Don't Look For Joy; Seek Jesus

I'm looking out the window to where our driveway meets the road.  The pasture fence branches off, and a handful of cows are lounging in the sun and dew-drenched grass.  There are birds savoring the morning air.  Three crape myrtil bushes watch the animals as the leaves erupt in flowers of crimson and pink.  Summer air.  Warmth.  Color.

And it all reminds me of what God has been teaching me this past week.  There, out of the window, is a little piece of Jesus' beauty.  A little piece of the Eden we lost in the fall.  Maybe a little piece of Heaven.  But whatever it is, when I set my eyes on it, I can't help but breathe, "Thank you, Jesus."

Recently, that snippet of a prayer has been my 11 year old sister's most common phrase.  She walks around the house saying, "thank you, Jesus" about every thirty seconds.  At first it annoyed me.  How could she be so thankful all the time?

But then it hit me.  The problem was with me - that I didn't have the same heart of thankfulness.  I focus so much on what's not going the way I plan that I miss the beauty of Jesus.

When it's all been about Him anyway.

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

- Colossians 3:14-15

 That's what I've been learning:  love.  peace.  thankfulness.  joy.

The problem is that when I try hardest to grasp them, that's when they slip through my fingers most easily.  It's because I'm seeking the gifts.  Not the Giver.

And when we seek Jesus, the priceless fruits of the Spirit are given freely to us.  No, life doesn't become perfect so we can have joy and thankfulness.  Instead, we grasp onto love, peace, and the rest because we have Jesus no matter what life looks like.

Joy comes only through Jesus (this blog post is so encouraging!).  So does love, peace, and thankfulness.  They are possible in every circumstance because Jesus is always faithful.

Which is why I've been trying to stop, be still, and know that He is God.  I've said that before, but it's so easy to lose sight and fall back into routine.  So I'm doing it again.

Dear friend, stop right now.  Look outside the window, open your ears to the sounds dancing through the air, let yourself be still.  And find Jesus.

I see Him right now in the beauty of the crape myrtils.  I hear His love through the music wrapping around me through the computer speakers.  I feel Him in the smooth pages of my Bible as my elbow rests upon it.  The sweet note made by a 7 year old's fingers that has a heart and I love you.  The brother who scribbles in his school book beside me.  The sound of late siblings finally finishing their breakfast.  That song that pops up and makes me stop everything to just sing.

*forces myself to stop singing and continue writing*

There's just so much Jesus when we open our eyes to His beauty and grace.  So many gifts.  So much Love.

And then I realize that He also gives us the chance to become that Love.

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

 - Ephesians 5:1-2

I'm just overwhelmed.  Overwhelmed by the beauty He gives us.  And amazed that we can be a part of it.

Maybe tomorrow I'll forget again.  But right now, I'm thankful.  And, like my little sister, I just want to say, "thank you, Jesus."

What little pieces of Himself do you see?  Do you abide in Christ?  Because then, only then will you discover the truth of love, peace, thankfulness, and joy.

Dear friend, see His Love.  And be His Love.

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

- Colossians 3:1-2 

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

- Colossians 3:17

~♥~