Ann here!

Some moments in SUM life give me a giggle.

I've recently started going to a new church. This church is very ... jolly, to use a good British word. The music is loud and upbeat, there are flashing lights and colors, and the room is jam-packed with people.

I like it. It's like going to a party for God. The Kingdom of God is joyful, so I embrace this flavor. Here's a photo.

That's me in the white dress in the bottom left corner of the photo. And, in front of me are two women from my life group - strong women of faith -- praising their hearts out.

Bryce finds it funny I go to this lively church; and as I was leaving the house for church two Sundays ago, he said in a dry voice:

Don't get too bouncy now, will you?

He kissed me on my head and off I went.

When I got there, I sat near the front. I looked towards the stage, and there the singer who was directly in front of me was literally bouncing up and down on the spot, to the point she was going airborne with her microphone in hand. I thought of Bryce then and cracked a smile.

Well, I cannot picture many husbands bouncing like that, but I will say that we can find ourselves surprised by joy. One SUMite told me that her hubby went to church with her once, the music got a little jolly, and suddenly there he was clapping his hands. She nearly fell over when she saw that.

Back to us. Like this lady, I will get my bounce on to the Lord. I don't mean literally, but I will gladly ask God to let his joy wash over me and flush through me. It is that joy that helps us survive seasons of grief, like the one I talked about in my last post.

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. 

Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. 

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations (Psalm 100, NKJV).

The sermon in that church this past week was about joy. It was an excellent sermon. If any of you are struggling to find the joy of the Lord in a current circumstance, you might like to watch it below. I came away from this sermon hugely helped, especially when the pastor said this:

'Is your life being lived as a complaint or a compliment to the Lord?'

Indeed. That led me to ask myself what I focus on when I'm speaking about my life and the things going on in it. Do I praise and speak joy? Or do I complain and rehearse my problems?

My friends, I intend to choose JOY in this current season. 

Have you chosen joy in a circumstance? Let's chat more.

Love,

Ann