{"id":4489,"date":"2016-09-30T04:08:57","date_gmt":"2016-09-30T04:08:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shalominthecity.com\/?page_id=4489"},"modified":"2016-09-30T04:08:57","modified_gmt":"2016-09-30T04:08:57","slug":"joy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/shalominthecity\/joy\/","title":{"rendered":"31 Days of Subversive Joy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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\"31-days-of\"<\/p>\n

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Joy is a defiant act of resistance against the forces of despair\u201d
\nWillie James Jennings<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we fight back with joy, we embrace a reality that is more real then what we\u2019re enduring and we awaken to the deepest reality of our identity as beloved, joyful children of God\u201d
\nMargaret Feinberg, \u201cFight Back with Joy\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Welcome, welcome, welcome, my dears to this year\u2019s Write 31 Days series.\u00a0 These posts have been months in the making and I\u2019m thrilled to spend the next 31 days, exploring joy and giving ourselves permission to enjoy our lives even when we\u2019re going through tough circumstances, even when the world feels utterly broken, ESPECIALLY if we suffering from broken hearts.<\/p>\n

Ever since I posted a video on Facebook Live that reached over 28,000 about my own brokenheartedness as a Black mom noticing the senseless conflict around race in our country, I\u2019ve wondered,<\/p>\n

\u201cis this it?\u00a0 Is this sadness an unfortunate consequence for asking God to break my heart for what breaks his?\u00a0 Did I just sign away my life to never ending repair and lament? \u201d<\/p>\n

I knew there had to be more.\u00a0 The fruits of the Spirit are all good things. Jesus said he came to give us life and life to the fullest.\u00a0 And most of all, we are people of Resurrection Sunday the day where were celebrate Jesus\u2019 defeat of death, sin, and the forces of darkness. We are people of\u00a0 \u201cOh heck, no\u2026Satan!\u00a0 Not today\u2014 look the stone is rolled away, the tomb is empty, and our King is alive.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are people who have a reason to celebrate and a God who throws AMAZING parties.<\/p>\n

I forget these truths when the world is at it\u2019s worst.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When our broken bashes up against another\u2019s, I find it hard to believe there\u2019s good in the world.<\/p>\n

When I see five-years old bloodied and trembling from a bombing, or read disgusting tweets from a politician whose acting out because he\u2019s in pain\u2014\u00a0either emotionally or mentally, \u00a0maybe even both, or open up Facebook and watch young man die in his car with a toddler wailing in the back\u2014 I think<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to press in. I need to pray.\u00a0 I need to witness their pain.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And to some extent\u2014 that\u2019s true.<\/p>\n

A Shalom Sista is a woman who notices brokenness around her and asks:<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can bring wholeness here?\u201d<\/h5>\n

But there\u2019s a second part of that question that we rarely explore:<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can I be wholehearted here?\u201d<\/h5>\n

And the truth is, pain is a part of life, not all of it. A Part.\u00a0 We cannot be our whole selves if we don\u2019t take time to remember our that we are God\u2019s beloved and allow him to give us good gifts.<\/p>\n

Joy is noticing, accepting, and sharing the good that is in the world.<\/h5>\n

Jesus modeled this for us and some of my favorite Christian leaders live well in this tension.<\/p>\n

These men and women have taught me that it is subversive practice of Shalom to says,<\/p>\n

\u201cdespair, I know I\u2019m supposed to give into you, but I won\u2019t. I\u2019m choosing joy.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So, in October, we\u2019re going to give challenge ourselves to see how sometimes when we\u2019re so focused on lamenting the darkness of the world, we overlook all the twinkle lights of happiness, delight, and goodness are brazenly shining bright.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re going work on creating a practice of joy. As we discuss common heartbreaks\u2014 infidelity, infertility, loneliness, body shame, perfectionism, and lost dreams (to name a few), we\u2019re going to give God a chance to show us the way toward joy even in our sadness.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re going to get practical with lists and plans, (because y\u2019all know that\u2019s my jam). We\u2019re going to be courageous and hopefully we\u2019re going to have fun.<\/p>\n

So here\u2019s the lay a video that gives you the lay of the land and your very first DANCE PARTY!<\/p>\n