Joy Let Loose

September 18, 2020

I Want to Dream with Purpose

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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

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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
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September 10, 2020

My Son, My Sunshine, and The Yellow Boots

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Transported back in time

Do you ever catch sight of something and get transported back in time in an instant? That happened to me today. It was the yellow boots I saw in the store.

My son, Morgan, was about 4 when he inherited some boots just like these from a bigger kid he looked up to. He. Loved. Them. He wore them everywhere, and there was never a pair of boots that more accurately expressed his sunshiney personality.

A Big Personality

Morgan had such a big and joyful presence that you could feel him coming. These were just right. (Plus yellow was always his favorite color.) But then one Fall day he lost them. Worse than that, we almost lost him.

The yellow boots

He was out with friends and their dads fishing for the afternoon. All was awesome – they were just stopping to fish along the lakeshore as they walked. The kiddos took off quite a bit ahead of the dads and then stopped again. It really was quick, but little Morgan accidentally tumbled in, yellow boots and all, and the drop-off was significant. I’ve heard from his dad that it felt like an eternity to get to him and when they did he was really struggling.

I’ll tell you what: Superdads are a real thing. I didn’t want to re-live that snapshot, but there were those yellow boots in the store today.

Sadness turned to gratitude

But instead of making me feel sad and experience the anxiety again, it actually turned me to gratitude.

  • So grateful I still have my sunshiney boy. Life is precious.
  • So grateful for his dad and our friend making such a quick rescue.
  • So thankful that we know a Heavenly Father who walks with us through difficult and traumatic times and doesn’t leave us to bear them alone.
  • So glad that Morgan is now a very strong swimmer.
  • And I’m eternally grateful that he still lives as though he’s sporting those yellow boots – walking through life with joy and vibrancy that affects everyone around him.

What about you?

What about you? Do you have difficult memories that you can turn around to praise today? How will you bless the Lord at all times?

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

(Psalm 63:4)

Elizabeth JOY

Posted in: Family
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