Prayer of Joy

~~~ Isaiah 65:17-21  ~~~ Psalm 30 ~~~ John 4:43-54 ~~~

...there shall always be rejoicing and happiness
in what I create;
For I create Jerusalem to be a joy
and its people to be a delight...

All of creation is God's expression of joy;
how is it that we so often miss this evidence?
We take the joy of creation for granted.

God creates all new life and in life there is joy.
New life holds the hopes and dreams of a better future.
All of nature sings for the joy of life.
The trees bud...the birds sing...wild flowers painted the landscape...
the spring rains bring renewal to the lakes and rivers.

It is no accident that we celebrate Easter in the Springtime...
it makes the most sense because all of creation
supports the promise of new life.

“The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.”
The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him,
“Your son will live,”
and he and his whole household came to believe.

Jesus turned the official's mourning into dancing...into joy.
Jesus chose a wedding feast for his first miracle.
A wedding is a time of great joy.
The new wine averted the disappointment
of running out of wine for the guests.

O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.

For all the times, Lord, we have missed your message
of joy let me see it today.
For all the times, Lord, I have not given you
 enough thanks for turning my mourning into joy...
I give you thinks now.

Lord, even when I have failed and disappointed you
you still create joy all around me.

Lord, fill my heart with your joy...
teach me to treasure all the beams of joy
that radiate from your loving heart.

Today let your 'prayer of joy'
fill your soul.

You have been created to be Joy.
His Blessings are true Joy.
Return to him his joy is so worth the effort.
You are more than loved...you are made for joy.
~~~Peace~~~