Experiment:  Try singing “…I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.  Where?  Down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart.  I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart.  Down in my heart today….” (Lyrics from a Christian song written by George William Cooke. ) I bet you can’t sing it without toe tapping or hands clapping or smiling. 

According to Henri Nouwen, a Dutch Catholic priest, theologian, professor, and writer, JOY and HAPPINESS are not synonyms. They do not mean the same thing. Nouwen believes you could actually be unhappy about something and still be joy-filled because joy comes from the knowledge that God loves us. That unconditional love from God creates a joy that can fill your entire being.

Life might have thrown you a curve ball.  The world may be in disarray and feel like it is off its axis, but your spirit is still able to feel the joy of knowing YOU ARE LOVED! Nehemiah 8:10 The joy of the Lord is your strength. How powerful it is to feel strength from God’s love, sheer joy!

This little light of mine, I’m goin’ let it shine….because I have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart AND I know I am loved and therefore I have strength. Jesus loves me, this I know.

Jill