Joy Let Loose

November 15, 2020

The kindness of wrapping people in prayer

By

Wrapping people in prayer

Every stitch of this shawl was knit as a prayer was breathed for the one who would one day wear it on his or her lap or shoulders. My mother’s faithfulness over many years to lead a ministry that cares for people in their deepest points of need is yet another reason her life inspires me.

Prayer shawls

Hundreds of prayer shawls, carefully handcrafted, have been infused with prayers and delivered to the lonely, the sick, the grieving, and the dying. It is God’s creativeness given legs in Kingdom life.

Wrapping my mom in prayer

This shawl has stayed by my mom’s side through a hard year. It was a year of diagnosis, waiting, treatment, more waiting, setbacks, disappointing news, rallying, and decline. And like my beautiful mother, it has continually brought a sense of comfort. It is a reminder that God’s people hold each other up at all times in prayer and steady support. It is one way she worshiped in spirit and in truth.

Faithful care

We aren’t designed to journey alone. And my mom’s life of faithful care for others has knit that into my very fabric the way she has patiently and prayerfully knit it with yarn. As her own earthly journey nears its end, I pray I will remain faithful to her legacy as long as I have breath.

How are you wrapping people in prayer?

Elizabeth JOY

Posted in: Family, Soul care
Tags: , , , ,
November 3, 2020

Worship in Spirit and in Truth

By

Worship in spirit and in truth

I haven’t led worship at my church for fourteen weeks. In fact, I’ve honestly barely used my voice to sing in all that time. It has been a season of silence for me, my worship so private and hidden from the world.

Worship in the quiet

I have worshiped more deeply and sincerely than ever before in the secret. No platform. No livestream. No lights. No one even singing, and yet, worship. In fact, I almost didn’t write this because it seems too public, but I feel prompted that someone else is worshiping in the secret too, and needs to be encouraged.

I have not been singing with my voice, but I have worshiped.

  • Making hot tea – worship.
  • Reminding of God’s presence – worship.
  • Choosing to laugh – worship.
  • Injecting pain meds – worship.
  • Processing hard news together – worship.
  • Motivating to try another step – worship.
  • Reminiscing – worship.
  • Changing bedding – worship.
  • Encouraging care workers – worship.
  • Holding weight when legs are weak – worship.
  • Not hiding from the reality of death – worship.
  • Telling that same story again – worship.
  • Choosing intentional conversation – worship.

Serving the vulnerable

Many people serve the vulnerable every single day, and worship Jesus through their service. But for the church worship leader, it can be easy to get so caught up in arrangements and production and scheduling and the skill of it all that our worship rings hollow.

I needed these fourteen Sundays. And I may need the next fourteen as the Lord reframes my perspective of true worship. For now, I choose to fix my eyes on Jesus and stay present in each moment as we walk my mom through her twilight days.

It’s here that I worship in spirit and in truth.

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Matthew 25:40

How then will you worship?

Have you experienced seasons of private, quiet, hidden worship? Tell us about it in the comments!

Elizabeth JOY

Posted in: Family, Worship
Tags: , , , ,
October 3, 2020

Worship through tears and when there is no stage

By

We love to lead worship

Our family has always enjoyed our calling to be worship leaders. We are grateful to have the privilege of using skills we’ve worked hard to develop as a vehicle to help others connect with each other and with God through singing, Scripture and prayer, silence, story. The kind of intimate community that forms as hearts open up to each other is beautiful.

We’ve been privileged to get to lead worship in small churches and large, campgrounds and conference centers, on beaches and cruise ships too. And wherever Jesus’ name is lifted up, we’ve encountered His presence.

Worship when there is no stage

But it’s in the quiet rooms with no stages, lights, livestream, or applause where worship leading is sweetest. The deepest wells of joy are discovered in living rooms and hospital rooms, together with people in hardship and dependence. And joy means a lot to us.

From the moment we are born, joy shapes the chemistry, structure and growth of our brain. Joy lays the foundation for how well we will handle relationships, emotions, pain and pleasure throughout our lifetime. Joy creates an identity that is stable and consistent over time. Joy gives us the freedom to share our hearts with God and others. Expressing our joyful identity creates space for others to belong. Joy gives us the freedom to live without masks because, in spite of our weaknesses, we know we are loved. We are not afraid of our vulnerabilities or exposure. Joy gives us the freedom from fear to live from the heart Jesus gave us. We discover increasing delight in becoming the people God knew we could be.

Joy Starts Here: The Transformation Zone

Worship through tears

You won’t get to hear these moments of ours. These are private moments of worship through tears – just for us and the Lord, as we build one another up. But I pray you have your own moments like these. Times where song bubbles up out of sadness as you declare dependence on the Joy-Giver, where the melody that carries the name of Jesus from your heart to His soothes your wounds and binds your hearts with trusted people. I pray sweetness surprises you and you are shaped for hope again.

Because you’re designed to let your difficult life experiences rest on a foundation of joy.

Elizabeth JOY

Posted in: Journey, Worship
Tags: , , ,
September 18, 2020

I Want to Dream with Purpose

By

Dream With Purpose

I have been thinking and talking a lot about purpose lately. Over the years I had developed a way of living that was more reactionary than purposed. I existed in response-mode rather than with true intentionality and didn’t really have the self awareness to see it. But it sure made me tired and oftentimes discontent.

Asking Focused Questions

https://joyletloose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/63563D50-F1A4-4FD0-914D-3E93E1A0281E.mov

Slowing down

My lens has been sharpening my focus over this last season. Some of the questions that have helped me are:

  • What brings me joy?
  • What am I good at?
  • Where has my life left impact on others?
  • What is my natural rhythm and pace?
  • How can I best bring Jesus to other people?

When I answer those questions, it is both revealing and life-giving. It helps me slow down my reactionary response to the waves coming at me and be more intentional to create my own. It shows me where I have neglected to build margin into my life. And it shows me where I have labored in vain doing what others said I should do rather than what God had uniquely called me to.

But thankfully it also shows me the times my God-given design and my investment in the world around me have collided to bring the most Kingdom impact and personal fulfillment. This opens me up to dream and look toward my future with greater purpose and intention. And it makes me believe in a future that capitalizes on my gift-mix but has healthy margin and adapts to my seasonal rhythms. And best of all, it will include respite and water, worship, hospitality, and overall wellness.

Dream and Move Ahead with Purpose

This dream is not completely clear yet, but it’s percolating. And I am diligently pursuing it. I continually pray that the Holy Spirit will bring wisdom, refreshing, clarity, and understanding.

The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,

    but one who has insight draws them out.

Proverbs 20:5 NIV

Do you have a seed of a dream you are watering? How are you dreaming with purpose? Tell us in the comments!

Elizabeth JOY

Posted in: Uncategorized
September 13, 2020

To “My Dearest”: A Precious Glimpse into the Past

By

A glimpse into the past

I had a special moment yesterday when I caught a glimpse into the past. This letter was written on my birthday, but thirty-one years prior to my birth. And it was written just six days after my mother was born, by her father, stationed away from his family during WWII.

December 8, 1943

“My Dearest”

How precious to read his handwriting to his “dearest” about his happiness to receive the telegram about the birth of their second baby girl. While he gave some news of the goings-on about him, he more mused about how his family was doing. He so wanted her to be well and happily settled back at home. He must have been so anxious to hold his new daughter!

I can’t imagine being apart at birth and yet I know it happens regularly, families separated by wars, external or internal.

I am so grateful for the examples all of my grandparents, parents, and in-laws have set by demonstrating steadfastness and faithfulness in their marriages, even when external forces made that so hard. We will strive to do the same.

I can imagine my sweet “Poppy”, young and in uniform, pouring out his love on paper. and imagining his wife and new baby so far away and still in hospital. I picture his heart welling up to be with them. He let his JOY loose!

“Your Loving Husband”

My grandfather signed his letter “your loving husband”, and he remained most definitely so for the duration of his long life. I’m so thankful I got to have this glimpse into his heart this week. What a treasure for my mom to still have his letter, and to know how happy he was about her arrival all those years ago!

Have you enjoyed any glimpse into the past that have touched your heart and caused you to be grateful? Tell me about it in the comments!

Elizabeth JOY

Posted in: Family, Journey
Tags: , , , ,