Choosing Joy with Joyce Ashley
We have a guest today and she has a great giveaway for one of you!
I first met Joyce Ashley two years ago at our Proverbs 31 She Speaks conference. I knew instantly she was an encourager who loves God and serving women. My daughter Kenna and I got to witness this firsthand as we did a conference at her church last year.
Her smile is contagious and so is her joy. Meet her now:
Joyce J. Ashley is founder of JoyJoy Ministries and delights in sharing a double portion of the joy of the Lord with others. She and her husband of almost 40 years (Pat) live near Douglas, GA. They have three children and six “grandjoys”!
Joyce is the author of a two books: JOYJUICE: Delightful Flavors of JOY in the Lord and Abundant JOY JUICE, Squeezed from God’s Word.
She is the writer and voice of a daily radio program called “Joy Juice” which airs on several stations in the South GA/North FL area. Feel free to invite Joyce to speak at your next ladies’ event by contacting her via email at [email protected] or visit her at “JoyJoy Ministries” on Facebook. She, also, has a website at www.joyjoyministries.vpweb.com.
Joyce partners with singer, songwriter Tammy Arant and writer, speaker Amanda Hayes to form Team RADIATE. They are available to lead women’s conferences and events. For booking contact Laura Beth Tucker at 229-392-7310 or email [email protected].
Now, from Joyce’s heart:
JOYfully blessed! That’s what I am! If I had to write down my blessings of joy, it would be impossible to list them all….BUT one that would certainly be at the top of my list today is Karen’s invitation to share the JOY of JESUS with you! So, thanks to Karen for this opportunity; and thank you for taking the time to read what God has placed on my heart.
About five years ago, I retired from the public school system. I loved my job and considered it my ministry for many years. These days, however, I like to say I’m reFIRED with a passion for sharing the JOY of Jesus! God blessed me with “JoyJoy Ministries” and a passion to share a “double portion” of the joy of the Lord with anyone and everyone who will listen!
Keep in mind that joy is not the same thing as happiness. Happiness depends on what’s happening in our lives….our circumstances. Joy is about relationship with Christ. When we give our hearts and lives to Jesus, we can trust Him to be in control. No matter what challenges are tossed our way, we can count on the promise that “He will never leave us or forsake us”. Deuteronomy 31:6
During my reFIREment, I have written hundreds of devotionals on finding the joy of the Lord in our daily routine. Here’s a sample of one “JOY JUICE” message that I pray will touch your heart and draw you closer to the Giver of abundant joy.
Taken from my latest book, Abundant JOY JUICE, Squeezed from God’s Word:
Have you had your Joy Juice today? Drinking it faithfully is imperative to assure a life of abundant joy.
Abundance—what does that word mean to you? I immediately think of a huge amount of something. Sometimes we think we have an abundance of work. Many days moms (& dads) have an abundance of laundry and housework. Some probably feel that they have an abundance of yard work and chores. And most likely, we all feel that we have an abundance of bills! J
Today let’s think of abundance from the perspective that Jesus taught in John 10:10. “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” What kind of abundance is Jesus speaking of in this verse?
In The Prayer of Jabez, Bruce Wilkinson tells us that the secret to true abundance is to want what God wants. That means that we love God so much that we put aside our desires and trust that God knows what is best for us. He wants us to bring our needs and desires before Him, but when we do so, we need to be content with whatever answer He gives us.
Abundant life in Christ is living every moment soaking up His love, His will, and His direction. Only then will we be overflowing with abundant joy…otherwise known as the “Joy Juice of Jesus!” Drink it in and spill it out onto others today!
Okay gals– now for her giveaway. It includes:
~ A copy of both of her books
~ A RADIATE t-shirt (the winner will get to choose a size)
~ A pink “EnJOY the Journey” tote bag
~ A couple of “Outrageous & Contagious” JOY pens
~ And a bag of Almond JOYs!
To be entering into the random drawing, tell us one simple thing that brings you joy.
I’ll go first…….hearing my 80 year old father’s laugh as he attempts to keep his composure while telling my kids a funny story from his childhood.
Oh and coconut. Coconut always brings me joy. (May have to choose myself for today’s prize. Almond Joys are the best!)
And you? What is a simple thing that brings you joy?
(winner announced Monday)
I find joy in watching our grandchildren grow up to be responsible adults and listening to my sister tell things her grandchildren say. They’re only 6 & 7 and they almost talk like adults.
It’s bring me joy to find another sister in Christ with my same name! I’m also feeling joy thinking about the baptisms we are having tomorrow and hearing testimonies of lives changed through knowing and trusting Jesus!
Listening to my girls giggling brings me joy. To know that they are happy, healthy, and love the Lord makes my heart smile.
I find great joy in my family and spending time with my 90 year old grandma..I know that my days with her are numbered, so being with her and laughing brings me a lot of joy:)
I find joy by being content in my 46 year old 10 x 60 mobile home and makin things as lovely as possible when my heart longs for a real house.
Making a silly face at my husband when he is in a crowd, and he can’t make one back because its inappropriate for him to look silly when others are around, He just smiles at me and knows it brings me joy…..later on he comes to me and smiles and says I love you!!!
joy is knowing that my son and daughter continue to see God’s will in their lives.
joy is experiencing my husband and I working with God to strengthen our marriage.
My joy comes from my children when they enjoying each other – their laughter is pure music to my ears and I would have to say coffee too. I love the smell, taste and warmth I get in the morning it is heavenly. Thank you for sharing.
I find joy spending my time in the Lord. I can’t wait to just get by myself and spend time with him as he speaks to my heart and teaches me things to help me become a better Christian. Another thing that I find joy in is serving others. Sometimes I will commit to something and have to back out because I care for my aging mom and she needs extra care. I am asking for guidance from the Lord with doing so as I don’t want to back out of things. When I commit I want to remain committed. Thank you Lord for your guidance.
Belly laughs from kids and adults who can’t help but join in!
I find the most joy in quilting, thinking about the person or charity I am making it for and praying for them while I am hand binding the quilt. No, it is the giving part that brings me the most joy, no, definatly the making, well how about anything to do with quilts. All aspects of quilting brings me joy.
The first smile and happy squeal of the morning from my baby girl when I enter the room to “release” her from the crib… It surely makes the heart smile, even way too early!
The first smile and happy squeal of the morning from my baby girl when I enter the room to “release” her from the crib… It surely makes the heart smile!
The first warm(I am talking capris and short sleeves) and sunny day of Spring!!
Seeing my newly-turned 5 yr old light up at any new accomplishment. And when I ask her why she can do that, hear her say, “because God made me.”
Joy is being with my husband, Mark, and our seven children.
A warm clean bed after a long day of work
Knowing I am child of the LORD
Hearing my husbands voice, finding his eyes resting upon me, and feeling him hold my hand…brings me so much joy!
Spending time with my husband and children bring me joy!
I receive such joy in just having my husband home. Sitting with him in the living room. Sharing dinner with him. Knowing he is laying close by and that he is safe at home with me. These are simple things but things that I am so thankful for.
Hearing my grandchildren ages 2, 3, and 3. I have lost most of my hearing due to brain tumors but can still hear their sweet voices and reading their little lips. Trully the joy of my life. Jesus’s promises bring me joy.
I love watching and hearing my children pray.
I find joy in spending time with fellow sisters in Christ. We can have never met previously and yet feel like we’ve known each other forever because of our shared love of Jesus and this brings me joy!
Something that has brought me more joy over the years than almost anything is watching my kids put on plays, rodeos, synchronized scooter shows, broomball games, or figure skating routines for their dad and me. The reason I love this? Because I know how many hours they spend together, working side-by-side, figuring out all the logistics, making invitations and menus for the snacks they serve us :-) It’s time they will always treasure and so will my husband and I!!