Broken Pieces: Some Family Wounds Run Generations Deep

Good Afternoon,

I have shared with you previously that God is doing a new thing. I have shared that God is expanding on my ability to communicate with you the message of faith, hope, healing and purpose. i have also shared with you that I am a survivor of multiple abuses. I do not say this with pride, but I say it with the conviction that God can deliver and heal your broken places no matter what you face. I am a living witness. Though I am still in a trial right now that has seemed to drag on, I BLESS GOD because He is still getting the glory. I am still pressing in and forward with what He gave me to do.

Verbal and emotional abuse can seem harmless to some, almost a rite of passage, especially among teenagers. However, verbal and emotional abuse often leaves many unseen scars.  These abuses would not be included as part of domestic violence initiatives if they were truly harmless.  According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 95% of men who physically abuse their partners also psychologically abuse them. In some cases it is an internal issue that can be traced to feelings of another’s insecurities and hidden jealousies. In other cases, it is simply the environment a person has been brought up in and they aren’t even aware of how venomous and destructive verbal and emotional abuse can be. Childhelp.org reports that about 30% of abused and neglected children grow up to abuse their own children.  The abuses can eat away at a recipient’s core belief of their self-worth.

My next production is on generational verbal and emotional abuse. If there are any of you who are actors/actresses who want to be part of something bigger than you, I encourage you to come out and audition. You can email me directly for more details.

Review of Advanced Screening of Fox's "Shots Fired"

What do you get when you combine writer/director Gina Prince-Bythewood and writer/director/producer Reggie Rock Bythewood? You get a passionate, well written, directed and produced series about life in small town America dealing with a big city problem. Reggie Bythewood explained that "Shots Fired" was inspired by a conversation he had with his son after watching a TV event. Reggie Rock Bythewood has written and produced for Fox's drama "New York Undercover," directed "Biker Boyz" and "Daddy's Girls." Gina Prince-Bythewood wrote and directed "Love & Basketball" and directed "Disappearing Acts."   "Shots Fired" includes an all-star cast with Sanaa Lathan ("Love & Basketball," "The Best Man Holiday," "The Perfect Guy"), Mack Wilds ("Miracle Boys," "The Wire," "90210"), Richard Dreyfuss ("Madoff," "The Goodbye Girl," "Mr. Holland's Opus") and Stephan James ("Selma," "Book of Negroes," "Home Again").

The show is thought-provoking and thrilling. There are real life struggles with real life responses. The series premieres on Wednesday, March 22 at 8/7c on Fox.

TUNE IN! #shotsfired

Do You Love You?

Good Evening,

As we are approaching Valentine's Day, so many people are looking externally for love. Whether out of loneliness, dysfunctional relationships/upbringing or the like, the result remains the same. The irony is that Jesus said to "love thy neighbor as thy self." How can you love someone else if you don't love you or don't know what love is? It makes it difficult to receive love as well, no matter what form it arrives in and who it sincerely comes from.  I pray the poem God gave me in this video I created via YouTube will give you something to reflect upon. I created it originally for a non-profit organization. However, I believe it is powerful enough to reach many as we get closer to Valentine's Day.

Blessings

SPECIAL EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT UPDATE

Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen,

The new date for the "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" Tour is Saturday, February 11, 2017 from 11am-3pm.  If you already bought a ticket for the January 14th date, your ticket is STILL GOOD. Get your tickets while they last. Tickets will NOT be sold at the door. The previous event was nearly sold out. So don't wait!!!  PLEASE use my promo code: "JOY"  for your $10 discount.

Time is Limited

Isaiah 38:5

5"Go and tell Hezekiah, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen more years."

King Hezekiah was originally told by the prophet Isaiah "to get your house in order for you shall die and not live."  What was King Hezekiah's response? He turned his face to the wall and prayed asking God to  remember him and how he had served Him. And then he wept. God heard his prayer and gave him more time.

Did you know that "with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day?" You can find it written in the New Testament in 2 Peter. Time. Time is what many try to manage while others waste. Do you know how precious time is? Do you know the reason you are still here is because you are being given another chance to fulfill that which God put you here to do? Are you working on it? Do you know what you are here to do? When Bishop T.D. Jakes paid a visit to our church to sign copies of his latest book, "Destiny," he said, "too many people are chasing a check and not enough people are chasing purpose." What are you chasing?

I ask that because I just found out a few days ago, my cousin, who was about to complete his second masters and working in the field of psychology to help people passed away. He was barely 50yrs old. His death makes the second in my family on one side in the last four months. For me, his departure is number four in the last four months. I learned yesterday a childhood neighbor I had in my birthplace passed the day after my cousin which would make number five. I have lost my aunt, my boyfriend, my step grandmother, my cousin and a former neighbor in such a short period. The message I continue to receive is that time is limited and I must complete what God gave me to do.

I already received a second chance in 2008, as many of you already know through previous writings and my book, "Get Your JOY In The Morning."  I do not know when that second chance will end but I am working to get things done. It would also explain the many challenges and obstacles I have endured. As the prophecy was given. I share with you as I do because I know we are ALL on limited time. We do not know the day nor hour any of us will be called to return. The one thing I ask, I ask that this year, you not only exam what you are truly called to do but I ask that once the Lord reveals to you His instructions that you do not delay. My cousin didn't finish. My boyfriend didn't finish. They were working hard to do so. Whatever it is that you are called to do, get it done. It is arrogant for any of us to assume we have all the time in the world to fulfill our purpose. We do not. Time is limited. Why have you delayed? What distractions and emotions are holding you back? When the Lord asks you what you have done with the time He's given you, how will you respond?

P.S. I told you every once in a while you will still receive a written message as God gives to me though He is expanding the forms of communication. Blessings

SPECIAL EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT UPDATE!!

Good Evening Ladies & Gentlemen,

I hope you are doing well. I was just informed there are ONLY 20 tickets left! DON'T WAIT!! Tickets will not be sold at the door. Go online today before it's too late! Get that ticket for your special lady. Ladies, it's time to do something for YOU!

Peace and Blessings,

-Joy

It's Time For A New Thing

Isaiah 43:19

19Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?

Happy New Year!! I wish you well in this new year. By now, many of you are aware that Get Your JOY In The Morning is evolving. I want to thank you and I bless God for you. Many of you have been with me on this journey for nearly eight years!! Can you believe it?! Get Your JOY In The Morning will be turning eight years old in just another two months. If you do not know, eight represents a new beginning. The tide has changed. The Lord is finally bringing to pass what He showed me many years ago. I was only eight years when I had dreams of being a filmmaker. I was eleven when I began writing to cope with my pain. When my partner and I began the company, the vision God had always made known to me was that one day films and plays would be part of the evolution of Get Your JOY In The Morning. It is another way to communicate the message of faith, healing and hope. When you are faithful with little, He blesses with much. Inspite of all the challenges faced in 2016, I am still grateful to God to be here to walk in purpose. There will still be times when devotionals come across your screen. However, the main focus is on expanding ways to communicate meaningful messages with you.
 

I finally understand what my Mom said when I was in high school. She said, "Joy, I know you love entertainment but you don't have to go to school for it. You already have it in you. Get a business degree or two. That way, you won't end up like some of the others." I didn't major in English or journalism. What you've experienced is what God has given, the gift of writing. The gift of writing is defined by kodachrome.org/spiritgift as:

Writing - the gift that gives a believer the ability to express truth in a written
form; a form that can edify, instruct and strengthen the community of
believers.

The special God-given ability to formulate thoughts and ideas into
meaningful written forms so that the reader will find courage, guidance,
knowledge, or edification through the words shared with them.
The Bible was written by people with this gift.
People with this gift:
- may write stories, sermons, devotions, histories, prayers, songs, or
poetry to be used to build up the body of Christ
- may be inspired by the Holy Spirit in what they write
- may teach God's word to others through what they write
- may use writing to express other gifts
- may be better at expressing their thoughts in written form than in verbal
form.

God is doing a new thing. I will continue to keep you updated on the progress of the projects coming forth in 2017. In the meantime, I hope you have had a chance to watch the trailer for my new documentary film on the first African-American female comedic impressionist, Sylvia Traymore Morrison. You can view it on my page Joy TJ Riley on Facebook or through the Get Your JOY In The Morning YouTube channel, which is also accessible through www.getyourjoyinthemorning.com. I hope many of the ladies have registered for the "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" Empowerment Tour on January 14, 2017. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Please stay tuned for more projects coming in 2017. #theyearoffulfillingpurpose2017.

God bless you and your family in this new year.