The Fitting Room – Chapter 14 from Bloom (in)courage on Vimeo.
Well this on certainly packed a punch, didn’t it?!?!?!
Joy.
It’s that word that people love to talk about but not many people live lives that show it. As usual, Kelly hit the nail on the head in the final chapter, and there are a few things that stand out to me every time I read it.
On page 185 she talks about the way we have to “fight” for joy, and that this is not a word commonly associated with other virtues. I think it’s so true, and I think she’s exactly right when she continues on to say that this struggle for joy is much more present in affluent societies than anywhere else. And my favorite?
Joy is not complicated.
I need a banner for my front door with that written on it, or at the very least, a bedazzled t-shirt.
We spend so much of our lives searching for joy that we wouldn’t know how to feel it if it landed in our spoiled laps. I’m not making personal attacks here, but I do know the shoe fits me and I would certainly like to know I have some company.
I mean, what is joy when you have nothing? Probably not much. Food? Watching your child breathe life? A song?
It’s all of those and a million other things we skim over while we track down the thing that we think gives it to us. It’s trite-all of this, and as a writer I’m tempted to try and dig through and pull up a more distinct message. We’ve all heard this one before and some of you have already moved to the next thing because this was your sermon series from last summer and it’s all just words on paper.
But it’s not.
We have this opportunity here. Now. In the present moment.
To wrap our arms around every gift we are given (yes, breath) and thank the One who made it happen. We don’t need debit cards or social calendars to get to the joy-place. We are His.
As Kelly so beautifully phrases it (and yes, it may well end up as the back of my t-shirt), “We look for pockets of happiness to sustain us…” (pg. 186).
Oh my, oh my, oh my.
I hope you heard that, and that you’re ready to stop digging into the shallow pockets that the world offers in so many forms. The truth is that all of these things are stealing from you, and every time you make a deposit into them you have chosen the lesser.
I pray that in the past several weeks you have seen our hearts in sharing all of this with you, and that you will be genuinely changed as you seek Him with knowledge of the way He wants you to be dressed. That you will go to Him to be the source of all things beautiful and life-giving.
And that when you leave this dressing room, you will be clothed in joy.
We are so grateful for this time together, and so excited about what’s ahead.
We love you, ladies!!!
Angie, Jess and the (in)courage girls.
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Seed: I love it where Kelly tells us how she put joy into her “action plan” practically on pages 188-189. This quote really stuck out to me: “I had to start planning for joy and putting myself in its path. Like a good fisherman, I had to know where the honey holes were, where joy bit most often.” Kelly invested in others and found joy was easily accessible — that is exactly how Jesus lived His life. He was all about being present for others.
Water: On page 186, Kelly explains, “If we look at the gospels and epistles, we see that joy is tied to encounters with Jesus, to His message, and to His works.” Daily, I need to encounter Jesus — pursue Him with passion and fervor. This is the key to having joy in my heart. He is my joy! 🙂
Bloom/Grow: May His joy fall on my heart as I am caught up in what who God is and what He is doing, rather than looking for a “cupcake of worldly lusts or entertainment” (page 186). This is my prayer.
Kelly, Angie, ad Jess: Thank you so much for sharing. I was blessed. 🙂
Thank you Angie, Jess, Kelly for sharing your words and hearts with us over the last few weeks! You are a JOY and gift to all of us in so many ways!!
Can I have a t-shirt with this too:
“Joy is not complicated”
Thank you, Kelly, Angie and Jess… for turning our eyes to Jesus!
These words …
“As Kelly so beautifully phrases it (and yes, it may well end up as the back of my t-shirt), “We look for pockets of happiness to sustain us…” (pg. 186).
Oh my, oh my, oh my.
I hope you heard that, and that you’re ready to stop digging into the shallow pockets that the world offers in so many forms. The truth is that all of these things are stealing from you, and every time you make a deposit into them you have chosen the lesser.”
Amen and Amen! The truth is always beautiful! Always!
Thank you, Kelly, for what you have shared – -and Angie and Jess for bringing us to this book . . .What we “wear” is so important in how we share our faith.
Joy — it’s strange to explain, but I think it’s really tied to peace. I’ve been walking through a hard storm in my life and both of those have been companions, they offer a stability, the firm foundation, to get through those hard times. maybe to me joy has become the inner sense that everything is going to be okay, and that gives me peace.
“We don’t need debit cards or social calendars to get to the joy-place. We are His.” I need this on a giant poster, as well as several post-its all around, just as a gentle reminder. I’m also with Ann about the t-shirt saying “Joy is not complicated,” to remind myself, not anyone else! Thank you ladies!
beautifully said.
I love t-shirts, so if you are making them, reserve one for me =)
Some things from the chapter I am clinging to…..
“Joy is simple and unencumbered. It doesn’t need any of these things to exist, only God and the portions He gives.”
“When Christ gives joy, He gives it in fullness (John 15:11). We’re freed from having to constantly feed the meter with our next big plan, pleasure or purchase. Christ is our eternal measure.”
“…become intentional about pursuing joy.”
Hebrews 12:2 is a great reminder verse for me when it is difficult to find joy in my circumstances.
Thanks again for the gifting of this book, so I could be part of the book club. I was truly blessed.
Seed: “…joy is tied to encounters with Jesus, to His message, and to His works.” (p. 186) Why, oh why do I act like it will be tied up in my kids behaving, my washing machine working properly, or my hair not becoming a mass of frizz? I know and yet I find myself looking for earthly temporal things to bring me joy.
Water: Be caught up in encountering Jesus, His message and His works. Continue to seek Him with all my heart. Fight for joy and don’t allow circumstances to cause me to forget I am chosen, holy & loved!
Bloom: True joy! What could be better?
Thank you Kelly, Angie & Jess for sharing this study with us!!
From the start, just grasping that we are chosen by God, holy and dearly loved brings JOY. Thank you all for sharing so personally. Your discussions/conversations were relevant and so encouraging. I was blessed.
By His grace,
Wanda
I’m a few weeks behind, but finished the book tonight, and I’m so glad I followed through with it. The videos are always a great addition, and I’m grateful for the three of you to put it together and lead us through this book that so appropriately and genuinely exalts Jesus.
The last few chapters on humility, compassion, and patience have been all up in my grill. Is that the right phrase? 😉 I needed the gentle reminder at the end of the book of the Truth that proceeded the list of virtues: that I am loved. And a great quote I came across tonight from C.S. Lewis encapsulates the life-long journey of taking off the old and putting on the new BECAUSE I am loved: “The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
Peace of the Lord be with you all,
meghan 🙂