It’s Joy Day!

Time to hit the ‘reset’ button for our week.  

Time for refreshment.

Today, I was reminded that God does make everything beautiful in its time.

I filled my window box today with little Impatiens from a flat of four packs from the garden center.   They look small and overwhelmed by their large container.  Yet…soon they will grow and they will overwhelm their container.

A phone call reminded me of a friend who has been struggling to find purpose.  Today she is beginning the first steps in a dance with her calling and passion.  Soon, God will do a good thing and she’ll be leaping and twirling and full of joy.

Have you noticed that most things that are beautiful don’t start out large?

The flower starts its life from a tiny seed.

A pianist practices for hours upon hours before performing with the symphony.

And sometimes we walk through times of intense darkness before we even begin to see a glimmer of light.

Maybe you are trudging through the darkness.  Looking for that glimmer of hope.  I want to reach my hand out to you, I want to encourage you to HOPE.

God REALLY DOES make all things beautiful in his time.

When you are in doubt, look around you.  Look at the dandelion, the flowering Dogwood tree, the Peony.

Have you heard the song, Beautiful Things by Lisa & Michael Gungor?  Please listen.

I love the words, “You make beautiful things out of dust.”  Sometimes we feel insignificant.  Unrooted.

Sometimes we look at nature and see God’s beautiful order.
But, then we look at governments, jobs, and relationships, and everything feels chaotic.

And the song goes on, “Out of chaos life is being found in You.”

That’s it.  That’s it!

Beauty. Order. Significance. Peace. Love. Hope.  Joy.

Each and every thing is found in Jesus!

JOY.  Our joy is found in Jesus!   Simple yet profound.

You may listen to “Beautiful Things” here, and read the lyrics below.  God is the You in the song.   Allow him to touch your heart as you listen.

“Beautiful Things”

Words and Music by Lisa Gungor and Michael Gungor

All this pain

I wonder if I’ll ever find my way

 I wonder if my life could really change at all

 All this earth

 Could all that is lost ever be found

 Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things

 You make beautiful things out of the dust

 You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of us

All around
 Hope is springing up from this old ground
 Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
 You make beautiful things out of the dust
 You make beautiful things
 You make beautiful things out of us

You make beautiful things
 You make beautiful things out of the dust
 You make beautiful things
 You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
 You make me new, You are making me new

You make beautiful things
 You make beautiful things out of the dust
 You make beautiful things
 You make beautiful things out of us

Did you read the lyrics?

Did you listen?

What touched you?

On Joy Day! we celebrate joys and the Joy-Giver.

I’ll start:  

It’s your turn now…

Share just ONE or one for EACH DAY this past week.

Wishing you a joy-filled week!

Diane

Take the Joy Dare at: One Thousand Gifts.   Or find ONE THING to be thankful for each day and write it down.  Then, come back next week and share your joys here.

Linking up with multitude on mondays.