CHOOSE: JOY'S RECIPE

Intentionality is the buzzword in today's culture. Be intentional about your life choices!

It's certainly true for me. If I don't "intentionally" choose items on a long weekly agenda, they get lost in the shuffle. 

Even as I have decided to choose joy as my "focus" this year, I need a daily reminder. Sometimes an hourly reminder. How does one schedule joy? Can't joy always be a spontaneous overflow? I don't have answers to my own questions....

......But God....has graciously shown me new "intentional "sources of  "joy" in notes from an old (NIV) Bible. Notes to remind me how joy can overflow from my "healthy thinking." Healthy thinking that is a result of renewing my mind in His word. This time "my" marginalia helped as well.

It's the same Bible I used Wednesday for blog entry from Psalm 19 and to pray for friends, and the Bible I used again yesterday, in Psalm 17, as I prayed for a dear friend. This morning, I "intentionally" chose my same ragged NIV Bible blog entry with verses from Psalm 16.

More notes found.....

.....Marginalia 9/20/2009 ---between cancer surgeries, notes from Jonathan Morrow's (I haven't a clue who J. Morrow is.) "5 Ingredient Recipe for Joy."

"Joy"

1. Devotion. (Psalm 16: 2a)
2. Gratitude. (Psalm 16: 2b)
3. Surround self with others who trust God. (Psalm 16: 3)
4. Our inheritance. (Psalm 16: 6)
5. God's Guidance. (Psalm 16: 7-9)

Notes also included 2 ingredients NOT found in a JOY recipe.

One could label those as "Joy Killers."

1. Critical Spirit. (An inward critical spirit often overflows with complaint, is my thought.)
2. Unhealthy Thinking. (Joy flows from thinking, so don't interrupt the "joy flow!")

DO NOT Choose to add those ingredients into your life........

..........choose pure JOY instead!