... She Talks About a Book & a Resolution

I'm back at school.
I have good days.
I have bad days.

But the recent snow flurries have made life glistening with magical whitenss.

The fact The Boyfriend isn't here makes it a little less wonderful.
And a little sad.

(Want to know a secret?
I miss him a lot.)

Anyways, my relationship with My Jesus is growing deeper and deeper. He is really working on my heart, my mind, my soul. I need him. I want to focus on him more.

One way I am learning more about him is with this book:

There is no way to begin to describe how this book is impacting my life. It is reinventing my heart. My prayer life. My relationship with My Jesus.I highly suggest it!

Another blessing in my life is found in a New Years Resolution (yes. cliche. I know.)I made a resolution to record 1000 gifts - big or little. I did not expect it to have such an impact on my heart. (I look forward to recording my 3 gifts of the day) It is helping my focus on what is good in my life. 
The positives. 

I think my natural optimistic, joyful self is starting to grow again. 

So thankful. 

... She Finds Joy in Lamentations

(This is a post I started writing about 3 weeks ago but never finished... Here it is :))

Ironic isn't it? 

Joy in Lamentations. 

Lament:

1.

to feel or express sorrow or regret for

2.

to mourn for or over.

Joy:

1.

the emotion of great delight or happiness caused bysomething exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure;elation

2.a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated

3.

the expression or display of glad feeling; festive gaiety.

4.

a state of happiness or felicity.

The Bible talks a lot about mourning/sorrow/regret and even more about joy. 

In the NIV version of the Bible, the word "joy" (or a form of joy) appears 244 times and is present in almost every book.

In essence joy and lament are the best words to summarize the gospel:

The joy of creation.

The lament of the fall. 

The joy of the birth of a child (aka Jesus) in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.

The lament of all of Jesus' followers when he was crucified on the cross. 

The joy in the resurrection of Jesus on the third day. Beyond Christ being alive, He rescued all mankind. 

The lament of sin.

The joy of salvation. 

The lament of death.

The joy of eternal life with Jesus.


Beautiful isn't it?

If you have time, sit down and read through Lamentations right now. Just get a feel of it...

Did you read it?

What did you think?

I loved how raw it was. The literary techniques. The contrasts. There is great hurt, fear, and grief reflected in Lamentations. Yet, the author constantly refers back to Jesus.

I think the most powerful portion in Lamentations 3:16-33

¹⁶ He has broken my teeth with gravel;
    he has trampled me in the dust.
¹⁷ I have been deprived of peace;
    I have forgotten what prosperity is.
¹⁸ So I say, “My splendor is gone
    and all that I had hoped from the Lord.”

¹⁹ I remember my affliction and my wandering,
    the bitterness and the gall.
²⁰ I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast within me.
²¹ Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:

²² Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
²⁶ it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.
²⁷ It is good for a man to bear the yoke
    while he is young.

²⁸ Let him sit alone in silence,
    for the Lord has laid it on him.
²⁹ Let him bury his face in the dust—
    there may yet be hope.
³⁰ Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
    and let him be filled with disgrace.

³¹ For no one is cast off
    by the Lord forever.
³² Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
    so great is his unfailing love.
³³ For he does not willingly bring affliction
    or grief to anyone.

... She Contemplates Tears.

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief...and unspeakable love.” --Washington Irving