Broken Pieces 2019 Update

Important Information About "Broken Pieces"

The cast and production crew are EXTREMELY excited!  Some of you were not able to attend last year. That said, I am happy to announce a new relationship that brings with it the U.S. and U.K release of Broken Pieces!

"See the recently awarded production, Broken Pieces, NOW available on Amazon Prime Video! Even if you've seen it live, you've never seen it like this!" 

 

U.S.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RYBSMKW

U.K.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07S2DB2MF

Be well,

-Joy

The Pressure Point

John 11:4

Sometimes, God has to allow things to get to the point where they look like they can't be salvaged, so HE will get the glory. If you could fix it in your timing so there is no trouble, you'd do it right? But then, who gets the recognition? Certainly, not God. No one likes the pressure point of any situation.

Jesus was with the disciples when He learned about Lazarus being ill. Jesus took His time. Not because HE didn't love Lazarus, for it is written that Jesus loved him. But Lazarus had to suffer. Lazarus had to suffer so others would believe that when he came out, it was nobody but by the son of God. Lazarus had to suffer to the point of death, so the faith of others would increase. Has GOD ever allowed things to look so bleak in an area of your life? Has GOD ever allowed something to look like it couldn't be turned around? Sometimes your suffering isn't for you. The word talks about us comforting others in the way we have been comforted. It's so the people around you can have belief when GOD does show up. When Jesus did show up and called Lazarus by name to get up, he did. Close calls are not by accident.

Jesus himself had to endure the negative pressure of being blamed for something he didn't do and being sentenced to death for it, so that so many of us would believe in His existence when He broke free of death. The word talks about patience in suffering. Would you suffer willingly, if it meant others would believe who GOD is and what HE is doing in your life? Some may say yes. But even Jesus asked for the cup of suffering to be removed. No one likes this part of the journey. The part of the journey where you have to look like the fool and be hurt until GOD delivers. But how would anyone know GOD is in control if they didn't have to see you look like you've been knocked down for the last time?

The next time you are at a pressure point, instead of asking God, "why me," ask, "besides me, who is it that you want to reveal your presence to?" You may be surprised.

It's Time

Isaiah 43:19 NKJV

I THANK YOU LORD for every family member, friend, classmate, colleague, associate, anyone reading this message and EVEN persons that despise me that YOU allowed to walk into 2019!! I know the names and hearts in double digits who passed in 2018 that didn't take a breath or walk into this year. So I say that THIS year is another chance for YOU to experience a NEW thing with God.

What does this mean? For those of you who are already walking in your GOD given purpose, PRAISE THE LORD! You understand why you are here, why the LORD created you and using EVERY gift and talent HE has placed inside of you in the way HE desires. For those of you that have not, it is you I truly wish to reach at this hour. It is time! It is time for you to stop chasing anything and everything that has absolutely nothing to do with what GOD created you to do and allowed you to be here to know. One thing is true, GOD wastes no experience good or bad as discussed in Romans 8:28 and HE makes it work for HIS purpose. However, the days of you chasing emptiness and "grasping at the wind," as said in Ecclesiastes, must end. My prayer for you in 2019, is that GOD does a NEW thing in you! That the truth of your purpose be revealed, no matter what it is, and that you be at peace to run with it, no matter what HE says must go for you to follow it. I implore you, do not be found not in purpose when the Lord calls you home. For you know the Word says we must give account. What will you say? The Lord desires to say, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant," as shared in the Word. But will HE be able to say it to you? It's time to do a NEW thing and walk in the purpose that is truly for YOU in HIM.

I BID YOU PEACE AND MANY BLESSINGS FOR 2019

Derived Purpose

Matthew 25:14-19

Do you believe there is purpose in everything that happens to you and around you? Do you believe that God uses every experience? Do you believe that every person alive has a purpose? Then you are referring to Romans 8:28 which states, "And we know all things work together for good to those who are the called according to His purpose."  If you do indeed believe this to be true and read the last Get Your JOY In The Morning on "Highs and Lows," then you will understand what I am about to share.

In our time together last, I shared about my recent lows. Well there was one more low to arrive the day after Thanksgiving and the day prior to my classmate's home going service. The fourth person in the month of November had passed on, once again, cancer. The irony, it would make the ninth passing in the 2018 calendar year of those whose lives had crossed my path. I'm not talking over the two years, you all are not ready for those numbers.  I remember when I was first introduced to "Jess" by her then boyfriend who would later become her husband. 'Jess," had a beautiful and bright smile that I cannot forget. I saw her, her boyfriend and the family every week for a period of years. We also traveled together. Though I knew this loss was coming as her husband posted about the waiting, I just didn't realize it would be so soon. My heart goes out to the family.

In processing my grief, I had a reality check. I shared some realizations for you before, but let me break this down for you in numbers. Out of the nine people who have passed this year, three were blood relatives, all on separate sides of my family ranging from ages 53-92. The remaining were friends, classmates, former co-workers and associates. Of the nine, five were between the ages of 30-47. Does this now bring more relevance to what I shared in the last post?  I am not attempting to focus on the morbid but to focus on the reality and importance of understanding and following YOUR GOD given purpose. I'm also here to focus on the fact that death is not a respecter of age. Many of you know from the book, Get Your JOY In The Morning, that I was on my way to joining the numbers ten years ago of those who would pass on at an early age, approaching the age of 33. My solace and my drive, comes from the knowledge and faith that I asked GOD for more time so that I could live out and do what HE called me to do. He came to collect on that promise one calendar year later to the month. Hence the devotionals you read and all the things that have come thereafter.

You have spiritual gifts, also known as charismatic gifts, if you have received the Holy Spirit upon your acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You also have talents that GOD has placed in you that may or may not be developed. The parable of the talents is in the scripture referenced at the beginning. Yes, it refers to money. But also symbolizes the gifts you have been given. If you know Proverbs 18:16 and Jeremiah 29:11 (look them up), then you will understand GOD has already mapped out a plan for your life. You just have to be willing to seek HIM out, that you may discover the gifts and talents. Why I am sharing this with you? Some of the people that have gone on in the last two years were found in purpose when the Lord called their name. The prophetic dream I had 27 years ago, showed a lot of what I see now, but again, no faces. Part of my purpose and that of what GOD has called me and those with me, through Get Your JOY In The Morning! LLC to do, is to reinforce, the necessity of finding YOUR GOD given purpose. It's especially for those who are considered to be young. Is this making sense to you now? How long will you wait? When the Lord calls your name to come home, will HE find you in purpose?

The Highs and Lows

Job 1:10

Yesterday, I posted a heartfelt post to my Facebook page, not for Get Your JOY In The Morning, but to Joy TJ Riley.  I did it under the privacy setting of friends and not public because yet again, I have been stricken with grief twice in two weeks. I have been trying not to make so much of my pain public. As I have been told in various ways, seminars, etc to only share the successes. However, GOD has said differently. And even one mentoring program I subscribe to has echoed the transparency of a success journey. Some of the lows have to be shared to demonstrate the balance of a faith journey. It is also to highlight that GOD is still GOD even in the lows of a journey. Oddly enough, after I shared it, a friend responded that each time he reads the posts, especially when I experience loss, he can't help but to think of Job. And that was exactly what GOD wanted him to receive in the message. Adversity is not always because of what we've done wrong. Sometimes, it really is because of what we've done right and/or who we can be on the other side of it.

Noticing a pattern. With every major success, major loss follows. And with major loss, success follows. I don't always get a break before the losses hit. Sometimes, more loss than success. Not that GOD didn't warn me about this time period in my life 27yrs ago. I just didn't quite understand the dream, no faces. And in riddles til 2yrs ago as I got closer. The loss has seemed to be more than I can handle at times. I'm sharing because this is not make believe. I can't make this stuff up! Writing this through tears. Losing a cousin and a classmate in two weeks and advanced problems with another family member on another side, just following the show run. Upon the May debut show run, I had major loss the day before my birthday/2 weeks before the show and one following. The lessons: love GOD and others, it's okay to show them, make the most of your time, create memories and by ALL means, follow your GOD given purpose!

Some  people have made light of the amount of loss in my sphere. I do not fault them because it is a lot. However, it makes me more determined, to move forward in my GOD given purpose. Both losses in the last two weeks were from cancer. Losing my cousin hit me because I realized when we were all together two years ago, burying the last living matriarch of the family, my cousin was ill then, we just didn't know. She had a peace about her, was kind and light hearted. She was the daughter of the woman i am named after. And it pained me even more so because my elder had to bury her own child. Knowing that was almost my Mom 10years ago gave me even more concern.

The classmate, was one I had the pleasure of ministering to others with through song and music in college in the University of Maryland Gospel Choir. I spent my morning yesterday making calls to those who rarely check their Facebook pages or don't have them. I also spent most of yesterday with our live recorded CD on repeat, especially on the song my classmate wrote. I wanted to remember the joy of that time and of his presence. I found myself crying on and off because in reality, though he is now at peace from his battle, he wasn't even 50years of age. Some in my generation, also known as generation X, like some of the millennials, are not having the joy of making it to ripe old ages as our beloved baby boomers. And it gives me more determination to live out what GOD has purposed for me, not man, because none of us knows how many years we have remaining. We take time for granted, when outside of the breath of life, it is indeed a precious commodity. In living the highs and lows, remember, the word says that God's power is made perfect in weakness. 

It's a Wrap!

Good Evening,

I want to publicly thank ALL of our supporters- cast, crew, sponsors, seed donors, advertisers, audience, etc  for their part in making our second show run of Broken Pieces: Some Family Wounds Run Generations Deep a success! Lives were impacted! Myself and several cast members were approached by those in the audience after the performance, stating they could identify with the topic. Some were ready to make changes in their families! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!

We will not be doing Broken Pieces again on stage as we are going to television/streaming. Please enjoy our photo below with cast and crew along with our national t.v. producer, Terron, of Stay Fly Entertainment, LLC and affiliate Brandstar Entertainment. Photo courtesy of our sponsor, Divah' Anu Image Media Group. Please also enjoy our gallery at brokenpiecestheplay.wixsite.com/mysite/gallery. Not all photos are posted but enjoy the ones that are. #brokenpiecestheplay

Stay Tuned,

-Joy