I’m writing today as a contributor to the Christian Writers Blog Chain. Our theme for this month is “Joy” Christianwriters.com is an excellent place to network if you’re a Christian writer or author.

Primo (just sayin')

Joy…

uncontrollable…

unannounced…

attributable only to purity…

a sign of inner peace.

It feels good.

My example?

I’ve woken up from a dream laughing… it’s happened more than once and again recently… a twitchy movement ended with me stirring awake… and to my amazement, giggles followed…

The recent culprit: An awesome surfer dream. Not quite like Spicoli’s awesome surfer dream. Spicoli’s would be ok, mine was excellent! I was riding a mondo big wave, a perfect curl that seemed to never close out… it was just me and the wave… Banzai… Westfalia… Cowabunga… I’m just saying Dude, it was pretty outrageous. (I haven’t actually surfed in quite a few years). It cracked me up.

Laughter is a good thing… right along with happiness.

Andy Andrews, one of my favorite authors, says happiness is a choice, as much an attitude as an emotion: “I will greet each day with laughter.” – AA

Andy says we should strive to laugh within 7 seconds of awakening. I wish I could do this every single day. Then again… someone might just show up looking to escort me to the funny farm!

I like (and liked) my awesome surfer dream. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It makes me happy, much like buying a new pair of shoes, planning for and taking a trip, working on the next cool project…

well, you get the picture…

Being happy is a good thing, I’m all for it! If you’re not really all that happy most of the time I have a great read for you, check out Andy Andrews’ The Travelers Gift. It’s excellent. Don’t just be… be happy!

Hey, wait a sec… what about joy? Isn’t it kinda the same thing?

… and on to joy…

I looked up the common definitions of joy…

Here’s what Merriam-Webster says:

Joy is “the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.”

Maybe that’s what joy is here in our world today, but I’m not really sure that’s what Biblical joy is all about…

What’s the Bible say? Joy would be a Fruit of the Spirit, right? So it comes from the Holy Spirit… joy is simply a blessing… I’m thinking you can’t really have joy apart from the Holy Spirit, therefore, finding Him would be the starting point to identifying joy.

Joy’s really like peace and love in that regard… if you want to really experience these blessings, focus on getting to know the Holy Spirit… joy is so much more than that wonderful emotion that we call happiness…

The Beatitudes, found in Matthew Chapter 5, ring with the chime of joy… from the Amplified Bible…

Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! – Matthew 5:3

and from Matthew 5:5…

Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!

and, Matthew 5:9…

Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!

“Whenever happiness is overrun by joy, love is usually the culprit… just give Jesus all the credit.” – CV

I am (again) relating joy… inner peace… and love… back to what I yearn to fill my soul…

I think I’ve got it now…

Joy… blessed… being spiritually prosperous… joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation…

enjoy…

and live a happy life…

cowabunga… dude!

Christian Writers Blog Chain