Joy!

     Joy. Ever since the eleventh grade, this simple word has meant a great deal to me and the reason why I know and love Jesus. I discovered that the simplicity in this word is only found in the fact that it is easy to spell, not in the complex meaning behind those three letters. For me, joy may mean something completely different than what it means for some of you. Joy is something that I have to continually ask God for everyday, it is not something that I am just naturally given, although I do believe that some are given the gift of being naturally joyful. If I forget to ask the Lord for joy in the morning, there is usually a rough day waiting ahead of me... Joy means that I find happiness through knowing that I have the Holy Spirit in me, helping me feel that joy. It's knowing that what I am doing, is for God's kingdom. It's seeing Christ in the small things.
     Living in Denver Colorado, I have discovered joy in many places. Places that I never really thought about finding joy in. I have joy at Place Bridge when one of my students finally understands the math problem that has given them so much trouble, or when they remember the sounds of all the letters in the alphabet. I have joy in dancing up and down sixteenth street mall to the music playing through my headphones with my friend hannah. I find joy in sitting and listening to the street performers at night, and getting to talk to them and know them in between songs.
     God has shown me so many things to be joyful about in just the two weeks that I have lived here. Denver is an interesting city. But I find so much joy in this city. This post is short but a little complex, so apologize if it does not make sense, but it's funny because that's how I see the word Joy.