"...he has set you apart with much joy." (Psalms 45:7 NCV)

Webster's dictionary defines Joy as: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight. And what a delight it is. Today was a good day in the life. Brittany caught me at a bad time. My nose was itching and I was in the middle of giving it a good scratch when she decided to 'pat' my elbow a little bit. Well, when she decided to do that, we hit a bump. Needless to say, I scratched my nose from the inside and it started bleeding. It hurt, but not bad. I did hold my nose and acted like I was mad. She bought it and inside I was laughing. She is one of those people who laugh when things get tough or intense. So, she bust out laughing as I told her I had a nose bleed. I knew she felt bad for doing that to me and would never hurt me like that purposely. But she was still laughing like it was the funniest thing in awhile.

I could have handled this one of a few different ways. I could have gotten mad and yelled at her. But we all know how that could end. I could have made her feel horrible. But that would only be a choice if I was a selfish man who married her for the sheer fact that I did not want to be alone. OR I could make light of the situation. I chose C. And guess what, in this test it was the right answer. WE both got a laugh out of it. It engaged her emotions and got her involved in the moment because, for a moment, she was worried she had hurt me pretty bad. But after all was said and done, it was just a joke. Much of life can be seen like that.

How many times do we make mountains out of molehills? How many times do we give out undue harshness as husbands? For silly little things, I know my nose will heal. If I had yelled at her, or (God forbid) struck her as some short tempered individuals might have done. A harmless scratch, that means nothing in the long run, could have been a painful wound in my woman's heart. It's in times like these that the devil sneaks in and starts sharing his little lies with your mind. 'She did it on purpose! Yell! or See? She doesn't care about you, why would she hurt you intentionally? Show her how it feels.' Suddenly, we are under the control of a more sinister power. That roaring lion that seeks to devour us is staring us down. Some of us might buckle and agree. "Yeah! She did it purpose, how dareshe..." Lord help us. Others of us will stare that stinkin' lion in the face and run him off. One decision can take a moment of Joy. A rare moment in some peoples lives, and throw it in the wood chipper break it up into hamster bedding. What a waste!

Joy is another one of the gems of life. But it is not something to be kept to one's self. Few if any gifts from the Lord are like that. No, it is to be shared. As a married man, I want to share this with my wife. My wife and I are both jobless and the rent is due at the end of the month. Here is the kicker. We are, the happiest we have been in awhile. I know, we're nuts right? Nope, we just know where to put our trust. In the Bible, Paul writes this to the Romans. "I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13 NCV) WHAT A BLESSING!
In a hopeless situation, like the one we are in, we are given peace and joy! Why? Well we have our trust in the Lord. We know this situation is small when you compare it to the things He has done before. But the real reason we are given this is because HE LOVES US!
"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NCV)
Fathers: do you love that homeless guy on the street enough to sacrifice your son?
What about your best friend?
Is he worth your son's life?

I assume most of us answered no. I know I will. God said yes. He told us we were worth it, and then He proved it. Praise be to God. The "God who is my JOY and happiness." (Psalms 43:4 NCV)

I pray that the same joy that God has blessed my wife and I with shows up in your life too. If you do not know Jesus, I pray that you gain a desire and a hunger in your heart for him. Amen.