worthy of joy

Welcome to Sparks of Joy. This is a place for women: a place of love, inspiration, encouragement and empowerment. I am here to tell you that you can live joyfully right now, right where you are. And when you claim your joy, you will begin to see opportunity and inspiration all around you. Here are a few guidelines for truly claiming your joy:

You must believe that you are worthy of a joyful life. You must claim your place beside Jesus and see yourself as He sees you, as a beautiful daughter of the Lord who was intended to live fully every day.  You were not created to live for "someday" or to hide your light beneath a barrage of to dos, expectations, and fears. You were created to live and to create and to shine in reflection of the Lord who created you. 1 Corinthians 2:7 says, His secret purpose from the beginning is to bring us to our full glory.  Our full glory. Are you living your full glory today? Would you like to be brought to your full glory?

You must choose joy every day, every moment.  Your journey to joy will never end. You will be challenged and you will become weary, but you can still choose to be joyful. In Philipians 4:11-12, Paul writes,

"I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or with little."

I love Ann Voskamp's explanation of this passage in her book, One Thousand Gifts. She discusses the importance of the word "learned" in the verses. "Learned" implies something that does not come naturally, something that must be studied and practiced. Finding sparks of joy is a learned process, a process that takes practice and dedication. Once you learn how to find sparks of joy in your life, you are equipped to redirect yourself when you become discouraged and struggle to claim your joy. 

Claiming your joy begins now, in this moment. Accept your worthy position alongside Christ and ask yourself "Where is my joy in this present moment?" The answer is your spark of joy. The more sparks you find, the more you will begin to live mindfully present and with gratitude. The tiny sparks of joy from moment to moment will create a shining light leading you to your full and intended glory.