Give Thanks!

It's Thanksgiving!!!!!

As much as I like this holiday, I am already ready for Christmas. You can tell too, I started filling the empty space under the tree already.

So I was walking through Target yesterday, and I look over as I was cutting across the store, what did I see?

How awesome?! I just blogged about this the other day. What do you know? A sign stating the definition of JOY. However, I am almost positive they left out the "Joy of the Lord" part. Isn't it amazing how the Lord works? Just reminding me once again to LIVE in His JOY. Mind-Blowing.

Anyway. Have you thought about what you are thankful for? I have. My list is endless, and I would bet to say that I have left quite a few things out, by mistake of course. There just seems to be so much to be thankful for. Have you ever heard that song? It's a good one, look it up.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I've got Joy.....I think?

Hey guys! Hope all is well wherever your neck of the woods may be. As I was talking to a really good friend, from whom I seek a lot of advice, I discovered what I was gonna talk about.

Joy. Better yet, joy versus happiness. Think about it. Are they the same thing? I didn't think so while I was sitting and pondering the subject. I find myself thinking about a lot here lately. More so than usual. Let's be honest, probably not a good thing. Anyway. So this is what I came up with.

First let's refer to Webster and see what he has to say.

Joy: feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

Happiness: the state of being happy.

See these two things are synonyms but not the same. Happiness seems to be a temporary thing, but joy seems to be more long term. When you are joyous-you feel. When you are happy you're in a state of mind. 

Now, let's leave good ol' Webster alone for a moment. James 1:12 talks about how those who endure temptations will eventually receive a crown of life that The Lord has promised. Ecclesiastes 12:14 Fear The Lord and keep his commandments. 

Now, I'm about to paraphrase a whole lot. But if you feel the desire to follow me, and maybe see how I got this feel free. 2 Timothy 2:3-13. This is what I gathered from that passage:

Be a solider. A solider in the army if God requires more than we can handle sometimes. The struggle becomes endless, our happiness becomes a faded memory. 

Happiness is freedom in ourselves. Joy is freedom in The Lord. 

Freedom. Yes freedom. The root of it all. Jesus gave us freedom, so we can be happy. But more importantly He gave us freedom so we can live in Joy. A continuous, eternal feeling-not a state of mind. 

Flesh lets us stay in a state of mind. Our soul lets us feel. 

Other verses: Hebrews 11:6, Psalms 56:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:16

"Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crownexcept by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him, if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful  for he cannot disown himself."-2 Timothy 2:3-13

Stuck at a CROSSroads

Hello everyone! I realize that it has been over a month since my last post. I deeply apologize. Although I have a lot of spare time-since I'm not in school-I rarely find time to post about my life. I created this blog as an outlet, so to speak. A way for me to share my thoughts and insight with the world via the intranet.

Here lately I have spent time thinking about what I am thankful for. I am taking part of the "thankful November" that always seems to take up my news feed this time of year on Facebook. This year, I decided to jump on the bandwagon. So far I have made it to day 13. Although I have missed some days, and post multiple status' it's nice to reflect on the blessings that the Lord has given me. Just to name a few, I am thankful for my salvation, my mom, my grandparents, my brother and his wife, my best friend, my home, etc. The list goes on and on, and the past few nights I have found myself laying in bed thinking about what my next thankful status would contain. Although I haven't posted a status today, I have recently really been dwelling on the idea of the cross.

We all know the story, well most of us. That God sent His only son, to die for our sins. He was born, swaddled in a manger, and grew up, showed the world all His miracles, died on a cross, rose again, and ascended. That's the short version. As you can tell I did paraphrase a bit. Let me break it down for you real quick. My favorite time of year is approaching, very quickly I might add. As all the leaves fill my yard I can hardly contain my excitement. I LOVE Christmas time. It's my absolute favorite. I love every part about it. The lights, the trees, the shopping, the music, the nativity scenes, everything. So with that comes a lot of thinking. Why do I love it so much? Here's what I came up with.
Christmas tells about the GREATEST love story ever. How God loved us so much he sent His ONLY son to die in my place.

See the manger scene is only the beginning of such a story. The wooden manger leads to the Old Rugged Cross. That's what makes it even better. The thought of the cross.

The Cross is a symbol. To me it shows the pain and the suffering that Jesus took for ME. It also shows me a sign of hope, a place for refuge. When it comes to the cross, we have two choices what we do. What we do depends on the situation we're facing, the road we travel, sometimes what decisions we have to make-the tough ones, when were stuck at a crossroads in life. We can either hide behind the cross, and allow the Lord to protect us, guide us, lead us, put us in His will. Or we can stand in front of it, defend it, fight for it, maybe even be crucified for what we believe, what we want, what we do. The cross justifies, and it defines. The beauty of it all is that it started in a manger.

"Lord, take me-something small-like the manger, and make me something great-like the cross. Hide me when needed, and grant me wisdom to know when to stand in front of the cross. I am willing to protect the cross as it protects me. Define me within the cross, as You continue to define me."