CELEBRATE CHRIST with JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  When you drink your personal serving, you’ll be ready to share it with others along the way!

            Have you noticed how easy it is to be self-centered?  I think we all struggle with wanting what WE want, when WE want it!  We think we know what’s best and we don’t like waiting. We ask ourselves “What would Jesus do?”, but do we really do as He did?  Remember in Matthew 22 where Jesus taught us about the greatest commandments:  

 ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

            This week our theme is “strength found in relationship with the Lord”. Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength.  But it doesn’t stop there.  We are to celebrate Christ.  Celebrate our relationship with Him. Celebrate what He’s done for us! Celebrate the opportunities to serve and give in His name.  This is opposite of the “self centered” nature that comes so easily.

            In the passage found in Nehemiah 8:  Ezra and Nehemiah connected celebration with giving.     “Often when we celebrate and give to others (even when we don’t feel like it), we are strengthened spiritually and filled with joy.  So let’s look for ways to celebrate and honor God… and allow Him to fill us with His JOY!” (Life Appl. Bible footnote)

            I’m celebrating today by thanking God for the opportunity to share His JOY JUICE with YOU!  How will you celebrate this day?