when Joy calls

I hear it everyday.I say it everyday. "life happens."

Today, I\'m struck by the magnitude of what\\\'s captured in that statement for so many of us.

What has happened?

A family member has taken ill. A spouse has lost his or her job. A child has suffered a virus with no foreseen cure. A friend has experienced a freak accident.

More often than not, I hear myself refer to life as the bucket for all things too difficult to carry on a human level.

Until today. The day when joy called.

Life happened today. I woke up. I shared an embrace with the man I adore. I took a bike ride in the sunshine to work - to a job I happen to love. I shared a phone call with peer who encouraged me in my work. I grabbed food with a friend. I sat on the couch and sipped wine with my main man while talking through his daily updates and "looking forward to\\\'s." I touched based with my sister for the planning of our parents\\\' 40th anniversary. I was reminded by a dear friend that God\'s goodness does not waiver - even when the world\'s no seems louder than God\'s abiding peace.

And that was simply today.

What joy might call tomorrow? Try these on for size.

-Embrace the moments that fuel your being
-Share gratitude with the first person you see
-View circumstances as just that - temporary peripheral happenings

Happiness is a chase without results.
Joy is a grounded recognition of Truth and freedom in choice.

From which place will you take action tomorrow?

#choosejoy

surrender

At the start of 2013, a friend handed me a guide - a play by play of zoning in on the word of the year. It\'s a twist, if you will, on the traditional "new years resolution," and one i was happy to test given my frequent frustration with resolve.

I thumbed through the pages of this workbook...determined to identify this word - this intention...reminder...north star of 2013. At the end of the workbook, I released expectation and toil - the work of simply trying to think such a lofty idea into existence.

And then it clicked.

Surrender.

Much of my life has been spent in overdrive - creating, doing, moving...at the root of those activities is one simple human truth: proving self worth.

at the start of 2013, i simply longed to sense and know God\'s presence in the midst of endless uncertainty. He gifted me with a sweet moment of truth - His truth that has never wavered. His presence has never faded. His goodness has never waned. His sovereignty has never failed.

And so in 2013, i committed to surrender. When i sense the human worth race clamoring at the door of my heart, i choose to be still and abide in His divine and purpose filled creation. When fear of what\'s next beckons at my earthly stability, I surrender to His provision that has never failed. When i question my purpose, I lean into His grace.

I surrender my mind so He can reign in my heart.