When joy flows down my face like a river, it is water for the seed planted in my heart.
When you see my joy flowing like a river, think not that it is a river of self-pity.
When you see my joy flowing like a river, think not that it is a river of sadness.
When you see my joy flowing like a river, think not that it is a river in a valley of death.
When you see my joy flowing like a river, think not that it is for bread in the wilderness.
This river of joy is bringing to fruition the seed of Him who for the joy that was set before
Him is the author and finisher of my joy.

My tears are not from self-pity.
 My tears are not from sadness.
My tears are not in a desert for bread or out of sorrow, lest my enemies rejoice.
But my tears, humph, my tears are from the joy in knowing that I have a Father who feeds
me in pastures of love and I am not alone in this wilderness of life.
Now my head is lifted up to offer sacrifices of joy as my soul delights in His presence.
He sees me in His presence and the Angels rejoice with echoes of praise.
Where can we go that He does not see us?
There is no place to hide from a God so deep and high.
Therefore, I choose to take refuge in His arms as He surrounds me on every side enclosed
and secure by His Sovereign love.
My river of joy will endure into an everlasting morning. Oh yes, my tears, my tears.