Here, I believe, the word "joy" refers to just that - joy. The joy before him; the joy of being with us again as he had before the Fall. He knew that what he was doing, however painful in the moment, would ultimately save us.

Isn't his love amazing?

"The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

-Psalm 103:8-12, NIV

I love Psalm 103 Starsy. I often try to remind myself to "Praise the Lord, Oh my soul," throughout the day (verses 1, 2, and 22). Thank you for sharing that passage.

I love it, too, Kate. In fact, I wrote it (the whole chapter) on my little white bookshelf in pencil. Partially because I'm just weird that way, and partially so that I see it whenever I sit in my chair.

"Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name."

@Starsy: thanks for posting Psalm 103, another favorite.

@Pattertwig: God moves in mysterious ways. Regarding the meaning of "joy" in Hebrews 12:2, I have to disagree with your pastor. The Greek for "joy" in this verse is...

I) joy, gladness
a) the joy received from you
b) the cause or occasion of joy
1) of persons who are one's joy

Thayer's Lexicon: "of a joyful condition or state ... to attain to blessedness at the right hand of God in heaven, i.e. Heb. 12:2."

So the joy Jesus looked forward to was (1) being reunited with the Father, (2) sitting at the Father's right hand, the seat of power, (3) being crowned with glory and honor [i.e. Philippians 2], (4) interceding for us on the throne of grace, (5) enjoying a relationship with us [not necessarily in this order ]. The joy we look forward to as a result is similar: a crown of life, heaven, union with Christ.

@Pattertwig: God moves in mysterious ways.

Yes, I know it never ceases to surprise me (an scare me a little (but not in a bad way (I'm not sure if that makes sense))) Thanks for your explanation. It makes a lot more sense than what the guest singer said.

Here's a verse for today.
1 Corinthians 10:13
13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

A verse for today:

“When i fall, I will arise; when I sit in the darkness, the Lord will be a light to me” [Micah 7]

It's comforting to know that even when we have to bear the consequences for the wrong choices we've made, God is still on our side.

“Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.”- Romans 12:12

"A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray."
Proverbs 12:26

This kind of hit home when I was reading through Proverbs 12 a few days ago. I'm convinced that it applies to friendships everywhere... including those online.

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10: 9 - 10

Romans 4:16-18 ~

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

"Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred" Proverbs 15:17

Psalm 46:1-3, 10 ~ "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. ... Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

A few days ago, I heard the song "Still" by Hillsong, which alludes to Psalm 46.

Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
within your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust

And I suddenly realized that God has his way in the whirlwind. He is the God of chaos – disorder, suffering, pain. He is truly “king over the flood.” Chaos is not the absence of God, but the presence of God. And he uses chaos for his own purposes, to bring people to perfection. Evidence? The cross. For in the midst of chaos we can find stillness and peace: Jesus Christ. He is in our midst, just like the motionless center of a moving wheel.

Ephesians 4,31-32

Let all bitterness and anger and indignation and clamour and blasphemy be put away from you, with all malice.

And be ye kind one to another: merciful, forgiving one another, even as God hath forgiven you in Christ.

Wow it's been a while...

"The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern."
~Proverbs 29:7 NIV

"Jesus answered and said to him, 'What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.'" ~ John 13:7, NKJV

This video says it best. It's Avalon, "You were there" with LWW clips.