Choosing Joy

One of my goals for 2016 was to choose joy.  I want my kids growing up in a happy home.  I want laughter, and fond memories, and fun.  And I want to have joy.  It takes conscious effort though and so I actually did write that on my list of goals for the year.  There's always something to complain about, but there's also always something to be thankful for.  If you want to be crabby and bitter with unhappy kids then keep on complaining and that probably comes easy.  If you want to choose joy though, then choooose joy.  It's a choice!  Be intentional with your words and your actions.

I love music.  I had ten years of piano lessons, five years of band, and six years of choir.  One of the reasons I married my husband was because he loves music.  And one of my very favorite things to do is sing with my kids.  We home school and so you'd think we'd be at home all the time. We spend a surprising amount of time in the car though and because of that they know a tremendous amount of music.  Car bickering is common among kids but it's hard to bicker if everyone's singing.  As mom's the tone of the home falls to us.  I think the easiest way to instantly change the tone of your home (car) is to turn on music.  Proverbs 23:7 says For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.  What we are listening to is important because these are the words floating around in our head.  If I'm going to be intentional about choosing joy then I need to guard what goes into my head.  

My Bible time needs to be an important part of my day too because it's easier to choose joy if your thought life is aligning with His. Sometimes it's so hard to get anything out of what we read in the Bible.  It doesn't make sense, doesn't always apply to us etc.  (Um, good for you Zipporah, but what does that have to do with me??)  Keep at it though friend.  Isaiah 55:11  says so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.  Isn't that an amazing promise?  His Word will not return void!  Even if we don't feel it, don't understand it, don't like what it says, it's making a difference in our life.  Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  Amen!!

The last couple years I've made a commitment to read through the Bible.  Like Genesis to Revelation - read the entire thing.  That's not an impressive feat but it was new to me.  I've always been a skip around reader.  And it's way easier to read Bible-y books or topical Christian living fluff.  Those books are ok on their own but they shouldn't be taking the place of God's word.  So now I'm doing all of it!  In my morning Bible time I start with the Bible (The One Year Bible is wonderful).  If I didn't glean anything that spoke to my heart I move on to Morning and Evening with Charles Spurgeon.  If that day didn't apply to me, then to a Bible study book or my Cubbies Teacher Manuel.  But I keep on reading until I feel God speak to me.  That does take a time commitment but God is so faithful and always gives me something within the time frame I've got that morning.  

An important part of choosing joy is this time with God.  I can't do it on my own and God certainly didn't intend for me to.