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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

WAILING


Today’s post is part of the Christian Writer’s blog chain. This month, our theme is “Joy.” Please visit my friends’ blogs by clicking on the links in the right-hand column.

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If I could paint "joy" it would look like this


Several times a year I clean out my Bible. Out come the 3-month old church bulletins, the unused attendance cards and the slips of paper filled with prayer requests long since answered.

Also get peeled off are the post-it stickers marking verses that have spoken to me at various times.

For the last half dozen times I have cleaned out my Bible though, I have left a single post-it attached. By now, the purple post-it has faded to a light pink and has rolled onto itself so that it no longer flaps happily out the side. It marks Psalm 30:11:

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.

We all face moments of despair, depression or anxiety. Those moments when what we want most to do is wrap ourselves in a blanket and wail. At those times, I remember this psalm and watch as releasing my cares to Jesus results in throwing off the blanket and wanting to dance with joy.

I’m thinking about replacing my worn out post-it with a fresh one. Then again, by now my fingers can find Psalm 30:11 on their own. In fact, I no longer even need to read it for it to speak to my heart.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you know our needs. You know our moments of despair and you love us through them. Thank you for the joy we find in you. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? What verse speaks to your heart about joy?

10 comments:

chris said...

what verse? WOW, that one sure has Carol, love it!!!

From Carols Quill said...

Thanks, Chris. You should know however, that my dancing resembles King David's. It's joyful--if not particularly graceful!

lynnmosher said...

LOL Just don't go around doing it naked! Strange what we find in our Bibles sometimes, isn't it? Here's my verse: “Well done, good and faithful servant...Enter into the joy of your Lord.” I loved the version you used on yours. Love the whole post!

From Carols Quill said...

Thank you, Lynn and I will remember your advice and not dance naked in public!

Unknown said...

Carol, My Bible is full of old song sheets, post-it's, pictures. At one point it became so full of paper that the binding loosened! It has a rainbow of highlights and notes in the margins. Someone asked me why I kept so much in my Bible, I said I just mark off what the Lord has spoken to me - that is a lot! I've got several bibles, study, reading, Church and my favorite marked up one - I find great Joy in seeing the growth and all the places the Lord has led me too. Peace & Blessings

From Carols Quill said...

LOL Terrie - one of these days I will have to have my main study Bible rebound. As long as I've got a centimeter of white space on the page I can keep jotting down notes from God.

Adam Collings said...

Thanks for the timely reminder. Great verse!

From Carols Quill said...

Thank you, Adam for taking the time to stop by!

Pam B. said...

I, too, always have a verse that reassures me, encourages, me, and supports me in the way I need at that particular time. I have spoken about this verse before, but here it is again, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life." Ps. 32:8 (NLT)

From Carols Quill said...

@ Pam - yes, I love that verse, too. It's very encouraging.