A JOYful Memorial Day!

            As citizens of the United States, we should be extra JOYful because of our freedom. 

Today is Memorial Day….a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.  Indeed, we are blessed beyond our comprehension to live in “the land where freedom rings” and we should thank God for the heroes who were willing to pay the price.

 According to one report, 43 countries in our world have been labeled as “not free” and 60 countries only “partly free”. Those totals cover over 100 countries and 54 percent of the worldwide population.

Today would be a great time for us to stop and thank God for the country in which we live.  Instead of focusing on all the negatives, let’s concentrate on all the reasons we should be thankful. 

·        We are FREE to worship in the place of our choice. No barred doors. No Secret Police. No censoring of the message by government security.

·        On Election day we are FREE to go to the polls and vote for the candidates of our choice. 

·        We are free to make choices in regard to the schools our children attend.

·        We enjoy so many other privileges that people in other countries only dream about!

Let’s approach this Memorial Day with a spirit of JOY and gratitude.  GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!

            

Today's Serving of JOY JUICE

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Hope you woke up on the right side of the bed this morning and are approaching your day with the JOYful attitude of Christ!

            Let’s just imagine what this world would be like if we ALL had the attitude of Jesus!  There would be no one demanding “their rights”; we would all be putting others’ needs before our own; there would be peace and harmony throughout the world. 

            Philippians 2:5 -7 explains: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus,  who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness." 

            What an example!!!!  Jesus was willing to give up his rights as the Son of God in order to be obedient and serve.  For many people, the word “servant” holds negative connotations.  But in the Christian context, a servant is one who is willing to become like Christ…and that’s a good thing!!!

            Let’s put ourselves under the microscope and examine our attitudes, our lifestyle, our goals.  Are they “Christlike”?  If not, we need to come clean before God and ask Him to help us be aware of selfishness, pride and evil behavior.   When we allow Him to transform our lives, we will be setting a JOYful example before others!

        

JOYful Announcement

If you've been following my blog for very long, you know that I like to post OFTEN.  However, I've not done that in the last few weeks.  And now I'll tell you WHY.....

Yes, I've been busy with lots of JOYful opportunities, but one of the MAIN things I've been working on is the completion of my second book!  I have a June 1st deadline to send to my editor and I'm working feverishly to finish.  This book with be another devotional book....about JOY, of course. 

Please pray for me to be disciplined to finish my final revisions so that I can send to my editor on schedule. You are such special friends to share in this "joyful journey" with me!  I'll let you know when the "mission is accomplished"!!!

JOY: Sticking Out All Over!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Be a good example to others and drink it daily!

            The story is told of a young boy who approached an evangelist after a revival meeting one night.  “Excuse me, sir?” the little boy said politely.  “You said everyone should ask Jesus into their hearts, right?”

            “That’s right, son.”  The minister squatted down so he could look the boy in the eye. “Did you ask him in?”

            “Well, I’d like to,” the boy said, “but I got to figurin’…I’m so little and Jesus is so big---he’s just gonna stick out all over!”

           “That’s the point, son,” the man said with a smile, “that’s the point.”

            Does Jesus “stick out all over” in your life?  Do others see Him when they look at you?  It should be our heart’s desire to be so much like Jesus that people have no doubt that we’re a Christian! 

            Romans 8:29 teaches us that it’s God’s plan for us to be like Jesus....“to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.”     Are you willing to allow Him to have complete control of your life?  Ask God for the boldness to take a stand for Him…to reflect Jesus with your words, your actions, your attitude. When you make that decision, you will be setting a good example for all those around you and will be pouring out the JOY of the Lord onto their lives…and that JOY will bounce right back to you!

            Let's strive to set an example by drinking our Joy Juice of Jesus faithfully and allowing His JOY to “stick out all over” in every area of our life!

Today's Serving of JOY JUICE

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Have FAITH that there will always be plenty to share!

            In these times of economic uncertainty, many people are concerned about their financial security.  It’s easy for us to say that we have FAITH when things are going well for us and we have a steady source of income.  But what about when the unexpected happens and we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory?  Maybe our job is in jeopardy or we lose it completely.  All over our country, people have gone through this “valley” of despair...some are still without work. That’s a desperate place to be!

            Can we still have faith and joy when life takes a rude turn?  Yes….if we make the decision to put our complete trust in God. In Philippians 4:6 we read these words from the Apostle Paul: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Someone once say, “Faith is not shown to be real until it is tested.” 

            Many times God allows us to go through tough times to refine and polish our faith; to help us grow spiritually and learn to depend on Him. The “richest” people on earth are those who realize their identity in Christ.  We are His children; and since he’s the King….that makes us royalty! 

            Now, doesn’t that make you JOYful and strengthen your faith? 

Drink your JOY JUICE so that you can “be anxious for nothing”!

JOYfully Busy...Are YOU?

You may have noticed that I've not been blogging real often lately.  The only "excuse" I have is that I've been JOYfully busy!  God continues to bless with all kinds of opportunities. Whether it's keeping precious little bundles of joy for a busy mommy or speaking somewhere, it's all a part of His JOYful plan and I love it!

Many times I think we get confused about "ministry".  We think if we are simply cooking and cleaning at home for our family, we're not doing anything important or "ministry-related". When we babysit or take an aging parent to the doctor, we may not get a big "pat on the back"...but each task is important and ministers to someone.

Take a look at your day.  What have you done that may seem "insignificant"?  If you were helping someone in ANY way, then you were performing "ministry".

Okay...here's a ministry assignment: Go find someone and share the JOY of the Lord with them today!  It may take on a totally different look for you than it does for me!  Each of us has our own way of ministering.  JUST DO IT...with JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today's Serving of JOY JUICE in Honor of Godly Mothers

Have you had your Joy Juice today?   Enjoy your juice this morning as we recall some of the Godly mothers of the Bible.

·        In Genesis we learn about Hagar, who wandered in the wilderness, crying for her child; God responded to the cry of her heart by revealing a well of water nearby to quench their thirst.

·        In Exodus, we read about Jochebed who defied Pharaoh in order to save the life of her son, Moses.

·        In 1 Kings you may remember the mother who appealed to Solomon and was willing to let another woman have her child rather than see the child killed.

·        In 1 Samuel, Hannah was devoted to her son, yet willingly offered him to the Lord.

·        And then, of course, there was Mary, Mother of Jesus! 

            Not all the women of the Bible were good…Just as there are good mothers and some “not so good” mothers in our world today.  But we must remember that God has a plan for mothers.  The high calling of motherhood is an all-consuming task….24 hours a day, 7 days a week….for years!  But, oh, the rewards are worth it!

            Proverbs 31:28 says: Her children rise up and call her blessed;  Moms: this should be our heart’s desire….to live such a Godly life before our children that they will one day call us a “Proverbs 31” mother!  Yes, that will be a JOYful day!!!

            Thank God for the Godly women He has put in your life…the ones who have served you buckets full of JOY!

A Weekend of JOY

Yesterday was Mother's Day.  My prayer is that each of you had a JOYfully blessed day.  Whether you were celebrating with you own mother, being celebrated yourself or just loving on the special women God has put in your life, I trust that it was a day filled with the JOY of the Lord.

As I reflect on my weekend I once again am reminded of God's faithfulness.  Through the difficult times as well as the happy times, God is near. Let me demonstrate by sharing a few of the ways God showed His love over the past few days.

1. One of my good friends lost her mother after an extended illness. Even though it was a time of loss and heartache, my sweet friend was uplifted by the prayers of so many and she could keep that smile on her face.  She knew her mom was with the Lord and that brought such comfort to her.  The expressions of God's love through her many friends and family and church family members brought "new mercies" during this time of bereavement.
2. One of the young couples in our church was given a church bridal shower on Saturday.  They were in awe of God's generosity as He "showered" them with blessings in the form of things to start "keeping house".  They were so expressive in their appreciation toward those who put the shower together and who attended and "gifted" them.  God works through His people....in countless ways.
3. On Sunday I was invited to a special baby dedication.  One of my very precious young friends and her hubby were blessed with a miracle baby a few months ago.  Her story is one that will be told and retold over the years due to the miraculous timing of God.  If you were able to attend the EnJOY the Journey Conference this past March, you heard this little mom's testimony.  What an honor to be able to attend the "Dedication Ceremony" of this beautiful little bundle of JOY.
4. And then, it was Mother's Day!  My mom, brother, sister and family all gathered in my home for lunch together and the celebration of OUR MOTHER.  Oh, how blessed we have been and continue to be due to the Godly mom that we share.  She is the supreme example in my book of what a Proverbs 31 women looks like.  She's my role model.  I want to be just like her when I grow up.
5. GRANDBABIES....I cannot end today's post with thanking the Lord for our grandbabies.  At this point we have four bundles of JOY...ages 5, 3, 2, 1.  BUT GOOD NEWS!!!!  We have TWO MORE on the way!  Both sons (and their wives!) are expecting in October.  Soooooo we are double excited about how God is blessing our family.

Enough of that JOY stuff for today!  But may I encourage you to take a glance back over your last few days and begin to find all YOUR blessings, too?  God loves us, each and every one; and He is pouring out His blessings of JOY into our lives, even when we don't even realize it.  Just take a close look and you'll see them! I promise!

A JOYful MOM

Sunday is Mother's Day!  A day to celebrate your mom and the wonderful things she's done for you through the years.  As many of you are, I am blessed with a precious, Godly mother that has brought so much joy to me and my siblings and our families. 

Our mother is often our teacher, our advisor, our inspiration and encourager.  A mother is the “bank where we deposit all our hurts and worries” as well as our hopes and dreams. There’s an old Jewish proverb that says: “A mother understands what a child does not say”.  How true!  Mothers deserve our honor, praise and gratitude for so many reasons.

  

Let's think of ways to honor our moms all year round...not just on Mother's Day: 

·        One of the best ways is to worship our Creator. If possible, attend church WITH your mom from time to time! 

·        Write her a card or letter telling her how much you love her….and list some of the reasons why.

·        Give her a hug every time you see her.  It doesn’t have to be for a special occasion. Very few mothers ever tire of feeling the arms of their children wrapped tightly around them in love.

·        If your mother has passed on, do something in her memory…maybe a donation to a project at her church or a book in her memory to your local library.

      Take the time to thank God for all the special ladies in your life.  I’d like to JOYfully dedicate  Proverbs 31:29 to my own dear mother--- "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 

Today's Serving of JOY JUICE: Extraordinary JOY

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Just a few sips help you to see the JOY in even the ordinary things.

             Children are masters at finding JOY!  When our grandchildren come to visit, Papa Pat and I are reminded of how special the simple pleasures can be.  Through their eyes we see wild flowers that can’t wait to be picked by excited little fingers.  We hear spontaneous laughter from those little bundles of energy over things we would miss if they weren’t there. And, oh, the joyful wonder in their sparkling eyes when they watch the birds and the butterflies.  None of these things cost a penny!  And yet, they bring so much simple joy!

            We need to slow down and realize that it’s against the backdrop of “ordinary” that God’s work becomes “extraordinary”. When we see God in everything, we will experience His JOY.  In John 10:10, Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  Abundant life, friends, is God’s plan for us.  If we will only accept each new day as the gift He intends it to be, we will find JOY beyond measure….in even the small, simple things of our ordinary day.

            Drink in the Joy Juice of Jesus and look at life with a new perspective.  Your ordinary day may just turn into an EXTRAordinary, JOYful one!  Don’t settle for a life that’s ordinary.   Drink and share the JOY JUICE of Jesus and look forward to abundant JOY in the Lord!

JOY is a HEALER!!!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  When we are intentional about sharing the JOY of the Lord, that JOY JUICE is delicious!!!!!

             In case you haven’t noticed, I love to talk about JOY.  I believe that the more we think about something, the more intentional we become about making it a goal.  Who couldn’t use more JOY in their life?  Especially…..Joy from the Lord!

            JOY is a healer! Proverbs 17:22 reminds us that “A happy heart is like good medicine, but a broken spirit drains your strength.”   Many times a happy heart leads to laughter! Doctors tell us that laughter has many benefits:

• It reduces stress and tension
• It strengthens our immune system
• It’s great exercise for our lungs
• It increases circulation
• It even reduces pain

 God created us with a need for joy and laughter.  Can you remember the last time you had a good belly laugh?  If you can’t, you need some serious JOY JUICE!  Find some good Christian friends who love to laugh and hang out with them for a while.  Try to see the humor in your circumstances….Laugh at yourself! If all else fails, find some children to keep you company.  Volunteer at school or church in the children’s department and I can assure you that there will be plenty of laughter.

            God delights when His children are JOYful.  And JOY is contagious!

(Side note: This weekend we kept three of our grandchildren and they brought lots of joy and laughter to Papa Pat and me.  The oldest two, ages 5 & 3, got on a "knock-knock joke" kick and told the same jokes over and over and over!  And do you know what I did.....I laughed and laughed and laughed at the same jokes over and over and over again!  REALLY!  I laughed till my sides split, because they were laughing so contagiously that it just tickled me pink!  Sooooooooooo if you are need of some laughter and joy, just let me know and I'll "loan" you my precious, silly grandchildren!  They are the BEST! But you must PROMISE to return them promptly!)