My Word of 2011: JOY

I love reading other people's blogs, and recently I came across this post by Lisa Leonard, encouraging readers to choose a word that will be representative and significant to them in the year to come (this was actually started by Ali Edwards). The goal for me in choosing a word is to implement it into my daily life, to focus on how I can be better at acting on this word, and to demonstrate it more in my actions.

The word I chose to be significant for me in 2011 is

JOY.

Dictionary.com has this as part of its definition of joy: the expression or display of glad feeling; a state of happiness

This is what I want in my life: the expression or display of glad feeling. I want to be in a state of happiness no matter what my circumstances!

James 1:2-3 - "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

Why did I choose the word joy? Because, daily, I want to choose joy in my life. I have a great life, which God has blessed, yet I am always complaining about and frustrated with my circumstances. I have a job which is perfect for my situation. I have students who are sweet and good learners. I have a beautiful, happy baby, who loves me and his dad, and sometimes needs his diaper changed. I have a house to live in that, though small, is filled with belongings, some of which I treasure and use frequently, some of which I don't.

God has richly blessed my life, and I want to choose to acknowledge that this year, rather than complain about the ways I wish he had blessed me differently. So, I choose joy!

Proverbs 17:22 - "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Who wouldn't rather have good medicine, a healthy spirit, than dried up bones? I would!

Okay, and I want this too:



found here