Shadows of Joy

Something amazing happened at our house two days ago. We opened the blinds on our front door to let some sunshine in. No, that’s not the amazing part, though we are rarely home during the day to do this.

I’m sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a mid morning cup of coffee when Nancy says, “Sweetheart, come in here; look at this!” I put down my phone to investigate.😌

As soon as I set foot in the living room, I see it: a perfect shadow of the word JOY on the wall. A look across the room reveals the source— sun light blasting through blinds on the door.

The pristine silhouette lasted about ten minutes, until the angle of the sun changed. Alas, the poet Robert Frost says it best, “Nothing gold can stay.”

Folks, this is enough to turn a amateur theologian into a full on philosopher. There has to be some sort of stoical metaphor in this situation.🤔 Actually, a spiritual application is more useful. 😇

For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 2:15-16 (NIV)

Kind reader, 1000 years from now only what we did for Christ will last. Everything else is like shadows on the wall. The world’s brand of fleeting desire will never reach the power of the real thing, coming straight from heaven’s throne!


Whose Joy?

This joy that I have

The world can’t take it away

It belongs to God


You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;

Isaiah 55:12a (NIV)

Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️


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28 responses to “Shadows of Joy”

  1. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Your joy search sounds like a wonderful idea! I will join you, but not this evening. I am a morning person. 😃

    Thank you for your thoughts. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Don't Lose Hope Avatar

    Joy is such a wonderful word to be reminded of as there are so many references to joy in the Scriptures. I’m going to spend some time this evening trying to bring to mind as many as I can!!! Thank you, David!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. davidsdailydose Avatar

    “A double dose of joy.” That’s a good description of what happened, Beth! I love how there are so many applications here. Thanks for sharing. God Bless!

    Like

  4. Beth Alisan Avatar

    Simply Wow!! Not only did you get a double dose of joy you got double inspiration both in a spiritual application and a Haiku!

    Liked by 2 people

  5. davidsdailydose Avatar

    You’re welcome, Dean. Thank you for stopping by and for sharing! I hope you and yours have a happy 2023, as well. My wife and I are praying for you in your job search. Blessings!

    Like

  6. Gospelroad#66 Avatar
    Gospelroad#66

    Amen brother! So true that what we do for Christ is the only thing that truly lasts! Thank you for this great reminder! Hope you and loved ones have a very happy 2023 🥰

    Liked by 1 person

  7. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Bridget. Yes it was beautify, even though temporary. A great reminder of the transformative power of God’s joy. Blessings!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Bridget A. Thomas Avatar

    I love it! What a beautiful moment. And such a great spiritual lesson too. 😁

    Liked by 1 person

  9. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Agreed, Matt. 😵‍💫

    Liked by 1 person

  10. jesusluvsall Avatar

    caffeine is good 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  11. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Or like the old commercial: “Is it live, or is it Memorex?” 😀 Right on, brother!

    BTW, I had my first pour-over cup of joe at a coffee shop. Oh boy, what caffeine!😳

    Liked by 1 person

  12. jesusluvsall Avatar

    kind of like double mint gum- double your joy

    Liked by 2 people

  13. davidsdailydose Avatar

    A “wee Holy Spirit reminder” is precisely how it felt, dear brother! It was like seeing God’s smile. Thank you for sharing. God Bless!

    Liked by 2 people

  14. Alan Kearns Avatar

    What a lovely wee Holy Spirit reminder of where Joy really comes from! 😊

    Liked by 2 people

  15. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Me too, sister. It absolutely looked and felt like a miracle!

    Liked by 2 people

  16. Lesley Avatar
    Lesley

    God Bless you too, David. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  17. davidsdailydose Avatar

    It was amazing! And , like I said, we are rarely home to see it. There are many possibilities for application, some better than mine. I like Gary’s, for instance. Thank you for reading and commenting. God Bless!

    Liked by 2 people

  18. God Still Speaks Avatar

    I absolutely LOVE when God does these little things for us, to show He is thinking about us!

    Liked by 3 people

  19. Lesley Avatar
    Lesley

    That’s amazing and I love your spiritual application. How appropriate!

    Liked by 2 people

  20. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Exactly. Amen, Gary! You are one of the writers who showed me how to leave room for the reader’s interpretation in my story telling. Your nugget of truth is a valuable addition to this post. Thank you!

    Liked by 2 people

  21. Gary Fultz Avatar

    So, keeping our joy to ourselves is backwards from “joy” intended.

    Liked by 2 people

  22. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Yes, the JOY sign hangs on our front door (like a wreath) facing south. The shadow of JOY showed up on the north wall opposite the door. Thanks, Gary.

    Liked by 2 people

  23. Gary Fultz Avatar

    Oh thats just fun…and it triggered your mind quite well!
    Let me get this straight. The joy is seen from the outside of the house right? If it were on the inside it would be backwards on the wall??

    Liked by 2 people

  24. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, SimplyB! I need to choose a word for next year. 2022 was forget. I think 2023 will be “remember.”

    Liked by 2 people

  25. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Yes, it was amazing how everything lined up to make that shadow. It even found a blank space on the wall! Thanks for dropping by, Andy B. God Bless!

    Liked by 2 people

  26. SimplyB Avatar

    Wow, David, during my daily devotions this morning I thought about what my word for 2023 will be. I felt led to choose Joy! Then I read your post. How timely! What a great post! Have a blessed, JOYFUL day!

    Liked by 2 people

  27. BerryBunch.family Avatar

    ooh, i love stuff like this!!

    so very cool to see that shadow though – amazing stuff

    Andy B

    Liked by 1 person

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