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Friday, September 28, 2012

Lavished in His Love and JOY



          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Some days you might not feel worthy to even sip from the cup of leftovers, but let me reassure you that GOD will always love you! That should bring your heart joyful encouragement.

            I found a beautiful selection by Barry Adams entitled “Father’s Love Letter”.  The author has compiled scripture verses into a powerful message from God, His love letter to each of us.  Let me share a brief portion of this “letter” and as you allow the truth to penetrate your heart, my desire is that you will see how valuable and loved you are by your Heavenly Father.

My Child ~
You may not know me, but I know everything about you ~ Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up ~ Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways ~ Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered ~ Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image ~ Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being ~ Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring ~ Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived ~ Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation ~ Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book ~ Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live ~ Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made ~ Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb ~ Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born ~ Psalm 71:6
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love ~ 1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you ~ 1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your father ~ 1 John 3:1

            Do you feel loved? You are LAVISHED in His love!  

          When you begin to doubt your value, open the Word of God and read the Father’s love letters, written with JOY….especially for you!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Be a JOYful Good Samaritan



            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Serve some to others and remind them of their value in Christ.

            There are many hurting people in our world.  We see them everyday.  Some we know well enough to know why they are broken-hearted.  Maybe they’ve lost a loved one or they’ve recently received news of a devastating diagnosis or maybe their marriage is "on the rocks".  Sometimes we are aware of the difficulties in people’s lives; but other times we don’t have a clue what they are going through.

            Many people put on a brave front and keep their troubles to themselves.  Some are private or shy or don’t want to be a burden to anyone else, so they quietly try to handle their challenges alone. Though we never want to pry into someone’s private business, we do need to be sensitive and willing to help when we can.

            Every individual is a creation of God and is of value to Him.  As committed Christians, we should be tuned in to helping others.  We should strive to be like the Good Samaritan, giving beyond what is expected of our time, our resources and our love….not out of obligation, but simply because of our relationship with Christ.

            In Matthew 22: 37-39, Jesus said:  “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

            Who is the “neighbor” God has put in your path today?  Serve them with gladness and allow the JOY of the Lord to radiate through you!

            Be a JOYful “Good Samaritan” and serve God by serving your neighbor.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Be an "Angel" and Drink Your JOY JUICE



          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Be an angel and drink it in so that you’ll be ready to share His JOY with others throughout the day.

            Walk in to any gift shop and you most likely will find replicas of angels in all shapes and sizes, made of porcelain, wood and many other materials. Artists paint them  with beautiful wings, long flowing hair, and glittering halos. Hollywood has portrayed them as travelers in a Cadillac or a variety of other colorful characters that have “tasks” to perform before they can earn their wings.  

            God's Word, however, describes them differently. Angels are God’s messengers, mighty warriors, and guides. They appeared to Mary and Joseph, Daniel, John, Paul, and numerous others throughout the Scriptures to deliver God’s message. They are called "heavenly beings".  

            Did you know that the Bible says that we, humans, are just a little lower than the angels?When you begin to doubt your value, turn to the passage in Psalm 8: 4-5 and read:   

 “…what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?  You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.”

            A little lower than the angels (heavenly beings) …that’s us! And we will be crowned with glory and honor.  That should be a cure for discouragement and a feeling of worthlessness!  AND, oh, what a source of pure JOY!

 It’s time to realize our value in God  and start JOYfully basking in His glory and honor!

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

YOU Are of Great Value to God...That's JOY!



Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It will give you insight into your great value in the eyes of God!
           
            So often our enemy, Satan, tries to bombard us with thoughts of inadequacy and discouragement.   He wants us to doubt God’s love and purpose for us.  Never should we question our value in God’s eyes! Genesis 1:26-27 says that we are made in His image, the very image of God.  Psalm 139: 13-16 says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and all the days of our lives were written in God’s book before we were ever born, confirming God’s prior knowledge and plan for our lives.

In Ephesians 1:13-14 we are reminded that we are God’s own possession, chosen for the praise of His glory, and that we have an inheritance awaiting us in heaven.  Now….if all of that is true….and the Bible IS the INFALLIBLE, INERRANT WORD OF GOD, then we have great value to God.

If that is not proof enough, think about what God did for you in me in the form of His Son.  His plan from the beginning was that Jesus would come to earth in human form, suffer and die a cruel death on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. That was the supreme sacrifice which exemplifies just how much God values us as His children.  Though He is not always pleased with our decisions and our choices, He NEVER stops loving us and we do NOT lose our value in His eyes.
           
 What JOY we have in the truth that God loves us and values us as His own!



Monday, September 24, 2012

The "Cost" of JOY



          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s of great value….as a matter of fact, genuine JOY JUICE is priceless!

            We often hear about the value of gold, the value of land, the value of rare jewels.  When people talk about the value of material things, we can get caught up in the worldly desire to obtain more and more “stuff”.  The funny thing is that, though material things may be nice, they can’t give us everlasting joy!  And JOY doesn’t cost a penny. However it does cost….. 

  • relinquishing control of our lives and willingly giving ourselves to Jesus.
  • It costs time in Bible study and prayer to find God’s will for our lives.
  • It costs giving up our selfish ways and putting others before ourselves.
  • It costs obedience to God’s commands.

When we truly love the Lord with all our heart, mind and soul, then we don’t mind the “cost” at all.  We serve & give because of our deep love for Him….and the reward is genuine JOY!

Psalm 19:9-10 says “…the ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;”

            What are things that you value?  Is God number #1 on your list?  Find supreme value in Him and that deep personal relationship with Christ will bring you indescribable, abundant joy.

            You can’t put a price tag on genuine JOY….it’s freely yours for the taking!

Friday, September 21, 2012

A Masterpiece of JOY...That Could Be YOU!



            Have you had your JOY JUICE today? When you drink in the joy of the Lord faithfully and consistently, then you will enjoy the sweet taste of His JOY JUICE even in times of trial!

            This week we’ve talked a lot about how trouble and trials come into each of our lives.  No one will argue that these times aren’t tough!  Often when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances, the enemy is quick to throw doubts & questions into our minds.  We may find ourselves questioning God's goodness and wisdom.  We may even become bitter and angry with God and wonder if He really loves us.

         But God's Word unwaveringly teaches that our God loves with an everlasting love; and we can trust Him. Things do not happen haphazardly…with no meaning or purpose.  God is in control and, as Paul reminds us, no one or nothing can separate us from His love.  James says that God wants us to trust Him in the trials because through that time He is molding us, maturing us and helping us to become more like Jesus.
            
        The familiar passage in James 1: 2-4 sums it up perfectly:
   
 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

            Isn’t it reassuring to know that God is molding us through the trials into a masterpiece of JOY!?

Thursday, September 20, 2012

TEST-imony of JOY



            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s genuine JOY JUICE squeezed from the purest of fruit…..the fruit of the Spirit!
 
             Though we’d rather not have to go through them, we all experience trials and tribulations, challenges and problems, heartbreak and tragedy.  Some of these challenges may be a time of testing.  One of my friends who has been through some really hard circumstances over the past couple of years told me that without the “test”, she would not have a “test” imony! HOW TRUE!

            It is through the tests of life that we learn what we’re truly made of! We find out how strong our faith is and may even be surprised at how we handle things.  Those who totally depend on the Lord to lead and direct their steps, find strength—that is at times, incomprehensible.

            1 Peter 1:7 tells us why testing is necessary:
"So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
 
            When we feel the heat of the fire in an unexpected situation, we must trust that God has NOT left us to withstand the flames alone.  He’s there…as He was with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! And He is using the fire to refine us into something more precious than gold.  He will use every circumstance to grow our faith and show us the true, genuine JOY that can be ours by trusting Him.

            With each test, the JOY JUICE gets sweeter and sweeter….if it’s genuine JOY from the fruit of “The Spirit”.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Crown of JOY



            Have you had your JOY JUICE today? Thank the Lord for that trial in your life because in remaining faithful, you may receive a heavenly crown!

            There are several crowns spoken of in scripture.  James 1:12 tell us about the “crown of life”.  Who will receive this crown?  James says:
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."

            Are you under the pressure of a trial right now?   It could be your opportunity to persevere, press on and remain faithful.  Through your Godly example, you may be touching others’ lives for Christ.  Someone may be looking at you and thinking, how could he/she be joyful at a time like this?  You can share with them that it’s all about a personal relationship with Jesus.  And they, too, can know Him as their Savior and Lord.

            We ALL have challenges that we have to face.  Sometimes they seem insurmountable.  And, they are...if we try to scale the mountain alone.  Hold on tight to the rope that God offers you and move ahead--one step at a time--keeping your eyes focused on the ONE Who holds your future.  God promises that those who love Him and remain faithful will receive the “crown of life” for all eternity.  What JOY, wonderful JOY that will be! :)

           As Paul says is Philippians 3:14:  Let’s keep pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus!”

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

A JOYful Eternity....That Should Be Our Focus



            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Whether you’re having a great day or a challenging one, the JOY JUICE of JESUS is what you need!

            Many of you have listened to my radio broadcasts for the past four years.  Some of you have read my books.  You know that “JOY” is always my focus because I believe God has put me on a mission to share a “double portion” of His love and JOY with anyone who will listen.  BUT…..I want to be clear about something!  Just because God has put me on this quest does NOT mean that everything is always perfectly happy in my life!  Everyone has problems and trials!  And let me tell you a little secret—
sometimes I remember to practice what I preach, but other times……..well, let’s just say: I NEED IMPROVEMENT!

            We know that the Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength.  But we don’t like going through those times that require that extra strength! Let’s consider this:  If we got everything we wanted and never had problems, we would not grow spiritually. And we would not be nearly as grateful for God’s timely blessings.  Through the trials and the times of “waiting”, God is preparing us on earth for a JOYful eternity with Him.  That’s where our focus should be! 

            Look at 1 Peter 5:10:  
"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."

            Let’s allow the truth of that scripture to sink deep into our hearts.  When you feel the strength of God welling up in you and bubbling over….that, my friend, is GENUINE JOY!

            

Monday, September 17, 2012

JOY....Regardless


            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Even though you may be hurting, please remember to drink in the JOY of Jesus. 

            We can’t prevent hurt from coming into our lives.  As careful as we are and as prayerful as we strive to be, there are still circumstances that “happen” which cut deep into our emotions.  Trouble is no respecter of persons. We all have to deal with illnesses, broken relationships, unexplained accidents and situations that turn our lives upside down.

             Nowhere in God’s Word do we find a promise of a perfect life on earth.  But He does promise that He will see us through every challenge that comes our way. 2 Corinthians 4:17 is a reassuring verse.
 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

     Christian musician Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth were devastated by the loss of their youngest adopted daughter, 5-year-old Maria Sue. She was accidentally hit by an SUV in the driveway of the family home.  To add to the tragedy, the SUV was driven by one of her brothers. Not only did the Chapmans lose a child that day, they also had to watch helplessly as another one of their children was torn apart by grief and a sense of blame. But their testimony is a powerful one of love for God and strength found in relationship with Him.

            Even in times of heartache, we can find JOY in the comfort of faith in God.

Friday, September 14, 2012

"I Wait for the Lord"....JOYfully!



Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Abundant joy can be yours if you are faithful to God’s instruction and wait on Him.

            According to one resource, the word “wait” is mentioned over 160 times in the King James version of the Bible.  Do you think God might know that we’d have a challenge with waiting? 

            Look at the passage in Psalm 130:5-7:
“I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait; And in His word do I hope.  My soul waits for the Lord, more than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is lovingkindness, And with Him is abundant redemption.” 

What a beautiful passage of scripture…and one which holds such powerful truth! We, as God’s children, should wait expectantly for the Lord to pour out His abundant blessings! Writer J. Hampton Keathley explains:
As the watchman waits for the sun because he knows it is reliable, so the Psalmist waits for the Lord even more, because he knows the Lord is more reliable than the rising of the sun. In other words, waiting is fundamentally wrapped up with knowing, trusting, and believing in the Lord and… in His promises. The ability to wait on the Lord stems from being confident and focused on who God is and in what God is doing.”
 
             Let's wait expectantly for the Lord and hope for Him to give us much JOY as He pours out His blessings on us in His perfect timing!  

Thursday, September 13, 2012

WAITING & HOPING = JOY



          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  When you faithfully drink in His JOY, you’ll find yourself wanting to wait on His plan for your day….and your life!

            Lamentations 3:25 tells us that The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.”   This means that if our hope is in our Almighty, awesome, majestic, faithful God, then we will be willing to WAIT for Him to reveal His plan for our lives. 

            WAITING and HOPING are wound together like the threads in a beautiful tapestry.  Let me try to illustrate: 

(1) When a mommy is expecting the birth of child, she waits for nine months, hoping  that everything will go well. She waits until the proper time, when the baby is fully developed and her body goes into labor.  At the end of that time, all the waiting was worth it and her hopes come true when she holds the beautiful baby in her arms.  Waiting and hoping are both a part of the process.

(2) When you apply for a job, you most often have to wait to hear whether or not you have been accepted. You are not only hoping to get the job, you are hoping your qualifications and resume are more outstanding than the other applicants.

(3) On a personal note, God has opened the doors for another women’s conference coming to our area in February.  Those of us on the planning team are waiting and hoping that He will bless our community in a dynamic way.  In making plans toward that day, we wait to see His hand of leading and we hope that we will allow Him to work through us to accomplish His plan!

             No matter what situation or opportunity or project….just for life in general, we must WAIT and HOPE for the JOY that comes from being in the center of His will.
             

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Be A JOYful "Waiter"



          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drink it in now, but just wait and see… the best is yet to come!

            Are you a good “waiter”?  I’m not talking about the kind of waiter who serves food at a restaurant.   I’m referring to the kind of waiter who “tarries” while looking for something in particular to happen.  One definition of “wait” is: “to remain or rest in expectation”.  I think that’s a good definition of what we are to do when we are waiting on the Lord to answer our prayers.  Do we “remain and rest in expectation” of what He’s going to do in our lives?  

            Psalm 33: 20 – 22 says it beautifully: Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”

            Though it is very hard to wait at times…especially for something we’ve prayed about for a long time…we can still have a “glad heart” because of God’s promise of faithfulness and His steadfast love.  That should always give us hope…..HOPE not in ourselves and what we can do, but HOPE in HIM who is the giver of all good things. 

            If you are in a time of “waiting”, find the JOY of the LORD to be your strength.  Indeed, we can trust that He has great plans for us…..”plans to give us hope and a future”….just as the scripture in Jeremiah (29:11)says!

           Let’s “remain and rest in expectation” of the abundant JOY that is planned for each of us!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Wait for God's JOYful Blessings



          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s ready and waiting for you…just drink it in and experience the JOY of JESUS!

             God has been dealing with my heart lately about the difficulty of “waiting”.  Though I guess it’s human nature to want something RIGHT NOW, it’s not always what’s best for us.  When toddlers pitch a fit for something that their parents know is not good for them, we understand that when the mom and dad say no, they are simply trying to do what is best for their child. 

            When teenagers ask to go to a party that will be unchaperoned and they may possibly be exposed to drugs or alcohol, good parents say NO! They are simply trying to protect their sons and daughters from harm.

            Then why do we have such difficulty accepting God’s delays in answering our prayers?  We pray and expect God to give us what we’ve prayed for immediately.  But our loving Heavenly Father sometimes has to say NO to our prayers, because He knows that we’ve asked for something that is not what is best for us. Then at times, He makes us wait…and often we are blessed with something so much better at His perfect time!

            Isaiah 30:18 reminds us: Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”

             If we desire God’s JOYful blessings, then we must learn to “wait for him.”  Let’s pray for one another to learn this lesson and live it out daily in all circumstances.

Monday, September 10, 2012

WAIT for God's Timing and You Will Find JOY



Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Don’t wait…go ahead and drink in as much as you can hold!

            One of the hardest instructions for most of us is the simple one word command, “WAIT”!  We don’t like to wait!  Most of us get agitated when we have wait in a long line or get caught in traffic; we don’t like to place an order online and find out it’s out of stock and we will have to wait a few weeks for our order to be shipped.  Waiting to be served a meal when we are hungry often makes us grumpy!  And if we happen to be waiting on test results from our doctor, we can truly become anxious and impatient!

            But one of the hardest things that I’ve found is when I’ve prayed and prayed for something for a long time and God still has not (seemingly) answered my prayer. I KNOW in my heart that He loves me and I KNOW that His timing is perfect.  But I still get impatient!  
       
           God’s word tells us in Psalm 27:14 to  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” 

            Did you see the word "WAIT" twice in the very same verse?  How often do we get tired of waiting for God to answer our prayers and find ourselves manipulating the situation?  And usually making a mess of things! 

            How do we “wait for the Lord”?  The only way we can do this is to pray for His strength, His wisdom and His timing.  Trust in Him….even when we don’t understand WHY He is not answering our prayers.  No, that’s not always easy; but it is the way to finding joy and contentment.

            WAIT for the LORD…and while you’re waiting, have a nice big serving of JOY JUICE to help pass the time!

Friday, September 7, 2012

Pour Out the JOY, Lord! Pour Out YOUR JOY!



          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?   There are no limits to how much God says you can have!

            Do you ever wonder why God seems to bless some people more than others?  Could it be that some ask…and some don’t?  I know one thing for sure—God’s resources are limitless.  He’s never had a problem with blessing His children. 

            Proof of that is found in Malachi 3:10.  “And try Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts. “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it!”

            Deuteronomy 28: 3, 6 is another reminder.  He made this promise to the Israelites time and time again, “You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.  You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.”

            I don’t think God has a problem with giving out blessings.  He may even have to refrain at times because He loves us SO MUCH!  Like a good Father, He doesn’t want us to be spoiled; but we must remember that we can’t use up our “quota” of God’s love and blessing in our lives.  There is nothing too small or insignificant to bring before His throne.  Nor is there anything too big for God!

            Ask Him to open up the windows of heaven and pour out a DOUBLE PORTION of His JOYful blessings in your life!  As Dwight L. Moody once said: “God never made a promise that was too good to be true!”

            I'm asking God to drench you today with His goodness and JOY!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Buckets Full of JOY....Just Ask! :)



            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Do you want a tiny sip or a great big serving?  It’s up to you…..just ask!

            Jim Rohn says that “asking is the beginning of receiving.  Make sure that you don’t go to the ocean with a teaspoon.”

            When you ask God for blessings, do you expect Him to answer….abundantly?   Or do you send up half-hearted prayers, not expecting much. There’s a story told about George Mueller that illustrates how God loves each of us and wants to bless us in even the minor details of our lives!  

             "Mueller was moving his family and his ministry to another part of England.  All day, workmen carried Mueller’s household belongings over the hill and down to the barge that would take them to their new home.  As the barge was about to push off from shore, they noticed that everything was safely on board except one thing—George Mueller’s favorite chair.  But the captain refused to delay his departure.

          So Mueller stood on the deck and prayed aloud, “O Lord, please hurry and bring me my chair.” The captain, scoffed at this minister who would bother almighty God with such a silly request. He ordered his crew to untie the mooring lines.  Just then a man crested the hill, running.  He was carrying George’s favorite chair on his head! "

         Now, how ‘bout that for a serving of JOY!?

        Never forget that what’s important to you, is important to God! Get your buckets ready for an outpouring of JOY! And start asking…NOW!

           

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Be A "Holy Asker" and Ask for JOY!



            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Ask God for an outpouring of His JOY in your life!

            Author and speaker, Bruce Wilkinson, uses the term “Holy Askers” in one of his devotionals.  What exactly is a “Holy Asker”?  We know that throughout the Bible we are encouraged, taught, instructed to “ask”.  We see examples of Godly men and women in the Bible who asked for God’s blessings.  Jabez asked for God to “bless him, INDEED!”

            When we ask Jesus into our heart, we automatically receive some blessings:
  • We are forgiven.
  • We have a personal relationship with Christ.
  • We receive the Holy Spirit.
  • We are granted eternal life.

But we can still pray for “blessings, indeed”, as Jabez did! I’m not talking about the selfish, worldly desires like material things and stuff that will bring us brief satisfaction.  I’m speaking of God’s BEST for us….opportunities to share His love and JOY with others; JOY that comes from serving Him and being in the center of His will.

      To quote Bruce Wilkinson: Change your life today by asking…and asking again.  God is scanning the planet today for Holy Askers.  He wants to give you your larger destiny.  He wants to fill the holes in your aching heart.  In fact, He loves you so much that every blessing He gives is personalized to your need to be blessed in a particular place in your life.”

      Let’s agree to be “Holy Askers” by asking God throughout each day for more and more JOY in Him!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Keep Asking for JOY in the Lord!



             Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Keep asking the Lord for your personal serving…..because He’s made some especially for you!

In Ephesians 1:17, Paul writes,    “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”  I believe this verse goes hand in hand with what Jesus taught in Matthew about asking, seeking and knocking!

As we go before the Lord in prayer, our hearts should be seeking the Spirit of wisdom that comes from hearing from God personally.  He WILL reveal His plan for our lives, IF we earnestly and fervently keep knocking on His heart’s door, keep seeking an intimate relationship with Him, our Father.  He loves us and wants us to keep asking Him about what is important to us.  It pleases Him when we persist in coming to Him with our concerns, our burdens, our deepest hearts desires. Like a loving Father, He’s ready and waiting to put His arms around us, giving us His undivided attention as He hears our prayers.  We can trust that, as we listen to His instruction, He will not fail to guide us in the right way.

                  I truly believe that He has a broad smile on His face when we kneel before Him with a tender heart….one which is totally committed to following after Him and  JOYfully accepting His plan.

            Keep asking the Lord to pour out His wisdom and JOY into your life….then, pass it along to others!

Monday, September 3, 2012

ASK....And Receive JOY!



Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  You don’t have any?  Well….all you have to do is ASK!

            In Matthew 7: 7-8 Jesus teaches: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

            Keep in mind that Jesus didn’t say ask….just once! Though our God is powerful enough to answer our prayers immediately, He often chooses to wait. He desires for us to pursue a deeper relationship with Him and trust that He knows what is best for us. He wants us to grow spiritually by humbling ourselves before Him and seeking only what is in His plan.  Instead of praying selfishly, our hearts should be so attuned to His will that we will be satisfied with however He chooses to answer our prayers.

            So often people give up after they’ve asked God a few times for something.  They decide that either God isn’t listening or that they are not worthy of having their prayer answered.  They may not realize that they are asking outside the will of God. Jesus says to ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK….in other words, persist in going before God in prayer.  Don’t give up! Continue to ask, but include in your prayers a request for wisdom and understanding….and a peaceful JOY that comes in a closer walk with Him.

            Let's keep asking, seeking and knocking on the door of God’s heart requesting that He pour out buckets full of His JOY into each of our lives!