Ugly Jar

We are in the middle of a sermon series at Elevation called "The Joy Genome" and I am enjoying it a lot. Pastor Foo has said many things that have caused me to think about my attitude in my life and how to have true joy no matter what I'm going through. One of the statements he makes every week is 'My joy is not determined by what happens to me but what Christ is doing in me and through me'. Ponder it. Repeat it. It's good stuff.

Life is crazy and can throw us situations that are hard and painful. How do you have joy in the midst of sadness and tears? How do you find joy when you feel like everything around you is falling apart? How do I find joy when there are so many people that I love hurting? What if you were homeless and starving, how do you become joyful? What if your mom is dying of cancer, you lost your job or your 15 year old is pregnant...where's the joy? Isn't it awesome that because we have God in our lives that we can also have true joy? He loves each of us so much and we are all fearfully and wonderfully made in His image. He knows the plans for our lives so we have no reason not to be full of joy. God, the creator of everything, has our back and is there for us every step of the way. That's just so wonderful to me. I'm so glad that he knows the plans for my life because I would totally screw things up if I were in charge.

Philippians 2:14 says 'You should do everything without complaining or arguing' but what does that look like and how do I really live that out? They passed out these jars after service Saturday night and called them Ugly Jars. The idea is when you complain or argue about something you put a dollar in the ugly jar. Next week we are supposed to bring the jars back and the money in them is going to be given to a local ministry that we partner with. I think its a good way to make you stop and think about how much we complain about things. I have so much that I take for granted everyday and not only material things but relationships as well. I have a wonderful family who loves and supports me and a job that I absolutely love-not many people can say those things. In case you were wondering I haven't had to put in money in the jar yet, but it is only Monday. :)

There's much more I could say on the subject of joy but I'll save it for another time. Goodnight all!