joy

March 24, 2010 in Uncategorized with 42 Comments

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I try to live the Christian thing out each and every day to the best of my ability. There are probably quite a few things I need to change, though. One of them being that I don’t talk that much. This comes in handy when trying to make people feel welcome, but this is just part of my personality. Crazy, I know. I also know the Bible says to have the joy of the Lord. If you ever do meet me and hang out with me for a while, I think you will see more of a straight face with an occasional smile. You probably will not see the bubbly, talkative guy that I think of when I hear “the joy of the Lord”. This is just something I’ve dealt with through my Christian walk and after much thought I have decided to just be me. But again, it is in the back of my mind quite a bit. What do you think? Is the joy of the Lord an outward thing that should always be present? Or can someone be quiet and to themselves and still be joyous at the same time?

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day job

might be the smartest person ever

http://twitter.com/Unikornsong @Unikornsong

One of the beautiful things of this world is the huge variety of people it has in it. God created it this way, so as the Bible says, it's good. God made you that way, and since he knows what's in your heart, does it matter what other people think? You take pleasure in what you do when you do God's work. To me, that's joy, even if you aren't doing cartwheels, dancing, or being a "bubbly, talkative guy."
http://chrismartinsblog.com Chris Martin

I would be skeptical to ever equate "the joy of the Lord" with one's talkativeness (new word?). Joy has to do with the hope we find in the cross of Christ.
http://intensedebate.com/profiles/drayburn Dusty Rayburn

I believe Joy is Attitude and not Personality. Many times when I am the happiest, it is also when I am the quietest.
http://twitter.com/darylhb @darylhb

I totally agree with all the above comments!!

MOST IMPORTANTLY, As @Unikornsong pointed out, God created us all to be different and, let's face it, the ability to be quiet and listen is RARE!

Now, i don't know you personally, but although you may not talk a lot, i would imagine you to be a gifted LISTENER – you're certainly excellent at giving people the opportunity to share here on your blog.

You're great at replying, as well – which just goes to show that you take the time to hear what people have to say!

It's evident that you have a heart for people and that is beautiful to God – way more so than the nonsense some people talk about! And if you think about it, Jesus didn't seem like the greatest chatterbox either – he pretty much just said what needed to be said.
My recent post Moodswings and Other Things
http://www.prudychick.com Prudence

I like what Dusty said, joy is attitude not personality.

On Sunday we had a guest teacher at church. He mentioned joy and described it this way. His wife had been previously married. She went through a very bitter, difficult divorce. She lost everything in the divorce. He said that she told him that despite all of that the Lord filled her with joy. Through the most difficult time of her life she experienced joy.
My recent post Being Blind
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

I just realized I opened myself up for some judgement
http://intensedebate.com/people/Kevin_Martineau Kevin_Martineau

Great point Dusty! You pretty much summed up what I was going to say.
My recent post Do You Share God's Heart?
http://intensedebate.com/profiles/stephenisham stephenisham

What does it matter that we show an outward sign of joy for the Lord or not? It's what's in the heart the matters, and only God sees our heart.
http://intensedebate.com/people/aboynamedtracy aboynamedtracy

I think you can absolutely be both quite and joyous. I am also very quiet unless I know you well but I don't go around looking like Eeyore though. I smile and laugh (sometimes) but I don't think anyone would label me a shiny, happy person. Anyway, I think joy has more to do with understanding your position through grace than it is running around throwing daisies around singing…not that there's anything wrong with that.
My recent post No, I do not want to sign up for your credit card!
kathryn east

I'm wondering of you have ever literally had the joy of the Lord? Where, you're filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Where, there's a laughter that comes out that can't be controlled, and you literally feel drunk under the power of the Holy Ghost.

Love you guys. It's just interesting watching you guys try to figure out the supernatural in the natural….. Even Jesus talked about it when He spoke to Nicodemous…. that if he didn't understand the earthly things, how in the world we he understand the heavenly?
http://twitter.com/kathryneast @kathryneast

How in the world "would" he understand, rather. Blessings!!! hahahahahaha
http://twitter.com/rgdecastro @rgdecastro

Joy is thankfulness to God's goodness so it would not matter if you're laughing hard in the crowd or praying solemnly in solitude.
Cari

God made you and everyone of us unique. Your joy is known by God. Imitating is sensed on a deeper level. And it doesn't feel much like love..
http://twitter.com/rgdecastro @rgdecastro

Joy is thankfulness to God's goodness so it would not matter if you're laughing hard in the crowd or praying solemnly in solitude.
http://twitter.com/ServingStrong @ServingStrong

Have you read "Introverts In The Church" by Adam S. McHugh? I'm about to read it. Seems like we have a lot in common.
Lollimum

The joy of the Lord is my strength. As Prudence referred to earlier, a Bible teacher's wife was sustained through a painful divorce by joy. In the same manner, those of us who have survived and thrived through similar difficulties of this life, did so because of His joy….Therefore, lasting…not laughing, is the true mark of joy, my precious son.
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

i havent. i guess i gotta pick it up
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

good thought
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

true
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

good stuff guys. i guess some other folks deal with this after reading comments
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

cool man
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

very true
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

i have but other than that im not that way. and blessings to u too
http://twitter.com/darylhb @darylhb

Just read an article on Relevant Magazine, that is somewhat … relevant – if you'll excuse the pun.
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/church/featur…
My recent post Moodswings and Other Things
http://twitter.com/ragingrambler @ragingrambler

You come across on Twitter as very joyful and outgoing. I want to ask about the way you phrase everything as 'trying to walk the Christian life.' Do you think that you would be a real SOB if you weren't trying to be nice for Christ's sake? Anywhere I read it, Im always stopped in my tracks. I get it, but I don't get it…
http://theperkinsblog.com Michael

I think you can be both. What I mean is that you can be who God made you and still show the joy. I believe that even if you are not talking, others will still know that something is different about you. That's my take at least…
My recent post God Wants To Put Tomatoes On Your Sandwich
http://intensedebate.com/people/lightchild Grant Jenkins

Good question. I think it's entirely possible to have "the joy" and be a more quiet, reserved person. I actually prefer that to the overly bubbly type. I know quite a few folks that tend to lay "the joy" on a bit thick and it comes across as very fake and learned. There is a balance to all things, and this is one where the individual's personality sets the tone for how said "joy" will be expressed. Solemn joy is joy nonetheless.
My recent post Fear
@newtonhoops

Hey Adam, Pastor John Lindell, the pastor of James River Assembly, just recently preached a staff chapel on personalities, using the 4 main personality types. sanguine being talkative, and phlagmatic being the opposite of that. both can have joy, they just express it differently. whichever one you are, God created you with a special personality to reach people in a certain way, not everyone is geared to witness to every person they come in contact with, you just have to figure out how you can make your walk fit your personality, if you will. which doesn't mean completely avoiding people, but i think you get the picture. people are what we should be all about, however that works for us.
Rita

I wouldn't make joy out to be some kind of weird state. I believe it's quite simple and involves contentment, a sense of well being and happiness all rolled into one. One can experience this and still not be much of a talker. However, I would think it would be difficult to have the joy of the Lord and it not show on one's face for the most part. I'm not much of a talker (but can bend an ear if I really know you and believe you want to listen) yet I definitely have the joy of the Lord in my heart. Perhaps joy varies from one person to the next. But I'm remembering what this one pastor used to say jokingly, "If you've got the joy of the Lord on the inside, please inform your face."
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

cool. link?
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

haha. ive heard that before too. i guess thats what confuses me:)
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

yep. its hard for me to believe those folks are actually that happy
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

no. its just the Bible really talks about it. just wondering if im going about it all wrong. but, I know a lot of people who aren't Christian who are happy all the time
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

haha. thanks bro. i'm coming soon. i dont know what the deal is
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

i like it mom
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

i like it
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

amen
Pingback: Tweets that mention joy | (re)made, (re)made -- Topsy.com
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

good stuff bro
http://twitter.com/rgdecastro @rgdecastro

I remember James (brother of Jesus) encouraging as to consider it pure joy when faced with trials so joy must be an internal thing, contentment and peace.
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

I just want to say that everything said here on jackalopekid.com is to provoke thought, not to justify my actions to other folks. That's between me and God. The same goes between you and God if you've ever thought about this subject in your own life. I hope u c that. Usually it's just for the reader to know what the heck I'm thinking and so I can be real with the reader, cuz I figure someone else out there has thought the same thing and this hopefully sheds light on the matter. Thanks folks. I just felt like I needed to say that.
http://twitter.com/jackalopekid @jackalopekid

good point

joy

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