Apply JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today? Use your good judgment and you’ll find yourself faithfully drinking it in every day!

            Do you desire to be a wise person?  I sure do….but I know I have a long way to go, baby!  Growing in wisdom is a continual process and in order to become all that God intends us to be, He must have our cooperation! 

            We can read the Bible, but if we don’t apply it to our daily lives, there will be no growth.  We can say our blessings before meals, but if it just a memorized, rote prayer, we are not expressing our heart to God.   We can attend church regularly, but if we are not receptive to what’s being taught, then we will become stagnant.

            Allow me to share two of the many verses in the Bible that refer to growing in wisdom and knowledge. 

·        Psalm 119:66 is a wonderful prayer:  “Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.”

·        Proverbs 1:5 “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.”

          Do you believe that the Bible is God’s inerrant Word?  That’s the first step to wisdom! Do you believe that God hears and answers your prayers?  If so, you are on your way toward spiritual wisdom.  Listen to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to you through Bible study and prayer; hear and learn about His ways which are so much  “higher” than ours.  The path to wisdom will lead to JOY in the Lord!

            Seek wisdom by drinking faithfully the JOY JUICE of Jesus!

"Consider It Pure JOY!"

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?   Drinking it every day will remind you to react with kindness.

            Until we find ourselves in a pressured situation, we really can’t know the depth of our character. It’s easy to be kind to others when everything in our life is going smoothly.  But what about when you are being treated unfairly?  Or when someone you trusted betrays you?  Maybe it’s one of your children who has been hurt or your spouse gets overlooked for a promotion at work.  Even in the church there are occasions when people say or do things that we don’t agree with.  Do you always respond with kindness?   Impossible you say? Yes, without God.

            God wants us to grow spiritually and He uses these kinds of opportunities to teach us and develop those Godly principles which lead to the fruit of the Spirit.  So instead of complaining about our struggles, let’s thank God for being with us through them.  We are to earnestly seek His wisdom. 

            I never tire of reading the verses in James 1 that tell us:

            “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

            We can depend on God to fill us with His wisdom so that we can react to those tough situations with kindness because… the JOY of the Lord is our strength!

Ask---Believe---Receive JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s just what you need to help you make good decisions.

            All of us find ourselves at times in situations where we have to make major decisions.  Sometimes the choices are obvious; but what about those times when we don’t have a clue which way to go? 

            Boy, do I have GOOD NEWS! There is One Who is always waiting and willing to point us in the right direction.  In James 1:5-6 we are reminded “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who give generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

            Maybe you have asked God for help in making a decision, but you still feel “blown and tossed” from one answer to another.  Stop and ask yourself if you truly have given it all to God.  Many times we pray about our problem or situation, but instead of leaving it at the feet of Jesus, we pick it right back up and try to “fix it” ourselves.

            Let’s remember what James said: “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt……” Put your faith in God….110%...and trust Him to show you one step at a time.

       Don’t allow yourself to be tossed and blown by the storms of life.  Rest securely in the arms of God…the most JOYful and safest place you can ever be!

His Wisdom, His JOY

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drinking it faithfully leads to wisdom and understanding of the JOY of the Lord!

            King Solomon was noted as being on of the wisest men who ever lived.  Why was he so wise?  The Bible tells us that he prayed to God asking for understanding…and God granted him what he requested.

            We have that same privilege!  We can ask God, just as Solomon did, for knowledge, wisdom and understanding.  But keep in mind, it’s a life-long process.  We don’t just pray that prayer one day and wake up the next filled with everything we’ve always wanted to know! 

           

            When you find yourself in a situation where you truly don’t know what step to take next, seek discernment and understanding by surrendering it to God.  Ask Him to give you the wisdom and knowledge that only He can supply.

Proverbs 2:10-11 is a source of strength for those times when you are truly seeking God’s guidance.  “… for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you”

            When we try to handle our problems and make big decisions in our own knowledge and strength, many times we find ourselves in a big mess!  God, however, has the answer and He is waiting for you to come before Him and ask for His wisdom, His knowledge, His understanding and His JOY!

            It’s a wise thing to get into the habit of drinking His JOY JUICE faithfully and share it with others along the way.

The Knowledge of God's JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  You KNOW it’s good for you, so go ahead and have a great big serving this morning!

            Knowledge is something we aspire to gain throughout our lifetime.  Children go to school to obtain knowledge and skills such as reading, writing, math, science ….and so much more.  Older students may choose to pursue more knowledge by attending college or schools which specialize in certain areas of interest. Even in our older years, we should continue to learn new things and exercise our thinking skills.  Knowledge is a good thing.  Right?

            In 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 Paul talks about knowledge…but from a little different perspective.  He said: “We know that we all possess knowledge. But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.  Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.  But whoever loves God is known by God.”

            Paul wasn’t saying that we should not use the brain God gave us….but gaining knowledge is secondary to the important trait of  Godly love.  Often, we allow our knowledge to “puff us up”. We may become arrogant and have a know-it-all kind of attitude.  And how many of us like to be around a know-it-all?

            Our desire should be to love God FIRST…Then pursue the best kind of knowledge--- that which comes from God and His Word. 

           Open the Word today and begin a new pursuit of Godly knowledge which begins with love and JOY in the Lord.

Pray! Pray! Pray! JOYfully Pray!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  With every gulp, send up a prayer for a child.

            This week we’ve been talking about how precious our children are to us and how we should be striving to be a good role model for them.  We agree that it’s important to pray for them and with them---as well has teaching them to pray from their hearts. 

            One of the most rewarding things about raising children is to witness them grow into young adults who love the Lord and live according to His Word.  That’s not to say that they won’t make mistakes along the way…that’s the way they learn.  And we  parents aren’t perfect, either! :)   That’s why it is so important that we all depend on God to lead and direct us.

            When we first give birth to our children, it’s hard to imagine that they will ever become adults….yet that time comes all too quickly.  Our role as parent changes when they become adult children.  We’ve spent 18 or so years investing in them and striving to teach them how to think on their own.  Then it’s time to relinquish that control.  They must make their own decisions.  Sometimes they’ll get it right and sometimes they won’t! 

            But one thing stays the same: our children will ALWAYS need our prayers---regardless of their age, their stage of life, or their circumstances! My sweet 83 year-old mother continues to pray for my siblings & me and all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Each of us desires her prayers because we know God listens joyfully to His special friend!

            Let's be diligent in praying for our children…regardless of their age.  And don't forget to always share your Joy Juice with each of them!

Teach Your Children to Pray with JOY

 Have you had your Joy Juice today?  I pray that you have.  Because whether you know or not…someone is watching your example!

            Are you in the habit of praying?  I’m not just talking about saying the rote blessing before meals or the “Now I lay me down to sleep” when we go to bed at night.  I’m talking about real, heart-felt communication with God.   Even a young child understands that prayer means “talking to God.” But they won’t know how to pray until they see it and hear it modeled before them.  It is NEVER too soon to pray with and for your children.

As parents hold their infant, they can pray for his/her growth and development, for his love for the Lord, for wisdom to make Godly choices.  Then as the child grows, if he hears his dad or mom praying, he will learn to emulate those prayers.  Before long, the child will be praying from his heart.  What a sweet joyful sound…to hear a young one praying.  If a child learns to pray when he is young, he is much more likely to continue to pray when he’s a teenager and an adult.

God loves to hear all of our prayers, because we are all his children.  But the innocent, sincere prayers of a child must touch His heart in a special way.  Encourage your children in their prayer life by helping them to memorize scriptures to pray.  For example: "Help me, Father, to rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, REJOICE!!!"

         Teach your children by example….now, go ahead and demonstrate how to drink your Joy Juice faithfully!

Love Your Children with JOY

            Have you had your Joy Juice today?  As you sip your juice this morning, don’t forget to pray for the children.

            How important it is to pray for our children and to set a consistent, Godly example before them!  We can’t expect them to do what we say, if we’re not modeling it ourselves.  As parents, we want to be honored by our children.  But, adults, we  must live our lives in such a way that they will want to give us honor.  

           

            In Adrian Roger’s book, Ten Secrets for a Successful Family, he suggests that one of the most important things we can do to gain our children’s honor is by simply LOVING THEM!  Real parental love is not giving our children everything they want, but giving them what they need.

          One way to love our children is simply by touching them.  Nothing indicates our love any better than a hug, a pat on the back, or simply holding a hand. We also can show our children love by blessing them. "The tongue has the power of life and death" as Proverbs 18:21 reminds us.  So speak blessings over their lives…and let them hear you say these words aloud.

            Another expression of love for your children is listening to them. If we are too busy to listen, then they will soon stop trying to talk with us, because they’ll believe that we think something else is more important. Grandparents are usually much better in the listening department, because they’ve learned what’s truly important!

These are just a few suggestions to gain honor from our children…and with that honor comes a heart full of joy!

          Remember to touch, bless and listen to your children as your serve them a generous helping of

                                                     Joy Juice!

Pray for Your Children...JOYfully!

Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Keep your pantry well stocked so that you’ll always have plenty for your family!

  

            Many of you who are reading this devotional today are parents or grandparents.  Do you realize that NO ONE ELSE can pray for your little ones as you can? The genuine love that you have for your children--- the tenderness you feel for them, your knowledge of their personality, needs and problems---helps you to plead with God on their behalf with an urgency which can not be matched. 

         When God speaks of his willingness to hear our prayers, He bases His proof on His parental love. Look at the scripture in Luke 11:13 where Jesus said: "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" 

            Our children are surrounded by evil influences…nobody denies that. But do we realize how important our role is in praying for their protection?  Our God is a powerful, loving God and He listens to our prayers on behalf of our children.  We should pray without ceasing…pray about everything…pray about their decisions, their friends, their health, their spiritual condition.  Most importantly, we should set a consistent Godly example before them.  In the words of a wise Indian man,  "WHO you are speaks louder to me than anything you can say."   Is your life “speaking” the JOY of Jesus?

            Pray for those precious children God has put into your life (no matter how old or young they are)...and always offer them the Joy Juice of Jesus!

Train Up a Child....with JOY!

Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Children love the taste!

             It’s entertaining to be around new parents and grandparents!  They are bubbling over with excitement about their new little joy!  And they will probably pull out their pictures to show you just how pretty the baby is.  I know what I’m talking about because I’m one of those silly grandparents!  What a great stage of life!  But along with the fun and joy of grandchildren, comes a great privilege that I think we often forget about: praying for them as they grow and develop.

            That’s what I’d like for us to concentrate on this week….praying for our children, grandchildren, young friends or relatives.  Often we miss the importance of covering our young people in prayer.  Parents,  raising small children is no simple task.  It’s a full time job… with little time for rest. 

                        If you find yourself in this season of life, know that you can depend on God to give you wisdom when you most need it; to fill your heart with love and compassion; to place on your tongue words of encouragement and edification.  Some things might have to go undone…I can promise you that they will not remember the dust on the furniture, but they will remember you holding them and reading Bible stories to them.  They will remember the sound of your voice and your example as you pray with them.

Proverbs 22:6 tells us to: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  Remember you are making memories for your children….make sure that they are memories filled with JOY.

           Make sure that your children are drinking the JOY JUICE of Jesus…and be an example by drinking it faithfully, yourself!

Are You a JOYful Sheep?

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Or do you feel so weak and tired that you can hardly lift your glass? 

            The 23^rd Psalm tells us “the Lord is our Shepherd” and to rest by letting Him lead us by those “still waters” and by lying down in the green pastures He provides. 

            How does a shepherd lead his sheep? First of all the sheep must recognize the shepherd’s voice; and they must trust him!  Phillip Keller gives us insight: "The strange thing about sheep," he writes, "is that because of their very make-up it is almost impossible to make them lie down unless four requirements are met:

·        Because of their timid nature they refuse to lie down unless they are free from all fear.

·        Because of the social behavior within a flock, sheep will not lie down unless they are free from friction with others

·        If tormented by flies or parasites, sheep will not lie down. Only when free of these pests can they relax.

·        Lastly, sheep will not lie down as long as they feel hungry."

            How does this apply to us spiritually?  We must recognize God’s voice and trust Him…our Shepherd …so that we are free from fear. We must allow him to take care of all our pesky problems and our physical needs.  “When troubles come, and the enemy assaults us, it is so easy to get our eyes off God and obsess over our problems. But as our Shepherd, God faithfully guards and guides His sheep, and provides for us.” 

 

           May we always listen to the Shepherd ….. as he leads us down the path of JOY!

JOY NOTE: Notice that the 23rd Psalm begins with "the Lord," and ends with "the Lord forever." Let us keep our eyes on Him from start to finish!

The Lord is Our Shepherd of JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Don’t get too busy to drink your own personal serving. 

            If each of us listed our daily activities on a sheet of paper, we might truly be surprised at how much we try to accomplish in one day’s time!  Come to think of it, that might not be such a bad idea.  If we kept a log for a few days, then we could pinpoint those things that are “must dos” and those things that could be postponed or cut out all together.  We’d quickly be able to see our priorities!

            May I ask you a personal question?  Without a written list, can you sense that your priorities are out of order?  If GOD is not first, then we will be running without  purpose.  But if we allow God to be our shepherd, then we experience a “spiritual peace and rest” that can come only from knowing Him and being in His will.

            The words of the 23^rd Psalm are familiar.  “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.  He leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul.”

Doesn’t that scripture give you a vision of peace and rest…to lie down in green pastures and to stroll beside the quiet, still waters?  Let’s take a few minutes out of our busy day to rest in the Lord instead of immediately hopping on the treadmill of life….running fast, but going nowhere!

            Let's all remember to take the time to “lie down in those green pastures” and experience God’s rest and JOY.

Focus on JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Focus on the sweet taste as you drink it this morning.

             Sometimes I find it very difficult to focus, do you?  It’s especially hard when I’m tired or when my mind is cluttered with so many things.  Many of us are caught up in such a busy lifestyle, that we try to pack 36 hours into 24 some days.  And the result is…..exhaustion!

          Sleep deprivation is common in our busy society. Sleeping disorders are on the rise. The impact can be seen in the increased caffeine consumption, lack of productivity on the job, and the more widespread cases of diabetes and depression.  How much rest we get (or don’t get) is also an important safety issue.  Did you know that sleep deprivation is blamed for approximately 100,000 automobile accidents and 1500 fatalities each year?  Never underestimate the importance of a good night’s rest!
 

Let’s think about rest from the spiritual perspective, too. Psalm 16: 9 sums it up beautifully: 

            "Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure."

            When David penned these words, his heart was glad. He had found the secret to JOY…resting in his relationship with God.  When we have a close walk with God, our heart will be filled with gladness and we will find ourselves rejoicing in His presence.  When our hearts are joyful, our bodies and minds are much more “at rest” because we are focusing on what is TRULY IMPORTANT.

            REST IN HIM and let Him fill your heart with unspeakable JOY!

Never Too Tired for JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Don’t tell me that you’re so tired you forgot!

            Do you ever find yourself really having a hard time concentrating and remembering things, simply because you are so weary?  There are many things that demand our time.  Many of you have young families and that in itself is a major responsibility. Others of us are at the stage in our lives where we are caring for aging parents. If we have jobs outside the home, we have to…and should…give our best efforts to our employer.  There are church activities and civic organizations …and so many other “good things”.

            Though our reasons are different, every one of us experiences weariness.  Our bodies get to the point where we crave rest.  I remember as a young mother, wondering if I would EVER get another good night’s sleep!  But those times do come and go…and then we fill our days with other “busyness”.  

            If we’re not careful, we’ll find ourselves running in circles….staying busy but really not accomplishing much.  As in everything, we should seek God’s wisdom in determining His will and purpose for each day.  Many of the "good things" may not be His best for us.  Sometimes He may simply want us to rest and get renewed in Him.

            In Matthew 11: 28, Jesus tells us to “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 

           

            If you find yourself weary and “heavy laden”, do as Jesus says and “come to Him.”  He is waiting with arms open wide, to renew your spirit and fill you with His strength and JOY.

            Find rest in your relationship with Jesus as your drink your Joy Juice faithfully.

Need a JOY Booster?

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It may be just the thing to boost your energy level!

            Most of us try to pack so many things into our day that by the time the sun goes down, we are physically exhausted!  Do ever feel that you wake up tired?  It’s true that some people have health issues which make them weak, but many of us are tired because we don’t make wise choices.  We overbook and overextend ourselves---misjudging what we can realistically get done in one day’s time. It’s as if we expect ourselves to be superwoman (or superman)!

When we’re weary and tired, every area of our life is affected! Our patience runs thin with our family and we find ourselves snapping instead of responding to them in love.  Our thought process slows down and we have difficulty making good decisions.  Sometimes physical exhaustion leads to a breakdown in our health and we are prone to catching illnesses because of a weakened immune system.

            May I suggest that we all need a large daily serving of that “booster” I like to call JOY JUICE?  Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that “The JOY of the Lord is our strength.”   We all experience times of weariness.  But God has given us His Word which, when applied to our spiritual lives, provides rest, renewal and strength.

            So as you look at your schedule of things to do today, make sure that Bible study and prayer are on the top of your list.  Growing in our relationship with Jesus is the way to assure that we’re energized with His JOY JUICE throughout our busy days.

           I'll remind you...and YOU remind ME...to slow down long enough to experience God’s JOY and receive the strength that is ours through a relationship with Him.

Be JOYful....Without Ceasing!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s always refreshing!

            We’ve talked this week about how to have the JOY of the Lord regardless of what’s going on in our life.  We’ve discussed how important it is to have a relationship with Him so that we can trust Him to catch us when life’s rug is jerked out from under us.  No, we don’t know what the future holds, but we DO know WHO holds the future.   

            We know many of the biblical truths that lead to JOY, but many times we lose sight of them and react in anger or in selfishness.  At times, hateful, foolish words escape our lips before we even think.  And once those words are out, they can never be taken back.

            How can we make wise, Godly choices that build up and edify others?  That’s what most of us really would like to do, but it’s a fact that we can’t do it alone! We  MUST depend on God to help us!  That’s why it’s so important that we stay “prayed up”, so to speak.

       The Bible tells us to “pray without ceasing”.  That means to pray upon waking, pray as soon as our feet hit the floor each morning, pray as we brush our teeth and get ready for the day. We should pray as we drive or ride, pray every opportunity we have….in other words, we should stay in a spirit of prayer.  ONLY then will we find ourselves making choices that will glorify God, as well as bringing JOY into the lives of those around us. 

        Drink that JOY JUICE and pray for God to give you wisdom in how to share His love and JOY with others!

Joy Juice and GRACE Juice!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today? Hope you have some stashed in every room of your house! The label on some bottles may even say “GRACE JUICE”!

            Our homes should be places of refuge and rest, yet many times we allow them to become places of strife and dissention.  Often it’s because we forget to extend GRACE to our family members.

           

            What do we mean by “GRACE”?  According to Richard Blackaby,  “Grace is an undeserved gift.  It uplifts the soul.  It builds up.  If there is one place we should be generous with grace, it is within our home.  The home is where people first experience love.  God’s grace can make the home an oasis of peace and joy. 

            In his book Putting a Face on Grace, Mr. Blackaby explains:

·        Grace doesn’t insist on being right.  It seeks to make things right.

·        Grace doesn’t demand to be heard.  It strives to listen and to understand.

·        Grace doesn’t claim its rights.  It voluntarily lays them aside.

·        Grace doesn’t look for wrongs. It seeks out what is right. 

·        Grace builds up your spouse, strengthens your marriage, encourages your children, and helps you all to become like Christ.

Let’s remember the Lord’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:9 when he said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

           Invite Jesus into your heart and home and get ready to find JOY JUICE and GRACE JUICE in every room!!!!!

JOYfully Patient

     Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Children love to drink it!!

    In my latest book, I tell the story of trying to study my Sunday School lesson one day while my young children were playing in the next room.   I had hardly begun to study when the first interruption came, and then the next and the next. Exasperated, I raised my voice and said, “I want you to go play and let me study!  The next one that interrupts is going to be in big trouble!” 

     They dropped their little heads and started out of the room.  But before they were completely out of sight, one turned around and innocently asked, “What’s your Sunday School lesson about this week, Mommy?”

      “It’s about PATIENCE!!!  Now, go play!”  No sooner than the words were out of my mouth, I realized that God was speaking through my precious children and teaching ME a lesson!  Was I demonstrating the patience and grace to my children that I was going to teach others about on Sunday? NO!  I thought about all the times that God had been patient with ME…..and here I was, not willing to do the same for my very own children who were gifts from God.

            It was at that point that I closed my study materials until after my children were asleep; and I joined them for some “mommy time”!  I was reminded of the verse in Psalm 127: 3 that says: "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward (a gift) from him."  Parents, let’s remember that spending quality time with our children speaks volumes…brings JOY to the Lord.

            Serve that JOY JUICE to your children generously.  Be a consistent, shining example of His love and  JOY!

Because HE Lives...We Can Have JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Be prepared for your day by taking an extra serving with you wherever you go!

            One thing’s for sure….when we wake up each morning, we never know what life might bring!  We may receive good news….maybe a new baby is on the way or someone got engaged….or a loved one gets a great doctor’s report!!  On the other hand, we may have the wind knocked out of us by devastating news such as a tragic accident or terminal diagnosis; it could be the heartbreak of a betrayal.

            Though we can’t see into the future, we know the One Who holds our future.  This reminds me of the beautiful old hymn Because He Lives!  I can almost hear my beloved daddy bellowing out the words as he sang from the depths of his heart and soul….words that he believed with his entire being and taught his family by example.  The chorus expresses why we can have JOY:

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone!
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!

     If I could add my own twist to this beautiful chorus, it may go something like this:

     Because He lives, I can have JOY regardless,

     Because He loves, my JOY is complete!

     Because He longs for a relationship with me

     Life is abundantly JOYful and, oh, so wonderfully sweet!

Le's drink our JOY JUICE faithfully, and be prepared to share a double portion of that JOY with others.

Our JOYful Savior

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s a MUST if you want to experience true JOY!

            Ever noticed that some people are optimistic and upbeat no matter what’s going on in their lives…..While others seem to be pessimistic and critical?  We all have times when it seems that the rug has been jerked right out from under us.  But we have a choice about how we “land”.

            Will we choose to fall head long into disappointment and despair….enjoying our misery and wanting everyone to know about it?  OR do we allow God to cushion the blow by catching us before we hit bottom? I’m not saying that our faith will keep us from heartache and difficulties.  What I am sure of, however, is that we can trust our Savior to be just that….our Savior!  Complete trust in Him will assure that Jesus will be there to catch us, when life takes us by surprise.  THAT’S what James was talking about when he wrote: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.”

          Remember that happiness and JOY are not the same. To guarantee JOY in your life, trust in the Savior who is an expert in catching us and holding us up.  His arms are strong and loving; just the place we need to be to experience true JOY in all circumstances.

          You can experience the security of Jesus’s loving arms as you drink your JOY JUICE faithfully…..And remember… it pleases Him greatly when we share His love and JOY with others!     

Pray for an Outpouring of God's Outrageous and Contagious JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  If your supply is getting low, I’d be more than happy to tell you where you can find a generous serving!

            I hope that by now most of you have heard the news about the OUTRAGEOUS & CONTAGIOUS Women’s Conference that’s being held tomorrow, March 3 at Wiregrass GA Technical College!  Our prayer is that this will be an outrageously JOYful day, filled with praise and worship, fun and laughter, and messages from the Lord which will minister to the hearts of the hundreds of women who will be in attendance.  May I share some prayer requests with you?  Please pray:

• For each person who will be involved— those on the program, behind the scenes and in the audience
• Ask God to speak to our hearts and draw us closer to Him.
• Pray for safety as the ladies travel from out of state or just a few miles down the road.
• Pray that there will be a contagious spirit of love and joy which will spread throughout our community
• And ask that GOD will be glorified in every detail of the event.

Our community has been through some tough times….tragic accidents, illnesses, death of loved ones, economic challenges, hurts due to betrayal and marriages which have fallen apart.  We pray that through this women’s conference, God will begin a healing process in many hearts and that we will catch that contagious JOY that comes from a relationship with Him.  Pray that as each person leaves that place, they will be more determined to be an outrageous Christian overflowing into the lives of others.

       Be OUTRAGEOUS and CONTAGIOUS by drinking the  

                 JOY JUICE of JESUS!

OUTRAGEOUS & CONTAGIOUS JOY JUICE

            Have you had your OUTRAGEOUS and CONTAGIOUS JOY JUICE today?  If so, you are bursting forth with His love and joy! 

            When your heart is full of joy, there’s no room for much else….except love and gratitude!  When you are overflowing with the JOY of the LORD, you don’t have time (nor desire) to grumble and complain.  I’m pretty sure that’s where Paul was coming from when he wrote in Philippians 2:14-15:

            “Do everything without complaining or arguing,  so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”

            How often do we find ourselves grumbling about the weather?  When we do, we should be aware that we are criticizing God’s ordering of creation.  What about when we complain about an illness or problems on the job or any unexpected situation?  We should realize that we are saying that God isn’t handling our affairs very well.

            Instead of complaining about the rain or the cold weather; rather than questioning why a certain situation was allowed to happen ….let’s understand that nothing catches God by surprise and He loves us!  “It’s impossible to keep an eye out for God’s blessings while harboring a complaining spirit. When we grumble and complain, we’re blocking our expectation of good things”…and we’ll probably miss seeing them when they do come!

            In order to be an outrageously JOYful Christian with a contagious spirit of love for the Lord, remember to do everything without complaining…..so that you will SHINE like stars in the universe!

            Praying that we will find the joy in this new day and SHINE His love into the lives of everyone we meet.