Sometimes we approach joy as if we were taking a pop quiz. The art of joy requires more than one coat of paint.
When my son turned three, TJ graduated from the crib to an actual bed.
Solid wood beds cost a big chunk of money. Add in a super-hero boy, arms loaded with hotwheels and tinkertoy spears — and you’ve got a stressed out mom in the making.
So we settled on a lower cost, saner approach. We hauled a bed made out of “natural wood” upstairs and I was commissioned to hit Home Depot to pick out the perfect shade of honey.
In short order, I piled cans of wood stains into my cart, each promising tints in thumbnail images that looked menacingly alike. I was stuck on aisle 2 with a string of cans under my arms and in both hands, torn between too many colors.
My left brain would’ve probably self-imploded had it not been for the guy in a canvas store vest.
I walked out of the store semi-traumatized but got educated on the basics of wood staining:
Buy some samples and experiment with colors on the back of the bed.
Apply a layer at a time and allow time in between to dry.
The stain turns deeper with each application.
One detail: Paint looks different wet than when it’s dry.
Last but not least: Have fun! ( I definitely threw him a blank look at this point. )
There’s quite a lot of new ideas I’d like to try and changes I’d like to make in the new year.
One area I’d like to be more confident in is: Expressing Joy — in bold and care-free quantities.
Five Principles of Joy Staining
As I brainstormed my way to joy this month, I saw the same principles of wood staining apply to joy.
We even have someone more knowledgeable than the store reps. We get to practice these Five Principles of Joy Staining with our Beloved Carpenter, Jesus Himself.
“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” John 15:11
The Five Principles of Joy Staining
1. Give joy a sampling. Try different things — or doing things differently — to see what joy looks like for you. Experiment in small doses.
2. Give your joy ideas time to dry. Once you try something for the first time, avoid judging yourself or criticizing the experience harshly right away. Give yourself (and others, if they’re involved) some space to be imperfect.
3. Joy takes more than one coat of paint. You might not even feel joyful at first. You will find that joy gets a little deeper as you feel the freedom to trust and just try. (I found that by just trying, even as I’m nervous, I feel a tinge of joy!)
4. Joy looks different wet than dry. You’re on a journey, not taking a “Joy Test”. There is no pass or fail. Joy comes from the heart and the heart is very resistant to demands or “Thou Shalt”.
5. Joy is fun! Yes, there is a shade of peaceful, quiet joy that comes through suffering. Don’t forget that the kind of joy that is sunny, exuberant and just plain fun is equally as godly too!
Heard of Naaman?
I’ve gathered up these five shots of faith, after being inspired by Naaman, the “valiant warrior” from Aram who was also a leper. He wanted to be healed of his disease. But when the prophet Elisha told him to travel to Israel and dip into the river Jordan seven times, he got angry and discouraged.
After some encouragement from his friends, he decided to do it anyways. On the seventh dip, the Bible says his skin became as soft as a newborn baby!
As you step out this year, trying out your One Word focus, you may be tempted like I’ve been thinking, “Who am I kidding?”
Before you throw in the towel —
~ Remember who sent you to your One Word — God.
~ Keep dipping!
On the nth dip — God knows when that is — we will see joy deeper and truer in our everyday experience.
Let’s keep encouraging each other. Let’s keep painting the world with faith in what God’s doing.
I’m not even talking about the “big” things.
In the everyday things that no ones sees, that is where God faithfully meets us — because He sees.
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What keeps you encouraged to step out in joy?
Pull up a chair. Share a comment or subscribe by email.
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** SPECIAL UPDATE**
I’ve selected a One Word submitted by you for next week’s Faith Jam. Scroll down to find out what the new topic is and who chose it for their One Word.
*** NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN — FAITH BARISTA JAM! ***
Faith Barista Jam Thursdays — I serve up a topic of faith, you write the post. Keep faith fresh with a faith prompt and add your voice to this community.
Today’s topic: Is Joy Easy or Hard For You?
Share your post by clicking on the blue button below “Add Your Link”. You can also share directly by simply commenting below.
Next Thursday’s Topic 1/27: Hope
Here are the friends in our Keep Faith Fresh Community who submitted “Hope” in the One Word For 2011 Faith Jam.
Kendal Privette – A Spacious Place (*)
Melanie – Melanie’s Journey (*)
Laura Boggess – The Wellspring
Helen – Random Musings
Cheri
Maria T
Merissa – Under A TreeIf you’re up for it, visit these friends — after your post is done (so you can write freely). (*) indicates a One Word post, while others dropped their One Word as a comment. Drop by to say hello and encourage.
If you’d like to add your One Word for 2011 to the mix, it’s never too late.
Click here to share a your “One Word” post or just leave a comment.
I’ll be selecting some of our Faith Barista Jam topics from the One Words For 2011that we’ve created together. Let’s encourage each other. Swap our stories.
Approach it any way you feel inspired! Only required ingredient: keep it real. Thanks for serving your personal brews!
Build the Keep Fresh Fresh Community: Link back to Faith Barista or grab the Faith Fresh Badge to place in your post. Click here.
It’s a jam session. As time allows, say hi & drop a comment when visiting the community faith blends!
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** SPECIAL LISA LEONARD GIVEAWAY **
Remember I’m hosting a special Lisa Leonard Jewelry Giveaway to encourage us for the new year — a $50 Gift Certificate. Click here to jump to the post — Enter to Win!
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38 Comments
I totally agree with an Amen! It’s the simple everyday things 😀 My blog today is about that very subject. My favorite name of God is “El Roi” the God who sees. He surely does.
I look forward to us all encouraging each other this year. Like Biscotti in my latte – Dipping, dipping, and more dipping. Changed forever!
Hugs, blessings, and love to you Bonnie 😀
.-= Jeri @godsdreamsforme´s last blog ..Simple Joys Refresh =-.
These are great ideas, Bonnie. It is true that everyone’s joy looks different. We in the church need to remember and celebrate our uniqueness.
And everyone’s path to joy is different. It comes easy for some, and for others it’s as foreign as toilets flushing counter-clockwise.
.-= Joy´s last blog ..Joy Has No Armor =-.
I love these ideas, Bonnie. A great recipe for joy. I don’t think my post answers the question…is joy easy or hard for me? As Glynn says in his post…both. Maybe I need to dip in more? 🙂
YOU are such a gracious host.
http://lauraboggess.blogspot.com/2011/01/almost-whole.html
.-= Laura´s last blog ..Almost Whole =-.
I think your post fits perfectly. I really enjoyed reading it. “Life is rich and joy drips deep into these veins because we. share. stories.”
Shared stories of our parallels bring healing and joy to the soul.
.-= Jeri @godsdreamsforme´s last blog ..Simple Joys Refresh =-.
Oh Bonnie, I just love the way you apply daily stuff to work in building us up!! I’m someone who likes to measure my skill/talent on mostly a single attempt, and definitively decide if something works for me or not….tks for the inspiration….:-)))
[…] Linked up to the Faith Barista’s Faith Jam on Joy. Join her to read more. You May Also Like:The Remedy for an Ingrown SoulSorrow Is Part of Christmas, TooThrough the Stormy FogMy Personality Was My FaithGod Came There Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. […]
I love the story of Naaman – probably because it’s so much like us. We think what’s required should be something superhuman — and when we’re told to do something that seems so somple, we bristle and obsess, just like Naaman did. The lesson here is that faith — like joy — is a simple thing, not something vastly complex.
.-= Glynn´s last blog ..January Grouse =-.
I’m experimenting with joy this year too so I love the chance to read and write on this topic. And your advice is so good for me:
“You’re on a journey, not taking a “Joy Test”. There is no pass or fail.”
Just what I needed to hear today. I’ve been trying to decide on taking a “fun” day trip on Saturday that’s a little out of my comfort zone but I’m going to go for it!
.-= Lisa notes…´s last blog ..I hope you dance =-.
Bonnie, thank you for great joy staining tips!! I appreciate the encouragement to keep dipping into my one word for this year.
As always, visiting the jam is a JOY!
.-= Donna´s last blog ..Joy Over Easy – Really =-.
i’m reading ann voskamp’s 1000 gifts and learning that joy stems from gratitude. i’m posting my gifts with her on mondays.
.-= kendal´s last blog ..seven woes =-.
I like how you made the leap from paint to joy. Creative!
Naaman is one of my favorite characters. The seven dips story makes for great encouragemnet for those of us who ‘aren’t yet there’.
.-= David @ Red Letter Believers´s last blog ..You made me think =-.
And you paint beautiful word pictures, Bonnie!
Thanks for the dose of joy this morning…
.-= Robin @ Set Your Heart To Seek God´s last blog ..Give-away- One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp =-.
[…] at Faith Barista the question was […]
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Great post, Bonnie. I think it’s so important to realize (like you said) that we may not always ‘feel’ joy as we think it should feel, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there. I want more joy in my life so I’m trusting in Him! Thanks so much.
.-= jasonS´s last blog ..One Responsibility =-.
My weekly stops at a coffee shop and the smell of aromatic espresso or a good roast of coffee put a smile on my face and wake me up. I love the atmosphere in there–full of friendly people from different places in life. Joy is in finding myself among the human race and knowing that we’re each struggling with the same worries and cares. None of us are alone.
.-= Nikole Hahn´s last blog ..Freedom in Silence =-.
Amen, my FaithJam friend 😀
.-= Jeri @godsdreamsforme´s last blog ..Simple Joys Refresh =-.
Thank you! I love the story of Naaman and how he was encouraged by friends. Encouragement from others is often the best source of joy when a person is discouraged. (Or at least it is for me.)
Joy is easy and hard for me. It is hard to find joy in trial after trial, but then it is such a joy to see how God works in those type of situations. It is easier to keep my joy when I keep my focus on Jesus and have encouragement from others to keep going when life is tough.
Thank you for always being a source of encouragement to me.
.-= Katie´s last blog ..Trusting Gods Best =-.
Great post! I didn’t link up this week, but I’m definitely looking forward to reading others’ posts. 🙂 Your site, and the community you’ve developed here, are a joy to me. Have a fantastic day, Bonnie!
.-= Melissa Brotherton´s last blog ..who do you think you are! =-.
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Thanks for inviting us all here, once again. Joy is a difficult one for me because, all too often, I think I run ahead of the Spirit’s leading, trying to find it on my own. I like your connection with Naaman because I think it incorporates both waiting on God’s leading (Spirit work) and then being obedient to what God calls us to do.
.-= Nancy´s last blog ..Desperately Seeking Joy =-.
Oh Bonnie… my goodness… what can I say? I love it! Joy staining. Love it.
♥ Jennifer
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..back with a new blog =-.
[…] for more posts about joy? Drop by Bonnie Gray’s Faith Barrista blog now for more thoughts on joy and a blog post that actually manages to fully develop only ONE […]
I just wanted to say how much I appreciated your ability to write a post with only one metaphor. It’s the little things like that I appreciate. The whole post holds together quite well and has so many good ideas. I’m always mixing my metaphors, shaken, not stirred…
Truth encourages me to step out in Joy.
I find that when I am not spending time in God’s word, my joy is easily “stolen” by circumstances, feelings, other’s opinions and a myriad of influences…
But when I make that step to listen, and hear The Lord, I can step out in Joy
.-= Merissa´s last blog ..greater things are yet to come =-.
I don’t think I really answered your question in my post (although my post did touch on joy). Merissa’s answer (above) describes my feelings quite well. When I fill myself with God’s Truths and refresh myself with His perspective, then I can experience true joy, even in difficult circumstances. And often the choice is mine … will I choose to worry, or will I choose to act on what He says. A daily choice … and I am wanting to make that more of a habit.
Thanks for your words, and encouraging us to put on more coats of joy!
.-= Cherry´s last blog ..Windows to the Soul =-.
Bonnie, I couldn’t agree more that joy needs to be sampled. We need to try different avenues, succeed and fail and look at all of it with perspective to see what fit the best.
You have a great illustration here!!
I keep telling myself that I’m going to join one of these and I’m terrible about it. I’m thinking about hope, right now. We shall see how it goes!
.-= jake´s last blog ..Huge Church Lostish Souls =-.
I love how you say that joy takes more than one coat if paint. So true. You have to keep at it. Be persistent and sometimes go through the motions to get to the place where you find joy. It’s been this way for me. As always thank you for sharing the words God gives you.
.-= Amy Nabors´s last blog ..Does Joy Come Easily Not Exactly =-.
The one about letting it dry is the hardest for me. That requires patience! But you’re right; joy is like staining, not like wallpapering or contact-papering.
P.S. Loved your fried rice post. Never thought of it that way before!
A parable of paint — I LOVE it. 🙂
.-= Kissie´s last blog ..4 Blogging Tips from Ted Williams =-.
Great tips on “paint staining”. Love that.
.-= Dustin´s last blog ..Hello- My Name is…… =-.
I love this post on joy! I have been struggling to find mine again. I posted two links, part 1 and 2, because it was much too long for one reading.
Thanking God for the blessing you are, Bonnie! Blessings always, Melissa
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..Going to the Mattresses- Part 2 – Letting Go =-.
That Naaman! I always love that story. I feel like I’m standing on the edge of the water, every single time, willing him not to stop dunking until he gets to number seven! That story alone brings me joy!
.-= deidra´s last blog ..Big Mama’s Kitchen =-.
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Good thoughts here. Joy is from within–nothing external can give us joy if it’s not in our heart. That’s why we as Christians can have joy even in the midst of adverse circumstances. It’s also something we can grow. I did this after the death of my daughter. I started out noticing one joyful circumstance each day. The way my 3 year old’s pigtails bounced, a perfect pumpkin, sunlight on mums…I slowly rebuilt my joy one day at a time.
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