“I Get To” turns to Pure Joy!

“I get to” turned to pure joy today! Let me explain! A couple of weeks ago, my mom called and needed me to take her and my dad to do their monthly shopping. I had a previous engagement with my life group and had to cancel.   I told them” I had to” take them because their other ride could not. After reflecting on what I said, I decided that I needed to change my perspective on how I view and say things. I decided to change, “I have to” to “I get to”.

“I get to” spend time with both my parents anytime I want. “ I get to” love on little ones at school and teach them life skills that they will carry with them throughout their entire lives. “ I get to” show them Jesus and show them how to love others. “ I get to” work at Chick-fil-a where I get to love on customers and serve my community through conversations and smiles. (Yes I work two wonderful jobs). “ I get to” be an author and write feel good stories for children for all ages to enjoy. “I get to” go into public schools and share my knowledge of being an author. “ I get to” share these stories with children all over the world through mission trips and Operation Christmas Child. “ I get to” attend a loving church whose generosity for others serves as a core value. “ I get to” serve little ones on Sundays and greet others as they enter the building. “ I get to” go to jobs where I feel like part of a family and where everyone supports each other and where hugs are respected and optional. “ I get to” live with my children who still need me and want to spend time with me. “ I get to” help raise my wonderful grandson who loves Jesus and thinks I’m the greatest.” “I get to” have Christian friends who love me for me and my not normalness; who support me through prayer and laughter. “I get to” love and be loved my Heavenly Father who knows and wants to plan my life and give me good gifts. “ I get to” surrender my life to him so that he can change me and use me to help and serve others. “I get to”. “ I get to” do a lot of things. I am blessed!

Pure Joy! In our life group each person chooses a word, Joy was mine this year. I prayed about it and it just felt right. All year, I’ve waited for joy. Trying to find joy in many situations, problems, storms, happy endings, etc., but nothing. Pure joy happened when I realized that my” I get to” was a surrender of obedience to God! I immediately felt True FREEDOM and Pure Joy! I cried singing a song of freedom! I cried knowing that God made my life complete. That He had orchestrated every moment of my life to get me here; to this moment in time. He opened my eyes of why I was called to be His author, the word and feelings He needs His children to hear and feel. “ I get to” serve others through serving Him.

I love listening to God’s voice. He has some really good ideas for my books, my family, my friends, my entire plan of action, My Life! He is good! He’s a good father! “ I get to” know Him and love Him and be with Him in heaven some day! Let Him love you and love Him back. It will bring you Joy when” you get to!”

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11 NIV

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11 NIV