Down in My Heart Kind of JOY--1

For a long time I have wanted to share somethings that God is teaching me about joy. Well, the boxes are unpacked, we are officially settled, the kids are in school, so today is the day! I'm not sure how often I'll post this series--at least once a week. But I will put a link on the right so they will all be in one place. I pray that this encourages you, as it does me. Here we go!

Down In My Heart Kind of JOY!

In the No Other Gods study by Kelly Minter, one of the things I realized is how much I am motivated by pleasure. Not that pleasure is a bad thing, but the things that I will bow to in order to chase after what doesn’t last. Uh, don’t want to go there! But isn’t that what we all want…that deep down in my heart kind of joy that we used to sing about as children? And there is not a man, child, project, career, scrapbook, or chocolate that can fill what God wants to fill deep down in my heart. JOY
Several years ago, joy was the word that kept catching my attention as I was reading my Bible. It happened so often I finally started writing them down, and I began to see a pattern. And that pattern fell right into what we were studying in Sunday School—the Ten Commandments. He is still teaching me. That is where this study came from and there is a lot to see! Now let me start with this statement…I learned from Beth Moore that, ”All attempts to define God cannot help but minimize Him. If in our pursuit of greater knowledge God seems to have gotten smaller, we have been deceived.” (Beth Moore, Believing God, p. 30) My goal has been to learn all I can about God’s lasting joy. But I don’t want, in any way, to think I have this joy thing all figured out. My God is bigger than I can imagine! He has blessed me with just a glimpse of Him that I want to share. This is what I have learned so far. I can’t wait for you to see this!

First of all, joy comes from spending time in God’s presence. I’m talking the complete God-head—the Father, Son and Spirit. (I love it when there is a fuller picture to something like this!) Look at the following verses.

o God the Father—Read Psalm 16:11 and Psalm 43:3-4
Who is my joy and delight?

o God the Son—All through Jesus’ life on earth He brings joy
o Read Luke 1:44.
Even Jesus’ presence in the womb caused joy!

o Read Matthew 1:10.
Just like the wise men, when I search for Jesus, I am filled with joy.

o Read Matthew 3:17.

o Read Luke 19:6.

o Read John 17:13.
Jesus’ words bring the ‘full measure’ of His joy IN me, so I need to spend time in His Word!

o Read Luke 24:41 and John 20:20.
This was when Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection.

o God the Holy Spirit
o Read Galatians 5:22-23.

“As New Testament believers, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us when we
receive Christ as our personal Savior, and he brings His personality with
Him. When we are yielded to the Holy Spirit’s authority, His personality
fills us and eclipses our own. When we’re not yielded, we grieve the Holy
Spirit and operate from our carnal nature. Thank goodness, He still does
not leave us, but our faith consequently shrinks. You see the more we are
filled with the Spirit, the more faith we can possess.” Beth Moore,
Believing God, p. 25

In this study Beth was teaching about faith, but I believe the concept is true for joy as well. When we are yielded to the Holy Spirit, His joy fills us. It is His personality and He dwells in us.

Heart questions:
Is God my joy and delight?

What about Jesus’ life…am I letting His joy impact my life?

Do I bring Jesus into my home with great excitement and joy like Zacchaeus did?

Am I yielded to the Holy Spirit so that the joy of His personality shows through?


Thank God for the joy only His presence can bring.

Miracle on the Highway

OK I mentioned this a few weeks ago, and the craziness has calmed enough to tell the story. I'll get back to unpacking the last few boxes in a bit. :)

Our vacation this summer got off to a slow start, but God's hand was in it all the way! We packed the van the night before and were ready to roll early the next morning. SweetHeart needed to run a few errands and drop his truck by his parents, and we would pick him up on the way. So he left first. The kids and I piled in the car and as I turned the key we heard click, click, click. Evidently having the doors open with the lights on had drained the battery! When I dialed the cell phone, SweetBoy answered in the van--obviously it was not with my hubby! It was early and I didn't want to bother the neighbors, so we waited. I went back in to finish up some dishes and do a load of laundry. (Tell me why there is always dishes and laundry to do!) The kids were outside and saw our neighbor out. We asked if she could jump start the battery and she graciously helped us out. That saved us at least 30 minutes over waiting for SweetHeart to come back. That is an important 30 minutes!

We picked up SweetHeart and trucked on along and things seemed fine. By late afternoon, SweetHeart decided something wasn't quite right and we stopped for a new battery, which happened to be the last one they had for our van! They installed it and off we go! About 45 minutes later it was close enough to supper to stop. The van started right up and we decided to go on to the next town where we had hotel reservations for the night. There is nothing between where we are and the next place, about 70 miles or more. We got 45 miles from our destination and the van dies completely! We are on a 2 lane road with narrow shoulders, but we coasted to a wide spot, a driveway for the pasture, a safe place to be off the road and the kids could run a little. And we had cell service where just around the corner it was iffy. Perfect timing!

We had been stopped for maybe 10 minutes when a tow truck passed us going the other way. SweetHeart flagged him down and he turned around. The tow truck driver, Darren, said that he was on his way to another call that only needed a belt, but he had driven the tow truck anyway. If we were still on the side of the road when he came back by, he would help us. We did call the road side assistance, but they said it would be about 3 hours before they could get someone to us. Thank you, but Darren will be back by in about 45 minutes! So here we are...

going on the tow truck. Did I mention that it was a crew cab big enough for all of us?! As we were going, Darren said, "Let me call my buddy at the auto parts store and see when he closes." Oh, I also forgot to mention this is Friday of 4th of July weekend? Most places were closing at noon! But his buddy would be open until 8:00. With the time change we should make it with 15 minutes to spare! I told you that 30 minutes was important!

Darren dropped the kids, the dog and I off at our hotel. I thought I had my wallet with my ID and money with me in the diaper bag, but of coarse, it fell out in the van! The lady at the front desk believed me when I told her our situation, and she had compassion on me. As she watched the big kids and Daisy run around outside, she said, "I see you need a place to settle, here is your key."

Meanwhile, Eric was with the van at the parts store. They had one alternator left for our van, and they owner started to install it for us. But by then it was getting dark and part of it was tricky to install, so he wanted to do it in the morning. He said he would try to find someone who could do it for us the next day--the 4th of July! While SweetHeart was walking back to the hotel, Darren called and asked if we had someone to install it for us. He told us that one of his employees was going to a call early the next morning and could install our alternator on the way. Sure enough, he came and did just that the next morning. SweetHeart remembered that we had replaced the alternator not too long ago, and it cost us about the same for the battery, tow, part, and labor this time as it did at the mechanic at home!

We had planned a fun stop along the way, but because of the expected rain, decided to go on to our campsite where the rest of the family was already. But all things considered that was OK! On our way up the mountain it began to rain. We were discussing all that God had done to work things out from the timing to the parts to the people. By the way, if you were one of the people Darren or his employee was on the way to help, I'm sorry that you had car trouble, but God was working things out! After recalling all of those things, we were thanking Him, and asked, "While You are at it, could you let it stop raining so we can unload the van?" He did!

I was studying Esther and God's providence. Beth Moore pointed these verses out.

Ephesians 1:11 tells us that God "works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will."

Philippians 2:13 says that God "works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose."

Romans 8:28 reminds us that "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

I shared several months ago that we were waiting. Well, we were waiting on a new job. And at the time this story happened, we were still in the middle of that wait. This was a perfect example and reminder that God works it out, He works it in, and He works it good! To orchestrate all that had to happen in perfect timing within 24 hours...of course He can handle the situations that have to happen to put us in the place He has planned for us to be. My God is amazing and I love Him so! And I know that He loves me!

While we were waiting on the tow situation to pan out, we had a great view. I didn't think about it until we were driving away. But I got this shot on the way home. By the way, I posted these close together so if you didn't see the highlights of our vacation, scroll on down and enjoy some pics!

Camping Highlights 2009

Here is the crew that came this year. Both sets of my grandparents (that would be 4 of 5 great-grands for my kids!), my parents, my aunt and uncle with one of their grandkids, a cousin and his wife, and a another friend we don't often see.

Four generations on both sides of my family. I think that is pretty neat!

We enjoyed getting to know a cousin from far away that we had not met before. He and SweetTate had a good time playing trains together.

One of the highlights this year was this wild ride! A neighboring campsite brought this wagon they had taken the sides off of. Then they would pull it up the hill, and come down around the curve steering by the tounge. Let me tell you, when you come around the curve you are flying pretty good! They offered for us to join them, but at first I thought it looked like a suicide run. Then they began to have spotters watching for oncomming traffic, so we tried it. It was an absolute blast!

Daisy did really well camping. She surprised me. The only part she really didn't care for was the hike around the lake when we got caught in a thunderstorm. Princess doesn't like to get wet in the rain! I must admit that I didn't like the hail and being cold either! But overall she did great!

Of coarse, Granny and Papa were eating up their time with the grandkids!

We played games! Especially when it rained a lot of the time. It was great fun!

And we went on hikes around the lake.

And don't forget fishing!

This is one of my favorite places on earth--grant it, I have seen very limited places on the planet, but I think my Creator did an awesome job here!

This was the view from our tent (affectionately known as the "Hilton!")

We had several good cameras in camp that captured the 6 or so humming birds that came around. These were being kind of lazy for humming birds! But it was fun watching them.

The guys split this piece of wood and noticed the bird's hole there on the left and then when it split you could see the nest inside. Pretty cool!

Camping in the 21st century! "Before you go, let me download your pitures!" Trust me when I tell you that you just got the highlights!

Playing in the sawdust

I am so blessed to have my grandparents close for lots of reasons. One being that my kids get to know them. Monday Mema and Papaw were here to scope out a project and they got to have ice cream with us! Tuesday they came back and I got to play in the sawdust with Papaw.

He is a master carpenter and does beautiful work. We have many pieces of furniture that he built. Including "the kids' cabinet" that he made for me when I was a little girl. It is a kitchen complete with a sink and light up stove! Too fun! Well, in our new house I had this problem corner. The oven wasn't installed quite right and it completely blocked this drawer. And there was this little door for this whole big corner cabinet--it was useless!

So Papaw to the rescue! He made the oven fit, and fixed the drawer to where it is accessable (the oven door has to be open, but it works)! And he cut new doors on the backside of the cabinet for me. I love it! In a small space the little things make a huge difference! Papaw let me help him some. It has been a long time since I played in the sawdust! Thanks, Papaw!

So here is my kitchen. I still want to add some greenery at the top, but for the most part it is settled. A new, working dishwasher will make it sweet! At the bottom of the picture, that is not our supper... SweetBoy has a project going--a dinosaur dig. I knew you were curious about that!

We are back on line!

Just in time for the back to school report! Here we are packing backpacks with new school supplies. SweetBoy getting ready for 3rd grade.

And SweetDoll getting ready for Kindergarten!

We have met their new teachers and been to the new school, and I think they will have a great year! Well, here it is. The first day of school!

We picked up Dad in the hall and he walked with us to take SweetBoy to his class. It's one of the perks! :)

Now it is SweetDoll's turn. (Yes, that backpack is as big as she is! Thankfully it can snap smaller and she will only be carrying a folder and library books.)

Mixed emotions for this Momma...I will not miss the sibling aggravation a lot of the day. You know, the "Mom, he's looking at me!" kind of stuff. But she is my baby girl and she is not here! SweetBoy reminded me that I'm trading that for "Mom, will you play with me?" from SweetTate and he has not disappointed! We have already set up the tent...yes, in my very small living room (more on the new house another day). And we already have plans for a bike ride, watching Thomas, and having an egg sandwich for lunch! And part of my mixed emotions is missing my good friend to share this day of sadness and joy with--her baby girl went to kindergarten today too.

We are looking forward to our traditional "first day of school ice cream" after school! Well, I have a request for a sleeping bag to go in the tent, so I better go before he tries to climb to the top of his closet to get it!

Summer update

Hey! We didn't fall off the face of the earth! I just thought things were crazy and then we pushed the fast forward button. Most of these could have their own post and we'll see if that happens in the next weeks or month, but here are the highlights of the last six weeks.

• we had a Birthday Boy! SweetBoy is 9! I cannot believe it!
• our annual camping trip--oh, and I have a God story to tell you about that!
• I've been doing the Esther Bible study by Beth Moore--perfect timing!
• And we are moving! That is why I haven't been around the past couple of weeks and why I won't be for the next few weeks! Pray for us in the transition.
• SweetDoll starts kindergarten. Pray for her too.

I better try to get some sleep and stop packing or decorating the new place in my dreams!