Sara is going home soon and continues to spill joy as she makes her final journey. “This week,” writes Lisa Jo, “is for Sara – taking the prompt from her life’s commitment – to choose joy, no matter the circumstances.”
So the prompt is JOY.
No editing, over thinking, or backtracking.
GO!
My feet ache with cold, and I should get up and put on some socks.
Maybe set the thermostat higher.
But I don’t.
Instead, I toss and turn between white cotton and light quilt.
But in the morning when I rise, I crank it up a bit.
Because the morning is gray. There is no sun, and the air breathes fall.
And though the wind blows chill, now I’m centered in warmth.
Like life.
We can choose to toss and turn, to shiver or sweat when the outside temperature fluctuates.
But if we set our thermostats on joy, what blows around us doesn’t really matter.
Because there’s a furnace glowing inside that radiates warmth.
Or an air conditioner that cools the heat of adversity.
Winter freezer or summer oven.
Happy or sad.
It doesn’t matter.
No matter what life’s weather or what our feelings tell us, the facts keep us at a steady temperature.
And we can rest and relax because we’re centered on joy.
Because we center on Him, we live in hope.
The source of joy.
STOP!
David said it all:
I saw God before me for all time.
Nothing can shake me; he’s right by my side.
I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic;
I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope.
I know you’ll never dump me in Hades;
I’ll never even smell the stench of death.
You’ve got my feet on the life-path,
with your face shining sun-joy all around.
~Acts 2:25-28 (Message)
Great post, Sandy! Love this! I just threw my back out getting out of bed this morning and I’ve got way too much to do to be in bed all day. BUT, I’m setting my thermostat on joy and using this time to write and pray.
Thanks for the encouragement!
Love to you!
Steph,
Phil 3:7-14
Loving you back, Stephanie, and praying for your poor back. And those verses–thanks for posting their address. I’ve claiming 12-14 for life.
I like that scripture from Acts … “face shining sun-joy all around.” Oh, yes.
I love the way Peterson weaves words.
I love how your anemones have their smiling faces to the sun. Centering on God provides such a joyous glow for us.
I love how you teach me the flower names. 🙂
LOL! It wasn’t intentional. I happen to have some of them beginning to bloom here, too — Whirlwind Anemone. They come in white or pink. That’s all I know!