·

Re-Joy!

Amazing love, how can it
be?
That you, my King, would
die for me
Amazing love, I know it’s
true
It’s my joy to honor you
(Chris Tomlin)
Nothing
is so free as being free in Jesus. 
Somehow, walking on this earth, this creation of God, on the little
space God has given me, I know His Joy.
I
see the joy He that was His in creating the grass and the trees I see.  I know the joy as I see a picture of waves
lapping on the beach, scampering across miles. 
When did the waves begin?  How did
God put them in motion? And the clouds have a language all their own.  The clouds play tag with the wind, sailing across
the sky, and often leave gifts of life-giving rain or snow or hail to cool the
earth.
Blooming
flowers lift their heads in delight and thankfulness of their God-given beauty
to bring joy to anyone who stops their scurry to enjoy. The fruit of the trees
and the garden bring blessing and nurture the body and the soul. Each sunset is
anticipation of a new day to Re-Joy.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the
earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it.
  Psalm 96:11
His
mysteries in this life delight us at every turn.  The mystery of God who heals broken bones, broken
hearts and broken lives.  The mystery of
nature’s seasons that change.  The
mystery of how a child’s innocent sweetness touches us.  The mystery of how a sweet smile lights up our
world.  The unforgettable essence of
purity as clean towels and linens hang on the line in the sun.  The mystery of preparation in the kitchen
when Mom baked bread, gingerbread, bread pudding or roasted chicken.  God-mysteries color my world in every sense
of joy.
Re-Joy
is like Mom’s left-over hash.  It is
better the 2nd  and 3rd
time for it takes on the flavors of goodness and love.  Never let a prospective Joy go to waste with
whining and complaining.  Sprinkle life
with laughter and drench life with His wisdom – and Re-Joy every day!
Worship
is a time of Re-Joy as the sea of thankfulness washes over us like an ever
present tide of gratefulness. There is no other who fills our hearts the way
Jesus can.  The reading of God’s Word,
the prayers, the new songs of faith bring us a cleansing of Re-Joy to our souls.
Psalm
51:10-12
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew
a right spirit within me.

 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your
salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

The genesis and essence of joy comes through the heart-knowledge of the surety
of salvation in Jesus Christ.  Joy is
delight. Joy begets trust and hope.  It
is a language of the forever, not a fleeting, temporary quickening of the
heart.
Mother Teresa said, “Joy is prayer – Joy is strength – Joy is
love – Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls
.” 
Reading Ann Voskamp’s book, I
began to widen my circle of that which gives me  joy and Re-Joy.  Ann says, “
Fullness of joy is discovered only in the emptying of will.”   Forgetting self and
serving others in the name of Jesus creates a threshold of joy.  Joy is
the realest reality, the fullest life, and joy is always given, never grasped.
God gives gifts and I give thanks and I unwrap the gift given: Joy
.” 
Hanging on my wall is a gift-plate whose message sums up my
life….”Yes, Lord!”  Eugene Peterson, in
his book, “Reversed Thunder
proclaims that the word Amen is the Yes of Jesus.  Revelation 3:14 –  And to
the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true
witness, the beginning of God’s creation.” 
Peterson says, “In the ‘Amen’ of Jesus the whole of Christology is
contained in a nutshell.” (page 69)
Psalm 98:1, 4 – Oh sing
to the Lord a new
song, for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his
holy arm have worked salvation for him. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth
into joyous song and sing praises!
My day is not complete without recognizing the ‘Yes’ of Jesus
and the joys He gives to me and those I love.
How do we experience the refreshment of Re-Joy each day? 
 Remembering the
blessings of giving and thanks-giving.
  Acknowledging Who
God Is
 Singing a new
heart-song of joy that crescendos into a Fortissimo of Joy
 Remembering His
Promise of Heaven for His children
 Having a goal, a
destination – Heaven.
  Knowing how to pack
to prepare for Heaven: But the fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control; against
such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
  Remembering each
moment to Whom I belong and having a little talk with Jesus, saying Amen, Yes, Jesus.
Re-Joy is to delight/ Re-Joy – day and night.
I’m thankful and rejoice/ To Re-Joy is my choice.
One day I will be / With Him forever….

Each day I will Re-Joy/ To be with him forever. (eac)

Comments? eacombs@att.net