what does it mean?

This is the day the LORD has made and I will REJOICE and be glad in it. Psalm 118

What does it mean to rejoice? This is from from the free dictionary online,
re·joice  (r-jois)

v. re·joiced, re·joic·ing, re·joic·es

v.intr.

To feel joyful; be delighted: rejoiced at the news; rejoiced in her friend's good fortune.

v.tr.

To fill with joy; gladden.

Phrasal Verb:

rejoice in

To have or possess: rejoices in a keen mind.

To feel joyful, to be delighted. I wonder how could I not be delighted if I feel joyful? And if I'm in close relationship with the Lord, how could I not be gladdened?

My walk with the Lord has been growing every day, every moment in a new way. When I live my life for Him, to proclaim what He has done for me and not just praying like it's a chore or only when I need or want something, like he's this cosmic Santa Clause.

 But thanking Him with all He's done, thanking Him for waking me up to enjoy a new day, thanking Him for creating taste buds so I can enjoy my morning coffee, thanking Him for a  car to get to a job that allows me to pay for it, thanking Him for the friends I have, thanking Him for the clients I meet everyday, thanking Him when I get home and see my entire family has all come back to the safety and security of our home that He has provided, thanking Him for the beautiful blessings of my children, and thanking Him for providing a husband for me that is truly my best friend, how can I not rejoice?

I am richly blessed, I don't say this to brag, (well if you saw my honey, he's pretty cute!) I say this because over the past few years I'm realizing more and more, how incredibly rich I am, not in money but in blessings. No amount of money in the bank can compare to the love we share in our home, and the joy I have knowing that I get to fall asleep with mu husband while my kids are tucked in and awake to my best friend. We have something most people can only dream about. A beautiful marriage that is not filled with hateful words, a marriage that is built on truth and integrity. We have children, well I have children that he loves as his own. How many people can't have them or have lost them. And I am blessed with two.

Yes, of course going on vacation and all that are truly wonderful but if I didn't have him and the girls they would all be meaningless.

When I look at the challenges I face, recovering from past abuse issues, financial stress, petty arguments, running out of coffee creamer, I realize that all this will pass soon. When I say 'Lord I can't deal with this, I need you, " a peace overcomes me. When I have to confront life altering news and the unknown, it has taking my realtionship and prayer life to a different more deeper level, I realize more and more that without the support and love of the Lord, what do I have? Who is the one that will always listen, always be there, the only one that can truly comfort, that has the power to change the situation and the power to heal?

Yes He can work through people and use people, but ultimately He is in control.

That's fine with me, none of my friends can make a person out of dust, or heal a blind person or release me from the shame I've carried. So Why wouldn't I go to Him? Why wouldn't I trust Him?

And how can I not praise Him and rejoice in Him? How dare I only come to Him when I need something? How could I even have the audaucity to ask for a miracle if I can't even say thank you for the food in front of me?

So yes! Today I WILL rejoice and be glad! For this is another day the Lord has chosen to give to me! I will CELEBRATE all it has to offer!

Sea of Grace

This is the day the LORD has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it!!!! Psalm 118
Yes!! This is a good day!
I choose to rejoice in it!
My husband and I finally got to take our honeymoon! Our first time in Mexico. We spent almost a week in Cabo San Lucas, and it was perfect!
I remember walking through the resort thinking it was the most beautiful place I'd ever seen, I thought if this is paradise I couldn't imagine what Heaven would be like!
Then we were on the Sea of Cortez, overlooking beautiful rock formations, watching the sea lions flop about, the sky was a blanket of blue shimmering in the sun. I thought to myself, I can't believe you created this all out of nothing God. I was in awe of all the beauty around me. We saw whales and fish jumping. I was overwhelmed by the vastness of it all.
Out of nothing this was created.
With just a word it came to be.
This was the first time I really thought about this. I know the story of Genesis. I believe in creation. But this was the first time I saw it this way.
I thought of the Sea, how deep it was for these mighty whales to swim and I felt in my heart the Lord say to me 'as deep as the sea are your sins are from me'
Iv'e read the verses, heard it in a song, as far as the east is from the west, so are your sins from me.
This was the first time I was on a boat in the sea looking at all God had created for me, for us, simply because He loves us and hear him say 'as deep as the sea are your sins are from me'.
My heart was forever changed that day.
I wasn't looking for Him in that moment , I wasn't asking to be changed in that moment.
But He spoke truth to me in that moment and made me see what I needed to see.
Cabo was the most beautiful place I have been on earth so far, everywhere we went surprised me more and more. I can't even begin to imagine how beautiful heaven will be.
I'm realizing the older I get how fast life really does go by and I'm only 37 as I write this.
Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
I rejoice today, because I left my sorrow in the sea.
These words were spoken to me, but they are meant for all of us. Whatever is weighing you down, toss it into the sea, let it sink away to the depths and be no more! Shed the coat we all have worn , that heavy coat of shame, let it. be washed away in this endless sea of forgiveness.
Dive in to the sea and swim in the vastness of His grace. Because when you do you will feel free.

Micah 7:19


You will again have compassion on us;
    you will tread our sins underfoot
    and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea

Psalm 103:12
as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

May you swim in the Sea of Gods grace today and everyday,
                      Destiny