JOY...FIRST!

Have you had your Joy Juice today?  First you have to try it; then you’ll KNOW you like it!

            The theme of this week’s JOY JUICE devotionals is the word FIRST. It’s surprising how often that little word is used in the Bible. One of my favorite verses which uses the word FIRST is found in 1 John 4:19.  It’s so simple, so beautiful, so powerful. It says:

  "We love because he first loved us."

            God loved us before the beginning of time.  He is The Source of all love… and when you “catch” His love, it’s contagious.  I remember a song we used to sing when I was a teenager in my church Youth group. It was called “Pass It On”.

            The first verse goes like this:

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
That's how it is with God's Love,
Once you've experienced it,
You spread the love to everyone
You want to pass it on.

            The lyrics of this song so beautifully explain the truth found in the Bible verse for today: “We love because he first loved us.”  And when we are “passing it on”, an amazing thing happens.  HIS JOY rises up in our heart and walks hand in hand with His love!

             EnJOY passing on His love to others as you drink and share the JOY JUICE of Jesus!

His JOY is New Every Morning

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Let it be the first thing you do when you get up each morning.

  

            For a fresh perspective on your day, read the words of the prophet Jeremiah in the book of Lamentations 3:22-23:

  Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,  for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 

  

Good Lord, it's morning!

             When you awaken each morning, do you immediately start thinking about all the things you have to do?  Do you begin to worry about some circumstance in your life that’s out of control?  Are your thoughts negative, full of anxiety?  If so, you need to remember to FIRST meditate on the truth from scripture. 

Good Morning, Lord!

            These verses in Lamentations remind us that we have every reason to be at peace and full of JOY.  The Lord’s love for us is great…and because of the great love, the world cannot swallow us up!  He’s compassionate and forgiving…and He never tires of us coming to him day after day.  GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS!

            Maybe some of us need to go back to bed and get up again!  Before your feet hit the floor, FIRST---drink in the Joy Juice of Jesus.  I believe you’ll be pleased to discover that your day will be much brighter.  You’ll be seeing JOY in places you never imagined!

            Let’s get into the habit of drinking our Joy Juice first thing every morning. It’ll remind us of God’s faithfulness and love....and fill us with His JOY!

Drink Your Joy Juice---FIRST!!!!!!!!!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  When you taste it for the first time, you’ll never want to do without it again!

             The past few weeks I’ve witnessed my grandchildren experience several “firsts”. 

•  Our oldest grandson started to Kindergarten, so he was excited about his first day of school. 
• Our granddaughter started ballet class, so she was thrilled over the first day of this new experience.  
• Our 2-year-old learned to use the potty, so he (and his parents) were thrilled over the accomplishment of this first!

             As with our children, these little ones have grown fast and we’ve delighted in watching them as they first crawled, took their first steps, said their first words and many other joyful milestones.  I’m sure many of you can identify with me when I say each new stage brings with it much JOY.

            Today, I’d like to ask you if you’ve experienced that glorious “first” of asking Jesus into your heart.  It’s as easy as A, B, C.  

A - Admit to God you are a sinner.  (We ALL are!)

B - Believe that Jesus is God's Son and that God sent Jesus to save people from their sins. 

C - Confess that you want Jesus to be Lord of your life and commit your life totally to Him.

Now, as Psalm 34: 8 tells us: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

When you experience the JOY that can be found in a relationship with Christ, you’ll be so glad that you took this spiritual “first” step!

            Drink your personal serving of JOY JUICE ….first! Then share generously with others!

Overflowing JOY JUICE JUG!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  I sure have!  As a matter of fact, my JUICE JUG is overflowing! 

WHY???

            Today is a special day for many reasons!  First…Psalm 118:24 tells us: This is the day the LORD has made; let us REJOICE and be glad in it!  We should choose to rejoice in each new day…because it’s a gift.

AND......?

            There are other reasons I’m celebrating today! It’s my husband’s birthday AND our wedding anniversary!  We’ve been married 39 years and though we’ve had problems and struggles along the way, we have chosen to focus on our blessings.  And that brings us much joy.  Admittedly, some times our problems have come from our NOT listening to God…and having to suffer the consequences. But God is faithful and forgiving and His love is everlasting. Today I thank Him for birthdays, anniversaries and opportunities for growth when we make mistakes.

Still another reason for celebration!

             There’s still another reason for abundant JOY today!  This is JOY JUICE message number 800! Let me quickly tell you that I would NEVER have been able to do this without GOD speaking His words into my heart; without Him bringing just the right people into my life who knew about radio; without supportive friends and family and sponsors.  Without listeners/readers like YOU…who He uses to bounce JOY right back to me!

            I'm joyfully celebrating this special day and thanking YOU for sharing in the JOY with me. 

As Psalm 4:7 proclaims: “You have filled my heart with greater joy…”

Birthday JOY!!!!!!!!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  As I was drinking mine this morning, I’m pretty sure I heard God whisper, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

            Yes, today is my birthday! And though I won’t tell you how old I am, I will say that my year has been filled with lots of joy--- with a few struggles sprinkled in to make me stay dependent God.  If everything always worked smoothly and we never had any problems, we may begin to feel “self-sufficient” and think we don’t need God. 

            Even on “happy days” when we’re celebrating birthdays or weddings or simply being together with family, we should continually listen for God’s voice.  He may prompt our hearts to lend someone a helping hand.  His “still small voice” may be redirecting our path so as to protect us from something unforeseen.   Our thoughts may be filled with His words of wisdom that He wants to speak through us to someone who needs a special word.

 WOOOHOOOOO!

            Are you listening so that you can be his instrument?  We never know when we’ll celebrate our last birthday! Let’s be sure that we’re taking advantage of every second of every day!

            Psalm 90:12 says: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  That’s my birthday wish!  That each of you would pray that verse for me…and I’d love to make it my birthday gift to you.  Let’s pray for each other that  God will teach us to number our days and give us hearts of wisdom…and JOY!.

           Let's serve up some party-flavored JOY JUICE as we celebrate each day with JOY.

Hello...It's God Calling---Answer with JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Did you know that you need to be listening in order to really enJOY your Joy Juice?

            In his sermon "How to Hear God Speak," Rick Warren talked about the problem of distractions that keep us from listening to the Lord. He said:  "Many of you did what I did last Mother's Day. You picked up the phone and dialed your mom to say, 'Happy Mother's Day,' and as you did, you got the same little message, 'Sorry, but all the circuits are busy.' Everybody else in America was calling their mom, too.”

Hello...This is GOD calling!

            Pastor Warren went on to say:

"Many times, God has wanted to talk to you, but He got a busy signal. Many times God has wanted to talk to you, but the line was off the hook. You don't want to do call waiting with God. You've got to make time. There are many things that are good that can distract you – but when you’re too busy to listen to God, then you're too busy!"

Are YOU too busy???

            How true!  Our busy lifestyles keep us running! Our brains stay so full of STUFF that many times we can’t hear the truly important messages.  We’ve grown so accustomed to multi-tasking that we really think we should be able to continually do more than one thing at a time.  And while that’s sometimes necessary, if we are serious about staying in the center of God’s will, we MUST slow down and be still enough to hear Him speak.

            Be ready to listen when God calls…Don’t be too busy to hear His message of JOY.

Hearing God Brings JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  If you’ll drink it faithfully, you’re sure to heard God’s voice more clearly.

            What does it mean to “hear God” speak?  I’m not talking about an audible voice….like you and I talk to one another.  I’m referring to the “knowing” in your heart that God has whispered a word of wisdom, guidance or comfort down deep into your soul.  

How to recognize God's voice...

            The first step to hearing God is to accept Him into your life. You can’t hear Him speak if you’re not committed to following after Him. When we turn from our old way of life and hunger to grow in relationship with God, He delights in  personal communication with each of us.

 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” says James 4: 8

             The closer we draw to Him, the more quickly we will recognize His voice.  It’s kinda like when you receive a phone call. 

·        If you’ve never met that person who is calling, you certainly don’t recognize their voice.

·         If you’ve met them a few times, the voice may sound familiar but they have to tell you their name…so that you can be sure of who you’re talking to.

·         But if it’s a person who is close to you, someone you love and spend a lot of time with, you don’t even have to ask who it is on the other end.  You know as soon as your hear their voice.

            Get to know your Heavenly Father and you will learn to recognize His voice as He speaks to you.  Read His Word and spend time communicating with Him through prayer.  And when you pray, remember to stop talking long enough to listen!

             When you learn to recognize God’s voice, you’ll be drinking in great big servings of JOY!

             

JOYfully Listen for God's Voice

Have you had your JOY JUICE today? Can you hear me?  I asked if you’ve had your JOY JUICE?

            Any of you ever accused your spouse or family member of having “selective hearing”?  Truth is…we all have that condition at times, don’t we?  We choose to hear some things while  ignoring others.  Parents, ever have had to tell your children to do something several times only to have them say, “I didn’t hear you.”

            Years ago, when my children were young, they rode their bikes over to a neighbor’s house one day without asking my permission.  When I missed them, I began to call for them---frantically.  After the fourth yell, I saw them zooming through the alley on their bicycles…as fast as their little legs would carry them. 

 As they screeched to a stop in front of me, KNOWING they were in trouble for leaving the yard without permission, one of my precious children confessed, “Here we are Mommy!  We didn’t hear you calling the first three times!”

I DIDN'T HEAR YOU!

 

            How many of us respond to God that way?  He prompts us repeatedly to do something and we act like we didn’t hear Him the first few times. God is patient and kind, but He wants us to listen to His voice as He leads, guides and directs us.  We are NOT puppets.  We must choose to listen and obey.  In Psalm 32:8 God says:

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."

            There it is….He said he’d instruct us in the way we should go!  So, the question is…ARE WE LISTENING?

             Choose to listen to God and get ready for abundant JOY in Him!

JOYful Benefits

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s a healthy recipe to assure that you’re feeding a good attitude.

            We all agree that our attitude affects our quality of life.  And our thought life affects our attitude.  The way we face the daily routine of life, as well as the struggles that come our way, has a direct effect on our emotions and choices.

            Tips for Good Health

 

            Did you know that it’s been proven that our physical condition is also affected by our attitudes?   According to a recent article (Thursday, July 21) in “HealthDay News”,  the more optimistic you are, the lower your risk of having a stroke. This recent finding lengthens the list of health benefits tied to having a positive attitude. Already, various studies have found more optimistic people have a healthier immune system, faster wound healing, a lower risk of heart disease and many other benefits.

Do YOU choose to be JOYfully healthy?

 

            If we want to be healthier…let’s work on our attitudes!  I believe that’s exactly what Paul was saying in Philippians

• when he exhorted us to “Rejoice in the Lord always….” and
• when he reminded us that “our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” 
• In His letter to the Philippians, Paul went on to say “Do everything without complaining or arguing” and to “shine like stars in the universe”.

            May we follow the JOYful example of Paul…as he followed the example of Jesus…so that we might be healthier physically, emotionally and spiritually.

            Let’s keep our thoughts and attitudes aimed toward joy as we faithfully drink in the JOY JUICE of JESUS! 

FRET NOT.....Choose JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  If not, don’t fret about it!  Just drink it now!

            When I was a young teacher, I recall feeling overwhelmed during pre-planning time! There were bulletin boards to prepare, forms to complete and meetings to attend.  I wanted my classroom to be cheerful and inviting for my new students, but I didn’t know how I was going to get everything done in time. 

I was venting to a “seasoned” teacher about ALL I had to do to get ready for my class.  I’ll never forget her words of wisdom.  After listening to me chatter and complain, she calmly said two words…with a smile:      

                                     “FRET NOT”. 

            I knew that those words were somewhere in the Bible, but I didn’t have a clue where! Her eyes sparkled and she calmly added: “The Lord has everything under control.”  A peace washed over me and I knew that this wise lady was exactly right!  God did have everything under control. There was truly no reason to fret! I needed an attitude adjustment!

            Isn’t that what we often do when we get overwhelmed with our busy schedules?    Let’s remember those two simple words “FRET NOT”; take a deep breathe and put the situation in God’s hands.  This also is true when our attitude goes south regarding other people! 

            In Psalm 37:1 the Lord tells us to: “Fret not thyself…” And in Philippians 4:6 Paul exhorts us to “Be anxious for nothing.”

            Let's remind and encourage one another to FRET NOT....and let the JOY of the Lord be our strength.

Dress for JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drink in the JOY of the Lord as you dress and ready yourself for the day!

            How do some people keep a positive attitude, even when it seems everything around them is falling apart? And why do others who seemingly have everything going for them, choose to gripe and complain?  I think it has a lot to do with how they are “dressed”….spiritually.

  What's in YOUR closet?        

Let’s look at the wardrobe in Colossians 3:12 that we are to wear as Christians.

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”

Do you have all these things in your spiritual closet?  This verse tells us that we’re to put on our:

·        Coat of Compassion and have love in our hearts for other people.  Put others before ourselves.

·        Then we are to slip on the Kid gloves of Kindness so that we can handle each situation with sensitivity and the love of Christ.

·         Next, we should place the Hat of Humility upon our heads as we treat others the way we would want to be treated.

·         Moccasins of Meekness should fit nicely upon our feet as we strive to carry the Good News to all those who will listen.

·         And lastly, but not of least importance, we are to make sure our Pants of Patience are just the right size.  If they’re too tight, we’ll soon lose that joyful attitude!

             If your closet is not filled with the appropriate wardrobe, take Jesus along as your shopping partner and let Him show you how to be clothed in JOY!

JOYful Thinking....NOT Stinkin' Thinkin'

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drinking it faithfully really helps your attitude.

            Motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar, uses the phrase “stinkin’ thinkin’”.  Ever had it?  I sure have!  And I’m pretty sure that everyone reading this devotional has!  My interpretation of “stinkin thinkin” is having a rotten attitude! It’s focusing on the negative…borrowing trouble…as my grandma used to say.  Grumbling, griping, complaining about everything.

            Each of us needs to listen to our own conversations and determine if our words are more often positive or negative.  Sure, we’re going to have days that are tougher than others, but if we’re always moping and whining,  maybe we’ve fallen into the Valley of Stinkin' Thinkin’! And when we’re in the valley a long time, it’s hard to climb out.   Hard….but not impossible!

           HOW DO I GET OUT OF THE VALLEY?

            You’ll need three tools to help you climb out of the valley:

1.      Trust in God to throw you a strong rope of hope and allow Him to pull you out.

2.      Pray daily for Him to use His net of protection to keep you from falling back into the depths of negativity.

3.      Use the lamp of His Word to light your path.

Now, repeat after me Philippians 4:8:

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things!”

            I’ll bet you a bottle of JOY JUICE that if you’re drinking in the JOY of the Lord faithfully, you’ll visit the Valley of Stinkin’ Thinkin’ a lot less often!

A JOYful Attitude!

Have you had your Joy Juice today?  It’s all in the attitude!!! So drink it joyfully!

            I’ve been observing people over the years—and do you know what I’ve discovered?  Those who are totally committed to Christ are the ones with the most joyful attitudes. There’s no “poor pitiful me” thinking but a grateful spirit and joyful praise for the Lord.

             Just a few days ago, one of my friends shared with me the testimony of her sister-in-law, “Tina”. (Name has been changed.) Tina is in the advanced stages of bone cancer.  She is in much pain and spends lots of time in the hospital.  My friend shared:

“Through it all Tina is being amazing.  She woke up the day after surgery,  saw the sunrise reflecting off the building across the street, then spied some flowers her neighbor had picked from her own back yard.  She started to cry and said, ‘Oh, God!  Why are you always so good to me?’

“This from a 2-time cancer patient whose husband cheated on her with a friend, divorced and financially ruined her. She then fell down the stairs & wasn’t found for a day--suffered a brain and shoulder injury that left her unable to work—lost her beautiful home to live in a house the size of a postage stamp!”

            This precious Christian woman has every reason to be bitter, but…she personifies the scripture in Nehemiah 8:10….THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH!

            May I encourage you today to examine your attitude...as I examine mine!  And let’s drink in the Joy Juice of Jesus!

Never Give Up....on JOY!

 

Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Drink it so that you’ll persevere and not be tempted to give up!

            Think for a moment about your prayer life.  Is there a certain request you’ve brought before the Lord many, many times and He’s not yet answered in the way you think He should?  Some people pray about the same thing for years:

• The salvation of a loved one
• Healing from an addiction.
• A Godly spouse
• A better job.

 Our human nature is to become discouraged when our prayers aren’t answered in a timely fashion. We begin to think, “Why bother? God’s not listening. I might as well just quit praying.”

            May I remind you, again, of poor Sarah in Genesis?  She waited 90 years for a baby! When God told her that it was “time”—she literally laughed out loud! Though she believed God could do anything, she doubted that he could do it through her 90-year old body!

            We tend to limit God, don’t we?  We know He is all powerful, but we often doubt that He can accomplish things through US!  We should pour out our lives…every area…100%...inside and out. We should hold nothing back from Him.  Let’s give Him our hopes and dreams, our words and actions, our plans and desires.  Then TRUST HIM to carry out His plan in us and through us.

            As Proverbs 3:5 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

           Never give up on drinking your Joy Juice.  And trust God as you share His joy with others!

Waiting....with JOY

Have you had your Joy Juice today?  It’s just what you need to help you cope while you’re waiting.

            None of us really like to wait…do we?  Especially when it’s something that we really want and have  prayed for fervently.  Sometimes we get tired of waiting and realize that God must need our help! That’s when we get ourselves into trouble.

            Remember Sarah in the Bible? 

• God had promised her and Abraham a child. 
• But she was past the usual child-bearing age, so she began to plan how she could help God. 
• She took matters into her own hands. 
• If you don’t recall the details of the story, go to Genesis and read what Sarah did…and how she lived to regret not waiting on God.

             How often do WE take matters into our own hands?

• Instead of trusting God totally---trusting His perfect timing and trusting His perfect answer---it seems that we often take control and....
• Make a real mess out of things!

            Proverbs 19:21 reminds us that “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”  So as we pray for our heart’s desires to come to fruition, let’s always pray first for God’s will and purpose to be fulfilled in us and through us.  We can trust Him to always know what is best; and His best WILL bring great JOY!

             While you’re waiting, drink a steady portion of the Joy Juice of Jesus so that you’ll be able to wait patiently!

Practice Makes JOYfully Perfect!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It will help you to remember to PRACTICE!

             School children have to practice their ABC’s, counting, multiplication tables and writing skills.  Musicians have to practice their instruments and athletes practice their sport.  The only way to improve our skills is to PRACTICE! 

            The Dove Award winning artist, Cheri Keaggy, who sings the introduction for my JOY JUICE radio program, practices more than just her music! There’s a song that Cheri has written that expresses exactly WHY she can sing about the JOY of the Lord, regardless of the circumstances of her life.  The song entitled “Restored” says that we all have times of testing in our lives…there will be times when we feel as if we are “living against the grindstone”.  But it’s at these times especially that we need to PRACTICE JOY!

            Here are some of the beautiful lyrics Cheri has written: “I’ve been living against the grindstone, where nothing is sure but the Lord. For He gives me the treasures of darkness, where faith’s greatest riches are stored. And in ways that are quite unexpected, I have learned a most humbling truth….That a faith that has never been tested is just growth that is long overdue. So I’m PRACTICING JOY, choosing it daily, putting it on like a favorite cologne. And when life breaks me down, it won’t even faze me. Some call me crazy, but I’m just in love with the Lord."

            Yes, if we truly love the Lord, everything takes on a new perspective.  Let’s PRACTICE JOY regardless of our circumstances!

If interested in purchasing Cheri’s  BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US CD which includes the song 'Restored’ (The Grindstone Song) visit www.cherikeaggy.com.