I have been pondering on the word “Joy” lately.  I know that it is not something that I can sum up in one blog post.  But it is something that I can study and work toward. 

A few years ago, my husband was away on a trip and I was at home with our newborn.  I waited early all day for his phone call and when the call finally came in I was not in a good mood.  Could have had something to do with sleep deprivation, but when my husband called to check in on us I was not a joyful person to talk to.  At least that is what my husband told me.  

In fact, I was in such a bad mood he told me he wasn’t going to chat with me anymore.  Of course I tried to change my attitude because I did miss him and I wanted to hear his voice but he had had enough of my poor attitude.  He said he was going to go and call me back later that evening, only on one condition.  The condition being that when I hang up from our call I had to go to my Bible and turn to Philippians.   I had to read the entire book of Philippians and each time I came across the word joy or rejoice I had to underline it.  

Of course, reading the book of Philippians was the last thing that I wanted to do especially after I was basically told that I had to.  (did you know that I have a bit of a rebellious spirit? LOL!!!!) 

Well, I found it 12 times throughout the book and my attitude definitely changed while reading through Philippians.  Did you know that Paul was in jail when he wrote this letter to his friends in Philippi, and he was able to have joy and rejoice in his circumstance. 

When my husband called back my attitude was definitely changed and I couldn’t stop sharing about all that I had learned about this Fruit of the Spirit from my journey through Philippians that evening.  At first, I thought my husband was being a jerk for telling me to go read my Bible, but he knew that it was exactly what I needed.

Well, I think I am in a place where I need it again.  I just started to break in my new ESV Study Bible and I am going to read through the book of Philippians and do some underlining.  I wonder how many I can find in this version!

I was on a cleaning frenzy on the weekend.  I was going through and putting away a lot of the little things that get plied around the house.

I have a special keepsake wooden box where I keep important memories.  I had a couple of things to add to the collection so I opened the box and a flood of memories spilled out.  I paused my frantic cleaning, sat down and started to go through its contents.

I saw pictures from my baptism, love letters from my husband from when we were dating and a pictures of a old friend and I from a photo booth.  I sat and looked at myself, I had a huge smile and my eyes were full of life.  I thought to myself "I look happy."  Where did that person go?

Why have I let life control my emotions?  Why am I not enjoying life?  Where has my smile gone?
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My daughters have four days left of school, I am very excited about spending the summer with them.  I have a box full of goodies that we are going to work on and do this summer.  Originally I thought that that these activities were for building into them, but now I know they are just as much for me.

As I am working through the Fruit of the Spirit online workshop I am growing and stretching.  What a difference it is making in the decisions that I make and the way I react to different situations.

Today I am starting on a journey to find my authentic smile again.

If you have any suggestions or book recommendations please send them my way!  Thanks!

A couple of weeks ago I looked around at the people seated in the congregation at my church and you know what I saw?

                        Hurting women.

My heart literally ached for the pain coming from the women sitting in their Sunday best, with their children properly groomed sitting nicely at their sides.  I saw the ugly hurt that is hiding beneath the shiny outer surface.

Why am I leading an online workshop?  Because I am offering a safe place for women who have been hurt by the church or by the people in the church - a safe place to grow fruit.  I'm not saying that everyone who joins the workshop has been hurt but personally, I know too many women who need this safe place.

Do you remember going to camp as a kid?  I loved camp, when my parents dropped me off I didn't even notice when they left but when they came to pick me up I cried and cried because I didn't want to leave. Why?  Because camp was my safe place, the place where I could go and be myself.  To be the person that I really wanted to be everyday but never felt safe enough to let the real me shine.

The Fruit of the Spirit Workshop is the safe place for all women to shine.  A safe place to grow and nurture your Fruit.  By the end of this year we are all going to be different women as we allow the spirit the time and space to strengthen the characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

Do you know a women who needs this workshop?  Do you need this workshop?