Are you a reader? I mean do you enjoy sitting down and just simply enjoying a book or maybe a magazine, etc.? It is one of my favorite pastimes when I feel like I have the time. And I am trying to TAKE the time more often these days! My mom left a couple weeks ago to spend time with my sister and brother and their families around the Omaha area for awhile. She has been an avid reader all of her life, and before she left she asked me to return a library book for her. It is titled, The Missing Kennedy. She told me to read it first, if I wanted, because I would find it interesting. I just finished it last night, and it was quite insightful. I did not know the story of the oldest Kennedy daughter, Rosemary. In fact, I did not realize that she existed. Or what came out of her existence and experiences.
Today, in honor of reading and learning, and finding JOY in that pastime and life, I want to share an excerpt from Billy Graham’s book, Hope for Each Day. Did you know it is his 98th birthday this week? I have enjoyed so many of his writings. One of my favorite books of his is Nearing Home: Life, Faith and Finishing Well. Maybe it is because I am closer to the end of this life than the beginning! Not sure, but his writing inspires me.
Since this column is entitled “Joy in the Journey”, this part of Hope For Each Day jumped out at me. This excerpt has a subtitle “ Overflowing Joy”, by Billy Graham:
The word joy has all but disappeared from our current Christian vocabulary. One reason is because we have confused joy with happiness, and have come to believe it is found in pleasure, security, and prosperity.
In doing this, however, we have believed a lie that Satan is constantly telling the world to believe.
But James did not say, “Count it all joy when you fall into an easy chair.” He said, “ Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” James 1:2
Joy is not the same as happiness – although they may overlap.
Happiness depends on circumstances; joy depends on God. Happiness vanishes when life turns painful; joy keeps going and may even grow.
Joy comes from a living, vital relationship with God.
It comes from knowing this world is only temporary and that someday we will be with God forever. It comes from the fact that, although we do not yet see God, we “believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” ( I Peter 1:8 ). It comes from a life of submission to the Holy Spirit – regardless of circumstances.
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