I have a couple of book ideas floating around in my head and
one day I will actually put some more work into them. I have a basic outline
for one of them…but I couldn’t tell you where it is. I have the introduction
written for another. Again, I couldn’t tell you where it is. Probably somewhere
in my office at the church that is currently a storage room (by my own doing,
and I’m working on fixing it, don’t judge).
All that to say that while I am not good at making any
headway on these projects, I am very good at coming up with the titles of the
books that I’m going to write.
And I have another one.
It’s one of those phrases that I find myself saying and need
to get on a t-shirt. Here it is:
It’s now copywrited.
Copywritten.
Copyrighted?
Copywrote?
You can’t have it!
Many
people have this great idea for a life verse. “Life verse” is one of those
Christian phrases that I usually find intolerable. So for those of you who
might not know what a “life verse” is, allow me to direct you to this
definition:
It's a Bible verse that means something special to a believer.1
I usually define it as someone’s
favorite verse. Especially since it can change from time to time depending on
what circumstance your life is in. Due to that fact alone is why I don’t like
the term because the term “life verse” implies that it doesn’t change and that
it lasts for your, um, life. I also don’t like the term because it is one of
those things that Christians seem to insist that each of us have.
“What’s your life verse?”
“Oh, I don’t have one.”
**horrified gasp**
Anyway, if I had to pick one (which
I don’t), it would be Nehemiah 8:10. Well, actually only half of the verse2,
so Nehemiah 8:10b: Do not grieve for the JOY of the Lord is your strength.
When I first read this, it made me
pause. Strength? Hmm. Imma have to think about this one.
So, I did.
After some studying and reflecting
(and prayer and stuff), I truly realized that I had been equating “joy” with “happiness.”
They aren’t the same thing!!! God never told us to be happy. He told us to have
JOY. Happiness is an emotion that is based on happenings. Happiness and
happenings have the same root: Happen. Happiness is based upon what is
happening. I don’t want to be emotionally ruled by what is happening around me.
Especially not in this day and age.
No!!! I want something that persists
past that.
Enter: JOY3
Joy is not an emotion. It’s a fruit
of the Spirit. Here’s the thing: It is easy to find
happiness. It’s true! Don’t believe me?
Go take a bite of your favorite
food.
Or hug your mom.4
Or read your favorite book.
Or watch your favorite movie.
Or drink a Dr Pepper.5
You feel happiness when you do these
things. The hard part is making that happiness last. That’s why I want JOY
because happiness goes away once the circumstances change.
But if I got JOY, then no matter the
circumstance, I can weather through it.
But how do I get JOY? Ah, my
friends, that part is easy, too. Since it’s a fruit of the Spirit, as found in Galatians
5:226, one must simply seek after the Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit is not just something
you can pick and choose. You can’t simply say, “I’m really good with the self-control
part but I’m weak in the patient part.”
This one might hurt a little.
If you are lacking in any, you are
lacking in all.
You must build up your patience to
build up your faithfulness. You must build up your kindness to build up your
peace. You must build up your love to build up your joy.
When I say that joy is my favorite
fruit, I’m not saying that it is more important than any other nor am I saying
that it is the fruit that I am best at. Let’s see if I can give an example of
what I mean. My husband has a couple of dress shirts that I picked out for him.
When he wears the red one, he gets compliments from a couple of certain people.
I think he looks great in that red shirt. I mean, come on, I picked it out. But
I really like it when he wears the blue one. That’s my favorite. It’s makes his
hazel eyes look bluer and I think he just looks hot. I still love him in that
red shirt, but the blue is my favorite.
I love love and love peace. But JOY
is my favorite.
Maybe that’s why Chewbacca mom, Candace
Payne and I should be best friends.
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1 http://www.dictionaryofchristianese.com/life-verse/
2 Now, don’t get me wrong,
the first half of the verse is pretty awesome, too: “Go and eat what is rich,
drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared since
today is holy to our Lord.” However, I don’t really need to keep reminding
myself that I need to eat and drink.
3 Not the Inside Out character.
4 Or other favorite-type
person.
5 Man, I miss Dr Pepper!
6 Love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-controooOOOOOL
