music monday// joy

so, there's this band, it's irish, and i loooove their art. their music is powerful and beautiful! rend collective is their name. a few months back i came across their music and i couldn't not keep listening to them. i watched and listened to their heart behind their new album- the art of celebration. the message runs deep and sparkles with Truth. i'm sharing the message + one of my fav songs by them- joy.

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so, aside the irish accent, what really stuck out to me in their message were these words...

"...life has a way of draining that child-like wonder from us through our failures or disappointments, whether it's suffering or betrayal, or even just familiarity. that's why we put up our defenses, isn't it? that's why we become numb. we pull back from life and become spectators because we're afraid of being hurt again. but the good news is, Jesus is always near than you think. He's not finished with us yet. we may doubt, we may feel like we're broken beyond repair, but He's the peace in our troubled sea. He's the healer of the broken-hearted.

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...seriousness is not a fruit of the Spirit but joy is. you see, there's an irrepressible laughter in the heart of God and the whole universe cannot contain it. He is the One who celebration, feasting and holidays. He is the One who sings and dances over us. when He suffered the cross, He did it for the joy set before Him and that joy was knowing that you and i would be fully free, no longer captive to our sin. yes, the whole human story is described in terms of celebration-the marriage of Christ, whose bride- the Church. now, happiness is not the same thing as joy. happiness is an emotion- a superficial response to pleasant circumstances, but joy is deeper, it's a spiritual discipline. 

we as people are more inclined to negativity and cynicism. we don't find it easy, or even natural to pursue joy, and that's why God in His Word actually commands us to celebrate...we must fight for our joy. how then do we remind ourselves as a wounded church family that we still have a reason to sing? how do we move from the edges and fringes of the party into the center? well, the Bible says, taste and see, that the Lord is good. [psalm 34:8] and to do that, we have to once again, open our hearts to wonder and beauty.

i'm not saying to be fake or put on a false smile, but rather to always find a reason to rejoice even if we're in the darkest circumstances...and after all, Heaven is gonna be the greatest party of all time and we need to start practicing now. so don't get caught up in your guilt and failures. you are forgiven, you are free. you're worth more than you could ever imagine. so, c'mon with a child-like heart, wide-eyed with wonder, let's rediscover the art of celebration."

"husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by washing with water through the Word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." ephesians 5:25-27

"let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! for the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. fine linen, bright and clean, was given to her to wear. (fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.) then the angel said to me [john], 'write this: blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' and he added, 'these are the true words of God.' " revelations 19:7-9

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 joy~ rend collective

we're choosing celebration, breaking into freedom

You're the song, You're the song of our hearts.

we cast aside our shadows, trust You with our sorrows

You're the song, You're the song of our hearts.

we're dancing to the rhythm of Your heart

we're rising from the ashes to the stars.

You're the joy, joy, joy, lighting my soul

the joy, joy, joy, making me whole

though i'm broken, i am running into Your arms of love.

the pain will not define us, joy will reignite us

You're the song, You're the song of our hearts

c'mon my soul.

the dark is just a canvas for Your grace and brightness

You're the song, You're the song of our hearts.

we're dancing to the rhythm of Your heart

we're rising from the ashes to the stars.

You're the joy, joy, joy, lighting my soul

the joy, joy, joy, making me whole

though i'm broken, i am running into Your arms of love.

You're the joy, the song of my heart, the hope of my soul

in the shadows, in the sorrows, in the desert when the pain hits,

You are constant, ever-present, You're the song of my heart

You're the joy, joy, joy, lighting my soul

the joy, joy, joy, making me whole

though i'm broken, i am running into Your arms of love, into Your arms.

"nehemiah said' 'go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. this day is holy to our Lord. do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." nehemiah 8:10

"but let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy. spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You." psalm 5:11

"the Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. my heart leaps for joy, and with my song i praise Him." psalm 28:7

"You make known to me the path of life, You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." psalm 16:11

"...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. for the joy that was set before Him He endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." hebrews 12:2

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"rejoice in the Lord always. i will say it again: rejoice!" philippians 4:4

"the Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you, in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing." zephaniah 3:17

"but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control..." galatians 5:22,23

when i face situations that try to steal my joy, even if it seems i don't have any reason at all to be joyful, i remember the salvation i have in Jesus and the eternal bliss that awaits me in Heaven, and hope surges, along with joy. i also remind myself of all the Lord has done in my life and begin to be thankful for them, and joy begins to bubble in my heart.

are you burdened some some trouble or situation? choose joy, darling. :)

xoxo, gen delali.