Oh~Be~Joyful

Late last night I finished reading a very good book entitled "Mrs. Mike". It was written in 1947 by Benedict and Nancy Freedman. It is a work of fiction and I must confess right here and now, I am a FICTION reader for the most part. Sorry, I'm not too much into self help books. I figure that's what the Bible is for! It's my daily non~fiction read.
Other than that, I like to get lost in a good story. There's enough reality in my life, and the world in general. I need the comfort and pleasure {and sometimes ESCAPE} provided by the magical world of make believe!
Anyway, back to the story at hand.
The journey begins with a 16 year old girl, Katherine Mary {who later becomes "Mrs. Mike" to the Indians}, taking a train from Boston to Canada during the winter of 1907. Most of her life is spent then in the wilderness of Canada. I don't want to give you many details, in hopes those of you who are die hard fiction readers will pick this one up.
What I do want to tell you is that Mrs. Mike, or Kathy, at one point befriends a young Cree Indian girl named Mamanowatum. The English translation for this name is "Oh~Be~Joyful".
How cool is that?!
When Kathy and her husband, Mike, take the young girl into their home, they decide to call her by the English translation of the name. Wouldn't it be just lovely to be referred to as "Oh~Be~Joyful" all the time? It certainly would have to serve as a constant reminder of how we really should be.
At the end of the book it gives a little excerpt of the sequel, "The Search for Joyful":

"Joyful is past happy. Happy is more a quiet content. Joy on the other hand is actively seeking moments when you're high on life, and if those moments aren't there, to make them, to cause them."

Now isn't that something to ponder?

~Here are just a few of my favorite verses on the subject of JOY~

"...but those who plan peace have joy." Proverbs 12:20b
{Hmmm..... we can actually "plan" peace.}

"A joyful heart is good medicine." Proverbs 17:22
{Amen and Amen ... we all know the truth in this one!}

"And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10b
{It's the only thing that gets me through real grief.}

"So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, AND NO ONE WILL TAKE YOUR JOY FROM YOU." John 16:22 {emphasis mine}

This is Jesus preparing the disciples just before the time of the cross.
I include this verse because the part that states "no one will take your joy from you," really speaks to my heart. It tells me that when our joy comes from JESUS, there is NO WAY, NO HOW, that NO ONE can take it away from us!
And to that I say HALLELUJAH!!!
Last week was a difficult one in my household with sickness and some personal things going on concerning my daughter's divorce and some custody issues over Gabby, so the Lords late night reminder to me through this work of fiction, and the constant truths of His Word, were a balm to my weary soul.
One thing I know ~ God is still on the Throne!
Everything that touches our lives must be filtered through His Hands first.
With these absolute, immovable, never changing TRUTHS, how can we not all feel our hearts answer to the name "Oh~Be~Joyful".
In the midst of all things great and small that life throws my way, I will choose God, and I will PLAN peace and I will be rewarded with JOY. ~ The JOY OF JESUS, that is. Because the joy of the Lord IS my strength!

*~*~* May the Joy of the Lord blossom in all your hearts! *~*~*

OH!!! I must tell you all ~ while I was feeling somewhat low and cruddy from a head cold yesterday, a package arrived on my front porch. {Isn't God GOOD for sending that pick me up just when I needed it?!} I was SO EXCITED!!! I LOVE packages!!!! It was the absolutely GORGEOUS watercolor painting of a foxglove and hummingbird that Kathy from "Welcome to Mimi's Garden" made for me when I won her giveaway! As soon as I get a frame for it and give it a place of honor in my home, I will take a picture to show all of you.

Thanks again Kathy ~ I'm just tickled PINK with it!!! :0}