The Secret to Joy - Encouragement Café - October 8, 2014
The Secret to Joy
Café Menu for Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Today’s Special is: How the Joy of the LORD Can be Your Strength.
Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Alyssa Woollard
Main Ingredient:
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.
Psalm 19:7-9 NIV
Entrée:
The joy of the LORD was her strength. And anyone who knew her knew it. She greeted everyone at that old farmhouse door with wide sparkling eyes and even wider arms. With a squeal and a hug each one got their own special greeting. Mine?
There’s my Sunshine.
An expert at making lemonade from lemons, something out of nothing, and repurposing cast off items to create quilts, handmade dolls and pin cushions, she knew how to stretch a dime-she lit up a room, gave and loved deeply. My grandma played cards like nobody’s business-but don't dare cheat or the game was over before you even knew what happened because she didn’t play with cheaters.
The joy of the LORD was her strength. She not only survived extremely difficult circumstances, somehow she learned to thrive in spite of them. And finally, after all these years, I think I know her secret, and I am in hot pursuit to continue her legacy.
Bend in close sweet friend because it can be your legacy too….
Her secret? She TRUSTED GOD. No matter what. Even when everything on this earth had been lost, through miscarriages, financial hardship and betrayal, still that woman would rise above it all. Beauty for ashes.
SHE TRUSTED GOD. I can’t say it enough. She loved His Word, His church. She loved everyone. She laughed and played too. Her favorite kind of party was a costume party. She witnessed to anyone who might be lost to the very last days of her radiant life.
When she died we all circled round her bed and sang her favorite song, “In My Heart There Rings A Melody” as a single tear caressed her tired cheek.
Take Out:
Want joy no one can take away? Practice trusting Him. Give yourself over to completely trusting God, and then, just wait and see if the joy of the LORD doesn’t become your strength, too.
Anytime you feel doubt, whisper speak out loud against it with conviction,
(I will)Trust in the Lord with all (my) heart and lean not on (my) own understanding; in all (my) ways (I will) submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV (parenthesis mine)
wash. repeat.
Dessert:
Thank You, LORD God Almighty, for allowing the joy of the LORD to be our strength. LORD we ask in Jesus holy name that you would empower us to choose joy when life knocks us down. Give us the wisdom to get back up singing, “In My Heart There Rings A Melody.” Give us the grace to go out against our enemy in the face of insurmountable odds and give thanks to the LORD for he is good, his love endures forever. Make us infectiously joyful people. Help us to trust in you with all our hearts-no matter what. In Jesus Name, Amen.
For more encouragement, visit Alyssa Woollard at www.alyssawoollard.com
© 2014 by Alyssa Woollard. All rights reserved.
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