But what about false joy

Down in My Heart Kind of Joy
Lesson 8
But what about…false joy

OK. By this point you are probably thinking that I am Little Miss Pollyanna and don’t live in the real world with real hurts, real bad people, and real problems…life just isn’t fair! How do you throw that into this joy thing? You are right. The world tries to persuade us with all kinds of false joy. And others who are obviously not practicing the presence of God seem to have joy. So the next few lessons we will look some of these questions.

You can read the whole chapter to get the context of what is happening in this story. The Reader’s Digest version is that David’s enemy had come and raided their city while the men were away. They captured their wives and children, plundered their homes, and burned the city. Here is the climactic verse in the New Living Translation because it uses joy…

1 Samuel 30:16-17 So he [the Egyptian] led David to them, and they found the Amalekites spread out across the fields, eating and drinking and dancing with joy because of the vast amount of plunder they had taken from the Philistines and the land of Judah. David and his men rushed in among them and slaughtered them… (NLT)

The Amalekites were having a huge party! How often do I look at others having a party and feel jealous? And whine "I want to have fun!" There is absolutely nothing wrong with having fun and having a party. I love getting together with friends and family and laughing until it hurts! But don’t be jealous of someone whose joy is in things they have obtained, especially if they got it illegally. That is false joy that is short lived.

Read Job 20:4-5, 18b.

First of all, what is mirth? The NLT translates it “triumph.” The success of ungodly people and the joy from wealth looks appealing, but as it has been from the beginning of time, it doesn’t last! And isn’t lasting joy what we are after? That only comes from One person!

Proverbs 15:21 Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense; a sensible person stays on the right path. (NLT)

Then we come to foolishness. That pretty much sums up any other activity we can find false joy in. So take heart. When it seems like others are full of joy for all the wrong reasons, remember they have no sense and it is only temporary. God provides lasting joy on the right path. Don’t be deceived by happiness—what is going on around you verses joy—what is going on inside you.

Heart question:
Have you fallen for some of this false joy?

Joy because God is Good

Down in My Heart Kind of Joy
Lesson 7
Joy because God is Good

Last time we looked at joyful praise just because we are in God’s presence, and praising Him for who He is. Today’s lesson is praising with shouts of joy because of the mighty things God does for us, especially His forgiveness. I take so many things that God does for me for granted. I barely notice that He did it for me, let alone shout praises. He is so good to take care of every detail from our food and clothes to our sin.

Money has been tighter this year, so I’m noticing more ways God has provided for us that I never acknowledged really. The seasons were changing and it was time to go through the closets. I stopped and thought about the kids clothes and realized how few of them we had bought. With gifts and hand-me-downs, God had provided clothes for our growing family. In SweetDoll's closet, I saw that we were at the end of the clothes I had and wondered how we would afford the next season’s wardrobe. Wouldn’t you know, the next Sunday a friend at church said, “My daughter outgrew these clothes. Can your daughter wear them?” Sure!

These verses specifically show the joy we have because we are forgiven.

Psalm 32:1-2 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! (NLT)

Proverbs 29:6 Evil people are trapped by sin,
but the righteous escape, shouting for joy. (NLT)

Read Psalm 30:4-5, 11-12.

Shout praises to the Lord, His joy comes in the morning! What have you traded for joy?


Now, not only am I supposed to praise God for what He has done, but I am also supposed to tell it! When I’m praising in the sanctuary, others will hear the wonderful things He is doing in my life. My family and friends ought to know.

Read Psalm 145:4-7.

If you are a mom, grandmother, neighbor lady, Sunday School teacher…This is our responsibility! We are to meditate on His awe-inspiring deeds and proclaim His greatness. Share the story! The next generation, even the ones not yet born, need to hear it!

Read Psalm 28:7.

I think if I was leaping for joy at what God had done, I would have opportunities to tell what was going on because somebody will ask!

This is the greater joy filling my heart to overflowing and it comes out in noticeable ways to the Father and to others, glorifying Him. When SweetDoll was two years old, she saw the trash was over the top, and she said, “Momma, the trash is very under-flowing!” I laughed and thought that has to have a godly truth in there. It is kind of like an undercurrent below what is overflowing. We praise with joy because of the abundant love God lavishes on us. He is the undercurrent, so we can be “under-flowing“ with joy! Think about Romans 15:13 in this context.

Read Romans 15:13.


One thing that can get in the way of this joy at what God is doing is pride.

Read John 3:29.

John the Baptist didn’t let his pride get in the way. He was filled with joy at Jesus’ success. We need to have this attitude at what God is doing in the lives of others too.

Shouts of joyful praise for forgiveness, for wonderful things He is doing in my life, and for what God is doing in the church and other believers.

1 Thessalonians 2:19
Philippians 1:4
Philippians 1:25
3 John 1:4

Heart question:
Are you like me and have some things you have taken for granted that you need to praise Him for?

Spend some time praising Him for His forgiveness and wonderful work in your life.

Here are some other verses that speak to this topic:
Psalm 25:1

Psalm 63:5,7

Psalm 118:15

Psalm 126:1-6

Acts 11:23

A little perspective

We had a great Saturday! We played with the kids, watched a movie, took a nap, and read a book. A big people book! I seriously could not put it down. Have you ever read the story of Corrie ten Boom in her book The Hiding Place? I highly recommend it! She was a Christian lady who, along with her family, protected Jews during WW2. They were arrested and sent to concentration camps for about 10 months. Here are some thoughts from it that I hope I don't soon forget.

• "I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work He will give us to do."
• The role that the Bible played. Her father read it aloud every morning and every evening for whoever might be in the house. When she and her family were arrested, that was the first night she had not heard the Bible read. She and her sister had a smuggled-in copy of the Bible with them in the concentration camp and it was their life. She said, “Sometimes I would slip the Bible from its little sack with hands that shook, so mysterious had it become to me. It was new; it had just been written. I marveled sometimes that the ink was dry."
• After Corrie’s release from the concentration camp, she began to speak and tell people what they learned, as her sister had told her. She said, “Through the streets and suburbs of Haarlem I bumped on my bicycle rims, bringing the message that joy runs deeper than despair.”
• "There is no pit so deep that the love of Jesus Christ is not deeper still."
• “And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.”
• God's providence, His protection, His purpose--even in fleas, and the grace and wisdom to see that.

What an amazing woman of faith! Just doing what God created her to do--what needed to be done at that time in that place for His purpose.

Joyful Praise

Down in My Heart Kind of Joy
Lesson 6
Joyful Praise

This is the lesson I expected this whole joy thing to be about. Whew! It is so much more than just praise! Don’t get me wrong praise is important, but this greater joy is so much more than that! Because when I spend time in God’s presence, I will seek His instruction and I will joyfully praise Him! And what better place to see it than in the Psalms. Read these verses and make note of any words or phrases that ring true to you.

Psalm 5:11
Psalm 9:2
Psalm 22:26
Psalm 33:1
Psalm 90:14


Personal worship and praise is important. It is also vital to worship and praise God together with other believers. It is contagious and encouraging! Psalm 27:6 mentions worshiping and praising at His sanctuary. And in the New Testament, Acts tells about the early church worshiping together.

Read Acts 2:46-47.

Again, God’s presence and joyful praising are intertwined. There is joy in the obedience of loving one another and sharing, and God blessed them.


Heart question:
Do you joyfully praise Him personally and with other believers?

You may ask how do you praise Him? Praise Him for who He is to you.

Squash anyone?

I have heard it said that this is the time of year that even in small towns all the cars are locked on the church parking lot. If they are not, you get a car load of squash! Mema and Papaw have a garden, and we have definetly enjoyed the harvest! Here are a couple of my favorite recipes for squash, in case you are needing a little something new! Enjoy!

My sis-in-law makes this, and it is a favorite at family gatherings!

Squash Casserole
1-2 lb. yellow or zucchini squash, sliced thin
1 onion chopped
1 box jiffy cornbread mix
1 egg
1 stick margarine
dash of cayenne pepper and garlic salt
salt and pepper to taste

Cook squash in microwave with onion on high, approximately 12-15 minutes, stirring halfway through. Drain squash. Add margarine and stir until melted. Add rest of ingredients. Stir well and put in greased baking dish. Top with bread crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

This one I won a ribbon for at 4-H! This bread freezes well, and makes great little loaves for friends or teachers.

Zucchini Bread
1 cup pecans
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
3 1/3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup raisins (optional)
2 cups grated zucchini

Chop pecans. Beat eggs, gradually beat in sugar, then oil. Combine dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients alternately with zucchini. Stir in raisins, pecans, and vanilla. Pour into greased and lightly floured loaf pans. Bake on lowest rack at 350 degrees for 55 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes, and turn out on wire racks.

Random laundry thoughts

Well, it seems that most of the time when you catch me, I'm doing laundry. I've come to call laundry days Mt. Kill-em-with-laundry! It never ends! And just when I get SO bored doing the same old thing, God throws a little excitement in! On this laundry day on about the third or fourth load, I got the water going, tossed in the towels and sudzie water started getting my feet wet! Thankfully I thought to stop the water, but it kept coming! The hose that drains the washer had disconnected! What do you do with that! Call SweetHeart of course! (That is another perk that he is close.) However, his less than enthusiastic "But I would have to change clothes" reply motivated me to just do it myself. So I did. I got the pliers and secured the hose back on the washer. That is so empowering! And amazingly it worked! No more flooded laundry room!

Then, I don't know how it is at your house, but when folding socks, I inevitably end up with an odd sock. I have accused my children of just tossing their socks any ol' place instead of getting them in the dirty clothes basket. But I finally have proof that the dryer really does eat them!

Yep, that is a couple of socks hanging out of the tumbler! (The next laundry day that piece fell off. It is amazing the difference it makes! The dryer is quieter now, but the clothes are in a ball and the inside is still wet. Who knew it took three!)

SweetDoll was given a cute little cheer outfit for our new hometown. I read the label before washing it and this was part of the directions on the little bloomers:

Use large water level.

DO NOT: wash with any other garment, wash more than one garment at a time, wash by hand or in a small volume of water, leave in washer for any length of time, dry clean, hang, lay out to dry, bleach or iron.

Seriously! Do not wash with any other garment! (It must be in kindergarten and got a report "does not play well with others!") I have Mt. Kill-em-with-laundry! There is no way I'm washing one little pair of bloomers by itself in a large water level! I washed it with the same colors and who knows how long it stayed in the washer, and I'm happy to report it did just fine!

Wishing you a little excitement in your mundane too!

Choosing Joy

Down in My Heart Kind of Joy
Lesson 5
Choose Joy

Beth Moore has two daughters. The oldest, Amanda, started a blog for Living Proof Ministries (there is a link in the list on the right). It is a fun slice of life in their family. Beth, Amanda, and the younger sister, Melissa, write posts about anything from what is for dinner to a neat insight from their personal Bible study. One post allowed bloggers to post questions. Being a mom, this one caught my eye. “What was the best advice you got from your mom growing up?” Amanda replied, “Choose joy.” We get into so many situations and we have a choice of how to handle it—choose joy. I thought that was great advice.

So here is a joy check. Read these verses and write down the evidences of joy they describe.

Psalm 34:5

Psalm 146:5

Proverbs 13:9

Proverbs 16:20

Do I see the evidence of joy in my life? Am I joyful? If not, am I spending time with Him to trust Him? Am I worrying instead of trusting? Am I obeying? Is there sin I need to confess?

Read 2 Corinthians 13:11.

Paul presents this like we have a choice to be joyful. I want to suggest that it isn’t a choice in just changing your attitude. That is not lasting joy. I cannot sustain the act. It is a choice of being in God’s presence or not. It is a command—we have the choice to obey or not. Did you notice the promise here? Do these four things, and “the God of love and peace will be with you.” His presence will be with us! (Keep this circle of presence-obedience-presence in mind.)

Philippians 4:4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it
again—rejoice! (NLT)

To me this says, continually, consistently be in God’s presence and in His Word, so I will be full of joy.

“You have to look for the joy. Look for the light of God that is hitting your
life, and you will find sparkles you didn’t know were there.”
–Barbara Johnson

Heart question:
So how is your heart? Are you choosing this greater joy?

Music Review

This is some of the music that is resonating with my soul lately and helps me be in God's presence and helps my joy...

In the car yesterday, we had a PureNRG CD in. I have heard it 100 times, but never really heard the words to this song. It so hit home! (I know it's a kids' CD, but it is truth!) It is called "Pray" and here are the first lines... (or see it, hear it here.)

Overwhelmed and uninspired
Miscommunication breakdown
I'm in an ocean
Trying to start a fire
Burning out

I know what I've got to do
Take my time and talk to You...

...I see clearly
Every single time I
Close my eyes and
Pray

I so needed that reminder!

And then there is Travis Cottrell's newest album Jesus Saves Live. It leads me to worship everytime I sing with it! My favorites..."Do It Lord" and "In Christ Alone (with the Solid Rock)." I can't listen to that one without tears coming to my eyes. Oh, and "My Inheritance." If you went to Beth Moore's Living Proof last August in San Antonio, you will especially love that one too. You can get a glimpse of each song on Travis' website. (In the middle is a player, it starts automatically.)

Of course I couldn't talk about music without mentioning Steven Curtis Chapman. He has a new project coming out soon. It is an album that he did this year in the struggle of living after the death of his daughter, Maria. He talks about it in a blog video here. And here is the first single released.



So what is on your playlist lately that helps with your joy?

Joy Seeking Instruction

Down in My Heart Kind of Joy
Lesson 4
Seek Instruction

If you could have lunch with any living person who would it be? That is a “get to know me” question that is often asked. There are some I would like to spend time with because I think they would make me laugh, like Anita Renfro, the lady who sings “The Mom Song.” But most of the people on my list are wise people I would love to learn from and just a few hours to ask questions would be great!

I have a uniquely personal opportunity to meet each and everyday with my Creator. Sometimes we do laugh. Sometimes I cry. Most of the time, I learn something. We all have this wonderful opportunity. What will we do with it? Part of the joy of being in God’s presence is seeking His instruction and learning from Him.

Read Jeremiah 15:16.

The New Living Translations says “I devoured them.” When was the last time you devoured a chunk of God’s Word? In Psalms 81:10 He promises that if we open our mouth wide, He will fill it!
David spoke of the commandments or Word of the Lord bringing joy to the heart. And meditating on His Word is one way we spend time with Him in His presence.

Read Psalm 19:8 and Psalm 1:1-2.

Proverbs 8:33-34 Listen to My [Wisdom’s] instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. Joyful (NIV says blessed) are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. (NLT)

God is wisdom. Am I listening to His instruction? Am I spending time in His Word? Even if I am hearing it, am I doing it, or ignoring His teaching? Do I watch for Him? Am I waiting for Him?

Proverbs 2:6-11 For the Lord grants wisdom! From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to Him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart and wisdom will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. (NLT)

While we are on this treasure hunt, let’s pick up some common sense! Wisdom will enter your heart and fill you with joy. And there is the presence of God again—in His instruction!

Psalm 94:12 Joyful are those You discipline, Lord, those You teach with Your instruction. (NLT)

The last time I checked, my usual response to discipline was not joyful. Chris Rice has a song that says “I’d take no for an answer, just to know I heard Your voice.” That is so true! I have to be in His presence for Him to teach me and discipline me. It is confirmation of God’s presence and His working in my life. Hebrews 12:7 says “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?” That is how I can be joyful and feel blessed by discipline.

Psalm 119:92-93 If Your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery. I will never forget Your commandments, for by them You give me life. (NLT)

The NIV has the phrase “been my delight” for “sustained me with joy.” Either way God’s instructions—His Word—is what gets me through the day. It is my life, my delight, and my joy to be in His presence studying the Words He gave me to live by.

Read Proverbs 3:13-18.

More profitable than silver, better returns than gold, more precious than rubies, blessed, joyful, peace…if that doesn’t make you want to seek His instruction, I don’t know what will! I’m going on a treasure hunt!

Heart question:
So what will you do with your uniquely personal opportunity to be in God’s presence every day?

In Jill Savage's post today she talks about having just a snack with God or having a meal with Him. It is an interesting concept. You can read it here.

One of the perks

Dad and the kids walking/biking to school...it's one of the perks!

After they left for school, SweetTate and I left for Wal-mart...45 minutes away! That is not a perk! :) So we have to count what is good!

Seeking Joy

Down in My Heart Kind of Joy
Lesson 3
Seek Joy

We have established that being in God’s presence produces joy. Just like any other positive outcome, now I will have a desire to actively seek God’s presence because I want it! Beth Moore says all the time, “There ain’t no high, like the Most High!” And unlike anything else I can pursue, this comes with satisfying promises.

Read Psalm 70:4.

Remember that God promises that He will be found by those who seek Him. This is a promise that we find evidence of over and over in Scripture. Even when the soldiers were seeking Jesus to arrest Him, He was found. Here is a familiar verse in the New Living Translation.

Matthew 7:7-8 Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to
everyone who knocks. (NLT)

Don’t quit! Keep on searching for Him. Keep on reading His Word. Keep on talking with Him in prayer. Keep on knowing Him in your situation. He is not trying to play hard to get. He wants to be found! Look what else we find when we seek Him.

Read Psalm 105:4.

When I seek Him, I will find Him and spending time with Him gives me joy—His strength. (Strength—hold this thought for lesson 12)

Read Psalm 9:10.

When I get to know Him, it builds my trust in Him. I love the promise that He will not abandon me!

Psalm 119:143 As pressure and
stress bear down on me, I find joy in Your commands. (NLT)

During stressful times it is tempting to not spend time with God because other things steal my time, and it shows by the lack of joy. When I am stressed, look for joy in Him! Keep on seeking Him!

Psalm 40:16 But may all who
search for You be filled with joy and gladness in You. May those who love
Your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!” (NLT)

I want to claim the blessing of joy and gladness in the Lord in Psalm 40:16 and repeatedly shout “The Lord is great!” So I will actively seek God’s presence—His joy, strength, and security.


Heart questions:
What am I seeking?




What am I finding?

Welcome to our home

Come on in! This is the view from our front door.

This is from the kitchen.

Yea, think of your first apartment and you have the layout. But it is working for us.

It is amazing the things that make you feel like home. When we put the pictures on the wall, it made such a difference! But it is wierd things sometimes, like PBS kids. It seems like home until the commercials come on and the sponsors are from a different home town. Sometimes it makes me do a double take! Or finding the right place to plug in the vacuum that reaches the whole house! And going to Wal-mart. I love that most of them are laid out the same--it makes my life easier. But I walk out the door and my car is not parked in its usual row!

What makes you feel at home?

My Source of Joy

Down in My Heart Kind of Joy
Lesson 2
Source of Joy

Last time we looked at the fact that joy comes from being in God’s presence. His presence includes the whole Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Now, this isn’t just any joy…

Read Psalm 4:7-8 and fill in the blank.

You have ________________ my heart with ______________ joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

I just had to include verse 8. One reason is that I think there is a link between joy and peace, but I haven’t studied that yet. Keep an eye on that as you study because many times joy is mentioned, peace is near. Is that any wonder because joy comes from being in the presence of God! Secondly, it reiterates that God alone is our refuge!

OK, back to verse 7. He fills my heart with greater joy. Greater than the celebration of harvest! Greater than when there is plenty of money in the bank and the pantry is full! And He wants to fill my heart with this greater joy, not just in one area, not just part of the time—full. That means He has to have all of my heart and His presence will fill every area, all the time. In the second video of the Wising Up study Beth Moore teaches about the “Heart of Wisdom” and asks “How is your heart?”

Heart question: Is my heart full of greater joy? Why or why not? What do I need to do about it?



I don’t know about you, but sometimes I struggle with this concept. Can we really be in God’s presence? God answers through David and Elijah:

Read Psalm 116:9 and 1 Kings 18:15.

Can you think of other Bible characters who were in the presence of God? Moses, Joshua, the Disciples, and Paul are a few that come to mind. We can be in God’s presence continually. One of the classic Christian books is Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. At first, I thought sure, he is a monk! It is easy for him to practice the presence of God. How am I going to relate? Then I read it. Do you know what his job was at the monastery? He worked in the kitchen! OK, maybe I can relate! He said he prayed before he began a task and then prayed afterward to confess if necessary, thank Him, praise Him, and ask that God be glorified by what he had done.

Ann Graham Lotz was teaching this concept and she illustrated it like this. When you go for a walk with a friend, there are two rules. (I had a friend I walked with all the time and I didn’t remember there being rules to it!) She said you have to walk the same direction and at the same speed. I guess there are rules; I never thought about it that way. Prayer is a big part of being in God’s presence. It’s a two way conversation. And it is the way I check in to be sure God and I are headed the same direction at the same speed. Not only can I be in His presence, I need to be in His presence!

Heart question: So how is my walk? Am I in His presence or going the other direction? Am I in His presence or jumping ahead or lagging behind?




Watch what happens when God’s presence is gone…

Read Isaiah 16:10.

When God’s presence is gone, there is no joy even in things that usually are celebrated, like the harvests for the Israelites.

I have times that I just do not have joy. One particular time I was especially restless and discontent. In fact, if my children had been acting this way I would have sent them to take a nap! That was part of the problem—I was tired. But I was also tired of doing the same dishes, the same dirty laundry, cleaning the same… One day I was dusting and my son's nap music was praise songs. It wasn’t so bad dusting that day! I used to clean listening to music all the time, but I haven’t in a while. It made me smile to do the same cleaning jobs, but the difference was God’s presence. (Psalm 22:3 “But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” KJV) So if you find yourself grumbling or just a bad attitude in general, let God be part of it. It may not be as easy as turning on music and you’ll have to be creative, but let His presence bring joy to your situation. Remember Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Acknowledge there means to know Him. In all your situations, KNOW HIM there. Let His presence be there and know Him. Let Him bring His joy to your situation.

Heart question: Is my joy gone? Can I connect it to God’s presence being gone?


If you want to read other verses about joy coming from being in God’s presence:
1 Chronicles 16:27; Psalm 25:6; Psalm 68:3, 6; Proverbs 14:10;
Isaiah 12:6

Funny story

Sunday after church we stopped at Sonic to pick up lunch. SweetHeart pulled out into the turning lane and drove there for a little bit (I wasn't scared yet) before he realized he needed to scoot on over to the right lane. He said, "Oh, I guess I could move over." While SweetTate was saying, "Dodge and weave! Dodge and weave!" He got that from the movie Cars. I'm still laughing today! Hope it brings you a smile!