Joys

This past year has been one of many joys. Of many "firsts". Especially for my daughters.
Courtney, my 15 almost 16 year old, has had the experience of taking her first college class with the "University in the High School" program. It's a Drawing class and she LOVES it.
She has had the experience of having a 100% on her report card for a quarter grade. That is a perfect grade (for Math 11R). She has had the first time experience of taking the PSAT exam back in the autumn. (She qualified as she is taking a junior level Math class even though she is only a sophomore). She scored well. She has experienced getting her first college brochures in the mail and experienced her first "having to deal with a guy who likes me but I'm not old enough to date yet". She went to her first confirmation in a Catholic church where a good school friend of hers was being confirmed as an adult member of the church. Therefore, she experienced her first Mass. Quite different from our own Evangelical church setting!!
She is soon to experience her first time behind the wheel. Of a car. A real car as opposed to the bumper cars at the amusement park. I, of course, will experience the first time of being a parent sitting NEXT to my first born while she drives. Yeah...that is a real first...not sure how joyful it's gonna be tho! :) Tomorrow afternoon she will order her first class ring....an exciting time for students. So many choices...... In a couple of weeks she will experience wearing her first formal evening gown......

Claire has had plenty of her own "firsts" this past school year as well: her very first dance solo at church during the HizKidz Praise Christmas production;
her very first violin recital;
in a few more weeks she will experience her first real ballet solo in a real ballet with the Dance Academy Show.
She will experience her first "good bye to a best friend" when her good friend Gabby moves from NY to Florida this summer.....
All of these firsts have reminded me of all the joy they bring to us.
The joy of watching our children perform well.
The joy of seeing them make good decisions and using godly wisdom.
The joy of seeing them use their giftings and be leaders among their peers.
The joy of watching them grow physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. The joy of being their parent.
Experiencing something for the first time can (usually) be a joyful occasion. It often has an element of excitement to it.
Although my youngest might be a bit sad, she has the pleasure of knowing that she has been Gabby's good friend and that they can exchange letters, emails or phone calls. And that, although she will miss this friend, it IS a part of life, and she has plenty of other friends here who are not moving away.

Do you remember the first time you met the Redeemer?
Do you remember the Peace that permeated your heart when you first prayed?
Do you remember that zeal when you first realized your sins had been forgiven and you were now a child of God?
Do you still have that joy? Or is that joy missing?
Have you left your daily walk with God like Gabby is about to leave our area? You think about Him but you don't really spend time with Him?
Have you replaced that zeal with apathy? Have you replaced the daily walking with God with just attending church on Sunday mornings or special holidays?

Let's go back to our First Love.
It is in that Love that we can find true joy.

"You will show me the path of life;
in Your Presence is fullness of joy..." Psalm 16:11a

In our lives, God wants to lead. He wants to be first. And in that, we will find joy.

This is repeated again in Acts 2: 28.

And think about I Peter 1:8 which states:
"Though you have not seen Him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy"

We can't see the face of God. But someday, we will be in Heaven....we will meet Jesus face to face.
For the first time.
And what joy that will be!

Let's experience a taste of it here on earth. Love God, allow Him to lead you.... make Him first in your life......and you will be filled with Joy!