The joy of the Lord ...

  Joy is an essential spiritual practice growing out of faith, grace, gratitude, hope, and love. It is the pure and simple delight in being alive. Joy is our elated response to feelings of happiness, experiences of pleasure, and awareness of abundance. It is also the deep satisfaction we know when we are able to serve others and be glad for their good fortune. Joy begets inner peace and contentment and you surely experience this when you are connected to God and well meaning family and friends.

  Some people are out to tarnish that joy you have,it can be through their utterances,their behavior, even their actions and reactions to things that concern you. When you hand such negative people the reigns you loose your strength to go on.

On a funny note,when I read psalm30:5 as a kid,I thought if you cried the previous night because you were beaten for being naughty, joy will come to you in the morning. (I was really little then). I grew older and i saw that verse in a different light. I realized that joy comes from the Lord and doing the things of God. So whenever I read this passage now, I am of the believe that no matter what I go through in life,no matter my low moments, I have a God who has good plans for me(Thats the JOY,knowing there is someone greater who always has my interest at heart).
  So I liken the night to my low periods and the morning to a new start, a new day with the early morning sun and it's warmth caressing my skin,the early morning dew on the unfolding petals of brightly colored flowers giving it a glow you can't miss....
 The joy of the Lord is really the strength you need to start a new day.

One love
Peeps