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I Choose Joy
Ever see that sign?
I often think, “Who wouldn’t want joy?”
We’ve all heard that saying,
“Happiness depends on happenings, but joy depends on Jesus.”
But what does that mean?
Do you have joy?
I resolved to “rejoice.”
I wish I could say I made it my resolution for the entire new year, but I just made it for one day.
I choose one day to rejoice.
You know the verse in Philippians 4:4 that says, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice”?
What can be so hard about that?
Know how long I lasted with my resolve?
I did get out of bed and rejoiced.
But it wasn’t too much later that something came up that made me not want to rejoice.
It was just a little thing, but enough to turn my thoughts from God.
It wasn’t even the people around me that caused me to forget to rejoice.
It was just my thoughts.
Joy starts in your mind.
As we looked for houses and land in OK, we considered building.
When nothing seemed available in our price range, we waited and readjusted what we’re looking for.
We're in escrow for a house in town with no yard.
Perhaps our dreams of land will come true later. Or not.
I have a son who adjusts to anything that comes to him.
He just brought his horse here in December after staying in California, mostly by himself with on-line classes, to finish his semester at school.
A rancher graciously allowed him to board his horse.
Not what we envisioned when we moved here.
We thought we’d be living on our own land already.
My sister asked if she was missing any possible options regarding care for my mom, whose dementia increases when she's at work.
As I discussed the options with my husband, my son silently listened.
Two days later, he had the only option we would never have considered.
He'd live there and help on my sister’s days’ off.
What about school? He had already applied here in OK for EMT course to start in January.
He would apply in Indiana for the class that started in July.
He made plans to move in Indiana by the end of January.
While he waits, he trains his horse every day.
He knows selling it may be the one option left.
Right now the rancher is willing to wait and see.
My son has chosen joy.
I, on the other hand, cried daily when I left him in California to finish his classes.
I couldn’t wait for him to live with us, even though I knew it would be a short time.
When he arrived, the other boys talked and laughed non-stop, in contrast to the one or two words they said the entire two months without him.
Now I cry again. For the anticipated loss is great.
I do know how nasty and hurtful my mom can be: like feeding my son to a lion.
How can I have joy with that?
If it weren’t for God’s peace in my son's countenance, I could not do it.
You see, he has chosen joy.
It’s not in his happenings.
They have changed every day for him.
He’s expressed willingness to exchange his cow dog with the rancher so she can have more space.
Our expectant house has no back yard.
She’ll be happier at the ranch, but she will no longer be his.
Of course, the rancher said only on the condition we take his rowdy stray puppy. (Jeremiah will be joyous! I will try to be.)
But see how my son chooses joy.
I’m a mess of soggy tissues and tears.
I won’t even tell you all the other frustrations from this move.
This is not how I envisioned our move. Or our house. Or my husband’s job. Or what my boys must do.
But this is the happenings.
Read Philippians 4:4 again. “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, rejoice.”
What do I do with the happenings that aren’t what I expected?
I give them to God.
And let Him work them out.
And I rejoice that He will.
It's not a fake joy, that says "All things will just work itself out."
It's a trust in Him Who can and will work things out well.
Joy does come from God.
Know that song,
“Come Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy praise.”
I want to make a sign for over my piano, “Tune my heart to sing Thy praise.”
My heart must be aligned with His to sing His praise.
How do I do that?
Spend time with Him.
Why do we think five or ten hurried minutes of reading and a quick prayer will be enough to delight God?
My entire day should be constant asking what He wants and praising Him.
My thoughts are tuned to Him.
Every thought must be taken captive to the will of God.
2 Corinthians 10:5.
Every thought...to the will of God.
Then the praise comes.
Know what comes with praise?
Rejoicing.
AND Joy.
You see, choosing joy isn’t a moment’s whim.
It’s a moment by moment decision to think about God and what pleases Him.
Choose Him.
Then the joy will come.
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I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
Sonya Contreras
Faith
Find more articles about faith here:
Dear Faithful and Loyal Readers
Life Falling Apart? Try Gratitude
A Few Words about Marriage
When Suffering Gets Personal
What an Amazing God We Serve
Response to Healthy Gaming
How Miserable Are You? Are You Happy?
The Need for Meaning Even in Pain
Reminders of What's Important
God's Unmeasurable Love
A Quarter of a Century Spent for Our Country
What Were You Thinking?
Who Are You Watching?
Boundaries for a Better Life
God's Boundaries
Memories of a Hero Mom
The Ripple Effect
How Do We Think Like Jesus
Litany of a Waiting Woman
Ever Cook a Frog?
New Year's Reminders
They Galled Her Gammy
When God Speaks
A Russian Christmas Story
Be Thankful
Be Grateful
Are You Tired of the Same, Old Thing?
(reprint)
Laughter—Why Laugh?
Mom
Are You Disturbed?
Unity of the Brothers
Encouragements To Declutter
Do You Have Too Much Stuff?
Too Much Stress
Getting Past the Noise—The Value of Silence
Are You Scatterbrained?
How Good Are You?
Looking for Something Good To Read?
A Cup of Cold Water
I Will Trust When I Cannot See
Encouragement—What Is It?
Being in God's Presence
"Einstein and the Professor"
When God Is Silent
Do You Crave Beauty?
Using Stories to Discipline
The Danger of the Wrong Story
Using Stories to Teach Lessons
God is in charge of the future
November Dare Joy Challenge
Ungratefulness
Developing an Attitude of Gratitude
Looking for Jesus
What Do Your Prayers Reflect?
Life's Little Pleasures
Daniel—Greatly Loved by God
Take Every Thought
Jars of Clay
What Do Your Words Reveal about Your Heart?
How Do You Get Strong Faith?
Too Busy for God's Word?
How Do You Think Like Jesus?
Reflections from a Mom
Pain—What's It Good For?
Why Marry?
Consider the Robin
One Life Who Made a Difference
What Day Are You Living In?
Interrupted by God
Is Jesus Really the Answer to Everything?
Are You Beat Up?
What's Your Hurry?
Are You a Manipulator?
Are You Salty?
Are You Condemned?
Trying to Understand?
Do You Expect Answers to Your Prayers?
Do You Eat Your Stress?
Need Focus?
Going through Trouble?
Immanuel—God with Us
Looking for a Relationship?
When God Says, "No!"
What Do You Do with Left-Overs?
How Great Is Your God?
Are You Needy?
How Do You See Sin?
What Do Your Words Mean?
Is Evil Overwhelming You?
Those Aha Moments
Is Your Soul Happy?
Are You Ignored?
Looking for the God Moment
Do You Know Truth from Almost Truth?
I Believe in Jesus—What Now?
Do You Have Your "Son"-Glasses On?
Less Is More
Singing His Praise
Are You Trying To Do It All?
What Do You Do with All These Prayer Requests?
Have a Problem?
Do You Know How to Pray?
Looking for God in Every Moment
Are You Receptive to God's Blessings?
Tell the Senate: Mothers Aren't Birthing People
Is Your Life Complicated?
How Do We Fight Evil?
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Giving Up or Taking Away
the Bible is simple
Are You a Dripping Faucet?
What's Your Testimony?
The Final Move
Be Careful What You Wish For!
Are Your Prayers Answered?
I Choose Joy
What Have You Learned from Your Hardship?
Who Are You Trying to Change?
What's Your Five-Year Plan?
The Danger of "Aloneness"
My Colors
Are You a Whiner?
Are Your Works Approved?
Do You Think You're Stressed?
Is Your Soul Feeling Ragged?
God Speaks to the Heart of the King
What about the Details?
Have You Felt the Long-Suffering of God?
How Does God Lead You?
Do You Have Enough?
Don't Carry More than You Need
Cast the Seed
God Is Faithful
Are You Deceived?
Are You Essential?
Are You Safe?
Are You Tired of the Same Old Thing?
Does the World Make Sense?
Have You Seen God's Majesty?
Do You Feel Judged?
If You Only Had One More Day To Live
Are You Understood?
Do You Long for the Word of God?
Slow Down and Smell the Dead Leaves
Are You Hospitable?
Our Heritage Is Bought by Blood
Are You Disturbed?
Are You Depressed?
I Did It My Way
Finding the Simple Life with Meaning
The Simple Life
Do You Have the Right Words?
Did Your Dream Die?
On the Other Side of the Fence
Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence
Confessions of a Desperate Mom
Saving for Tomorrow
A Wedding Remembered
Who Will Stand in the Gap?
Are You a Protector or a Ruler?
Who Are You?
Are You an Image Bearer or a Wad of Cells?
Are You a Watchman?
Where Do You Find Meaning?
The Lamb of God as Told by a Scribe
What Love Is This?
Remember: The Symbols of Passover Explained
Tea and Rest
Do You Have Peace?
What Makes a Marriage Work?
When Life Is Awful
Are You Strong Enough?
Rules
Seasons
Be Faithful through Suffering
Do You Know the Word?
Wake Up! Strengthen What Remains
Are You Spit in God's Mouth?
Is Jezebel in Your Midst?
Do You Stand Against Satan Himself?
Are You Tired of Being a Mom?
What in the World Is Happening?
It's Not My Story
How Would Your Faith Compare?
Are You Sinking?
Are You a Rule Follower?
Useful for Him
An Intimate Moment with Mary
The Worldview that Makes the
Underclass
Thoughts to Ponder
What Does It Take To Know the
Heart of God?
See the Story in the Stars
Do the Scriptures Burn You?
Being in His Presence
Contentment: It's Not for the Timid
How Secure Are You?
How Do You Respond To Stupid People?
The Earthworm Is My Hero
Heart Issues or Issues of the Heart
Things Aren't Always What They Seem
More faith articles are found here:
under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Or here:
under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Articles on Suffering can be found here,
under Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Special Days
Remember: The Symbols of
Passover Explained
Aug 12, 2017 The Heavens Declare the Glory of God
July 4th, Freedom
What Is an American Soldier?
Valentine's Day: A Day of Love?
Memorial Day-A Day To Remember
Veterans' Day-To Honor Our Men
Fall Colors
First Thanksgiving Day
Proclamation
Christmas: Stories behind the Songs
Christmas: Stories behind the Songs, part 2
Motherhood
Find other articles about motherhood
here:
What's a Mom?
Memories of a Hero Mom
They Called Her Gammy
Are You Tired of the Same, Old Thing?
Who's Responsible for the Children
The Battle for Our Children
Dear Master of Hands
Close to Home
Reflections from a Mom
Just the Mother-In-Law
A Mom Who Knew Her Job
Letting Go of my Fourth Son
Making a House a Home
How Do I Pray?
Picking up Acorns
Changed by God
Last Times
Are You a Failure?
What To Do Now?
Are You Tired of the Same Old Thing?
What's in a Book, Anyway?
Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence
Confessions of a Desperate Mom
You Are Not Alone
A Wedding Remembered
Sunday Morning Excuses—Is It Worth It?
Stages of Parental Control
Homeschooling Myths Debunked
Seasons
Do You Know the Word?
Wake Up! Strengthen What Remains
Is Jezebel in Your Midst?
Are You Tired of Being a Mom?
A Day in a Mom's Life
What Talents Are You Wasting as a Mom?
What Have I Learned as a Mom?
What's in It for Me?
Adoption—The Heart of God
The Making of a Man part 4
The Making of a Man part 3
The Making of a Man part 2
The Making of a Man
Are Your Children Safe from Bullying?
Are Your Children Safe from Child-napping and Sexual Abuse?
Are Your Children Safe?
The Value of Remembering
Marjorie Rutherford: A Testimony to God's Faithfulness
Marjorie Conrad: A Testimony to God's Trustworthiness
Starting School Again
Dependence or Independence?
Breast Milk Made Especially for Your Child
What Is Essential for Babies?
My Space, My Time, My Needs
What's a Mom?
A Mother's Influence
A Mother of Boys
Prepare for the Lord: Thoughts for Moms from Exodus 19
Author of Biblical fiction, married to my best friend, and challenged by eight sons’ growing pains as I write about what matters.
Thanks Sonya for sharing honestly about what you are going through. It encourages me to know I'm not alone in working on the minute by minute rejoicing. Praying for you as you adjust to the changes and the ongoing heart-break of letting go of your kids, and your hopes and dreams. xoxoxo