weekend. {get here soon}

we're headed into a long weekend ... Praise God!

and I'm so happy to say ... we're ending an {exhausting} week!

a week full of balancing acts & living on the edge, great conversations, difficult phone calls, placing blame, and yet ... peace.

a week with beautiful sunsets, gator rides, tears, exhaustion, and yet ...love.

a week of stunt driving, missing dogs, tests, meetings, laughter, spilled milk, and yet ... forgiveness.

a week of inappropriate children's literature, irrigation, cattle, bacon & eggs for dinner, and yet joy.

I'm ready for the weekend.

We all are.

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and ... we're going to {remember} those loved ones who have played & are playing such a huge part in making our life what it is today.

happy Memorial Day weekend!!

sometimes ...

even when life is good ...

there are still moments when things just don't make sense and life just doesn't seem fair.

my {3} favorite people.

Day 5 of Joy.

Preface

I wrote this over 2 weeks ago and never hit publish. I wasn't sure if it was the right message to send out to the galaxy.

I came home from church today knowing that it needed to be published.

Thank you Pastor Dave for speaking on JOY today ... and for nailing its meaning right on the head.

These {fruits of the Spirit} ... you can't just have the ones you want ... because even as I focus on yet another one this week ... JOY keeps showing up.

And that's a good thing.

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Original Post Date - May 1


No matter what circumstance I may find myself in ... I choose JOY.

What do you choose?

Do you choose Joy? Real. Live. Joy. ??

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JOY.

It's not an act.

It's not necessarily a happy face.

It doesn't mean that all is right in the world.

It isn't a temporary {fix}.

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It is a gift from the Holy Spirit.

It is a treasure that so many are searching for.

It is a choice we all have ... if we choose to follow Him.

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This last week was good for me... challenging, tiring, hard, but good.

Not much time on the computer, not much visiting with friends, not much blogging, not much picture taking, not much sleep.

I've been thinking and praying and thinking some more about JOY.

It's defined by the dictionary as an emotion of great delight or happiness, caused by something exceptionally good.

And you know what, I've struggled with that definition because to me JOY is a gift that is radiated from within no matter what circumstance you're facing when you've chosen to follow and live for Him.

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I've always thought of myself as a joyful person.

I like to laugh, I have crazy expressions, I see the good in most everything ... or at least I try to ... and yet this chapter on joy & the numerous passages of scripture that Beth Moore encourages us to read... well, this Fruit of the Spirit called J.O.Y. has me stopped.

dead.

in.

my.

tracks.

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Sadness. Pain. Hurt. Death. Lies. Deceit. Misery.

Those things don't go away.

Joy.

* It's claiming & knowing & believing that through obedience and endurance and suffering and struggle there is still hope.

* There is still love.

* There is peace.

* There is still hope.

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I'm looking at JOY different these days.

Thank you for leaving comments about what JOY is to you. I'm continually blessed by the outpouring and faithfulness of my readers & those that I'm truly blessed to be able to call {friends}.

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I encourage you to look for JOY. It's within in your reach.

Really, It is.

another {stop}

Destination 3

Max Lucado is one of my favorite authors and speakers, and if you've spent any time reading my blog in the past 3 years, you know I quote and refer to him often.

I've never met him, but I have considered taking a trip to Texas to attend the church he pastors for a Sunday or two. {smile}

He puts the scripture from the Bible in words that are easily understood - no matter where you are in your walk with Christ or how much or little you understand about the Bible.

His writing style intrigues me.

His speaking style is that of a man who wants to show everyone {not just a select few} how great God is by speaking in love and truth.

The {one liners} that he uses in his books and sermons make me stop right in my tracks and think about my relationship with God, with my husband, my family, my friends, my co-workers, and my community in a whole new light.

His perspective is one that I pray others see in me & my writing too.

If I had the opportunity to spend an internship with someone to learn more about writing about God and His faithfulness, it would be Max.

I find myself at his website reading the daily devotions, pondering the weekly words, and listening carefully to his video podcasts. {which are currently on fearing less - so good for this past month of my life}

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You may be thinking to yourself ... goodness Lindsay, if you're always at these {destinations} ... when do you get anything else done? Are you always on the computer?

I do spend a fair amount of time on the computer. I read blogs, I do my best to comment faithfully, and I visit sites that encourage and uplift ... and I truly believe that it's worth my time if I see, and respond, and leave encouraged to deepen my walk with Christ.

I don't watch TV very often, so TV time is spent reading on the computer.

I listen to Max's podcasts while folding laundry or making dinner.

I read his daily devotions while putting lotion on my legs and arms and dry, cracked feet in the morning.

I rotate between Proverbs 31 Ministries, Roy Lessin, Max & a couple of others {destinations yet to come}, because if I'm filling my mind with God and His amazing power to speak through others, then maybe, just maybe I can do that for someone else.

Not because of me, but because of Him.

last weekend.

was peaceful.

not rushed.

no pressure to get stuff done.

just time together with my family. {minus Ian ... who was building/fixing fence in the mountains}

this week and weekend.

totally. and. completely different.

something every. single. night.

no time for rolling down hills and playing in tents.

no time for sitting in the yard just {being}.

But. you know what ... I think we need those {GREAT} weekends so we appreciate them even more when they come our way.

life.

it's an uphill climb most of the time.

the view along the way is beautiful.

it's not always sunny or storm-free, but it's beautiful.

and as I teach today, work at the school carnvial tonight, celebrate friends graduating, sing happy birthday, get a couple bucks from {treasures} being sold at the yard sale, take pictures, usher at church, and live life to the fullest ...

I'm going to keep the memories of last weekend tucked away in my mind and smile.

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make the most of it.

They're Home.

Let the chaos resume.