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.

SPECIAL EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Blessings Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am so excited and honored to be one of eight women featured on the "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" Empowerment Tour coming to Baltimore January 2017! If you're a woman who needs to believe again, be inspired and empowered, then join me! Men, if you have a woman in your life that you believe can benefit from this amazing tour, I encourage you to add it to her Christmas list. SEE YOU THERE!!! #theyearoffulfillingpurpose2017

The OFFICIAL Trailer for "A Legend Among Us"

Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with GREAT pleasure to present to you the OFFICIAL trailer for the HISTORICAL documentary film by Joy T.J. Riley about the FIRST African-American female impressionist, Sylvia Traymore Morrison!!! Please see the following link to YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMYB7eRULi8

Feel FREE to share!

Many Thanks and Blessings,

-Joy

What Are You Doing During the 12Noon Hour 12/16/16?

Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen,

What are you doing during the 12noon hour on Friday, December 16th? Be sure to TUNE IN to the blog to view the highly anticipated trailer for the HISTORICAL documentary film by Joy T.J. Riley about the FIRST African-American female comedic impressionist, Sylvia Traymore Morrison!

Blessings

Complete the Vision

Ecclesiastes 5:3

3For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool's voice is known by his many words.

The NKJV Study Bible translation of what King Solomon says in this scripture is very powerful as it relates to what Jesus said hundreds of years later. "We also sin with our speech when we make a pledge we do not keep." Jesus said it as, "Let your yes be your yes and no be your no."

A dream is defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary as 1) a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep; 2) a dreamlike vision: daydream, reverie; 3) something notable for its beauty, excellence, or enjoyable quality; 4) ideal.  And one of Job's friends stated a truth that God speaks in many ways. The Bible records multiple times how God has spoken to people during their sleep/visions/dreams. When I read this scripture I keep seeing, "a dream is birthed through much activity."

When Joseph had his dream and shared it with his brothers, his focus was on his brothers bowing down to him. But what he didn't see was that God was going to use his gifts to help a nation during a famine. What if Joseph refused to use his gift in prison because of his situation? What if Joseph refused to see beyond himself? How many people would've died? For Moses, the deliver, that God sent, was a descendant and raised by those in the land that God used Joseph in.

We live in a society that is so attention deficient that as quick as we see something we forget. There are so many images thrown at us day to day that it is hard not to become distracted. However, when God gives you something, and you begin to act on it, He expects you to complete it unless He gives you direction otherwise. Your trials are for the purpose of persevering as it says in the book of James. But whatever vision/dream that God gave you to complete through the gifts He placed in you, know that it is not simply about you.

I think back to what I told the Lord when I was in the emergency room eight years ago. I told Him if He spared me, I'd do what He called me to do. I think back to that time. And I look at the years that followed. The gifts God desired me to use over the years were still tied to the futures of others, including my love, whom God just called home. If I simply looked at my hurt, my pain, the visions of others, the healing of others, the growth in faith of others may have been severely delayed.

It is a privilege to dream. It is an even greater privilege to birth one. Don't let a God given dream nor gifts die because of attention deficiency. Someone's future will be affected. Nothing in this life is simply about you.

The Pain is Real

John 11:35-36

35Jesus wept. 36Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him!"

The pain of grief is real. Even Jesus felt the pain of grief. He felt it when he found out John the Baptist, his cousin, was beheaded and he sought out solitude. Jesus was even closer to Lazarus, a friend. The grief caused him to weep. I have been in a Job like experience for many days because in that time 3 people, two family and one a love had departed. Just prior to these deaths, the enemy tried again to take me out which has been tried before. As one woman put it, "The enemy has attacked you greatly because you are so close to purpose." This i knew indeed. I knew attacks would come but not like this.  I was barely through the grief of one before the next hit. I began making references to Neo's battle with Agent Smith in The Matrix.  Some understood while others did not. Agent Smith's job was to get rid of Neo because Neo was a threat. The devil's job was to discredit Job so Job would curse God. The devil's argument was that Job only worshiped God because He had protected him from tragedy and loss. God knew Job's heart was faithful. Job's friends sat along side job for several days and said not a word. Job's friends did well til they spoke with blame against Job, accusing him. We must be careful how we treat others while they are hurting.  Eventually, God answered Job and addressed Job's friends for hurting him while he was in distress. Job forgave.  I am blessed that there are a few who have been sitting by my side in my grief, hearing my cries of pain and have cried with me.  There have been some who have not understood my grief because they had not experienced the number of losses or even the type of losses but in their silence they have prayed and offered hugs.

Ruth's grief was not recorded. Jacob's grief over the loss of Rachel was not discussed but his love for her was expressed through favoritism of Joseph. Jacob's love was well intentioned. Nonetheless,  I finally understand a pain my Mother experienced that has dug so deep. Before I could get words out my Mom was kind enough to even give examples of what she knew I was experiencing. My Mom knew I was getting through the first of the grieving process with the first death and to see grief hit me so soon again in the way she had experienced, she had empathy for me. See, when my Mom grieved, I didn't know what to say to her. All I could do was hold her. I knew grief from a different perspective, not hers. However, in my grieving, I didn't dishonor her grief because it was different. My Mom was kind enough not to dishonor my grief. Those whom God has sent to help me have honored my grief, giving me room to breathe, talk, weep, etc. I love and appreciate them for it in ways I don't know if I can ever explain. For those who have not understood, I certainly forgive them and love but I've had to separate myself for my own well-being. I have been accused of many things in this place, like Job. But I know in this place, the Word says we are to bear the burdens of one another. The Word also says that our trials are indeed for others so we shall know how to comfort them the way we have been comforted. I pray no one knows these kinds of griefs because the pain is real. But know that God will send others to help and pray when you have not the words. This is not about a lack of faith.  Remember, Job came under great tribulation because his faith was seen as great.