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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

out of the depths



Joy.  It's that welling up feeling.

Underneath, somewhere unseen flows a bottomless reservoir.  Cool depths unfathomable filled with the assurance of salvation, hope of resurrection, a faithful God, unmerited favor, imputed righteousness, love unconditional, light unapproachable, knowledge of the Holy, forgiveness undeserved available to the repentant.

Every now and then, something moves me, things start to swell, erupting forth and I call that JOY. 

It's when the goodness just can't be contained.  It's that smile I can't keep from rising to the surface... or a heart gush... or a sudden outburst of song.  It's the knowing that the Father sees.  It's fellowship, even in suffering.
 
It's a swirl in the sunshine.  It's light shining through green.  It's that pinpoint of light at the end of a long dark tunnel... far away but no less visible.  It's the memory of brighter days.  It's the sweetness of His presence... despite the circumstances.


Sometimes joy courses on a wet trail down my cheek.  Sometimes it curls upward in the grin that won't wipe off.  Sometimes it makes my heart leap.

Joy. It's the overflow.

It can't be captured. Just let it gush.







tuesdays unwrapped at cats

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful picture! :)

Unknown said...

This post just soothed me. That picture is beautiful.

Trisha said...

"Cool depths unfathomable filled with the assurance of salvation, hope of resurrection, a faithful God, unmerited favor, imputed righteousness, love unconditional, light unapproachable, knowledge of the Holy, forgiveness undeserved available to the repentant."

Beautiful, Amy! Yes, it's the reason we can have joy no matter what our circumstances might hold. Your picture captures it so well, too.

Becky@Daily On My Way to Heaven said...

"Sometimes joy courses on a wet trail down my cheek. Sometimes it curls upward in the grin that won't wipe off. Sometimes it makes my heart leap."

These words I glean today, and if you don't mind, I will copy them on my journal...(But, I won't forget these words are yours!)

Under His sun and by His grace,

Becky

sarah said...

sweetness thru and thru! also, let me know when you guys are coming up, i'm sure we could work something up for a photo opp.

Janis Van Keuren said...

Beautiful list of moments and events that fill us with joy!

Blessings,
Janis

Carol said...

Beautiful picture. I can see and feel the joy there! I agree with you, sometimes joy comes in a song, in a beautiful scene or in tears streaming down my face. I completely understand where you are coming from.

~mel said...

Beautiful photo, beautiful post.

Deidra said...

I like the gushing. This is beautiful.

Mommy Emily said...

amy... this is one of my favorite posts... i LOVE the photo, and your words make me crave this... oh, to have joy. thank you, sister. i hope you'll join me for imperfect prose on thursdays. love to you. xo

MarshaMarshaMarsha said...

beautifully said, amy

Doug said...

Great post. You really brought out how joy just overflows...

Faith Hope and Cherrytea said...

lovely photo capture ~
i'm grateful forgiveness is available to all - bought & paid for - including the unrepentant ...
that's joy for grace !

sarah said...

this is so lovely - what you wrote, what you saw. :-)

Deb Schneider said...

Amy... You are such an example to as I read your posts... sounds like I am so far away... Hey wait a minute! I am so far away... ahh the joys of cyberspace... But anyway... JOY. You bring me joy and remind me of the longing for joy when I am distracted and forgetful... and the way you put it is so thoughtful and has such depth... and the great truths I know have been revealed to you by our closest friend. Love you friend.

Amy said...

Yes, the overflow! Wonderful image and exhortation to 'gush'. You bless!