Well, it actually started with the fact that Christ Community has been having daily prayer Zoom meetings at 7am (and another one at 5:30pm)(if you have any interest in joining in, you are MORE THAN WELCOME - let me know, I can send you a link).
The prayer meeting part has been going on for a while (though I think they were meeting at 5:30am?!) - it's the Zoom part that's new in this COVID-19 season. And while I think most people would agree that in person is better than Zoom, there's something significant about these Zoom meetings and calls and connections. And, in this case, meeting over Zoom has made it possible for me to join in with the prayer time. AND, I've really enjoyed them (there could be a whole post about that...)
I've already said so much without saying much of anything that I started out to say!
More backstory. I was feeling the invitation from God to join in on the prayer times....but waking up earlier than necessary is not my favorite thing. So, I basically told God (in a very respectful way :)) that He was welcome to wake me up if He wanted me to participate....
He's been using a sweet little girl named Zoe to do just that. Lately, she's been waking up around 6:30 but if I go to her and give her lamby and paci, she'll settle back in for another hour, give or take a bit. In this season, I've sensed the Lord saying "just stay up, join in the prayer calls."
Back to Wednesday night, we had stayed up pretty late (we've been playing games and watching movies as a family....which is GREAT...but it's made for some late nights) and I was thinking that it would be nice to sleep a bit longer - so my flesh was hoping that 1)Zoe would sleep until 8am! or 2)God would give me permission to go back to sleep even if she woke up.
Thursday morning, she woke up around 6:30...I settled her back down...and knew in my heart that God was inviting me to stay up. So I did. And I'm so glad I did.
I joined in the prayer call and Beau was leading (I love and appreciate how different people have been leading the calls). He started by sharing this quote about JOY From the Become Good Soil Blog: Tumbleweeds and Joy Bombs
Jesus, I want joy. If joy flows from intimacy and intimacy from union and union can be restored through our intimate and personal love language, I want more. Would you open the eyes of my heart to see what joy bomb you are bringing for my heart this day? I need it. I choose the greatest defiance of the Kingdom of God over darkness. I choose you. I choose to believe that you choose me. That I’m worth it to you. That you are just around the corner. I’m looking. You have my yes.
And then he invited us to share where we have been experiencing joy - what joy bombs has God been sending our way?
It was such a beautiful time of worship as person after person shared how God has been giving them joy. From beautiful things in nature to certain songs to getting pegged with a ball by a child in a family game (and the belly laughing that ensued!) to experiencing kindness from God and others....there was testimony after testimony of God's goodness and kindness and the JOY given by Him. It was SO soul strengthening and heart lifting.
An infusion of joy.
Good questions to think on (and good questions to share with others!):
- Where have you been experiencing joy?
- Are you noticing the "joy bombs" God is throwing into your life?
- How are you expressing your thanks for the "joy bombs"?
- What do you think brings joy to the Lord?
A little inside scoop on life in the Cash Casa: most days, once the other Cash Kids get up and get going for the day, we do our homeschool "stuff together" (yes, that's the very official title of it). We use the family devotion guide (click on the words "family devotion guide" to get a free digital copy if you want one)...we read from a book (currently we're reading quite possibly my all-time favorite book: Max Lucado's Just Like Jesus) and we read history together.
On Thursday morning during our time together, I shared with them about the prayer call - and we talked about ways we're finding joy these days...and then I started singing "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart"...with lots of subsequent verses. Which then brought to mind a few other fabulous joy songs that I didn't realize my kids didn't know (J-O-Y down in my heart, deep, deep down in my heart....)...and the "Joy to you and me, Jeremiah was a bullfong" song...and even a rowdy version of "Joy to the World" was sung. (they joined in with varying degrees of willingness and enthusiasm). Our singing was followed by a few (2ish) of us doing some enthusiastic "Joy Jacks" (very normal jumping jacks...but shouting "joy" with every jump).
An infusion of joy.
And if that wasn't enough (sometimes it seems like with God when it rains, it pours! He's so generous!) - this fun activity came across my instagram feed sometime last week:
I shared it with Emma (because gratitude is always a good idea!) - but wasn't really sure if she would embrace it/enjoy it...or just disregard it.
After a little while, she came and showed me this:
She had not only done the scavenger hunt, she had also made a pic-collage of her findings. I was surprised and amazed (and thankful that she even wanted to do it!!). She also shared it with some friends via Marco Polo and invited them to do it, too. I loved hearing her answers.
An infusion of joy.
I feel like our home is generally a place marked by peace and love....but I don't know that I would say that JOY is constantly evident (though sometimes I confuse joy with happiness and excitement). I know joy is present....but it was EVIDENT Thursday morning. And I wanted to share...cause somehow sharing multiples the joy!
I needed the fresh infusion of joy. I needed the laughter of singing silly songs. I needed the Lord to remind me of His presence (I wish I never needed reminding...but I do).
And it all started with me thinking that I just wanted to sleep...and God knowing that He's got gifts that are so much better than sleep.
Surely there will be more to come.
One last little piece of inside information: Zoe has been joining in the prayer calls most mornings around 7:30 (thank you, God, for the ability to mute! :)) and then after the call, we go and sit on the couch in the sunroom and watch Boz - well, she watches, I doze. My 8am naps have been sweet gifts from God these past few weeks.
