Embracing Joy

 God has a way of speaking to me in the early hours of the morning before my brain is fully conscious and the details of my day distract me from hearing His voice. As we launch into 2024, this is the message He clearly impressed upon my heart: embrace joy.

 This year ushers me into a new decade - this month I will celebrate my 50th birthday…and I’m actually excited about it (much to my own surprise!) I am embracing the life I’ve lived and all I’ve learned and experienced that’s brought me to such a time as this - the time to embrace joy in new and purposeful ways.

 *embrace the joy of who I am in Christ: beautiful & beloved, called & commissioned, forgiven & free, gifted & growing, saved & seated, treasured & transformed

*embrace Joy by intentionally investing in myself: physical health and wellness, spiritual depth and intimacy, academic opportunities and professional pursuits – so that I can offer my very best in all things

 *embrace the joy of living boldly: refusing to believe the lie that I’m not enough and refusing to hold back for fear of being too much

*embrace the joy of studying God’s Word and writing another Bible study

*embrace the joy of personal hobbies: learning to play the ukulele and scrapbooking

 *embrace the joy of this season of marriage

*embrace the joy of watching my daughter mother her own daughter

*embrace the joy of seeing my boys graduate college (and the joy of no more tuition payments!)

*embrace the joy of being an involved Mimi

*embrace the joy of Christian community and solid godly friendships

 *embrace joy instead of being quick to complain, gossip, or exude bitterness

*embrace joy when difficulties come (because they certainly will)

*embrace the joy of Jesus and shining His light, so that in me others will see Him

 There’s something powerful about making an intentional decision to show up for your own life and truly live on purpose.  I was given my name for a reason, and I want to live up to it. Even in a difficult world, because of Jesus, there is so much joy to embrace. It’s all around us, if only we have eyes to see.

 So why do I share all this? To encourage you to listen for the still small voice of the Father speaking into your life. To encourage you to seek what He has for you this year. To inspire you to be intentional about how you live your life. To help you see that living on purpose involves embracing the joy already surrounding you. What legacy are you living and leaving?

 I also share this because I want you to hold me accountable to the things I’ve described here. I know that I will stumble and struggle at times. But I don’t want these to be resolutions quickly forgotten, a lifestyle that demonstrates the abundance of eternal life on this side of heaven. And if so you choose, feel free to join me this year in intentionally embracing the joy of this beautiful life.