little or a lot. Or nothing at all. |
| posted by Joye @ 10:04 PM |
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| Wednesday, January 23, 2008 |
| Has that always been in the text? |
 In the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke the writers tell that Jesus was wrapped in clean, white cloth. When we celebrate Easter we always see the beautiful artists' renderings of the empty grave clothes, pristine and spotless like new sheets right out of the package, draped over a slab of rock. But John adds the little detail that Nicodemus brought 100 pounds of a myrrh/aloe mixture as well. ONE HUNDRED POUNDS. So I'm picturing these clean, white cloths being soaked or pasted with a hundred pounds of spices and wrapped around the body of Jesus.
It seems to me that it would've been a sticky, time-consuming mess for someone to go to the trouble of unwrapping a dead body to steal it. Or a body that had the added 100+ pounds of spices and linens being carried out unseen and carted off to who-knows-where.
Not that I needed convincing, it was just one of those things I've read over so many times that I didn't take notice before. My thoughts during my daily reading today.
Yep. He's alive. |
| posted by Joye @ 12:42 PM |
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| Sunday, January 13, 2008 |
| So What's New? |
It's been a long time since I've posted anything. I tried a few times and just couldn't gather my thoughts enough to write something. But it's time to get back to it.
The new year has begun. Most people have a little bit of new stuff received as Christmas gifts; a few new hopes and maybe some goals for the year; and some have carried a few new pounds into the new year!
I love the idea of newness in Scripture. King David thought it important to have a lot of new songs to sing to the Lord. (Ps. 33:3, 40:3, 96:1, 98:1, 144:9, 149:1) I guess it was the musician in him. What other new things could we offer the Lord as often as a song?
The Lord Jesus was all about new. New commandment. (Jn. 13:34) New covenant. (1Cor. 11:25) New life. (Rom. 6:4) New names. (Rev. 2:17, 3:12) I love that! It seems humorous to me now that when I was young I thought Christianity was so old and stale. How wonderful to be so wrong! Thank you, Lord, for making life new every day.
Since we're on the subject of new things, my good friend Cheryl has started a blog called The Lord is my Light. Drop in and say hi to her. |
| posted by Joye @ 10:42 PM |
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