Day 3 - Unexpected Joy

I think that I tend to look only for joy in certain places or only in "happy" places.  When instead I should rejoice and be thankful in all things - in work and in play.  The weather got cold again last night, but the sun is out and at the risk of sounding very trite, it takes cold to make you appreciate warm.  One last thought on the note of thankfulness in the unexpected, I think I tend to think of a "happy" God, and he is, but I so frequently limit that happiness and his benevolence to happy things, when His sovereignty itself should give me great joy.  Particularly his laws.  God's word gives us guidance and I have too often overlooked the wonderful blessings of his law for how we should live our lives, because in it there is freedom I never knew.

Today and everyday I am thankful:

31. For God's Law

Psalm 19:7-11

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

John 15:8-11

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

1 John 1:4 And these things we write unto you, that your joy may be full

2 Timothy 3:15-17 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

32. For Harper Ann's Independence - She must do everything herself.  She's headstrong, that one.

 33. Washable Marker

 34. That I am able to bathe my kids

35. Family time before bed

36. Our Johnny Jump-up

37. For this Article that does a nice job summing up why I like (admittedly peripherally) NASCAR

"I watch NASCAR because some vein of backwoods asskick runs sidelong with the engineering and the sponsorships and NASCAR's desperate attempts to sanitize the sport. I watch it because some small part of me is from that, even if that little bit of me has been thoroughly urbanized and domesticated, and may have been all along."

38. For the NFL Combine giving me a little Football Happiness in the Month of February

39. For coffee with a little cream and sugar

40. For Gram Parsons