To "IN JOY"
Those of you that know me, know that I'm a bargain shopper, a sales rack scourer, coupon clipper, price comparer, a "frugal shopper" if you will; I'm alway up for a great deal, BOGO offer, sidewalk sale you get the picture. Im not an extremest by any means, I won't and don't trample people for a deal, I don't spend hours clipping coupons or have a storage unit or storeroom (not even a closet) for that matter with excess supplies of toothpaste or Rice-A-Roni. I don't buy just to buy, but when I do shop, I try to find the best deal.
So imagine this scene (all hypothetical): you're in Target (insert your favorite store) with your children; just "running in" for a couple QUICK things. While searching for your "quick" things a clearance rack catches your eye...just a QUICK peek, you may just find stocking stuffers, the next birthday present, etc, etc, etc., one of your children insists that he/she has to go potty "weely bad." So off to the potty you go. You come out of the bathroom and realize, 45 minutes later,your cart is 1/2 full and your list still contains 3 of the 4 items you came in for, HUUUM!!!?!?!? After the trip to the bathroom the whining begins and now your kids are hungry, thirsty, tired,___________. Has this ever happened to you? Nope, me either, but I always see those mommas when Im out with my perfectly, well behaved, potty-ed, full, and hydrated angels!
So its in times like these that I hear comments like "oh honey, enjoy these times, they go too fast, they're only little once, don't blink, etc." Its true, time does go fast, but not in those particular instances while IN Target. Its in these scenarios that my mind switches into the self-talk mode...repeating the ever so popular phrase: choose joy! I should CHOOSE joy, all the while Im reminding my kids "we only have 3 more things on the list." Maybe if I just swing by this last clearance rack, I might happen to find some patience or joy for 1/2 off. Sadly, thats not how it works, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, Goodness, Faithfulness, and Self Control...none of these are offered or sold for a discount.
God sent his Son, Jesus, to pay for my (and yours) sins. He didn't get a good deal or even a discount on the cross, he paid MY debt in FULL. His (Jesus') blood paid it all and that Im so grateful. So how is it that I've been GIVEN this amazing gift for FREE and yet I have such a hard time using it correctly? I have an instruction manual (the Bible), a support system (the Church and fellow believers), and a phone a friend (the Holy Spirit through prayer and intercession) yet I still fall short.
The truth is life is hard, but some things cannot be bought at a discount. I cannot go into Target and find a container of joy on sale. They don't sell patience in bulk at Sams/Costco (cause I'd KNOW if they did). I want these things, oh boy do I want a heart FULL of joy. I want to be that person that people see and think "she is so happy/joyful." But I don't want to just CHOOSE joy...I want to BE joy. I don't want to just EN-joy life. I want to INJOY life. The prefix EN means: put into, make, provide with, surround with. I can choose to surround myself with joy and be with joyous people and be in joyous settings; but I don't want to settle for "enjoying" life. I want to be "IN JOY" in life I know the only true way to be "IN JOY" is to be IN Christ. Im being completely honest here, its hard some days to enjoy life with fighting kids, no free time, missing friends, but Im going to choose to BE "in joy" rather than ENJOY. Im still going to enjoy the special moments and savor time with my kids, however, Im also going to be IN Joy while doing it. I want to be all IN! Who wants to be IN with me?
So imagine this scene (all hypothetical): you're in Target (insert your favorite store) with your children; just "running in" for a couple QUICK things. While searching for your "quick" things a clearance rack catches your eye...just a QUICK peek, you may just find stocking stuffers, the next birthday present, etc, etc, etc., one of your children insists that he/she has to go potty "weely bad." So off to the potty you go. You come out of the bathroom and realize, 45 minutes later,your cart is 1/2 full and your list still contains 3 of the 4 items you came in for, HUUUM!!!?!?!? After the trip to the bathroom the whining begins and now your kids are hungry, thirsty, tired,___________. Has this ever happened to you? Nope, me either, but I always see those mommas when Im out with my perfectly, well behaved, potty-ed, full, and hydrated angels!
So its in times like these that I hear comments like "oh honey, enjoy these times, they go too fast, they're only little once, don't blink, etc." Its true, time does go fast, but not in those particular instances while IN Target. Its in these scenarios that my mind switches into the self-talk mode...repeating the ever so popular phrase: choose joy! I should CHOOSE joy, all the while Im reminding my kids "we only have 3 more things on the list." Maybe if I just swing by this last clearance rack, I might happen to find some patience or joy for 1/2 off. Sadly, thats not how it works, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, Goodness, Faithfulness, and Self Control...none of these are offered or sold for a discount.
God sent his Son, Jesus, to pay for my (and yours) sins. He didn't get a good deal or even a discount on the cross, he paid MY debt in FULL. His (Jesus') blood paid it all and that Im so grateful. So how is it that I've been GIVEN this amazing gift for FREE and yet I have such a hard time using it correctly? I have an instruction manual (the Bible), a support system (the Church and fellow believers), and a phone a friend (the Holy Spirit through prayer and intercession) yet I still fall short.
The truth is life is hard, but some things cannot be bought at a discount. I cannot go into Target and find a container of joy on sale. They don't sell patience in bulk at Sams/Costco (cause I'd KNOW if they did). I want these things, oh boy do I want a heart FULL of joy. I want to be that person that people see and think "she is so happy/joyful." But I don't want to just CHOOSE joy...I want to BE joy. I don't want to just EN-joy life. I want to INJOY life. The prefix EN means: put into, make, provide with, surround with. I can choose to surround myself with joy and be with joyous people and be in joyous settings; but I don't want to settle for "enjoying" life. I want to be "IN JOY" in life I know the only true way to be "IN JOY" is to be IN Christ. Im being completely honest here, its hard some days to enjoy life with fighting kids, no free time, missing friends, but Im going to choose to BE "in joy" rather than ENJOY. Im still going to enjoy the special moments and savor time with my kids, however, Im also going to be IN Joy while doing it. I want to be all IN! Who wants to be IN with me?
Hebrews 12:2New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
2 Let us keep looking to Jesus. He is the author of faith. He also makes it perfect. He paid no attention to the shame of the cross. He suffered there because of the joy he was looking forward to. Then he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
I'm IN!! Great post!! :)
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