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
How fun! I’ve never woke up laughing, maybe because I don’t remember my dreams. Yeah, I’m one of those people. My hubby remembers his – and he has some pretty funky dreams! – but I don’t. What happens in my dream world, stays in my dream world. 🙂
lol… I have some of those “what happens in the dream world…” ones too Pegg… lol… I did have this one wacky dream where Andy Andrews and Michael Hyatt were my roommates… it was super weird!!
This was a tremendously fun post, Chris. But with wonderful deep meaning, too. I have vivid dreams I remember for years; decades even. I’ve woken up laughing only a few times. Usually I spend my nights ‘saving the world.’
My dreaming self forgets that Jesus already did that!
Did that hole in the bottom of the ocean have anything to do with a dream Carol? Just sayin… (heehee)
That’s cool that you have dreams of trying to save the world, very cool !!
The only dreams that conveyed an emotion to me after I was awake were those dreams of something happening to my family. I’ve never had a funny dream as far as I could tell.
Thanks for sharing here Mike!
Thanks Chris – fun (leading to joyful) to think about. I’ve had a few dreams that I had to giggle about when I remembered the silliness in them.
Cool Bill… I think giggling is good for us, keeps us young. I giggle with my grandson all the time!
That would be a great dream to have! While I’ve never surfed it has always intrigued me and seemed like it would be a blast!
It was a lot of fun, great memories growing up at the beach for sure!
Nice use of the beatitudes! I especially like them in the amplified version. Now I’ll think of “spiritual prosperity” when I try to define joy. Good Job! 🙂 Joyful Dreams!
I think the Amplified Bible did it’s thing with this one, thanks for sharing here today Sandi !!
‘Joy… blessed… being spiritually prosperous… joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation…’
good post
biiiiig hug
Thank you JB!
Fun post. I don’t know about waking up lauhing, but I’ve been told I sometimes laugh in my sleep. Does that count??
Peace and Blessings
lol… maybe you’re the happiest guy of all E G 🙂
wow – what an awesome dream! I’ve had those just over the top dreams that sent my heart soaring! Dreams, I think are deep desires and our mind loves to make us happy – Just another love gift from God. But the gifts of the spirit, well that is another thing – those we can experience awake! Great post
Thank you Terre for your thoughtful comments, I appreciate it!
I’ve woke up like this. My husband says it’s a scary thing. 🙂
Fun post. I enjoyed it.
I’ll bet he’s curious what you were dreaming about Deborah, I could see it being scary for someone else to watch, they might even wonder if you’re having convulsions if you’re moving around a lot.
Just love how the amplified Bible adds so much more impact to the reading!
Thomas Nelson recently sent me a copy of The Voice Bible too, it’s been another great resource!
Fun post and good comments on the subject of joy. Now if you had said your dream featured SpongeBob, too, I would have began to wonder… 🙂
lol… too funny, thanks Mike!!
Interesting perspective on the fruits of the spirit. I’ve always thought of them as the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit, but hadn’t necessarily considered them as something that you cannot have without the Holy Spirit. That makes me appreciate joy all the more.
Yep, me too Adam!! I appreciate you for stopping by 🙂
Great post and a cool dream, Chris. I’ve never surfed, so I doubt it would induce laughter if I dreamed about it – more likely I’d wake up with a gasp and a racing pulse. Still, God knows what brings each of us joy, and occasionally He blesses us with dreams about it. 🙂
I’m filled with joy every time I see that you’ve stopped by here Traci, thank you 🙂