Fort Joy (Chapter 21)

Weekly Wednesday Joy in Spite of Stoopidity

Joy in the Word

(Nehemiah 8:10 ESV) Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

This graphic and recording is also on the website page where you can always find it again via the index.

Listen and follow along as you read.

Please pray with me. Jesus, thank You that you do not leave me wallowing in repentance. Thank You for Your mercy and forgiveness so that I can start all over again. I celebrate with joy the strength You give me to keep on keeping on. Amen.

H2304 The Hebrew חֶדְוָה chedvâh | ḥeḏvâ is pronounced khed-vaw’ and means gladness, joy. It is used two times in the Old Testament.

…And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10 ESV)

Now go home and have a feast. Share your food and wine with those who don’t have enough. Today is holy to our Lord, so don’t be sad. The joy that the Lord gives you will make you strong. (Neh. 8:10 GNT)

…And do not be worried, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and your stronghold. (Neh. 8:10 AMP)

My kid loves old forts. They have history and feel solid. They offer superior views of the outside world and any threats that may be coming. They were built to protect and defend what was valuable.

The text ties the Israelites sorrow to the reading and explanation of the Book of the Law of Moses (Neh. 8:1, 9 ESV) but they are told that it is time for them to feast, make sure their neighbors have enough to feast as well (testament to Nehemiah’s heart for the way wealthy community members had been taking advantage of the poor), and remember that, while Jerusalem was now considered a secure fortress by the completion of the wall, the better stronghold or refuge was found in the joy of the Lord.

God’s joy is a fortified place of protection with Him. It is a place to stand secure and defended. Let’s stand confident in the fort of God’s joy, Friends!

Framed Joy

I feel this is a well known song that has a line in the lyrics “the joy of the Lord is my strength.”

Quotable

Stoopidity Noticed

1. It is turning cold and I do not want to turn on my furnace again! Save money. Brr.

2. Hubby broke a toe! Stoopid cart that ran over his foot.

3. Feeling stuck and spinning wheels, with projects taking forever to do.

• dead car batteries

• cold temperatures after days of perfect weather

• the kid being rearended…again…

Joy Noticed

1. My ranunculus corms arrived! They are so pretty and I have never grown them before. I love trying new things.

2. I finally finished a project I was stuck on for a week and a half.

3. The Daffodils are so pretty in the flower arrangment on the table.

• …no damage to the kid’s new car after being rearended…

• great lung health report from the kid

• arts and crafts show at work

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