Choosing Joy with Joyce Ashley

We have a guest today and she has a great giveaway for one of you!

I first met Joyce Ashley two years ago at our Proverbs 31 She Speaks conference. I knew instantly she was an encourager who loves God and serving women. My daughter Kenna and I got to witness this firsthand as we did a conference at her church last year.

Her smile is contagious and so is her joy. Meet her now:

Joyce J. Ashley is founder of JoyJoy Ministries and delights in sharing a double portion of the joy of the Lord with others.  She and her husband of almost 40 years (Pat) live near Douglas, GA. They have three children and six “grandjoys”!

Joyce is the author of a two books: JOYJUICE: Delightful Flavors of JOY in the Lord and Abundant JOY JUICE, Squeezed from God’s Word.

She is the writer and voice of a daily radio program called “Joy Juice” which airs on several stations in the South GA/North FL area.  Feel free to invite Joyce to speak at your next ladies’ event by contacting her via email at [email protected] or visit her at “JoyJoy Ministries” on Facebook.  She, also, has a website at www.joyjoyministries.vpweb.com.

Joyce partners with singer, songwriter Tammy Arant and writer, speaker Amanda Hayes to form Team RADIATE.  They are available to lead women’s conferences and events.  For booking contact Laura Beth Tucker at 229-392-7310 or email [email protected].

Now, from Joyce’s heart:

JOYfully blessed!  That’s what I am!  If I had to write down my blessings of joy, it would be impossible to list them all….BUT one that would certainly be at the top of my list today is Karen’s invitation to share the JOY of JESUS with you!  So, thanks to Karen for this opportunity; and thank you for taking the time to read what God has placed on my heart.

About five years ago, I retired from the public school system.  I loved my job and considered it my ministry for many years.  These days, however, I like to say I’m reFIRED with a passion for sharing the JOY of Jesus! God blessed me with “JoyJoy Ministries” and a passion to share a “double portion” of the joy of the Lord with anyone and everyone who will listen!

Keep in mind that joy is not the same thing as happiness.  Happiness depends on what’s happening in our lives….our circumstances.  Joy is about relationship with Christ.  When we give our hearts and lives to Jesus, we can trust Him to be in control. No matter what challenges are tossed our way, we can count on the promise that “He will never leave us or forsake us”Deuteronomy 31:6

During my reFIREment, I have written hundreds of devotionals on finding the joy of the Lord in our daily routine. Here’s a sample of one “JOY JUICE” message that I pray will touch your heart and draw you closer to the Giver of abundant joy.

Taken from my latest book, Abundant JOY JUICE, Squeezed from God’s Word:

Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Drinking it faithfully is imperative to assure a life of abundant joy.

Abundance—what does that word mean to you?  I immediately think of a huge amount of something.  Sometimes we think we have an abundance of work.  Many days moms (& dads) have an abundance of laundry and housework.  Some probably feel that they have an abundance of yard work and chores.  And most likely, we all feel that we have an abundance of bills! J

Today let’s think of abundance from the perspective that Jesus taught in John 10:10. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”   What kind of abundance is Jesus speaking of in this verse?

In The Prayer of Jabez, Bruce Wilkinson tells us that the secret to true abundance is to want what God wants. That means that we love God so much that we put aside our desires and trust that God knows what is best for us.  He wants us to bring our needs and desires before Him, but when we do so, we need to be content with whatever answer He gives us.

Abundant life in Christ is living every moment soaking up His love, His will, and His direction.  Only then will we be overflowing with abundant joy…otherwise known as the “Joy Juice of Jesus!”  Drink it in and spill it out onto others today!

Okay gals– now for her giveaway. It includes:

 ~ A copy of both of her books

~ A RADIATE t-shirt (the winner will get to choose a size)

~  A pink “EnJOY the Journey” tote bag

~ A couple of “Outrageous & Contagious” JOY pens

~ And a bag of Almond JOYs!

To be entering into the random drawing, tell us one simple thing that brings you joy.

I’ll go first…….hearing my 80 year old father’s laugh as he attempts to keep his composure while telling my kids a funny story from his childhood.

Oh and coconut. Coconut always brings me joy. (May have to choose myself for today’s prize. Almond Joys are the best!)

And you? What is a simple thing that brings you joy?

(winner announced Monday)

338 Comments

  1. My 10 month old granddaughter brings me joy! My husband receives joy from watching me with her…he says my face glows with happiness. : )

  2. Thunder. Snuggling under the deliciously warm covers while the house rattles and shakes from a spring thunderstorm.

    Coffee. Cannot forget the joy of pouring a second up of coffee for my small group while we laugh about our kids, talk about our journey and pray for our husbands. There is such abundance when we are celebrating our common calling and the heaven sent gift of community.

  3. I’d like to thank EACH of you for your participation in sharing with us what brings you JOY! It brought JOY to my heart to see that more than 300 people posted! And I read them all!!! It was so refreshing and blessed my heart to see that all of your “joys” were things money can’t buy: precious memories with family; laughter with children and grandchildren; the beauty of creation, etc. etc. etc.

    Congrats to Amy for winning the give-away! Hope that God continues to pour out a double portion His “Joy Juice” into EACH of your lives and that it will overflow onto others!

    JOYfully His,
    JOYce Ashley
    JoyJoy Ministries

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