Choosing Joy

I am currently reading one thousand gifts by Ann Voskamp.  I read a little at a time.  Her writing style is definitely different than what I am used to reading, but every now and again, sentences jump out and grab my heart.

I wanted to share a few lines as a way to cement them more fully into my head and heart.

I knew it was going to be a good and challenging book when I read "...I believe the Serpent's hissing lie...God isn't good.  That God withholds good from His children, that God does not genuinely, fully, love us." pg. 14.

My friend, Laura, is always reminding me that our God is a good God and He's our Father and He gives good gifts to His children.

When I read the previous lines, they struck a cord, because I, like Ann, sometimes believe the lie.  That God is holding out on me.  Which is not true.

Another line she writes is "If He truly, deeply loves me, why does He withhold that which I believe will fully nourish me?"  pg. 15

She goes on with "Our fall was, has always been, and always will be, that we aren't satisfied in God in what He gives.  We hunger for something more, something other." pg. 15

Oh, how my heart and head knew these words.  It was as if she was looking into my own life.

The book is about joy.  Finding joy.  Choosing joy.  Last year, my word was joy.  What a beautiful book then to read.

As I'm diving more into the book, she asked a question (and where I had to stop and ponder).

She read a word - thanks - and found the original language - eucharisteo.  The root of this word charis means grace.  Chara - the derivative - means joy.  And here's her question, "Is the height of my chara joy dependent on the depths of my eucharisteo thanks?  As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible." pg 33.

Joy is always possible.  Do I thank Him enough for what I have?  For who He is?  For what He's done for me?

And that's where I am today...thanking Him for what I do have, instead of what I think will nourish me.  Thankful for grace, forgiveness, and redemption.