C.H.’s abridged list of joy-filled days:
- On Sunday, I celebrated my 47th birthday; that was a joy-filled day.
- The adoption days of my two younger children were joy-filled days.
- The birth of my oldest daughter was a joy-filled day.
- The day I married Anne was a joy-filled day.
Some joy-filled moments were from my childhood:
- When got my diploma from Jr. High school, that was a joy-filled moment.
- When I lost my first tooth in kindergarten, that was a joy-filled moment, or on second thought maybe it wasn’t. I think I was actually scared by that event, but receiving those two quarters from the tooth fairy was a joy-filled moment for sure.
- When I got straight A’s my junior year of high school, when I learned to ride a two-wheeler, when I first drove my dad’s car, all these provided moments of great joy.
But when I remember that I am a sinner, saved by grace, forgiven for all my failures, and made clean by the blood of Jesus something happens, something unexplainable. When I contemplate grace my list of past joy-filled moments shrinks into insignificance, and my heart bursts open with a present sense of joy. The joy of salvation isn’t about a memory or something from a time long ago. No, the joy that grace delivers is always fresh, living in the present, here with me right now. It is a joy from Jesus and it is available to all who ask.
Live Easter’s joy everyday.
Psalm 92:4 NLT You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.
I’m writing today as a contributor to the Christian Writers Blog Chain. Our theme for this month is “Joy.” Christianwriters.com is an excellent place to network if you’re a Christian writer or author. Please visit these other members:
- 4/1: Brian Jones, Andeluvia
- 4/2: Debra Ann Elliott, Words are Timeless
- 4/3: CH Dyer, Thoughts and Visions
- 4/4: Steve Olar, Snickerdoodles
- 4/5: Lynn Mosher, Heading Home
- 4/6: Bill Jones, I Was Thinking the Other Day About
- 4/7: Cindee Snider Re, Breathe Deeply
- 4/8: Terrie Thorpe, Light for the Journey
- 4/9: Adam Collings, The Collings Zone
- 4/10: Keith Wallis, wordsculptures
- 4/11: Victor Travison, Lightwalker’s View
- 4/12: Pegg Thomas, The Sheepish Scribe
- 4/13: Nona King, Spirit Driven Fiction
- 4/14: Scott Fields, Dead Man Writing
- 4/15: Pauline Creeden, Hosanna’s Christian Reader
- 4/16: Kristena Tunstall, Mommy’s Angel In Heaven
- 4/17: Mike Johnson, The College Field Manual
- 4/18: Carol Peterson, From Carol’s Quill
- 4/19: Chris Vonada, I’m Just Thinkin’
- 4/20: Edward Lewis, Sowing the Seeds
- 4/21: Deborah K. Anderson, Faith, Fiction, and Unvarnished Truth
- 4/23: Nona King, Word Obsession
- 4/24: SandiGrace, Heart Gazer
- 4/25: SandyKC, The Everyday Christian
- 4/26: Tracy Krauss, Expression Express
- 4/27: Traci Bonney, Tracings
- 4/28: Jacky Brown, JayBees Blog
- 4/29: Stephanie Boles, 80 Acres and a Book
- 4/30: Joseph Lalonde, Joseph Lalonde
Great post, C.H.
You must have had one big tooth. I only got a quarter for mine. 🙂
My heart bursts open – a great image of what joy feels like.
Thanks
A belated Happy Birthday and a prayer for a joy-filled year to come. Thanks for another great post. It’s good to have those joy-filled moments to remember, but as you said, what Jesus did for us on the cross for us eclipses all the other moments put together. And this joy will never be taken away.
Indeed.. Jesus’ gift of salvation and his triumph has got to be the greatest joy of all!!
Thanks for sharing those moments with us – and the greatest joy of all. How fitting that I’m reading your article on Good Friday.
I love the way the NLT puts that verse you quoted. Awesome.
Belated happy birthday, Craig! I’ll be 47 this year too. I’m glad you can celebrate it instead of grieving it. Age is just a number, right? 😉
I’ve said it before: happiness depends on happenings, but our joy depends on Jesus. He’ll never desert us, no matter how our circumstances change, so our joy can be constant and complete.
Terrific post, my brother.
Thanks Traci, Your encouargement means a lot to me.
CH
You are right, the true source of joy should come from our position with God even if we have a blessed life.
Perfectly written! Wonderful reminder. During those times when everything seems to be going wrong, we’ve still got that joy, joy, joy, joy, down in our hearts!
Happy birthday, young’un!
Happy Birthday! I absolutely love your statement, “When I contemplate grace my list of past joy-filled moments shrinks into insignificance, and my heart bursts open with a present sense of joy.” Well said! The joy in my heart rises just reading that. 🙂
Thanks, I appreciate the specific nature of your reply, Sandi. Always helps to know what touches people’s hearts the most.
Happy Easter to you and your family.
Happy Birthday to You-o-o-o. Our modern world, by seeking momentary happiness instead of true, lasting joy, overlooks the God’s greatest gift. Good post.
Peace and Blessings
Definitely a nice conglomeration of joy-filled moments.
These events and moments ring universally for most of us. thanks for the reminder that joy often comes in the little things.(And of course, real joy comes in knowing Jesus)
A belated Happy Birthday to you Craig! I’m joy filled to know a man of faith in action! Thank you for being “In the Word of Christ” everyday! The world needs the Peace of Jesus and you know and live this mission of Love. Blessings, Brian Reynolds
Great verse “You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.” He is the source of all of our “Joy-Filled Moments’ Nice post and belated Happy Birthday!
There are little joys and BIG joys, that’s for sure. I’m glad we have both kinds. 🙂
Happy B-Day young man 🙂
Great memories for sure C.H. You’ve said it all with “live Easter’s joy everyday!”
Thanks Chris.
new Joy ievery morning….amen
and a belated happy birthday
Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig hug brother
Thanks Jack.