JOY in Our Omnipotent God

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Oooooooo…..”Taste and see that the Lord is good.” 

            There are several words that begin with the letter “O” that have caught my attention lately.  Yesterday we talked about the “omnipresence” of God.  He is everywhere. 

            Today let’s focus on the “omnipotence” of God.  Revelation 19:6 of the King James version uses this very word:  “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” 

The Greek word translated as “Omnipotent” here means “All-ruling” or “Almighty.” When we say God is “Almighty,” we are stating our belief in His authority and rulership over all creation, and the Bible is firm in declaring this fact. 

            The NIV version of the same verse says it like this: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns!”  The following verse says: “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!”

            When we have the assurance that God is reigning over our lives, we can relax and rest in His love!  Nothing that comes our way has not first gone before God.  And though He may not remove a tough situation from our lives, He WILL be with us through the difficult times and make us stronger for having gone through it.  We may not be happy in our circumstances, but we can have that JOY of the Lord which gives us strength! 

            Let’s thank God for His omnipotence and rest of the JOY that comes from that truth.

Omni-present JOY!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today? It’s just the thing you need to pack when going on vacation!

            During the summer months, many people take advantage of nice weather and their children being out of school to schedule time for a family vacation.  Some go to the beach; others prefer the cooler temperatures of the mountains.  There are cruises, amusement parks, rafting adventures and many other opportunities for fun.  But no matter where we go or even if we choose a “stay-cation” and simply enjoy staying at home, GOD IS THERE!

            There is absolutely NO physical location in this universe where we can hide from the presence of God! The Bible is plain about that.  In fact, King David posed this question directly---in Psalm 139: 7-10:     

    Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there;  if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

David’s words remind us that it is futile to search for a place to hide from the presence of God; and may I add…very unwise to try—just ask Jonah! :). God’s infallible word shows that He is omnipresent—within His vast creation, there is no place where you can go that He is not there! 

            Whether on vacation, at home, at work or wherever go…..rest assured that God is with you!  Isn’t that a sweet serving of JOY JUICE?

           

A JOYful THANK YOU!

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Thank You for drinking it and for sharing it with others!

            “THANK YOU” is such a simple thing to say, but those two words are a powerful tool in bringing joy to someone’s heart! Everyone likes to be appreciated; but not all of us remember to express our appreciation.  “As we seek to nurture joy in others, we can help it bloom by thanking them for their service and their efforts.” (Kay Warren) 

            Can you think of a Bible character who exemplified gratitude?  Paul is the one who immediately comes to my mind.  In every letter that he wrote he included words of gratitude.   We find:

·        “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,” in Philippians.

·        In 1 Corinthians he wrote, “I thank my God at all times for you because of the grace of God which was bestowed on you in Christ Jesus.” 

·        In Colossians he says: “We continually give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we are praying for you.”

These are just a few of the verses where Paul expresses thanks to God.  And that’s the important key!  Paul had a grateful heart because He knew that all His blessing came from God.  He was appreciative of WHO God is and the relationship he shared with Him.

            Do you recognize the countless blessings in your life? We ALL have much more for which to be thankful than we do things to complain about! 

            Today, I am thanking God for YOU! I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities to share His JOY and I encourage you to keep passing that JOY along to others!

Listen with JOY

      Have you had your JOY JUICE today?   Never minimize the importance of faithfully drinking in the JOY of the Lord!

            It’s such a comforting, encouraging feeling to have someone empathize with us rather than minimizing our feelings. Don’t you think?  When others confide in you and share their feelings about what’s happening in their life, what they want most is a listening ear….not a diagnosis of everything they are doing wrong.  Most of the time, they don’t even want your opinion! They just need to vent about what’s on their heart and mind.

            Proverbs 14:10 says, “Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy.” (NLT)  Even when we think we know how someone feels, there is truly no one except God that truly understands.  But…we can empathize with others and listen, lovingly and non-judgmentally. Only when we are asked for an opinion should we give it…and then we should choose our words carefully.

            I spent many years in the public school system as School Counselor.  In working with students and with parents, I found that most of them simply needed someone to listen. I certainly didn’t have all the answers to their problems.  But I could give them the gift of time, by listening to them pour out their hearts. 

            (Kay Warren quote) “When we listen to others with compassion, without assuming we know what they are thinking or feeling, without judging or criticizing, we add joy to their lives.”

            Be on the look-out today for that person God will send your way that simply needs a listening ear. Give them this gift of JOY!

Nurture JOY in Others

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Even if you haven’t, I’ll still love you! But I’ll keep encouraging you to drink in the JOY of Jesus, because it’s soooo good! J

            Kay Warren writes that “some of us feel duty-bound to point out to other people their imperfections.  Then we expect them to be grateful for it, as if they’ll say, ‘Oh, thank you! I was waiting for you to tell me about that flaw today!’ Even worse, we point out someone’s imperfections to other people, falling into the trap of gossip and judgment.”

            She goes on to say that “when we criticize someone, it has a lot more to do with our need to be critical than with their imperfections or differences.  And when we are critical of another person, we are missing the beauty in them and in our relationship with them.  We destroy the delicate seedling of joy that is trying to take root of in their heart.”

            The Message version of the Bible says it well.  In Romans 2:1 we read, “Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself.  It takes one to know one.  Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes & misdemeanors.”

            Wow! That’s kind of eye-opening and sobering, isn’t it?  The next time we’re tempted to criticize someone, let’s pause and reflect on that verse in Romans.  And be assured that when we’re critical….we are NOT nurturing joy…in ourselves or others.

          Let’s find the good in those we come into contact with today by looking at them through the eyes of Jesus!

Expect JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s a definite “must” if you want to experience genuine joy, as well as nurture joy in others.

            It seems everyday there are stories in the news about some celebrity who has done something to tarnish his image or a respected politician who has been caught in a compromising situation.  Even on a popular TV talent show recently, we witnessed a guy professing to be a former soldier who was injured in combat, trying to save his fellow soldiers from a grenade.  We soon learned that he was a fraud.  The whole story was fabricated.

            It’s easy to become cynical when we hear of such stories. Sarcasm and cynicism is modeled before us on TV sitcoms and movies…and we often laugh when we see it on the screen.  But….when it happens in real life to us and to those we love….it can be discouraging and even devastating!

            Listen to what 1 Corinthians 13:7 says: “If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost.  You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.” (TLB)

            If we are committed to spreading joy and nurturing it in others, we must expect the best …not the worst…from people.  Sure, they will not always live up to those expectations.  Not one of us is perfect, that’s for sure….no one except Jesus!   So let’s strive to nurture joy in others by expecting the best from them.  You might be surprised what your belief in them can do to encourage them to make better choices…and become more joyful!

           Today....I'm expecting YOU to be a JOYful example to others! :)

Be an Inspiration of JOY!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  If you are drinking it daily, you will be an inspiration to others…a JOYful inspiration!

            Do you have friends or acquaintances that inspire you?  All of us need people like that in our lives.  Those we can look up to; who encourages us to grow and become all that God intends for us to be…people who keep preserving even when times get tough…because the JOY of the Lord is their strength.  We need to surround ourselves with those who encourage and inspire us.

            AND, we should strive to be that kind of person for others, too!  Let’s step under the spiritual microscope for a minute and take a close look at our personal lives.  Ask yourself:

·        Does my life exemplify a strong faith in God?

·        Am I committed to being a good Christian role model?

·        Do I act the same way during the week as I do on Sunday at church?

·        Do I go out of my way to help others…putting their needs before my own?

·        Do I easily find words of encouragement to those around me?

Ephesians 4:29 tells us:

”Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

          Let’s be an inspiration to those around us by exemplifying Christ and counting it all JOY! 

Fight for JOY!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  You might have to fight for it!

            Fight for JOY?  That seems a contradiction, doesn’t it?  Usually when we mention “fight” there is a negative connotation attached.  But if we are truly serious and committed to having a life of JOY, we may have to fight for it!  Kay Warren suggests that we often have to fight against heart attitudes of

• Legalism
• Worry
• Workaholism
• Perfectionism

Ever found any of those in your life?  We need to ask God to help us know how to combat those and replace them with His grace, trust, balance and acceptance.  Yes, it’s a struggle….sometimes an out and out fight!  But once we learn how to nurture joy in our lives, we can be victorious!

            So, are you ready to fight?  If so, let’s put on our battle uniform! Ephesians 6:13-17 tells us:

     Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God 

            Let’s fight for JOY and victoriously  share it with others.

Find Balance...Find JOY!

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Take a few minutes at the beginning of your day to drink from the fountain of JOY that will keep your life in balance. 

            "More than two thousand years before email, social networking, cell phones, and car pools, the Greek philosopher Socrates said, 'Beware the barrenness of the busy life.' Joy withers in our lives when we are too busy.  Often we end up slaves to commitments we’ve made, saying yes to the wrong things, leaving ourselves with no time or energy to say yes to the people closest to us." (Kay Warren writes in her book Choose JOY!)

            When we find ourselves in this state, we have allowed our lives to become unbalanced. Finding the right balance begins with an honest conversation with God…asking Him to reveal what our priorities should be and what we should “let go of”.  Each stage of life can be joyfully balanced…if we rely on God to show us what is most important. 

            As a young mother, I remember the burning desire...a passion…to write and speak.  Yet, it was not God’s time for me.  My ministry at that point was my family.  They were my priority.  Now, at this stage of life, God has honored that desire speak and write.  He has opened doors of opportunity in His perfect timing….which brings me such JOY!

            Balance at each stage of life is important.  Wisely choose, with God’s guidance, what He would have you do day by day.

             As Ecclesiastes 3:1 says: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”   Find balance and find joy!

JOYfully Gaze Upon the Lord......

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  When we faithfully drink in the JOY of the Lord, we will have no reason to worry and fret!

            "Nothing kills joy any faster than worry," writes Kay Warren in her book, Choose JOY.  And as we worry, we erect walls around our heart to protect ourselves from being hurt.  Someone once said: “When we are worrying, we are not trusting! And when we’re trusting, we’re not worrying.”  

 

     Matthew 6:34 tells us: So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time. (TLB)

     When problems arise…and they do come to all of us…the temptation is to focus our energy and attention on the problem.  We replay the situation over and over again in our mind, trying to come up with a solution.  We stress and worry and fret and fuss until we have allowed the problem to overshadow every other aspect of our lives.  We are gazing at the problem and only glancing at God.

            Shouldn’t it be the other way around?  Remember that God is always there for us.  He knows the answer to our problem.  Why do we doubt Him?  He is the “Red Sea” God who can part the waters of our dilemma with a single breath! And he may choose to do just that…or He will give us the strength to face the problem and the wisdom to work through it.  IF we turn our attention, or focus, to HIM!

            As Kay Warren tells us: “Lack of trust chokes joy out of our hearts because of the unnecessary walls we have allowed ourselves to build.”

            Don’t worry, be trusting! Gaze upon the Lord as you glance at your problem. He wants to pour out His joy into your life!  

Demolish the Walls....Let in the JOY!

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drink in a big serving, then pick up your spiritual sledge hammer and begin knocking down the walls around your heart.

            We began talking yesterday about tearing down the unnecessary walls that we’ve built in our lives. Yes, we want to protect ourselves from sadness and hurt, but many times those same walls will also keep out the joy.  Kay Warren suggests that one of the best ways of getting rid of those walls is to focus on grace.

            Keep in mind that God doesn’t love us for following a certain set of rules or performing rituals.  He is not interested in what all we can do for Him.  He simply loves us….because as the Bible tells us….He has “set his love upon us”.  What grace!

            Ephesians 1:4-5 tells us about His love for us.  “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.  God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.  This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” (NLT)

            Doesn’t it make you smile to know that His love for us brings him great pleasure?  The only way I can even begin to wrap my brain around that concept is to think about the pleasure it brings me to love my children and grandchildren.  And that must be just a thimble-full compared to how much God loves us!

            May I encourage you to begin the demolition process immediately! Tear down the walls that are keeping you from experiencing God’s love, grace and JOY!

Walls That Keep Out JOY

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drinking in the JOY of the Lord keeps us from building walls in our lives that shouldn’t be there!

             Have you built walls around your heart to protect yourself from being hurt?  Many of us do, because of things that have happened in the past.  We have a tendency to want to block out anything that may be hard or have the possibility of bringing emotional hurt into our lives.

            As I was reading a new book by Kay Warren entitled Choose Joy, Because Happiness Isn’t Enough, I came across a quote by Jim Rohn that rings so true.  He says: “The walls we build around us to keep sadness out also keep out the joy.”

            While all of us would admit that we want to avoid sadness if at all possible, do we want to keep JOY out of lives?  I certainly don’t!  We need MORE joy….not less of it!  Here are four suggestions by Kay Warren that will help us to nurture and build joy in our souls, instead of building up walls that keep the joy out:

1. Focus on Grace
2. Trust God for the Future
3. Balance your life.
4. Practice acceptance of your own imperfections.

 Let’s allow God’s grace to tear down the walls we have built around our hearts so that we might experience His JOY fresh and new every day.

Seek for JOY

 Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Seek the joy of the Lord…and I promise, you will find it!

            Psalm 105: 3-4 reminds us why we should seek the Lord at all times. Listen to David’s words: “Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.”

Did you hear the words seek and look?  What are we to seek and look for? 

• Wealth?
• Power?
• Possessions?
• Popularity and prestige?

None of those are mentioned in these verses.  We are instructed to seek one thing…..the LORD!  We are to “glory in his holy name”.  When we “seek the Lord” we will “rejoice”.  We will find “strength”!  “Seek his face ALWAYS!” the scripture says.

            Do you realize that “always” means……ALWAYS?  Even in times of heartache and loss; even when our life takes an unexpected turn; even when we feel anything but “happy”, we can still find joy if we seek the comfort, strength and presence of God in our life.

            Jesus promised in Matthew 7:7: “Seek and you will find.”  If you are a place in your life where God seems far away, persist in seeking Him.  God rewards those who sincerely look for Him. (Hebrews 11:6).

            As you seek the Lord…always…you will find extra servings of JOY created especially for you.

A Cup Full of JOY JUICE

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Offer someone a cold cup full and just watch the joy begin to spread.

            In the book of Matthew, we can learn much about the teachings of Jesus.  As I was reading just a few days ago, verse 42 of the 10^th chapter caught my attention in a way it never had before.  The verse says:

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”

            Jesus’ example of giving a cup of cold water to a thirsty child is a good model of unselfish love.  A child usually doesn’t return a favor because he is too young to think about reciprocating. God notices every good deed we do (or don’t do) as if He were the one receiving it.  WOW! This should remind us to serve others unselfishly…regardless of whether they return the favor….regardless of whether they even acknowledge the act of kindness. That’s hard to do, isn’t it?  Because our human nature is to want to be appreciated.

            But turn the tables just a minute:  Do we thank God every time He blesses us?  Are we appreciative of the many things our family members do for us?  Maybe one of most important questions we can ask ourselves is: Do we thank Jesus continually for loving us so much that He gave His life for us?

             Find every opportunity to share a nice cup full of JOY JUICE with all those God brings into your path….regardless of whether they seem to appreciate it or not!  God notices and He promises a JOYful reward!

Make a JOYful Noise....of Praise!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  I hope so, because it shows in your daily life.

            Psalm 104:33-34 tells us what we should strive to do…..daily! 

“I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.”

            The Psalms are filled with references to “singing praises”. But not place do I find where it says that we have to have a beautiful singing voice.  It’s not HOW we sound….it’s the attitude of our heart! 

            You see, what God desires is our worship. And by worship I mean, humbling ourselves before him…regardless of where we are.  We can be at church and still not worship… if we don’t come before God with the right spirit and humble heart.

            (According to gotquestions.org)---

 The meaning of the Greek word “worship” (proskuneo) is “to fall down before” or “bow down before.” Worship is an attitude of spirit. Since it’s an internal, individual action, it should be done all the time in our lives, regardless of place or situation. When Christians formally gather together in worship, still the emphasis should be on individually worshiping the Lord with an humble, joyful heart.

      May we each remember to worship the Lord with JOY every day…no matter where we are! Sing out and make a JOYful noise of praise!

Leap for JOY!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Please drink in your special serving so that you can “leap” through the day with JOY.

            Psalm 28:6-7 is such a source of encouragement…especially when we’re down or discouraged.  Drink in these uplifting words as I read them to you:  “Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy.  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”

            When we are surrounded by problems and feel overwhelmed with what’s going on in our lives, we should follow David’s example in this Psalm. Let’s study it a little more closely to find spiritual truths that will enlighten us and lift us up. In these two verses along, we find 5 good lessons from David:

1.      Praise the LORD….no matter what our circumstances.

2.      Trust that He, indeed, hears our prayers.

3.      When we are weak, we can depend on HIS strength to carry us through.

4.      Like a shield, He protects us from evil.

5.      We can trust Him whole-heartedly and know that HE will help us.

       When we praise Him, trust Him, and rest in the shelter of His protective arms, our hearts will be leaping with JOY in the Lord and we will be singing thanks to Him.

           Open the Psalms and find your special serving of JOY JUICE today. We should be leaping for joy that He hears our every prayer.

REJOICE.....Even When You Don't FEEL Like It!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Some days we need a concentrated serving…is today one of those days?

            It seems that when we feel like expressing joy the least, we truly need it the most!  We all have “those days” when we may not be feeling our best. On “those days” may I suggest a good remedy? Turn to the book of Psalms and begin to read.  There we find reference after reference to joy and rejoicing and gladness.

          This happened to me just last week when I was fighting an old summer cold. I felt pretty wiped out!  As I opened my Bible, almost immediately the verse in Psalm 32:11  gave me a pick-me-up!

             “Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!”

             I didn’t feel like rejoicing; I don’t claim to be “upright in heart and righteous”.  I certainly wasn’t glad for having that pesky cold; but this verse reminded me of HIS righteousness in me…and in you! We are to rejoice and be glad for no other reason but our relationship with Him. 

            We are not going to always have “good days”.  Some are going to be downright rotten… like in the children’s book…..Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day!  by Judy Voirst.  But even on “those days”, our Father is with us, going before us, standing behind us and walking beside us.  Now, that’s the best reason I know to “rejoice in the LORD and be glad!”

           Even when we don’t FEEL joyful and glad, we can still rest in the strength of the Lord and find His joy!

       

JOY---It's the Real Thing!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Nothing else has the flavor of the “real thing”……It’s a classic!

            As we’ve been talking this week about the authenticity of JOY found in Jesus, I’ve been reminded several times of the old Coca Cola slogan, “It’s the real thing!” I researched a little about the product and what I found was quite interesting.

            In an article by Louis M Brill, I learned that “Coca-Cola – began in 1886 as a simple thirst quencher and soda. Its recipe was colored water and secret flavors. It has sold continuously for over 125 years and has become world renown.

          Coca-Cola has millions and millions of loyal fans who quickly and loudly protested in 1986 when the parent company sought to upgrade its flavor with a new and improved taste. From the great outcry that resulted, the company changed back to the original formula - calling it the 'Classic Coke' (truly the 'real thing!).”

            As Christians, we should be loyal followers of Christ.  Just as the Coke fans spoke out when the “real thing” was being tampered with, we should much more boldly take a strong stand for Jesus and the truth found in the Word of God.  Are we allowing worldly influences to “water down” our faith?  Are we becoming insensitive to beliefs that don’t match up with the absolute truth found in scripture?   I fear that we have allowed ungodly influences to permeate our homes and our hearts, resulting in changes to our faith….making it a weaker version of the “real thing”.

           Let’s get back to the Classic Truth….asking God to show us when we’re being deceived.  Genuine JOY is found in the one and only Jesus….He IS the REAL THING!

ABSOLUTE JOY!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Don’t be deceived into thinking that there is any replacement for the “real thing”.

            Each of us has been deceived at some point in our lives.  And it’s not a good feeling, is it?  We question how we could have let such a thing happen.  Yet, the one who deceived us must have been pretty convincing.

            James 1:16 says it clearly and concisely: "Don't be deceived, my dear brothers."

That sounds easy enough….but in reality it is extremely difficult if we rely on our own judgments and feelings.  Our feelings change from day to day. Our view on an issue can be altered with new information or the cunning persuasion of a smooth talker.  How can we be sure that we’re not allowing ourselves to be deceived?

            We must seek the absolute Truth. Is there an absolute Truth?  ABSOLUTELY! That TRUTH can be found in Jesus Christ!  In John 14:6, Jesus tells us:

 

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  So there we have it!  If something doesn’t match up to the truth found in the Word of God, then beware!   God’s Truth is the same in every situation, with every individual and in every season of life. As Hebrews 13: 8 says: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” That truth should bring us absolute joy!

            Let’s drink in the JOY of the Lord by seeking the absolute truth found in Jesus.

A JOYful 4th of July!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s exactly what you need to celebrate this special day of JOY…..Independence Day!

            Happy 4^th of July!  Indeed, this is a day to celebrate and lift our voices in JOYful praise to our Father for our great nation!

         (According the website History.com)  “In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.”

            As each of us celebrates this special day, let’s not forget to shout praises to the Lord for His goodness and faithfulness.  Instead of focusing on what’s wrong in our country, let’s acknowledge that there is so much for which to be thankful!  And let’s agree that the best way we can help our nation is to pray!  As Psalm 67:1 says: "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us……”

            I'm praising the Lord for our country and praying that we might be blessed with much JOY in the days ahead as we draw closer to Him. Will you join me in that prayer?

JOY---Not a Counterfeit!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  The authentic recipe for genuine JOY JUICE cannot be replicated. Only the “real stuff” will do!

            Let’s be warned that there is a master counterfeiter in our midst and he is working constantly to trick us! His name is Satan and is called the “father of lies” in John 8:44. 

            Tomorrow’s World Magazine says: “In our effort to identify a counterfeit faith, we can take a cue from the United States Treasury Department, which fights against counterfeit money. One of the most effective ways to recognize a counterfeit is to be completely and intimately familiar with the real thing. When you are deeply aware of how a real $20 bill feels in your fingers—the intricate details in its artwork, the weight of its paper in your hands, the way it responds when you fold it, the way small fibers are embedded in its material, the way ink bleeds into its paper just a little bit—you can more capably recognize when you have been handed a counterfeit. When you know the 'real thing' , the subtle differences in the counterfeit stand out to you like night stands out from day, even though others less familiar would not even notice!

          We can apply the same strategy in spotting a counterfeit faith. What is that true standard? God's word—the Holy Bible!"  Let’s determine to study it and know it so intimately that we will readily recognize a counterfeit!

       Drink in the genuine JOY of the Lord! Please join me for a delightful taste of the “real thing”!

Be A JOYful Imitator of GOD

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Make sure that it’s the “real thing” and not a counterfeit or cheap imitation!

            Ephesians 5 begins with four powerful words: “Be imitators of God…”

Do we imitate God…or do we imitate others?  Most often we fall short of choosing the BEST example, don’t we?  Who are you imitating?

·        Hollywood stars?

·        The “beautiful people” in the magazines who have been airbrushed to perfection?

·        Do you look up to those who are wealthy by the world’s standards and try to imitate their strategies?

        In truth, there’s only ONE who is worthy of imitating…and that’s Jesus.

             When children are small, they often imitate their parents as part of the learning and growing process.  As we grow in our Christian walk, we should look to our Heavenly Father as our example.  His great love for us led Him to the supreme sacrifice.  Jesus died on the cross that we might live.  Our love for others should emulate that kind of love….self-sacrificing service to others as an expression of Christ’s love in us and through us.

            “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5: 1-2.

            Be a JOYful imitator of God by drinking in the JOY of the Lord…and sharing it authentically!