Several months ago, my family and I were visiting my uncle and his family. The first night that we gathered for family devotions, my uncle asked us this question: What brings you joy? It's one of those question where you think, "Hey, this will be easy to answer!" And it's true. You can rattle off just about anything from the top of your head. But is a vague, surface-level answer the way to go? I'm not saying simple answers are bad. It's cute when the little ones in your life answer this question. You hear anything from "chocolate!" to "going to the park." What I'm saying is, is your answer just scratching the surface or are you digging deeper, aiming for the heart? Really, don't be afraid to be completely honest with yourself when answering this question. What is it, who is it that sparks something deep inside you, makes you happy, or gets you excited? I'd love to hear your answers, because they reveal so much about our unique personalities and give us a glimpse of your heart, a glimpse of you. I'll go first. 1. One-on-one time with Jesus. Here recently, I've been praying very specifically that He would make my heart sing with joy every time I cracked open His Word. Let me tell you, friends, He has done above and beyond that. It's truly a joy to open the Bible, and soak in the thoughts—the very heart—of God, and to see glimpses of Jesus sprinkled throughout the Old Testament, preparing the way for His coming to earth as our Savior. 2. Reading It's no secret that I love to read. Give me a good book, a cozy throw blanket (or a front porch, depending on the weather) and I'm set. There's just something about holding a physical book in your hands, inhaling the infamous "book" scent, and hurrying to turn the pages that makes my heart happy. And the best part about reading is that you can travel all over the world without ever leaving the comfort of home. ;) (That's my current read up there! Who doesn't love a book about letters? It makes me want to go back to letter-writing as a way to communicate.) 3. Listening to music
How many of you are fellow music-lovers out there? We all have different tastes in music but there's something deep, and thought-provoking about it. Oftentimes, if you listen closely, you'll hear the message woven through the lyrics. Whether I'm writing, exercising, lying in bed, or just popping the headphones on, music sparks embers of joy, comfort, and motivation in my heart. I'm a fan of movie soundtracks (even if I haven't seen the movie), Disney songs, and contemporary Christian music. There are so many great tunes out there! Some songs that have been on repeat lately: -Before I Knew Jesus by Leanna Crawford -Hymn of Heaven by Phil Wickham -Take My Breath Away (cover) by Tasha Layton -We Had Today by Rachel Portman -Proposal by Rachel Portman Tell me. . . what brings you joy?
1 Comment
Joelle Russell
10/13/2022 07:46:36 am
Hey Carolyn! I really love this blog about “What brings you joy?”! I also love the song “Before I Knew Jesus” by Leanna Crawford that you mentioned!
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AuthorHi! I'm Carolyn, a writer seeking to glorify God with my words. Archives
February 2024
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