WORD WEDNESDAY - Sweet Joy

My Word of the Year for 2016 is JOY!  Each week I will share in a "Word Wednesday" post as I discover the JOY in my life - and yours!



This week's title is, "Sweet Joy", and what better way to showcase that than a jar full of mini Snickers and Almond Joys - not a favorite of mine because it has coconut in it!

I found this cute idea on Pinterest - a perfect gift for a teacher; also a perfect image for my post today!

Please join me during this year-long journey...



Remember your childhood, being rewarded with ice cream or candy or some other sweet treat, perhaps for a "job well done"?  Oh, the first sweet taste...

Such Sweet Joy!

The other day while running errands, I suddenly started feeling hungry.  It was well past lunch time; but I had eaten a late breakfast.

So, I pulled into the parking lot at Arby's.  As I rounded the corner, this sign drew my attention:

Mint!  And Chocolate!

You had me at MINT...

But, then you added CHOCOLATE!

Yes, please!

So, I ordered a small sandwich and fries (like a good girl!); and decided to "reward" myself with a small Mint Chocolate shake.  After eating my sandwich and fries, I pulled the shake towards me...

That first slurp;

Mmmm!  Such Sweet Joy!

Every single slurp of that shake was sooooo good; and I (eventually) enjoyed every single bit of it!

At church on Sunday, words kept coming to mind for my Word Wednesday post.  I started jotting things down on the back of my bulletin.  My mind kept thinking - "Oh, taste and see..." - but I didn't know where these words came from; I just knew they were perfect for where my mind was going!

I asked a friend who is a pastor and she googled the words (of course!  Modern technology and all!!!)...

 As we prepared to partake of Communion, I found myself listening a bit more intently to the words and the prayers for the Bread and the Cup.

In our denomination - the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - we partake of Communion every Sunday.  I love this tradition; but at times I've wondered if it becomes...well, perhaps less meaningful, having it every Sunday?

"While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said,
'Take, eat; this is my body.' 
Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying,
'Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many and for the forgiveness of sins.' "  (from Matthew 26:26-28 NRSV).

As I listened to the Words of Institution the Pastor quoted, and repeated the highlighted portions along with the rest of the congregation, I thought about that mint chocolate shake that had tasted so wonderful just days earlier...

The sweet joy I felt while slurping that shake is nothing compared to the blessed "meal" we share every Sunday.  As I took the Bread and dipped it into the Cup, I thought how truly blessed we are!

Perhaps the "every week" tradition of Communion may become less meaningful; but on this particular Sunday, my eyes were opened to the blessings of our Savior.

Thank you, God, for our Lord and Savior who gave His life for us; and for the wonders of a special "meal" that satisfies the soul and gives us...

Mmmm!  Such Sweet Joy!



{And I must also share this:  when I decided to do a weekly post for a Word of the Year, I did not plan anything ahead.  I just jumped in, head first!  Or, was that feet?

Each week a topic or words just seem to start coming to me, usually a few days in advance of when I would need to start writing my post!

I thank God for these words and pray His continued guidance as I seek to share my words of JOY each week!  He is truly blessing me with these words!}