Joy

I know that I’ve been talking about my kids a lot lately on here, but what can I say?  I really enjoy them and my daily dealings with them give me some ideas for the blog, so here I am writing about them again.

This weekend I really got to experience joy.  I had all three kids in action at their sports.  I got to watch them all play well and do well for their teams.  Abby played soccer Saturday morning in the rain and mud, and although she didn’t score any goals, she braved the elements and ran all over the field, only days after having a cold that she was still trying to get over.  Sunday Andrew’s U9 B division soccer team finished up an undefeated season with him as the starting goalie for the team.  Andrew played very well all season and really has improved throughout the year.  After that game I was able to watch Noah and his 6^th grade football team win their first game of the season.  He couldn’t be stopped by the opposing team and really led the charge for the defense and played very well on offense as well.

Why do I mention this?  Is it just to brag on my children?  (Which I’m very happy to do btw!)  Because of that joy I was able to experience.  As I was looking back at the day that was, I started to reflect about what kind of joy we give God daily.  Does my working hard at my job give Him that kind of joy?  When I spend time with my kids does that give Him joy?  What about when I do well playing a sport, leading a Bible study, praying with others, spending time with my wife, etc.?  The answer – YES! 

How great it must be to experience as much joy as God does, eh?  I only got a glimmer of that joy this weekend, and He has billions of people He gets joy from!  Yet, when I experienced the joy that I did, I had a hint of what it’s like to be Him. 

What have you gotten joy from lately?

A Glimmer

I hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful weather we’re having. No, I didn’t write this last week when the weather was nice, but I’m writing this on the 21^st, during yet another snow storm. I mentioned last week for a reason though, as I wanted to point out what that was to everyone.

Last week was a glimmer of hope for everyone. God knew that winter had been rough on all of us and He gave us a few days to break up the storms to give us all some hope of what is to come again in the spring. He allowed us to get outside of the house a little and enjoy some decent weather. He got rid of all the snow piles that were on the roofs of our houses, along the side of the driveways, etc. He did all of that as a glimmer.

Have you had other glimmers in your life before? Have you ever coached a sports team and found that a player or two finally got what you’ve been trying to teach them? Are you a teacher, and finally at least one of the students understand the lesson you’ve been teaching? Is your family budget tight, and all of a sudden you had a little extra income to get those couple things you’ve been putting off, or gotten a bill paid you thought never would be paid, etc.?

In God we have hope in the darkness. These glimmers of what is to come help us get through the tough times. You can be physically in winter in Ohio, or in the winter of something else you are going through in your life, and God will give you the hope in for which you are searching. In Him you’ll be able to get through anything, and He’ll give you those glimmers from time to time to prove it to you.

I pray you enjoyed the glimmer last week and are staying safe through the rest of this winter we’re going through. Remember, He will get us all through the rest of the winter and give us spring soon.