Monday, June 24, 2013

Joy,joy,joy,joy...

"I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy
down in my heart
down in my heart to stay."

Do you ever think of those songs we used to sing growing up? I was humming this one, and to my shock, I realized I didn't feel that joy, not like I used to. I do have joy, and often joy, joy, but I know I don't always have joy, joy, joy,joy!!!

I miss that. I want that joy, joy, joy,joy. Can I still have it? Can I still have that kind of joy in spite of and in the midst of trying circumstances, or when my days are full of dealing with the stuff of this life?

The obvious answer is yes. God, who placed that joy in my heart when I first came to Him, is the same unchanging God who is still the only source of that kind of joy today. He has a way of reeling us in and making us sense a need... again, when our tanks need to be filled back up. 

I am sometimes guilty of listening to the clamor of voices that are loud in this world we live in... circumstances, politics, sinking economy, lack of morality... and on and on. The whole thing can leave me feeling stressed and gloomy.  It's hard not to be affected by the voices of this world.

So what do we do? We go back to where our joy, joy, joy, joy began... back to Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. The only one who understands where we are and who we are.

I may be speaking to you, but I KNOW I am speaking to myself!! I needed that reminder this morning.

"I've got the peace that passes understanding down in my heart
down in my heart to stay"!!!

13 comments:

Vee said...

You may be preaching to the choir, but this member of the choir has been in the basement for several months. I much appreciate your words this morning.

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be singing all day...what a great song to sing.

Debbie Petras said...

I remember this song well. And now it's in my head and I'll be singing it all day long. Thank you for that Sonja! Why do we waste time looking to others or things to fill us? Look to Jesus. That's the best advice. He is our source of joy.

Love,
Debbie

Debbie said...

Oh I LOVED that song! though I haven't sang it in years! And I REALLY needed to hear that this morning! Life is just plain old hard sometimes, but when our focus is on HIM, the joy bubbles out no matter what! Enjoy your day Sonja, I am going to be humming that song now!

Maryann said...

I'll be singing this song in my head the rest of the day and that's not a bad thing.

Farm Girl said...

Me too, but it is good to be reminded of that song.
I always have liked that song too.
Yep, to much of the world invades my mind and not enough of the word.
I will remember this now. Thanks

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

Oh, my goodness, I have sung that song a million times in my 60 years. A great post that I needed to read. I generally have joy, but like you, can't say that I always have the joy, joy, joy! Shame on me! I'm going to work on that.

Happy week!

Sharon said...

Yes, I remember that song! And I remember how we used to sing it like this:

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart,
(SHOUT) WHERE??
Down in my heart...WHERE?...Down in my heart.

I used to love the shouting part.

Occurs to me that some of my problem with missing out on the joy is that I'm forgetting to shout out the praise!

Hmmm. :)

GOD BLESS!

Sharon said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
myletterstoemily said...

. . . and if the devil something, something,
he can sit on a tack, sit on a tack . . .

i LOVEd your comment at my place today.
so true.

Just a little something from Judy said...

I grew up with this song and I don't think there is a week that goes by that I don't hear it song by my dear mother. She sings it wherever and whenever. She sings it to her grandchildren and to her great-grandchildren. Her joy is real and her heart chooses joy in daily life. I love that you shared it too. "Joy" comes to me only when my view in life is vertical and not horizontal. Great post!

Debbie said...

Oh AMEN, Sister! You know, it's funny. I have found that when I go back to those songs and choruses of my childhood, I go back spiritually as well. It's as if the world fades away and I remember what it was like to be a "child" of God.

I'm still a child of God. I love your reminder to go back spiritually to reclaim the joy.

This was my favorite part:

"I am sometimes guilty of listening to the clamor of voices that are loud in this world we live in... circumstances, politics, sinking economy, lack of morality... and on and on. The whole thing can leave me feeling stressed and gloomy. It's hard not to be affected by the voices of this world."


And now, I'm singing in my head. Here's the verse I love the best.

I've got the wonderful love of my blessed redeemer way down in the depths of my heart...

Where?

(Did you do that verse? Or was that one that we just made up? We sang it really fast.)




Debbie said...

Oh AMEN, Sister! You know, it's funny. I have found that when I go back to those songs and choruses of my childhood, I go back spiritually as well. It's as if the world fades away and I remember what it was like to be a "child" of God.

I'm still a child of God. I love your reminder to go back spiritually to reclaim the joy.

This was my favorite part:

"I am sometimes guilty of listening to the clamor of voices that are loud in this world we live in... circumstances, politics, sinking economy, lack of morality... and on and on. The whole thing can leave me feeling stressed and gloomy. It's hard not to be affected by the voices of this world."


And now, I'm singing in my head. Here's the verse I love the best.

I've got the wonderful love of my blessed redeemer way down in the depths of my heart...

Where?

(Did you do that verse? Or was that one that we just made up? We sang it really fast.)