For the past several weeks, I have had this uncontrollable joy. It doesn't matter if I was doing a random job at work, taking care of laundry at home, or even going to the grocery store...my joy followed along. I've been saying hello to random strangers at stores and wish them a great day and even really meant it. Now, there have been a couple days where my joy was a bit lacking, but for the most part, every day is a joyous day.
In my life, I often have been called bubbly, happy, loud, etc. I guess its just part of my personality. In the past, I sometimes have to "fake" the happy when I'm not in the best of moods, but here lately, the joy that just spills out me is uncontrollable and natural.
So, I've been wondering about this joy. Why the sudden change?
Today it hit me like a ton of bricks.....BAM! It was the biggest DUH moment of the year so far.
My husband and I are participating in the One Year Bible Challenge at our church. Each day we read a section from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, & Proverbs. So far, I haven't missed a day. Not trying to toot my own horn here - so I'm just going to keep it real. Yes, I've read it...problem is, I'm not always remembering what I read. I'm following the Old Testament sections and can recall later in the day what it was about...but ask me about Psalms or Proverbs and my mind goes blank. So ya, I need to work on that whole meditating on the Word better.
So, back to the joy. My joy is totally Jesus Joy. (at least that's what I'm calling it) My day starts each morning with the Word of God running through my brain. My joy is totally of Christ and is simply a overflow of His immeasurable grace. Its the best feeling eva! Highly recommend it!!
To finish up this Joyous post, I thought it would be appropriate to leave you with some song lyrics that may be a bit childish, but still totally summarize the blessings that God is daily sending my way!
"I've got JOY down in my heart. Deep, deep, down in my heart.
J-O-Y down in my heart. Deep, deep, down in my heart.
Jesus put it there and nothing can destroy it, -stroy it, -stroy it, (HUH).
I've got JOY down in my heart. Deep, deep, down in my heart!"
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Encouragement
Today, a customer/friend stopped by my office and handed me a bookmark that she had made for me. No long conversation. All she said was, "I made this for you." Its a simple bookmark with a prayer printed on it that has been laminated. I taped it to my monitor at work as a constant reminder as to what my focus should be.....
Help Us, Lord Jesus
(Author Unknown but it may have been my customer/friend who wrote it...)
Help us to make you known in our lives, Lord Jesus. When people see us and know us let them see You in us.
Help us to understand who You are. Help us to know You personally and intimately in our individual lives.
Help us to walk daily with You. Help us to repent when we fall. Help us to give abundant thanks when you forgive and pick us up, again and again.
In the name of our Lord and Savior, You, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen and Amen.
Help Us, Lord Jesus
(Author Unknown but it may have been my customer/friend who wrote it...)
Help us to make you known in our lives, Lord Jesus. When people see us and know us let them see You in us.
Help us to understand who You are. Help us to know You personally and intimately in our individual lives.
Help us to walk daily with You. Help us to repent when we fall. Help us to give abundant thanks when you forgive and pick us up, again and again.
In the name of our Lord and Savior, You, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen and Amen.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Deep Thoughts with Julie
Life consists of a lot of commitments. People are committed to their jobs, their friends, their family. If married, they are hopefully committed to their spouse or if not married, maybe committed to a significant other. Others may even be obsessed with their commitment so much so that it overtakes their lives and ends up damaging other life commitments in the process.
The point is, our life is full of commitment. Its all around us and inevitable. The problem is that these days the most important things that take commitment are the ones people give up on so quickly.
I played the piano when I was younger. I hated practicing. I would've rather cleaned the bathroom, washed the dog (probably not in that order), or cleaned the entire house. Practicing was of no interest to me. Actually my first piano teacher even kicked me out of her class because of this fact. She said that I was waisting her time. Honestly, her statement pretty much devastated me. I felt totally dejected. But now that I have an adult perspective, she may have lacked tact and I definitely wouldn't send my own child to her, but she was right. I wasn't committed to playing the piano and was totally waisting her time.
Today in my office was a newly married couple. They came in to add wifey to hubster's account. As wifey started to fill out the paperwork, she kinda freaked out a bit saying, "I don't want to do this. I really don't want to do this." She repeated herself several times even mentioned the fact that she was freaking out and felt nauseous of the whole idea of her name being added to his account. In her eyes, a financial commitment was a bigger deal than a life commitment. As they walked out of my office and out the door without adding her name to hubster's account, I laughed. Actually, I cracked up and repeated the story several times to co-workers. I was shocked by her skewed outlook on marriage and finances. I don't know wifey's life story. I don't know what caused her to see financial issues in such peril. Maybe she had the same piano teacher who didn't like her lack of commitment. I don't know.
One thing I do know is that wifey got me thinking about commitment. What areas of our life do we put our whole heart into? What areas do we become lax in? And why is it that way? What caused us to find more importance in wealth, stuff, friends, and jobs and less importance in Christ and His call to a different kind of commitment. It's a daily struggle.
So today, I take up my cross, and I choose to follow Him. I choose for Christ to be my #1 commitment. I just pray that as tomorrow's struggles and commitments come to fruition, I can do it again...and again...and again.
The point is, our life is full of commitment. Its all around us and inevitable. The problem is that these days the most important things that take commitment are the ones people give up on so quickly.
I played the piano when I was younger. I hated practicing. I would've rather cleaned the bathroom, washed the dog (probably not in that order), or cleaned the entire house. Practicing was of no interest to me. Actually my first piano teacher even kicked me out of her class because of this fact. She said that I was waisting her time. Honestly, her statement pretty much devastated me. I felt totally dejected. But now that I have an adult perspective, she may have lacked tact and I definitely wouldn't send my own child to her, but she was right. I wasn't committed to playing the piano and was totally waisting her time.
Today in my office was a newly married couple. They came in to add wifey to hubster's account. As wifey started to fill out the paperwork, she kinda freaked out a bit saying, "I don't want to do this. I really don't want to do this." She repeated herself several times even mentioned the fact that she was freaking out and felt nauseous of the whole idea of her name being added to his account. In her eyes, a financial commitment was a bigger deal than a life commitment. As they walked out of my office and out the door without adding her name to hubster's account, I laughed. Actually, I cracked up and repeated the story several times to co-workers. I was shocked by her skewed outlook on marriage and finances. I don't know wifey's life story. I don't know what caused her to see financial issues in such peril. Maybe she had the same piano teacher who didn't like her lack of commitment. I don't know.
One thing I do know is that wifey got me thinking about commitment. What areas of our life do we put our whole heart into? What areas do we become lax in? And why is it that way? What caused us to find more importance in wealth, stuff, friends, and jobs and less importance in Christ and His call to a different kind of commitment. It's a daily struggle.
So today, I take up my cross, and I choose to follow Him. I choose for Christ to be my #1 commitment. I just pray that as tomorrow's struggles and commitments come to fruition, I can do it again...and again...and again.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
My List 1998
February 24 1998-March 31 1998 I made a list with my discipleship leader. This list was full of high expectations and lofty dreams. It was written by a girl, that at the time, wanted to feel completely independent and not have a relationship define her nor complete her.
My life was pretty easy in 1998.
Totally involved at the BSU and really learning a ton about myself and what kind of life I wanted to lead, I was a Sophomore at the University of Oklahoma (Go Sooners) studying business and living in the dorms for a second year with a great roomie. Although, at the time, life seemed kinda complicated, in reality, it sooo wasn't at all. At the time I was reading, "Lady In Waiting." This was the first time in my life that I truly understood what it meant to call Jesus my Bridegroom. For some reason, before reading this book, it was just a concept that was a bit weird for me.
From my journal on Jan 21, 1998
"When we fall in love, we give that person our heart. God wants no less! He deserves no less! The fullness of devotion comes from a walk with God in complete fellowship."
Some of that could be quoting the book - not sure - but I know some of it is my words too.
So back to my list. It's a list of qualities (along with verses to back it up) that I desired in a husband. Here it is...
1. Seeks God - is a Christian (Rom 8:5 & 9)
2. He loves his wife as he loves the church (Eph 5:1 & 25-28)
3. Spiritual leader (Eph 5:22-23)
4. Active in some type of ministry (Eph 4:1 & 2:10, Matt 28: 19-20)
5. Good Communicator (Prov 11:9, 20:5, 18:13, 21)
6. Respectful of myself & others (Heb 12:14-15, Eph 5:33)
7. Refuses to jump ahead of God's timing (Psalm 37:3-7)
8. Maintains proper relationships (Heb 12:14)
With family (Ex 20.12)
With other men (II Tim 2:2)
With other woman (Matt 5:28)
9. Has integrity and does not compromise (I Tim 5:21-22, 6:11, Titus 2:6-8)
Integrity characteristics - honest, trustworthy, obedient (to God), pure...
10. Self-controlled (I Thes 4:3-7, Gal 5:2-26, Titus 2:6-8)
11. Provider (Eph 5:28-30)
12. Sensitive spirit - to me and to others (Eph 4:29, II Cor 1:24, Gal 6:9-10)
Speaks my love language
Seeks to understand what makes me tick
13. Understands the importance of feelings and emotions (Col 3:12)
14. Humble enough to be a disciple (teachable) & able to disciple others (II Tim 2:2)
15. Family Man - raises children properly for God's glory (Prov 22:6)
And if this list wasn't long enough, I also had "Bonus items" that weren't really Biblical qualities - just things that I would like in a husband.
*Romantic
*Good sense of humor
*Musically inclined
*Stable family background
*Can be spontaneous (which I have such a hard time with!)
*Can talk with me easily but can also just be still and silent
*Respects my tender/sensitive sides
*Sense of direction
*Gives good back rubs
So, like I said before. This list was from a gal with just crazy high expectations that really seem unreasonable to want ALL of them. However, I knew when writing it that it wasn't something my future husband would be 100% in all areas. I just wanted to see growth or desire in them at least.
Michael and I started dating on April 30, 2004. We were engaged Feb 2005 and married Oct 15, 2005. Sometime between April 2004 and Feb 2005, I found "My List," and read it to Michael. He was a bit intimidated by the whole thing, but with tears in my eyes I explained to him how awesome this was!! I wrote this list, not knowing him, not knowing where my life would take me. I was just listening to God as He put desires in my heart and helped me write them down on paper. Michael fits in all my "categories." He may not be 100% in all of them, but I do know he desires to grow where God leads him and that's what's important.
A crazy, lofty dreams gal who really hadn't lived much life made a list and in turn got to see the hand of God leading her through years and years of life and learning.
I love you honey.
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My life was pretty easy in 1998.
Totally involved at the BSU and really learning a ton about myself and what kind of life I wanted to lead, I was a Sophomore at the University of Oklahoma (Go Sooners) studying business and living in the dorms for a second year with a great roomie. Although, at the time, life seemed kinda complicated, in reality, it sooo wasn't at all. At the time I was reading, "Lady In Waiting." This was the first time in my life that I truly understood what it meant to call Jesus my Bridegroom. For some reason, before reading this book, it was just a concept that was a bit weird for me.
From my journal on Jan 21, 1998
"When we fall in love, we give that person our heart. God wants no less! He deserves no less! The fullness of devotion comes from a walk with God in complete fellowship."
Some of that could be quoting the book - not sure - but I know some of it is my words too.
So back to my list. It's a list of qualities (along with verses to back it up) that I desired in a husband. Here it is...
1. Seeks God - is a Christian (Rom 8:5 & 9)
2. He loves his wife as he loves the church (Eph 5:1 & 25-28)
3. Spiritual leader (Eph 5:22-23)
4. Active in some type of ministry (Eph 4:1 & 2:10, Matt 28: 19-20)
5. Good Communicator (Prov 11:9, 20:5, 18:13, 21)
6. Respectful of myself & others (Heb 12:14-15, Eph 5:33)
7. Refuses to jump ahead of God's timing (Psalm 37:3-7)
8. Maintains proper relationships (Heb 12:14)
With family (Ex 20.12)
With other men (II Tim 2:2)
With other woman (Matt 5:28)
9. Has integrity and does not compromise (I Tim 5:21-22, 6:11, Titus 2:6-8)
Integrity characteristics - honest, trustworthy, obedient (to God), pure...
10. Self-controlled (I Thes 4:3-7, Gal 5:2-26, Titus 2:6-8)
11. Provider (Eph 5:28-30)
12. Sensitive spirit - to me and to others (Eph 4:29, II Cor 1:24, Gal 6:9-10)
Speaks my love language
Seeks to understand what makes me tick
13. Understands the importance of feelings and emotions (Col 3:12)
14. Humble enough to be a disciple (teachable) & able to disciple others (II Tim 2:2)
15. Family Man - raises children properly for God's glory (Prov 22:6)
And if this list wasn't long enough, I also had "Bonus items" that weren't really Biblical qualities - just things that I would like in a husband.
*Romantic
*Good sense of humor
*Musically inclined
*Stable family background
*Can be spontaneous (which I have such a hard time with!)
*Can talk with me easily but can also just be still and silent
*Respects my tender/sensitive sides
*Sense of direction
*Gives good back rubs
So, like I said before. This list was from a gal with just crazy high expectations that really seem unreasonable to want ALL of them. However, I knew when writing it that it wasn't something my future husband would be 100% in all areas. I just wanted to see growth or desire in them at least.
Michael and I started dating on April 30, 2004. We were engaged Feb 2005 and married Oct 15, 2005. Sometime between April 2004 and Feb 2005, I found "My List," and read it to Michael. He was a bit intimidated by the whole thing, but with tears in my eyes I explained to him how awesome this was!! I wrote this list, not knowing him, not knowing where my life would take me. I was just listening to God as He put desires in my heart and helped me write them down on paper. Michael fits in all my "categories." He may not be 100% in all of them, but I do know he desires to grow where God leads him and that's what's important.
A crazy, lofty dreams gal who really hadn't lived much life made a list and in turn got to see the hand of God leading her through years and years of life and learning.
I love you honey.
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