"Nothing is Impossible with God"---What a JOYful Truth!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s impossible to drink too much!

            When we were children, it seemed that Christmas would NEVER get here!  But  if you’re like me, now it seems that Dec. 25^th comes more quickly every year.   Let’s make a conscious effort to stay in the “truth” of Christmas this season….and savor the time of celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.  Is that impossible?  No, not at all!

            In Luke 1:34-37,  listen in on the conversation between the angel Gabriel and Mary.  Mary had just received the news that she had been chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. She was puzzled at how this could be:

            “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.  For nothing is impossible with God.”

            Don’t miss that SUPER-SIZED portion of JOY JUICE!  Did you hear it?  NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.  NOTHING…..

• Not the fact that Jesus would be born of a virgin
• Not the fact that Elizabeth in her old age would bear a child.
• Not the fact the God can use YOU & me to spread His JOY to others.

  Let’s continually be reminded that nothing is impossible with God.  This Christmas may we open our hearts and allow Him to show us opportunities to share the real Christmas JOY with others.      

Christmas is JOYfully Coming!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drink up and get ready for the “Good News” of great JOY!

            Christmas is coming….ready or not! Instead of dreading all the busyness, let’s spend time looking for the JOY that is present throughout the Christmas story.  Remember how surprised Mary was when the angel came to her? Let’s read the passage of scripture from Luke 1: 29 -31.

            “Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name of Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.”

            At first Mary was afraid!  But the angel reassured her that she didn’t need to fear…that through her God’s Son, Jesus the Messiah would come!  What good news! But can you imagine her bewilderment!?

            Mary was young, poor, female---all characteristics (as my Bible footnote explains) that to the people of her day would make her unusable by God for any major task! But God chose Mary for one of the most important acts of obedience…ever.

        You may feel that your ability, experience or education makes you an unlikely candidate for God’s service.  Don’t limit God’s choices!  He can use you…if you trust Him.   

            Share a double portion of the GOOD NEWS with others! It will prepare your heart and theirs for special Christmas JOY!

27 Days of JOY!

 

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It will help to get you in the right spirit for the upcoming holidays….the spirit of JOY!

            As I looked at my calendar this morning, I counted the days til Christmas!  27 to be exact!  Yes, I am still a child at heart and I love, love, love Christmas.  I know that not all of you share my enthusiasm for the holidays.

·        You might have so much facing you in the coming days that you just get exhausted thinking about what’s to come.

·        You may have lost a loved one during the year and you dread this time without them.

·        Sometimes it’s simply the commercialism that gets to us!

I believe that God has given us a challenge for our next several Joy

Juice devotional times together.  Let’s open the gift of God’s Word and seek out passages of scripture that tell of that sweet JOY we all desire…..abundant joy that HE promises…at Christmas time and throughout the year.

            Using the passage of scripture in Luke 1, an obvious example of joy is found in verses 26-28.  In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

            Imagine hearing from an angel of the Lord that you are highly favored!  Now, don’t you think that’s a reason for JOY? Mary was chosen to be the mother of the long awaited Messiah.  Ask God to show you what your JOYful purpose is on earth. 

            YOU are loved by God….just as he loved Mary….never forget that JOYful truth!

Practice Being Thankful and JOYful

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Though Thanksgiving Day is over, please don’t stop being thankful….Continue to drink in the JOY of the Lord.

Where did it go?

             So often we look forward to the holidays with joy and anticipation….then before we know it, they’re over.  It seems the older I get, the more quickly they come and go.  As the Bible says, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14

            Life does go by so quickly.  Rick Warren reminds us that our life here on earth is just a dress rehearsal for things to come…It’s a temporary assignment.  God is preparing us for an eternity with Him, if we choose to follow Him.  So if this is a dress rehearsal, we need to be practicing, don’t you think? 

            Let’s practice being:

·        Thankful

·        Loving

·        Kind

·        Forgiving

·        Prayerful

·        Compassionate

·        Patient

·        Faithful

AND OF COURSE, JOYFUL!

            As Rick Warren explains, “A fish would never be happy living on land, because it was made for water.  An eagle could never feel satisfied if it wasn’t allowed to fly.  You will never feel completely satisfied on earth, because you were made for more. You will have happy moments here, but nothing compared with what God has planned for you.

            Live each day to the fullest, joyfully anticipating what God has in store….MUCH JOY plus so much more!  Thank you, Father!

A JOYfully Blessed THANKSGIVING!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to drink extra servings.

HAPPPPPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

            May I extend warm Thanksgiving greetings from our home to yours!  Is your heart overflowing with joy today as you meditate on the goodness of God?  I know that many of us are busy with preparations for the feast that we’ll enjoy in a few hours.  Hopefully, you’ll be sharing the time with family and friends who are dear to you.  Some of us are grandparents and have the joyful privilege of having little busy bodies running through our homes today.  Why don’t we try to see this day as one of opportunity…..a chance to thank God continually for our many blessings.

  Count your blessings!

        As each individual comes into your path today, lift a silent prayer on their behalf.  When you sit around the table and taste the delicious food, thank God for His provision.  This would be a great time to recall the verse in Psalm 34:8 that says: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”  That’s a wonderful, simple verse to teach to your children.

            Try to find a time to recall together as a family some of the highlights of the year past.  Even through the tough times, God was near, right?  We can thank Him for never leaving us or forsaking us. 

            May this Thanksgiving Day be a testament to the verse in Psalm 26:7: That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works ...That’s a sure way to have a day of abundant JOY.

            May prayer for you today is that God will pour out much JOY into your Thanksgiving Day as your lift your heart before Him in love and gratitude.     

           

A Double Portion of THANKS and JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Be thankful that there’s always plenty and that He has prepared your special portion.

         YOUR SPECIAL PORTION:

    There are many verses in the Bible that use the word “portion”.  In the King James version the word - portion - appears 100 times and portions appears 16 times. Often at the end of my JOY  JUICE devotionals I’ll challenge you to share a DOUBLE PORTION of the JOY of the Lord with others.  Did you know that’s scriptural?

           Read the verse in Isaiah 61:7: Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.

Are you enjoying the “double portion” that God wants to be yours?  A double portion of

• His love
• His grace
• His mercy
• His forgiveness
• His provision
• His protection
• His guidance
• His JOY

If you don’t feel as if you are receiving a double portion of these things, may I suggest that you examine your personal commitment to God?  He wants to pour out a double portion on you.  Are you allowing Him to do so?  Surrender your life to Him and see the floodgates of blessing….a double portion…pour out on you.

           Please join me in thanking the Lord for His double portion of JOYful blessings.  It’ll prepare your heart for a blessed Thanksgiving.

Thankful = JOYful

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’ll help you to see God’s JOYful blessings more clearly.

    Don't Miss God's Blessings of JOY!

         So often we miss God’s blessings because of the rat-race we running.  We stay so busy with the urgency of life and hectic schedules that we have on blinders and never see some of the obvious blessings that God pours out into our lives.  Yesterday we talked about counting our blessings.  If we truly were to start making a list, I believe we would be more grateful to our Heavenly Father.

            Let me ask you just a few simple questions to get your “thankful engine” running.

1. Are you able to hear my voice?
2. Were you able to get out of bed this morning?
3. Do you have a bed?
4. Will you eat today?
5. Do you have clothes to put on your body?

YES or NO?

I’m pretty sure that most of us would have to answer yes to each of those questions.  But do you realize that there are many people across our world that would have to say no?  These are such basic needs…but we often overlook them. 

            I fear that we also miss the simple but supreme gift of God’s LOVE!  We have the knowledge that He gave His only Son to die for us, but do we truly comprehend that kind of love and thank Him for it often?  When is the last time that you thanked God for His love and for the basic provisions of life?  Right now is a good time!

            May the verse in 1 Chronicles 16: 34 be our prayer of joyful thanksgiving today: Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.  

Thanksgiving JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Thank you for drinking it so faithfully!

            This is the week of Thanksgiving and while we should express our thanks every day of the year, these next few days are a wonderful opportunity for us to be extra aware of the many blessings that are ours.  As the classic hymn “Count Your Many Blessings” reminds us, we have much for which to be grateful.  Listen to some of the words of this old hymn by John­son Oat­man written the late 1800’s.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

            I believe the message the writer wanted to convey is that though we are going to have troubles and difficulties, we can always see God’s hand of blessing….if we will just look for it. Keep in mind that this song was written close to 120 years ago!  But the words are just as fitting for us today as they were our forefathers. You see, God never changes.

John 1:16 says:
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

           I encourage you to: Count your blessings, name them one by one; And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Discover Wisdom and JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today? When you drink it faithfully, you’ll discover wisdom and understanding.

What's the KEY?

        The key to wisdom is simply trusting in God to show you every step of the way.  That’s easier said than done, because our human nature is to want to be in control.  We smugly think that we know what’s best….when the truth is, we don’t have a clue.  When we come to the point in our spiritual walk that we relinquish control and give everything to the Lord, that’s when we will begin to discover what Godly wisdom is all about.

            The passage in Proverbs 4:10 – 13 explains: Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.  I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.  When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.  Hold on to instruction; do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.

    

You have a choice

        Who do you choose to listen to…..GOD or people?  Though it is important to have friends, remember…people are just people and we don’t have all the answers.  GOD…on the otherhand… KNOWS ALL. He wants to guide us “in the way of wisdom” as the scripture says.  Are you willing to let Him?

            In verse 23 of that same chapter of Proverbs we are told: Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Our heart dictates to a great extent how we live. Solomon says to guard our heart, making sure we concentrate on those desires that will keep us on the right path…the path to wisdom and JOY!

            I'm praying that your heart’s desire is to continually drink the Joy Juice of Jesus and grow in Godly wisdom.

A JOYful God-given Gift: Wisdom

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s a gift from God and it would be very wise of you to drink it faithfully!

            My Bible commentary says that wisdom comes in two ways: it is a God-given gift and also the result of an energetic search.  Wisdom’s starting point is God and his revealed Word.  In that sense, it’s his gift to us.  But he gives it only to those who earnestly seek it.  Because God’s wisdom is hidden from the rebellious and foolish, it takes effort to find it and use it.  The pathway to wisdom is strenuous.  When we are on the path, we discover that true wisdom is God’s and that he will guide us and reward our sincere &persistent search.

   Oh, WISDOM.....Where art thou?

          Are you earnestly seeking the wisdom that only He can give?  Proverbs reminds us that there are many benefits to wisdom….to name a few: favor with God and people, reputation for good judgment; success; protection, honor, justice, constant learning and understanding. 

            Proverbs 3:13-15 says: Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.  She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 

            When we get the end of our life here on earth, truly it will NOT be important how much wealth we’ve amassed, nor how successful a career we’ve had or how many awards are hanging on our wall.  True JOY will come with the wisdom of knowing Him and being able to praise Him throughout eternity.

            Pursue wisdom by accepting the JOY of the Lord and sharing Him with others.

The LORD Gives Wisdom and JOY!

     Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  When you drink it faithfully, you’ll find yourself growing in wisdom.

          
      The book of Proverbs begins with a clear statement of its purpose---to impart wisdom for godly living.  Solomon teaches all about the source of wisdom, the value of wisdom and the benefits of wisdom.  It’s not just a collection of trite sayings; it contains deep spiritual insights drawn from experience.

Advice from who?
            Who are you more willing take advice from….someone who has actually experienced “real life” or someone who simply has an opinion?  It’s the one who has “been there, done that” that truly knows how to give wise advice.  Solomon, the third king of Israel and son of the great King David, not only had experience, but he, also, asked God for a discerning heart…and God granted him that wisdom, plus so much more.

            In Proverbs 2:6-10, Solomon said: For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.  He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.  Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.  For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

            Let’s be like Solomon and ask God to favor us with wisdom. True joy comes from allowing God to guard our walk and keep us upright and blameless.

           

            Today I'm praying the words of Solomon for you….that “wisdom may enter your heart” as you drink the Joy Juice of God’s Word.

Wisdom and JOY

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s the way to a life of wisdom.

            It has been said that “a wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Nobody lives long enough to make them all himself.”  It’s true that we all are going to make mistakes.  But that’s the way we learn.

      Practice JOY

      Think about the elementary student who is just learning to read.  He has to practice his letters and his sounds over and over again before his teacher can begin to teach him how to form words.  There are lists of sight words that he has to drill repeatedly so that he will recognize them in sentences.  Only after countless mistakes does he learn to read …and he still stumbles along the way when new words or concepts arise.

       Mistakes...YES!

        Likewise, we as Christians are going to make mistakes.  But if we are willing to learn from those mistakes, then we are going to grow in our wisdom and knowledge of God’s ways and commandments.  Listen to the wisdom of Solomon in Proverbs 2:

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

            There’s the answer to how to have wisdom.  Desire it with all our heart.  Cry out to God for understanding…search for it like hidden treasure.  When you find it, it will bring JOY to your life!  That’s a guarantee!

            Let’s dig for the hidden treasures of wisdom and joy found in the gold mine called God’s Word.

Wisdom Leads to JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s a wise thing to do!

            Wisdom…do you desire it?  The Bible tells us, "The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom." (Proverbs 1:7).

When we begin to recognize that our life is not about us but about God’s purpose – we’re on the path to wisdom. He is in control and He desires the best for His children.  Why is it, then, that many times our world seems so out of control?  Could it be because of the UNWISE choices that we humans make? 

Though God is all-powerful, He does not force us to obey.  We have to surrender our will to His will, our thoughts to His thoughts, our actions to His leading.  How do we become wise?  By being a “doer of the Word”.  In the pages of our Bible, we will find all the instructions…principles which can be applied to every circumstance that comes our way.

When we do not follow God’s instructions, we will suffer the consequences…the fruit of our ways. We have a choice: we can choose God’s wisdom or we can persist in rebellious independence.  Many people decide to “do it MY way” as Frank Sinatra used to sing! The sad thing about this is that when we do it OUR way, we create such problems for ourselves that our JOY is destroyed.

Don’t ignore God’s instruction---even if it seems difficult at the present.  It WILL keep us from greater pain in the future and give us certain joy in the days to come.

Let’s seek Godly wisdom by drinking faithfully the JOY JUICE of Jesus!

Listen to God's JOYful Voice!

Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Listen to God’s joyful voice as He pours your special serving!

          
Do You Recognize Your Father's Voice?
     Isn’t it neat how a newborn baby knows his mommy’s voice? According to babycenter.com, amazingly, babies can recognize their mother's voice even before birth. One study by Canadian and Chinese researchers took this voice recognition idea one step further. They recorded pregnant women reading a poem out loud, and then played the recordings to the babies in utero. The heart rate of babies who heard their mom's voice speeded up, while the heart rate of those who heard the tapes of another mom's voice slowed down, showing that the babies did distinguish between the two. The researchers theorized that the slower heart rates occurred when the babies were trying to "figure out" what they were hearing, and the faster heart rates corresponded to excitement at hearing their mother's voice.

HE Speaks with Love and JOY...
            Do you recognize your Heavenly Father’s voice?  He speaks to us much like the mother of a newborn….with love, patience, compassion, and joy.  With wisdom and love He guides us…sometime withholding things that are not good for us, molding us into mature Christians that become more like Him.  Listen for the sound of His voice.  He wants to speak into your life.  He has a plan…and it’s full of hope and joy.

            Listen to God’s voice in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Now that's a reason for JOY....don't you agree?

Which do you choose: Worry or JOY?

Have you had your Joy Juice today?  No need to worry and fret!  Your serving is ready to be served!

          

Don't Worry!  Be JOYful!

      Wouldn’t it be great to never have to worry or plan ahead or take care of details?  At one time, each of us enjoyed that kind of luxury…when we were newborn babies.  Little ones, of course, don’t realize how great they’ve got it.  They have adults running around like crazy, trying to anticipate their every need.  Everyone’s schedule is ruled by when the baby needs to eat, sleep, needs a bath or a change of clothes.  The whole family alters their plan to accommodate little Sam or Sara!  And what’s so funny is that the babies don’t even realize it!

            They are “anxious for nothing”…because they don’t know any different.  And then they grow up and become like us---anxious about many things.  But do we have to worry and fret?  Paul says not.  Listen to the verses in Philippians 4:6-7  (NKJV)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

            Paul is teaching that we do have a choice…to worry or not to worry.  The passage says for us to let our requests be made known to God…with thanksgiving. He is able to take away all the worry and replace it with that sweet peace. That sounds like a pretty good swap to me!  Exchange your worries for JOY!

           Our Heavenly Father wants to take care of every detail of your life…allow Him to pour His JOY into you and through you.

Crave the Milk of JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s the drink that truly satisfies!

Lessons of JOY

            There are countless lessons that we can learn from observing the innocent behavior of newborns.  Often these little ones are showered with gifts, but the truth is--- they could care less what’s in the beautifully wrapped packages or whether that gift is pink or blue.  They only care about the basics…food, sleep and comfort.  And of course lots of love.

            When a baby has his tummy full, has on a clean diaper and is sleeping in his mommy’s loving arms, he is completely satisfied.  He couldn’t ask for anything more.  In the same way, when we are spiritually fed by feasting on the Word of God and we  make Godly choices so as to stay pure and clean, we can rest contently in our Father’s loving arms.

            In 1 Peter 2:2-3 we are admonished: “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

Do you crave pure spiritual milk….like a newborn baby craves milk?  When we are born again by accepting Christ as our Savior, we become spiritual newborns.  If we are healthy, we will yearn to grow.  How sad it is that some people never grow up.  When we see our need for God’s Word and begin to find nourishment in Christ, our spiritual appetite will increase, and we will start to mature.   (Life Application Bible footnote.)

            We must first drink in the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word before we’ll be able to enjoy our  

                                         Joy Juice!

Cry Out to God and Find JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  If not, don’t cry.  There’s plenty just for you!

            One thing that all newborns have in common is that know how to cry!  They cry when they’re hungry; they cry when they’re wet; they cry when they are uncomfortable; sometimes they cry just to be picked up and held.  That’s their way of communicating.  They want someone to know that they have a need!

            What a comfort that God knows our needs even before we do! In our times of prayer, we can speak exactly what’s on our heart, knowing that the Lord is there to listen.  But sometimes we communicate with Him without speaking a word.  Have you ever been in such depths of despair and heartache that you simple could not think of the words to pray?  All you could do was cry before the Lord.  Well, rest assured, He hears our cry…as Psalm 18:6 reminds us:

In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.

            Newborn babies cry out to their parents and their needs are met.  Likewise, we as children of God, can cry out to our Heavenly Father and He will hear and take care of our needs.  As a mommy can sense the needs of her baby, so much more can our mighty God know when and what we are going to need.  He formed us in our mother’s womb, and before the beginning of time knew every detail of our life.  Even when we are crying, we can shed tears of JOY knowing that we are loved by the Heavenly Father.

            Cry out to God and experience the JOY of the Lord as your strength.   

Be a JOY Baby!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  You’re never too young to begin drinking it faithfully.

            I’ve been in “super-grandma” mode lately.  We were blessed with two grandbabies born within one week of each other. So I’ve been joyfully bouncing between both families to help as the needs arise.  Infancy lasts such a short period of time; we tend to forget the “specialness” of those first few days of life outside the womb. It occurred to me that we, Christians, should be like newborn babies in a variety of ways. 

           A baby is totally dependent on someone else.  In ideal situations, it’s someone who loves and cares for him or her more than they can begin to imagine!  They don’t have to think about where the next meal is coming from or where they’re going to sleep or what to wear.  They just rest in the strength and love of that person…usually mommy and daddy. 

            As I watched each of our two new little ones with their parents and the love that radiated between parent and child, I was reminded of the verse in 1 Chronicles 16:11: “Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.”

Our lesson here is that we, like newborn babies, can depend on God---always.  We can look to Him for guidance, for strength, for provision and protection.  We can seek His face….and we’ll always find Him gazing down in love---which should fill us with JOY.

            Rest in the cradle of His arms and be totally dependent on Him for your personal serving of 

                                       JOY JUICE.

Give Away JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Give some away and you’ll be surprised at how your supply multiplies!

            The most giving people I know are not necessarily those who are wealthy in material things. They are those who give of their time, their compassion, their physical help and who truly have a heart to share sacrificially from their personal resources.

      Many years ago I had the privilege of knowing an elderly gentleman who would not let a day go past that he wasn’t giving something away.  He’d cut flowers from his yard and take to someone to brighten their day.  He had a garden from which he would gather vegetables and take to his friends and neighbors.  He would make things with his hands, root plants and give cuttings to those who enjoyed gardening.  He’d even bake bread and share with others in his community.

            If someone went to visit him and take him something, he’d always send them home with a gift, as well.  I can remember him vividly saying, “Honey, don’t you know that you can’t ever give anything away!  It always comes back to you multiplied.”

            This wise man had learned from experience the truth of scripture.  You remember the verse in 2 Corinthians 9:6 that teaches: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

            Let’s look for ways each day to sow generously! It’s a guaranteed way to multiply your JOY JUICE!  You’ll find yourself overflowing with joy and finding a multitude of ways to share it with others.

         Share His love and JOY today! 

JOYfully Trust the Lord

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  No matter how much or how little you have….please be willing to share!

            We’ve been through some tough times economically in our country the past few years.  Many people lost jobs, which meant they had less income. 

            In Luke 21:1-4 we can learn a good lesson regarding our giving…even in tough times. 

"As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in her two mites. "Truly I tell you," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

             The lesson of the widow's mites is an enduring testament to the value of faith. This destitute widow had only a few small coins to her name, but she gave them selflessly as her donation. Jesus said that her modest gift was worth more than all the contributions of the wealthy, because her offering represented all that she had. This virtuous woman had demonstrated true Christian faith in God. She trusted Him to provide for her.

Do we have that kind of faith?  Or do we worry and fret over how we’re going to pay our bills?  As Matthew 6:33 says:

"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you."

Give sacrificially and joyfully, trusting God to take care of your every need.

Do Not Neglect JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drink up and then, get ready to share!

            Hebrews 13:16 says: "And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."  (NASB)  Are you a giving person?  Do you share from the abundance of blessings that God has poured out on you?  You may be in a place in your life where you don’t have a lot of “extra” income.  Is it okay to stop giving when you’re in a financial bind?

            Well, let’s go back to that verse in Hebrews again…”do not neglect doing good and sharing”. I don’t see where it says UNLESS....  Do you think that means to keep on doing good and sharing, even in the hard times?  The last part of that verse indicates so…"for with such SACRIFICES God is pleased."

            When we give---regardless of how much or how little---God is pleased.  Remember the story of the widow and the mites? God was more pleased with her tiny gift than anyone else’s, because she gave sacrificially.

            Giving doesn’t always mean money or possessions.  Sometimes it may be:

·        Our time

·        Our talents

·        Our abilities or skills

·        Our love

·        Compassion

·        Forgiveness

Regardless of how the Holy Spirit prompts your heart, be willing to share.  Especially when it means spreading with others the JOY of the Lord!

      

What kind of gift is God leading you to share today?  Be sure to share it JOYfully!