JOY! :)

Check this out:

G.K. Chesterson said, "Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. they always say, 'Do it again'; and the grown-up person does it agin until he is nearly dead. For grown up people are not srtong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, 'Do it again' to the sun; and every evening, 'Do it again' to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy seperately, but has never got tired of making them..."

How awesome is that??!! To think of how majestic and beautiful nature is, and that God not only made it once and for all, but he makes it shine brighter everyday. So im in the first month of my "college career." (i hate that term. its not really a career. when i think of careers i think of money. and im certianly not making any money off this whole college gig. but anyway...) already i have started to get in a "slump." its a sort of get-up-go-to-class-go-to-work-do-homework-then-go-to-sleep slump. same thing everyday. then i read this passage in a book for my christian discipleship class. God is strong enough to exult in the MONOTONY. not because its boring... but because its beautiful. he is so full of joy that everything he does pleases him. Why can't i be that way?! do i exult in everything God does?

granted, sitting in my 8 o'clock class every morning is not like watching the sunrise every morning.... but there are things to be joyful in. for example, the fact that can be sitting in a Bible class at all... that alone is quite amazing and should be a great source of joy. two years ago, Bible college is the last place i thought i'd be... yet here i am.

God is strong enough to EXULT in the monotony. it doesn't say God is strong enough to not be completly bored out of his mind in the monotony. nor does it even say God is strong enough to be happy in the monotony. no. it says he is strong enough to EXULT in the monotony. According to dictionary.com, exult means, "to show or feel a lively or triumphant joy; rejoice exceedingly; be highly elated or jubilant." this conjours up a picture of someone so bubbling over with joy that they simply cannot contain it! (do you think God has a "happy dance?") :D

Thats how i want to live my life.... rejoicing exeedingly.

-Psalm 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you be GLAD; let them ever sing for JOY. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may REJOICE in you.

-John 15:10-12 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my JOY may be in you and that your JOY may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

-Romans 15:13 May the God of HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.