Capturing Joy.....

I was reading a devotion by Mark Nepo this morning and found a phrase that really caught my heart:
"Our capacity for joy is carried like a pod of nectar in our very own breast."
Think of that!  Our capacity for JOY!!!  We carry it around in our own body, in our own breast, in our own heart......now, if only we will let it loose!!! 

Last week I had the pleasure of speaking with young moms at Advice and Aid (whom I worked for for the past year and 1/2) and we talked about how "Joy is Always Possible!" 
Joy IS always possible!!  Is it always easy to find joy?  Absolutely not.  However, as Barbara Johnson said very well:  "Pain is Inevitable, but Misery is Optional!!!"

We have the capacity to choose our thoughts, so why not choose joy???
I know life can be extremely taxing....stressful....demanding.....and unrelenting at times, but we still have a choice.

So what is capacity?  It is the ability to receive, to hold and/or absorb.  What if we were open to receiving joy?  Receive joy.  Hmmmm.....

What if we hold onto it?  Hold on to joy.  Hold on tight.

What if we absorb joy???  Wouldn't that be the best sponge we could have???

Seek and absorb joy - what a concept!!!  When we focus on finding joy, what will happen? 
Could it be that the cloud of COVID-19 would lift in our own corner of the world?  You bet - even if it is only for a moment.  It's worth seeking!!!

Seek joy!  Sing joy!  Allow Joy to be part of who your are today - just for the next 24 hours:
SEEK JOY!!!

I know of a place where we can seek joy every day:

Psalm 16:11:  "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of JOY; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."  FOREVERMORE???  Yep!  If we seek Him, we will have joy forever.........times infinity for those who believe in Him!!!  Think of that!  Wouldn't that be worth seeking? 

Psalm 30:5: "Weeping may endure for a night, but JOY comes in the morning!"  Don't things always look better in the morning?  Why is that?  Perhaps it is because we laid down the angst for a few hours and did not let it consume us.  Perhaps we curled up into the lap of our loving Savior and let Him know how anxious we are....Perhaps we choose joy!!!

Luke 15:7:  "I say to you that likewise there will be more JOY in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."

Imagine being that one that God is pursuing....the one God is chasing after!  Despite all your fears, all your worries, all your flaws......God is pursuing you to give you JOY!!!

If you have never listened to the song called the Reckless Love of God by Cory Asbury - it is amazing..........I hope you will take a few minutes to listen and watch this amazing artist!!!

https://youtu.be/6xx0d3R2LoU

Remember:  Joy is ALWAYS possible!!!  Choose JOY!!!