New name

Hi friends!! ❤️

My new name is actually not new because I use it on all my social media platforms. Vivjoywriter is now my current blog name and for those who don’t know Joy is actually my middle name (thanks mama)!!

Joy is not the same as happiness…it’s so much more. It’s a deep peace regardless of outward circumstances that God gives to us as we journey through life. Joy can be felt on a mountain top or in a cancer clinic. Joy can be given at the worst of moments because Joy is God’s heart pouring peace upon us at any given time and in His providential way.

Do I have Joy? Joy after being diagnosed with a progressive autoimmune disease? Joy after losing my husband of 24 years to a deadly brain tumor? Joy in the bringing up of four kids by myself?

I can honestly say YES!! But this Joy isn’t from me being happy or keeping my head in the sand and avoiding the hard things. My Joy is a gift from God. He alone gets me up out the bed. He keeps me from total despair, loneliness, heartache, and pain 💔 Because He keeps showing up..He’s always there and that my friends is exactly the Joy I’m talking about. The Joy of the Lord is my strength. The Joy in a full fellowship with Him that makes my heart burst with warmth. Jesus is experienced in our deepest suffering because that is when we fellowship with him in the most intimate way because He suffered too.

So here is my new blog name and I hope as I share my heart and God’s love with you, true Joy will be experienced together as we remember this world is not our home and who is walking with us through every trial we face. God bless you friends and keep you.

Much love,

Viv 🤗

Tennessee kitty 😺

Outcasts

Do you ever feel like an outcast? An outcast in your family? In your community, or among your circles? For me, I can say……yes. (Not in my blogging community though, y’all are great!)

Sadly, when most people are brain injured it causes a standoffish reaction from their community of people. Their closest friends slowly back away….and the other not so close ones vanish like soap bubbles. I had no idea in 2016 this was the all too common reaction from the majority of well bodied people. I naively thought I would be loved and supported but instead, I was cast aside.

Although this response shocked me then, I’ve come to see past this and seek answers beyond. Jesus has taught me this: He loves and came for all of us outcasts, misfits, losers, and those labeled as abnormal by worldly standards. He didn’t really have much to do with those who had it all together…..instead, he hung out with the out crowd.

My security comes from Him. He is my everything, not people’s reactions to me. He loves me just like I am. Physically broken……yes, but spiritually I am whole, healed!! He sees past my TBI to a woman bought, redeemed, and justified. He is my everything because He is perfect in every way and lives inside of me.

Knowing my security doesn’t come from anyone other than Jesus comforts the sting of being an outcast because this world is not my home. I’m just here on a temporary basis because my real home is in Heaven with Jesus my Lord.

Much love,

Viv 🌷🌺🌻