Him Whom I have not seen, I love » Joy

The Joy Song

~Bryant — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:20:25 +0000

I saw raindrops on my window,

Joy is like the rain.

Laughter runs across my pain,

Slips away and comes again.

Joy is like the rain.

:::::

I saw clouds upon a mountain,

Joy is like a cloud.

Sometimes silver, sometimes grey;

Always sun not far away.

Joy is like a cloud.

:::::

I baby-sat for a family this afternoon, and this simple song is often requested for me to sing by their little girls. I can still hear their voices ringing in my ears,

“Miss Bryant, Miss Bryant, sing the joy song, please, the joy song!”

The real title is Joy is Like the Rain, but they prefer to call it simply “the joy song.” :)

A year ago, I was taking a course to prepare me to be a counselor at a camp that I’ve gone to for many years, and for this course, we studied Philippians. This book talks a lot about joy, and so one of the questions that the instructor once asked me was,

“What is the difference between joy and happiness?”

My answer was that anyone can have temporary joy or happiness about that happened to them, or something they like. But when that feeling “runs out”, they have nothing to do but wait untill the next thing that gives them that good feeling. But for the Christian, although we also will feel happiness about something from time to time, when the feeling runs out, we must have this inner joy to rely one. This joy comes from belonging to Christ. And this joy is a choice; it doesn’t depend on surroundings or circumstances. We choose to focus on, believe in, and look forward to that promise of eternity which we will spend worshipping our Lord and Savior face to face. No matter what happens (or doesn’t happen) here, in this life, nothing and no one can take that promise away from us.

:::::

I saw Christ in wind and thunder,

Joy is tried by storm.

Christ asleep within my boat,

Whipped by wind, yet still afloat.

Joy is tried by storm.

:::::

Posted in HeartThoughts, Joy

A White Christmas

~Bryant — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:43:50 +0000

I can’t remember the last white Christmas we’ve had!

Posted in Holidays, Joy, Little things, Photos

It’s the little things

~Bryant — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:42:56 +0000

“He who prizes little things is worthy of great ones.”

author unknown

Little things.

All around us. Everywhere. Everyday. But do I notice the beauty in them? Or am I so busy that I don’t even realize they are there? It is the little, everyday things that make up life: a friendship, a smile, a hug, a flower, a sunset, a good laugh, a song. Yet how often I miss the blessing of them because I’m too busy to stop and thank God for them?

God’s Word :: the fresh taste of Orbit spearmint gum :: sunshine :: green apple Jolly Ranchers :: wildflowers :: the joy of talking with good friends :: second chances :: opening my window for the first time in months and inhaling the cool, fresh air :: a smile :: the smell of freshly baked whole wheat bread :: new life :: the feel of my toes in freshly hoed dirt :: the changing seasons :: the feel of the cool breeze on my cheeks :: music :: the joy of serving :: the excitement of an almost-finished skirt :: beautiful sunsets ::

There are so many little things, little blessings God bestows on us.

Let us not be guilty of not appreciating them!

Notice the little joys of life, savor them, and thank Him for them.

What are some “little things” that you are thankful for today?

Leave a footnote and tell me!

I’d love to hear them!

Fullness of Joy

~Bryant — Fri, 18 May 2007 20:32:00 +0000

You were made to feast on Christ. To be satisfied with Him. To treasure His infinite value.

To enjoy making much of Him all your days.

Here is your fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore.

Not in being made much of, but in making much of Him.

-John Piper

In Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

-Psalm 16:11

Purpose

~Bryant — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:36:00 +0000

The highest pleasure in life is found

in sincere service to God.

I’m Daddy’s girl!

~Bryant — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 04:43:00 +0000

“…I think it makes my heavenly daddy the happiest when I am close. When
I come running to meet Him. When I clamber over Him in childish glee. When I
jabber all kinds of nonsense in His ear, or when I just sit and listen to His
gentle voice speaking peace to my soul.

To be blissfully happy and contented to view the world from His perspective…To be so preoccupied with Him that everything else is just second thought. Why can’t I always be that way?

Sometimes I think we are afraid to love God so freely, so deeply, so
lavishly, so obviously. That to look at Him and smile because you see Him
smiling back somehow cheapens His glory or His holiness with irreverence.

No, we were not meant to stand afar from God. Being closer only makes
the awe grow greater.

If I could just love Him a little more…

Freely, deeply, lavishly. Obviously.

I’ll try. Because He needs to know…the world needs to know…I’m Daddy’s girl.”

Excerpted from Hannah’s blog. Please go and read the whole post. It is awesome!