Today's Serving of JOY JUICE: There is JOY in Unity

Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Share some with those difficult people in your life, and you may notice a huge change in them and YOURSELF!

            Do you think it’s possible to get along with people even when you don’t agree on a particular issue?  We’re going to continually come across those who disagree with our beliefs, our lifestyle, our decisions.  God created a variety of people and that means there will always be differences. 

            Listen to our instructions that come from Ephesians 4: 2-3:

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

            Unity doesn’t just happen…we have to work at it!  Often differences among people can lead to dissention and division….even in our churches.  Instead of focusing on all the things that we don’t agree upon, we should remember what unites us: ONE GOD, ONE HOPE, ONE LORD.

            Let’s ask our ONE AND ONLY HEAVENLY FATHER to help us see past our differences so that we can concentrate on what is truly important: HIM!  This is the only way to continually experience unity and that JOY of the LORD that we all desire.

  

Drink the JOY JUICE of Jesus and discover the sweet unity He brings into your daily life.  It’ll fill your heart so full that you’ll be sharing with others everywhere you go!  

Rainy Day in JOYgia!

Though it's Springtime, it's been a rainy season this entire week in South Georgia!  OUTSIDE, that is!  INSIDE my house, there has been lots of JOY because we've had some of our children and grandchildren with us since Wednesday of last week!  What fun we had just "chilling out" together.

That's the way it ought to be in our spiritual lives.  Though the storms of life inevitably come, we can always depend on the SON to shine into our hearts....if we will allow Him to! We should keep in mind that NOTHING comes our way that catches God by surprise.  No, we don't understand why He allows certain things to happen.  Often it's the consequences of our own mistakes.  But other times we feel that we've done everything right and we are in the center of His will, yet bad things still happen! (The storms come!)

Just remember that there is a rainbow beyond the rain.  And it's beautiful and filled with His promises of faithfulness....................and JOY!!!!!!!!

If it's raining at your house today......be reminded of HIS GOODNESS which rains on us everyday!

JOYful Saturday

As promised yesterday, I'd like to share a little bit about our Saturday at the EnJOY the Journey Conference! Where do I begin????

Doors opened at 8:00 and by 8:30 we were singing praise and worship music led by our special friend (and Dove Award Winner) CHERI KEAGGY.  She then shared her testimony of God's faithfulness throughout this past year!  It is just amazing how many changes she experienced in one single year...most of then very difficult changes.  But God lifted her and carried her...and she sensed His presence through it all.  THAT'S WHAT THE JOY OF THE LORD IS ALL ABOUT!

We, also, had the wonderful honor of having KAREN EHMAN from Proverbs 31 Ministries to share her heart with us as she talked with us about losing our "First Love" for God.  Her keynote address challenged us to draw closer to Him and continually seek to feast on His Word and fast from anything that takes us away from Him.

Two more testimonies were shared from ladies in our community on Saturday...and like those on Friday, they touched our hearts is such a powerful way!  God uses ALL of us to spread His love and JOY.

If you are reading this post and you were able to be with us at the conference, would you leave me a message about what meant the most to you or anything regarding why GOD had you there?  I pray that many hearts were touched and encouraged.  Indeed, we are HIS children....and that makes us Princesses of JOY! (Or if you're of the male gender, a PRINCE!)

EnJOYed the Journey!

WOW!  Can't believe it's been two weeks since I've posted on my blog!  I've been JOYfully busy with our "EnJOY the Journey, Princess of JOY" Ladies' Conference....then tying up loose ends and spending time with family!  I'm sure you understand!

I am still sooooo full and floating on the afterglow of the conference. If you were there, I hope you received a blessing.  There was such a sweet spirit "in that place" and it was most assuredly the spirit of the Lord!  HE WAS PRESENT among us. 

On Friday night there were two ladies who gave the most powerful testimonies of God's faithfulness.  There was not a dry eye in the room.  Our hearts were touched beyond mere words.  Karen Ehman from Proverbs 31 Ministries performed the CUTEST monologue about the different hats that women wear!  Oh, my!  We laughed until our sides split!  And then the beautiful music by Dove Award Winner, Cheri Keaggy was just the icing on the cake!

Tomorrow I'll tell you about Saturday!  It was a day filled with JOY....abundant JOY, too!  Tune in tomorrow!!!!!  :)

EnJOY the Journey---One Week Away!!!

Today is Friday!  That means it's only ONE WEEK until our 2nd "EnJOY the Journey" Ladies' Conference.  God has orchestrated a wonderful weekend and we are sooo excited about what HE has planned. 

CHERI KEAGGY is flying in from Nashville, TN to lead in praise and worship music.  Her first trip to Douglas, GA was last year....for our first conference!  Oh, how thrilled we are that she is coming back!  (Last year her luggage never made it, so we're extra glad she didn't hold that against us!)  She is a Dove Award Winning musician who has been gifted by God to write and perform music that honors Him and brings Him JOY!  She will give her testimony, too....which I'm sure will touch hearts.

KAREN EHMAN will be traveling from Lansing, MI....and is hoping for warm weather!  She just celebrated her birthday yesterday, so I told her we'd celebrate GEORGIA STYLE next weekend.  Her only request is 70 degree weather!  We'll ask God for that!  Karen is from Proverbs 31 Ministries.  She and Lysa Terkurst are great friends and minister together often.  She, also, is a contributor for Focus on the Family.  Last August I had the privilege of meeting her and hearing her speak.  She is AWESOME!  Can't wait for you meet her!

Both of these ladies have been greatly used by God....but they both are so humble, transparent and sweet.  They have one purpose...to spread His message to all who will listen.  Please pray for them as they prepare, as they travel and then as they share at the conference what God has laid on their hearts.  It's sure to be a weekend of JOY........JOY IN THE LORD!!!!!!

Today's Serving of JOY JUICE

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  I hope you’ve planned to make God’s armor a part of your daily wardrobe.  

            Go ahead and finish getting dressed!  When you get that belt fastened, it’s time to see what pieces of armor we need to put on next….Ephesians 6:14-15 says: Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

           What is a “Breastplate of Righteousness”?  The breastplate covers the chest…your heart! A soldier with his breastplate on goes boldly into battle full of confidence. Righteousness allows us to be in RIGHT STANDING with God. We need this breastplate of righteousness to protect us from the attacks of the enemy.

  

 NOW, what about our shoes?…..the shoes of peace! When we receive Christ, we are united with the Prince of Peace. The shoes of peace become protection against the divisive schemes of the devil.  As peacemakers, we bring people together by promoting forgiveness and reconciliation.

 

            My! You look dazzling in your new belt, breastplate and shoes!  And is that a  smile I see creeping across your face…Yes, I believe it is, because your heart is overflowing with truth, righteousness, and peace which all lead to much JOY in the Lord!

 Keep that armor polished and wear it boldly as God’s solider….spreading JOY throughout the battlefields of life!

Abundant JOY

John 10:10 says: "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy; I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly."

 Do you let the "thief" steal from you???  I'm referring to JOY, of course!  There are many opportunities through each day for us to be JOYful or to let the enemy snatch our joy right out from under us! For instance:

• We can get irritated by having to stand in a long line at the grocery store check-out OR we can pray, "Lord, show me someone who needs a kind word or an expression of Your love." 
• We can get impatient with that poky driver that pulls out in front of us OR we can pray for him/her as if it's our mom or granddaddy.
• We can get agitated about the mess on our kitchen floor OR we can thank God of the children who are healthy and happy and are able to drop crumbs on the floor.

You see where I'm headed?  Each day is filled with CHOICES!  Today....will you choose to be in a good mood or a bad mood?  Will be choose to smile or frown?  Will you choose to complain or praise?

The verse in John 10:10 speaks of ABUNDANT LIFE.....I'm pretty sure Jesus was talking about a life overflowing with His JOY! Soooo, I'm making a choice! I CHOOSE ABUNDANT JOY!  What about you?

Don't Limit God's JOY

As I was reading my Bible today, I came across a familiar passage in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

It's easy to be joyful when things are going our way.  We know we SHOULD pray all the time, about everything.  And when we are getting what we want, it's easier to have a grateful heart.  But what about all those times when things are going the opposite of what we want them to.  And when we feel UNgrateful! 

Maybe we just don't see what God's doing in the midst of the trying times.  Often I think we miss the truth that nothing comes to us that hasn't already passed through His hands and His plans.  Many times I'm sure I have limited God by my unbelief and by my lack of JOY, my lack of prayer, and my ingratitude.

Let's take our eyes off of ourselves and keep them focused on Jesus.  Only then can we "rejoice always", "pray continually" and "give thanks in all circumstance".  After all.....as the scripture says: "THIS IS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU!"  So don't limit God's JOY....for in doing so, you will also limit your own!

JOYfully Busy

Sorry, folks!  I've not been as attentive to my blog as I like to be!  You see......it's TWO WEEKS from today!   "What's 2 weeks from today?" you ask.  Our "EnJOY the Journey" Ladies' Conference in Douglas, GA!
If you haven't got your ticket, gals, let me know!  There are still some available!

JOYfully BUSY is what I've been the last several days...and probably will be til the conference comes and goes.  So that's why I may not be blogging quite as much as usual.  I'm sure you understand.  Please pray for every detail----large and small---to be right smack dab in the center of HIS will!  And pray for hearts to be changed for HIM.

Okay....I'm JOYfully rushing off to Cordele, GA.  Gonna be on the Mid-Day Magazine tv show on WSST-TV, Channels 51/55 to share about our upcoming conference.  Yes, I am JOYfully busy....but I sure am ENJOYING THE JOURNEY! 

Today's Serving of JOY JUICE

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Notice how clear and transparent the juice is as you pour yourself a glass.  Are your thoughts that transparent?

            What if people could tell what you were thinking every minute?   Would you be pleased with what they would learn about you? 

            Though we know that God is all-knowing and that He is intimately familiar with our thoughts, we don’t always live like we believe that. Outwardly, we can pretend to be one kind of person, but on the inside, we may be something completely different.  We may be able to mislead people….but there’s no fooling God!

 In 1 Chronicles 28:9/b (NIV) we read:  “…the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.”  What does He find when He searches your heart? Genuine love, authenticity, transparency?  Or does He see a counterfeit?  A phony?  We can fool others, but God sees the REAL US when He looks at our heart.

Joyce Meyer challenges us: If you have not been working with the Holy Spirit to break old thought patterns and form new ones, it is time to get started.  Think some good thoughts about people, and as your attitude starts to change toward them, watch your relationships start to change for the better.

Not only will your thoughts be more JOYful, but you will bring JOY to others by allowing them to see into your transparent heart!

Life is short....EnJOY it!

The brevity of life has been brought to my attention in a very real way the last few days.  As I attended the funeral of one of my church "sisters" yesterday, it seemed impossible that just one week before she was bouncing around our church, loving on everyone and sharing her words of encouragement.  She'd been in Sunday School, both morning and night services and even a meeting on Sunday afternoon.  Then just a few short hours later, she had a heart attack/stroke which ended her life within a matter of days.

And now, today, I'm getting ready to go to another funeral. This special friend was just a few years older than my husband and me. Pat and David grew up together, played ball together, were in Boy Scouts together. We raised our families together and had MANY fun times as we went through school, married and participated in so many of the same church activities, ball games and community events.  Our sons even roomed together in college; his wife and I taught school together & have been wonderful friends through the years.  He, too, had a heart attack Saturday night and went home to be with the Lord!

Life is SHORT!  Like the Bible says: It's like a mist, a vapor!  To me, that means we should take advantage of every day, every hour, every minute!  Do we take every opportunity to share the love of Christ?  Are we faithful to serve Him in every area of our lives?  We don't know when the Lord will call us home....but one thing's for sure: The time is closer than it's ever been.

I don't know about you, but I want to live my life on earth in such a way that when my time does come, the first words I want to hear when I walk through those pearly gates is "Well, done, my good and faithful (JOYFUL) servant! :)