Joy Forney
About the Author

Joy is the proud wife of a missionary pilot and blessed mommy to five. She and her family have lived in Indonesia for the last eight years and recently made the move to Uganda, Africa. She loves good books, great conversation, hot coffee, traveling the world, and most of all,...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
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  1. Just a beautiful pause and reminder Joy…
    Thank you.
    And can you guess which verse I wrote on my boards and cards and taped to mirrors this last Monday…? 😉
    Slow to speak.
    Slow to anger.
    Quick to hear.
    Mental circles of that mantra the last few days.
    That’s how I want to live…watching and waiting for each moment He wants me to take in.
    Thank you for the confirmation that He clearly wants to imprint this on my heart.
    Love, K

  2. So sweet. I love how He orchestrates our days and brings the ones we need and who need us. Praying for eyes to see every invitation and courage to accept!

  3. Joy,
    Absolutely beautiful…and isn’t it just like our God to send a rain storm to slow us down so that we don’t miss the life giving words He wants us to hear from one of His faithful children?! God’s timing is always perfect. Thank you for sharing a snippet of your life and your/God’s story. I’m so glad I took the time to listen…thanks too for a much needed reminder to not be in such a rush that I’m not prepared to hear what God wants to say.
    Blessings,
    Bev
    ps. I hope that readers who are used to seeing me comment will join me at my blog to listen to what God is calling me (and perhaps them) to do in His Kingdom for the orphans, widows and the lost in Pakistan…thanks.

  4. love this! needed this. breathing deeply now as i’m diving into a day with more tasks than minutes. sweet Lord, help me not miss the people you place in this day because of focusing on the jobs that need to be done.

    thanks, joy.

  5. This is a much needed reminder for our frantic paced world. And I certainly needed to hear that I need to listen to the stories of others…..not just share my own. Powerful, Joy. Thank you for being God’s voice today.

  6. Very special, God is so good even when we feel we don’t deserve it at all He’s always looking out for us 🙂 God Bless You

  7. Just beautiful, Joy. As our family is in the final days before the official beginning of the school year, I intend to just listen to my boys’ stories. Listen to their hearts rather than rushing around trying to complete my to-do list. I soooo needed this reminder this morning. Thank you.

  8. Your message Joy is one that I will take with me this morning and reflect upon throughout this day……Thank-you for bringing it to us………I know that sometimes all I need to be doing is listening & nothing more.

    Penny

  9. Thank you for this encouraging post, Joy! I definitely needed this reminder today, especially as a pastor’s wife. It’s so easy to overlook the ministry opportunities right in front me in pursuit of the “bigger” or more “official” ministries I think I should have. I’m reminded of Matthew 25:40, ” ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'”
    Thank you for this sweet, reminder!

  10. Joy, Its stories like that help me lay at the feet of Jesus my own problems. My husband has muliple myeloma and there’s no cure. He was diagnosed at 58 and forced to retire so young. God has richly provided for us financially, spiritually and emotionally. He is 61 and according to the doctors will live 7 to 9 years. We have lived through 3 of those and only God will call him home when he’s ready. I have always wanted to be in ministry, a formal one, but my ministry is here for now. But I get to hear about others worries as we travel in our motorhome around the states. I have found others just like me. So I spend my time encouraging others to walk close to The Lord because that is the answer to our daily walk. Ps.34 is where I camp. Thanks Joy from Joy

  11. Joy!!!! I LOVED this! It’s all too easy to be wrapped up in our own stories. I often struggle with looking in, instead of looking out & up! Thank you for the challenge today. I’ll be listening with intention for those precious nuggets and unexpected moments. Time to slowww down ❤️ Love you friend!!! Xxoo

  12. Beautiful and so true.im in a home now for broken veterans,many of us are older and have been dumped by family.i sometimes speak my true honest feelings in our psychsocoal classes,because I won’t get laughed at,or bullied by others who’ve been thru similar circumstances.hearing their stories brings us all closer together, as I once told the class People on the outside don’t listen’ not even family.
    it’s so beautiful when we really connect

    • Prayers for you and the other veterans! Thank you for what you’ve done for us and this beautiful country God has given us!!

      Prayers for healing for each one of you! May God help others to listen to your stories and understand a little of what you’ve been through without judging you!

      Blessings 🙂

  13. I feel as though I need to be reminded of this daily and possibly hourly. “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” James 1:19
    Thank you for sharing your heart.

  14. Thanks so much for that reminder!! As I sit on the porch not desiring to return to my job and looking for another one, I have to stop ad thank God for the job I do have. So many others don’t have and can’t get jobs! It’s all in His time. We all can get caught up.

    Thanks for the reminder!!

    In Christ,
    Denise

    • AMEN Denise! I’m right there with you! Both me and my hubby are not liking our job right now. I would love another one in a different field and he just wants out of the ER. For now we are thankful that neither of us is unemployed!

      Praise God for His goodness and timing! Prayers for you on your job hunt!

  15. What an amazing story. We never know who God has put in our path to give us a glimpse of who God is. As in your story all in the name of the pouring rain. Thanks you so much for sharing.

  16. This post made tears well up in my eyes. So much is always on my mind, and I feel like maybe I’ve missed many opportunities. Those times when I ‘ve chosen to stop and LISTEN…or those times that have been chosen for me by God…have been the best, most soul-refreshing times of my life. Thank you for this reminder. I need to keep this fresh in my mind and do it often. No “coincidences” in the Kingdom of God. 🙂

  17. Oh Joy, what a gift to live where you live and meet the people you get to meet and be touched by God in the way that He touches you. What a sacred and holy place you live!

    Nell

  18. Oh, thank you for this precious, strong reminder, beautiful Joy. Sometimes, often times (sigh), during all this crazy moving around, I get so focused on the tasks and my own little family. How despirately I want to listen! I don’t want to miss HIS story! Love ya bunches and prayers for more moments like that rainy day in Uganda.

  19. Joy, you are such a blessing by telling your stories of how God is working in your life. Thank you!

  20. Joy,

    Have decided to give ‘quick to listen’ a chance and slow to speak million chances to come out of my troubles that I have caused in life!.

    Thanks for the beautiful story!.

  21. I love how God orchestrates little storms to slow us down and teach us to “rest” and listen. Sure there will always be things to do & errands to run, but time with people is sooo valuable. Soon it will be gone or worse they are gone and you didn’t get the time to listen to their story.

    I have started making conversation with some co-workers. But I have also taken the time to hear them and the story of their lives. Makes you appreciate what you have so much more!

    Also take time weekly to speak with and listen to my dad. I made him a photo album of really old pictures and some days we go through it and he explains each one to me. I may be tired & want to get home, but I know he won’t be around long and he is by himself in an assisted living facility. He and others could use the company!

    Thanks for the reminder! Blessings 🙂 🙂