Keep it Simple

I read this in a devotional last week and it really encouraged me. I often miss this so I need to preach it to myself:

"A father is delighted when his little one, leaving off his toys and friends, runs to him and climbs into his arms. As he holds his little one close to him, he cares little whether the child is looking around, his attention flitting from one thing to another, or if he's intent upon his father, or just settling down to sleep. The father doesn't care, because essentially the child is choosing to be with his father, confident of the love, the care, the security that is his in those arms." - Basil Pennington

I love this. Lately I've been wrestling with how much I believe what I say I believe because my life often doesn't reflect that. I've been challenged by how much faith it takes to follow Jesus and I see how little faith I've had lately. I've been discouraged by how routine the Gospel sounds to me, and I've been overwhelmed by the long list of things I need to do better. That, and the even longer list of things I should start doing. When this happens I often look at Christianity as a checklist of dos and don'ts, and that's exactly what it isn't. I'm not bound to that, and there is so much more freedom in the arms of my Abba.

So far it sounds like I've had a rough couple weeks but it's been quite the opposite...it's been amazing! While I'd love to be intently listening and doing all of those things right, sometimes I'm just not in tune with the Spirit, but when I just show up I can trust that my Father will gently lead me in the right direction and I'll soon be back on track. God loves it when we, his children, simply come to him and seek his company. He is bigger than our trials, our doubts, our struggles...those things often distract us from the joy of being still in his presence. Slowing down, getting quiet, sitting on Daddy's lap and listening to what He wants to do in my life and being open to that has been a really cool experience, and it makes all of the other things seem less overwhelming because I know he's shaping my heart to do all those things better.

Fight for Joy

So the name of my blog is 'Fight for Joy.' If you know me, I think you'd agree that the title describes me fairly well. I only just recently realized that my life story thus far has been one complex, messy and beautiful quest for joy. Growing up I searched for happiness...things that I thought would make me happy: friends, popularity, success, material stuff, girls, sports - the list goes on. Those things did make me happy, but much to my surprise, I wasn't satisfied, so I pursued more happiness. Little did I know that I was being set up for a kick in the face...

...And what a glorious roundhouse it was! The summer before my senior year in high school, the Lord did an extreme soul makeover inside me, and in a period of a couple days I went from the 'pursuit of happiness' being my life and all that I am to God becoming infinitely worth it. I had been blindsided by the outrageous love of Jesus! Only then did I realize that I desired joy the whole time, and I had no idea what I got myself into. My world was turned upside down and I didn't even know it...that comes later on in the story...

Where does joy even come from? It certainly doesn't come from me, since I couldn't produce it growing up. (God loving me - his creation - and not the personas which I created comes into play here, but I'll save that for another time) That must mean it comes from the Lord...it's a gift (makes sense since it's a fruit of the Spirit). We are instructed to 'be joyful always...' how does that work? If we can't produce it how can we reflect it? That's where 'Fight for Joy' comes in. If you've experienced the Love of the Lord of the Dance (I can't take credit for that...those are Brennan Manning's words) you know exactly what I'm talking about. You've tasted that joy. Unfortunately we mess it up and we lose sight of the prize and our joy fades with it. What are we supposed to do? We fight! Is it worth fighting for? Satan thinks so - if that wasn't the case then I think joy would be easier. Lacking joy is losing sight of God's glory...FIGHT TO SEE! He wants to show us amazing things!

So, the name of my blog is 'Fight for Joy' because I desire to see. I fight because I want to see more. I fight because I think it's worth it. Entire books have been written on this topic, but this is a blog so I can only share a couple points before you get bored! I hope it encourages you to fight to see. Look into it! Thanks for reading!

Special thanks to Brennan Manning, Nate Larkin, and John Piper for helping me articulate my thoughts...

James 1:2-4, Habakkuk 1:5