Here's the JOY Booster Just for YOU!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?   It’s a powerful energizer!  Just try it and see!

            It seems everywhere we turn these days, we see or hear advertisements proclaiming that THIS IS THE PRODUCT we’ve all been waiting for!  It will give you renewed energy and make you feel years younger.  The market is huge because so many people DO desire to feel better and stronger. 

            Though there are good supplements and energy drinks that may truly give you a physical boost, I’d like for us to talk about a JOY-booster that will energize you spiritually.  And it’s FREELY yours.  Look at Isaiah 40:28-29:

 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

            Now, THAT, my friend, is the remedy we ALL need! POWER that comes from our everlasting Creator!  He knows when, what, where, and how to fill us when HIS STRENGTH! But He will not force it on us!  We have to be willing to drink in that serving of JOY JUICE that He has made especially for us!

            Being filled with the JOY of JESUS actually DOES give us physical energy, too.  When you begin to feel weary and tired; when you feel that you cannot possibly go on, ask the Holy Spirit to give you His strength.  And just as He promises in scripture, “He WILL give strength to weary (you & me) and give us power where we are weak.”

            Experience the JOY-boost of being filled with His strength as you go about your busy day!

God's Power = Double JOY

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Please drink in a generous serving so that you’ll be filled with the strength and power of God.

            I recently read an article written many years ago by a Godly minister named Arthur W. Pink.  This evangelist and Bible scholar was writing about the power of God.  He said, “We cannot have a right conception of God unless we think of Him as all-powerful, as well as all-wise.”  Do you truly believe---whole-heartedly---that God is “all-powerful” and that you can trust in His wisdom for your life?  Until we come to this point in our spiritual journey, we will not be able to experience full, abundant JOY.

         Arthur Pink explained that “the power of God is that ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatsoever He pleases, whatsoever His infinite wisdom may direct, and whatsoever the infinite purity of His will may resolve”. 

            Psalm 62:11 says: "God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this, that power belongeth unto God".  If God speaks ONCE…that should be enough! Nothing more is necessary! But--because He loves us and because He knew we would sometimes doubt, He said it twice: Power belongs unto God!  We can be “DOUBLE SURE” that we can trust in His power.  That should bring us DOUBLE JOY!

            May we each be reminded of God’s sovereign plan and know that His power and wisdom will fill us with a DOUBLE PORTION of HIS JOY!

           

JOY is Found in the Power of God

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  There is power in the JOY of JESUS!

            POWER….what does that word mean to you?  We can look at it in several different contexts:

• Many people seek “power” in the workplace.
• Countries fight for more “power” on the world’s stage.
• Leaders many times seek “power” over the people under their authority.
• “Power” can also mean the flow of electricity through the “power lines” which lead to your house. 
• At times we refer to “power” when we are talking about physical strength.

There are other ways that the word “power” is used, but today let’s talk about the POWER OF GOD!  We many times refer to Him as “all-powerful”.  What exactly does that mean?

1. God is infinite.
2. He has no limits.
3. He is sovereign.
4. Nothing is beyond his ability.
5. His word is infallible.
6. He has all power over all things, at all times and in all ways!

And that’s just the beginning!  In Hebrews 1:3 we read:

“And he is the radiance of his glory and the exact representation of his nature, and upholds all things by the word of his power.”

            What JOY we find in the POWER of GOD!

            As we share His JOY with others, let’s be aware of His awesome power in all things!

Good JOYful Morning! :)

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Begin the day joyfully, and you may be surprised at how well the entire day will go.

            Charlotte Perry is given credit for writing the brief little poem that says:

It was only a glad, “Good Morning,”

As she passed along the way.

But it spread the morning’s glory

Over the livelong day.

            What truth we find in these few words.  A cheerful “Good morning” to someone might change the remainder of their day…and yours too!

            As I think back over my many years in the school system, I remember seeing this “lived out” up and down the hallways of the schools where I worked.  Many caring teachers would stand at the doorway of their classroom to welcome each student into class each day.  Some of the boys and girls had come from tough circumstances and the loving, cheerful welcome that they received from their teacher made them feel safe and secure.  Others simply had “gotten up on the wrong side of the bed” as my mom would say, or maybe were not feeling their best. But a cheerful greeting and a loving smile sure did help everyone to have a much better start to their day.

            It’s like the verse in Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

            Greet someone with a cheerful “Good morning” as you pass along the way….and spread the morning’s glory and joy over the livelong day!

SCATTER JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drink it and scatter it everywhere!

            There’s an old Chinese proverb that simply says: "One joy scatters a hundred griefs."

            Let’s ponder that for a few minutes.  Does "one joy scatter a hundred griefs"?  I think it depends on what that “one JOY” might be!

·        If the “one joy” is seen as the happiness of a material possession, then it will soon fade.

·        If the “one joy” is dependent on another person, he or she is human and will let us down sooner or later.

·        Perhaps the “one joy” is interpreted as just the right job or career.  That can only fulfill us temporarily.

 ·        But if the ONE JOY comes from a faith in God, then YES, that statement is true. Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that “The JOY of the Lord is our strength.” And that means ALWAYS!  Even in the times of “a hundred griefs”, we can find JOY in JESUS because of His unending love and constant presence in our lives.

          A dear friend gave me a beautiful wall plaque that hangs in my home that simply says: SCATTER JOY!  Don’t you think that’s a great motto for all of us Christians to follow?  Scatter joy….HIS JOY….into the hearts of the hurting, the lives of those who are looking for peace, the impressionable children who are eager to learn about Jesus.  Scatter joy in your home, at work, as you go about your day….no matter where it takes you.

            Ask God to reveal opportunities to scatter His JOY and push away a hundred griefs...and more!

Serve with JOY....NO Apologies!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today? Drink it cheerfully!  And don’t make any apologies for being joyful!

            I had to smile as I read a quote by Franz Josef Haydn.  He wrote, “Since God has given me a cheerful heart, He will forgive me for serving Him cheerfully!”

            Somehow, I can’t ever see God needing an apology for anyone serving Him cheerfully, can you?  I’m sure that was written tongue in cheek, but there are those who think being a Christian is all about being stiff and solemn and anything other than CHEERFUL!

            I SO DISAGREE with this imagine of a Christian!  If you are a sold-out believer, you will be filled with the joy that comes from a personal relationship with Christ! And GOD loves a cheerful giver…the Bible tells us so!  Whether you are cheerfully giving of your money, your time, your service….whatever……DO IT CHEERFULLY and you will be bring JOY to the heart of God, as well as those you are serving!

            Paul wrote to the Christians at Corinth to “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”  (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

            May we all serve God with cheerful, joyful hearts….no apologies!

            Come on! Let's cheerfully share His JOY with all who will listen! Won’t you join me?

THIS is the Day.....for JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Before you even check the calendar, you can know that THIS day is the perfect day to drink in the JOY of the Lord!

            I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn that I have a daily calendar at home that has quotes and scriptures about JOY!  I’m not sure if it was a gift or if I picked it up myself, but I have so enjoyed flipping through the pages and finding tidbits of joy. On the front of the calendar is printed in large letters “365 Days of JOY”.  I like the title almost as much as I like the contents.  It reminds us that we can choose JOY every day of the year!

            The quote that I turned to today is by Fredrick W. Faber.  He said, “Jesus is the joy of heaven, and it is His joy to enter into sorrowful hearts.” Does that match up with scripture? Yes, I think so!

You will remember in the Christmas story, the angel appeared to the shepherds and said, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”  Yes, the JOY of heaven had come to earth.

And then in Matthew 11:28, Jesus himself said! “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  That was Jesus’ personal invitation to you and me…and to all “sorrowful hearts”, to come to Him and He will take our burdens upon Himself.  What peace and JOY He freely offers to each of us!

No matter what day of the year, let’s remember: Jesus is the joy of heaven, and it is His joy to enter into our sorrowful hearts.”

            

Autumn Rains of Righteousness and JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  No matter what time of the year, it’s always refreshing!

            Though I’ve read the Bible for a long, it still amazes me that I continually find “new” things that I do not remember seeing before!  It’s as if God continues to add truths that I need at just the right time!  Well, you and I both know that the Word of God does not change….WE DO!  Our needs, our desires, our spiritual maturity, our circumstances….all of those change.  And when the eyes of our hearts become receptive, we do see new truth that we’ve not “seen” before.

            Today as I was enjoying the autumn weather, I opened His Word to the short book of  Joel.  I found a new batch of JOY JUICE I didn't remember tasting before.  Written by the Prophet, Joel, the purpose of the book was to warn Judah of God’s impending judgment because of their sins and to urge them to turn back to God.

            I was struck by how our country needs to heed this same message!  How we need to turn back to God and the principles on which our country was founded. 

           Joel said:

“Rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness.  He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.”   (Joel 2:23)

            The joy found here is that God can and will intervene and draw us back to Him, if we humble ourselves before Him and repent of our sins.

            Let us pray for forgiveness and those autumn rains of righteousness…..abundant showers of HIS JOY JUICE!

Growing Older Can Bring JOY!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Young or old or somewhere in between, the Lord’s brand of JOY is just what you need!

             I am beginning to understand what David meant when he wrote in Psalm 37, verse 25:   “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken….

            Like David, I, too, can look back on the past and see God’s faithfulness.  Never once has He forsaken me.  Sure, there have been circumstances that I didn’t like, sad times and struggles. He has not always answered my prayers in the way I thought they should be answered. And I certainly have not always made the right choices. But our GOD IS FAITHFUL and His mercies are new every morning!

            There are certain advantages to growing older:

• You begin to understand that God is in control of your life.
• You can look back on the tough times and see that you came out stronger and, hopefully, wiser.
• Material things become less important because you know that they are not what brings you true joy.  Only a relationship with God can do that!
• A few years under the belt shows you that there is a difference between needs and wants.  And God supplies all our “needs”.
• And as we grow older we value friendships with good, Christian people because we see ourselves as “family” regardless of where we live, our education level, skin color or material wealth. Being brothers and sisters in Christ makes us one big JOYful family!

      Don’t fret about your age….young or old or in between!  Soak in the joy of being in the stage of life you are RIGHT NOW and look forward to sharing His joy with others along the way!

           

God JOYfully Delights in Those Who Follow Him

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s delightful to taste and it brings delight to the Lord when we share His joy with others!

            David was the writer of Psalm 37. In verses 21-24, he contrasted the wicked person with the righteous.  His main message is that we should trust in God and wait patiently for Him to act...regardless of what others are doing. Is there a message of joy in this passage?

“The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.  If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.”

            Did you hear that?  It’s the sound of JOY bubbling up! For the righteous people, that is!  David is reassuring us that God is FOR us…..His children, those who are trying to do right by obeying His commands...those who have Godly character.

  (Footnote from NIV Life Application Bible) You can tell a lot about a person’s character by the way he or she handles money.  The wicked person steals under the guise of borrowing, sometimes.  The righteous person gives generously to the needy.  The wicked person focuses on himself, while the righteous person unselfishly helps others.

            Joy is found in the truth that God delights in those who follow Him, trust Him and strive to do His will.  He watches over and makes firm every step of the righteous. 

            Let’s take God’s outstretched hand and allow Him to lead us along the path of righteousness which leads to JOY.

Looking for JOY in all the Right Places

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  No need to be angry at yourself if you forgot!  Just drink it in now!

            This week we’re searching for JOY in the 37^th chapter of Psalms. Let’s look today in verses 8 - 11.  “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.  For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.  A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.  But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.”

            Where is the joy in this passage?  It’s one of those messages we have to be tuned into, seeking the JOY of the Lord diligently as we peer deep into the heart of God for understanding.  My Bible footnote reminds us that:

“Anger and worry (fretting) are very destructive emotions.  They reveal a lack of faith that God loves us and is in control.   When we dwell on our problems, we will become anxious and angry.  But if we concentrate on God and his goodness, we will find peace.”

            Now are you beginning to see the JOY?

·        We don’t have to worry because GOD loves us and has our future in His hands. 

·        We can be joyfully secure in knowing that we are under His watchful care, his safekeeping.

·        When we allow anger and anxiety to take hold of us, we are letting the enemy steal our JOY!

·        Sooooo, trust God and remember that peace is found in relationship with Him, and that leads to indescribable JOY!

Let’s keep digging into the scriptures to find special servings of  HIS JOY!

Pull Out Your JOYscope!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  I hope you’ve made a commitment to finding the JOY in every situation! 

            The passage in Psalm 37: 5-7 tells us how to be joyful, regardless of our circumstances. 

“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.  Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked plans.”

Are then any references to JOY in this passage?  You better believe it!  Though the word JOY is not used, if we look at these verses under our JOYscope, we'll find at least five reasons for JOY.

1. When we commit our life to God, we can trust him to keep His promises.
2. He will cause us to “shine” with righteousness, not because of anything WE can do…but because of HIS righteousness in us.
3. When the justice of the LORD comes forth in our lives, we will be radiating with HIS joy!
4. We can rest in Him, “be still” and “wait patiently for him”.  HE will show us…in His perfect timing…each step we should take.
5. We don’t have to worry about what others do…even their plans to hurt or destroy us…for GOD is our protector and avenger.

 I’m sure, as we keep seeking Him, we will find more and more JOY in the truths of scripture.

       Look closely each time you read your Bible and be ready to find the JOY JUICE of JESUS throughout God's Word!

Put on Your JOY Glasses....

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s spilled all over the pages of God’s Word.

            No matter where we open our Bibles, it doesn’t take long to find JOY! It may be spelled out J-O-Y or it may be implied.  BUT IT IS THERE!  A few mornings ago, I  was reading the 37^th chapter of Psalms.  It didn’t take me long to realize that I could write weeks’ worth of “Joy Juice” devotionals from that one chapter alone.  The first four verses say:

            “Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

            The JOY JUICE in the passage is that we don’t have to fret or worry because of what others do.  We should put our focus on the LORD and do “good” in His sight.  We are to glorify GOD in all that we do! And when we “delight ourselves in HIM”….then our hearts will be filled with JOY because he will give us the desires of our heart. He wants to pour out His favor on us, His children, who love Him and obey His commandments.

             We don’t see the actual word J-O-Y in this passage, but we certainly do get splashed with JOY JUICE from the truth these verses hold.

            Put on your JOY glasses as your read The Word and you’ll see the joy of the Lord spilled all over the pages!

And the Survey Says: JOY!!!!!!!!!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  When you are filled with the JOY of the Lord, you might be surprised at the boldness that comes along with it!

            On a popular tv game show, the host shouts, “And the survey says…”  If the survey were about our faith, what would people say about us? Would they rate us as 

• spiritually strong
• wishy-washy or
• weak?  

             When faced with perplexing news or unexpected problems, do we stand strong because of our faith in a powerful God?  If we were to lose our job, not have money to pay our bills, or if we find out a friend has betrayed us, would we be angry with God for letting it happen? Or would we thank Him, regardless?

            No matter what happens in our lives, we can face it boldly, because God is there to uplift us, fill us with His strength and power, and wash us in His peace and mercy.  Hebrews 4:16 (KJV) says: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

            That verse holds instruction about our prayer life.  We are to approach God---the throne of Grace--with boldness, with confidence that He loves us and wants what is best for us.  He cares about what is important to us. We don’t need to ask hesitantly or flippantly.  We are to come before Him reverently because He is our King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  But we can pray boldly because He is our Father and Giver of genuine JOY.

            Drink in the JOY of Jesus with boldness.

YOU Can Be a "JOY Light"!

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  No need to hide when you’re drinking it!  Let your JOY for Jesus shine….everywhere you go.

            “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!”  Many of us sang that catchy little tune as children, but did we really understand what it meant?  What does it mean to let your light shine? The “Joyce” definition would be: “let the JOY of Jesus radiate from you, in you and through you”!  When we are in church or when we’re with a Christian group who “understand” our faith, we seem to more easily “shine” for Jesus.  But what about when we’re in a secular setting or with people we don’t know very well.  Are we bold enough to represent Jesus, no matter where we are?  

            A consistent Christian doesn’t turn his light off and on, according to where he is or who he is with.  A genuine, sold-out for the Lord believer, is the same every time you see him.  He shines with the joy of the Lord in the good and the difficult times.  She boldly and lovingly proclaims her faith on the job, at the ballgame, in the grocery store, at home and at church.  

            In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus said:   “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

            When our “light” is shining for Jesus, we bring glory to Him.  And that light reflects back into our hearts so that we can RADIATE His joy onto others.

             Let your JOY light shine!

An Extra Sweet Serving of JOY JUICE!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Don’t be afraid of offending someone  by sharing the JOY of the Lord! 

            Billy Graham wrote: "Our society strives to avoid any possibility of offending anyone - except God."  This quote was posted on my friend’s facebook page.  As I read it, I was struck with the powerful truth of this simple statement. She, also referred to the passage in Colossians 3:24: “It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

            With her permission, I’m going to share Hillary’s post with you. Watching her grow from a pretty little girl into a beautiful young wife and mother who loves the Lord has been a JOYful blessing in my life.  She recently was diagnosed with a form of cancer, but she has NOT lost her JOY in Jesus! She writes:

      ”When I meet people these days, I really want to tell them my story. Not because I seek pity or sympathy but to share how God has moved in my life. Thinking about doing this sharing though, comes with a slight anxiety that I might offend someone or step on toes. But this quote by Billy Graham combined with the verse in Colossians from my bible study today makes it clear to me that being offensive should not be my main concern.

 

     My main concern should be seeking God myself. My story is just that- MY story. The story of how God has healed me, held me, loved me, and taught me some very valuable lessons during a difficult time. When I tell my story or tell you how much I love God or encourage you to seek him, it is only out of love for my Savior and you. I want everyone to experience the peace and love and acceptance that no other can offer.”

            Thanks to Hillary Hamby Heitzman for making this serving of JOY JUICE extra special!  

Boldly Share the JOY of JESUS!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Are you drinking it boldly or timidly? 

            Some people are timid and shy by nature.  Others never seem to meet a stranger.  They have the gift of gab and can easily carry on a conversation.  UNTIL the subject of God or faith comes up.  Then it seems that many people are at a loss for words.  Even those who proclaim to be Christians, sometimes find themselves stammering and stuttering…or changing the subject.

            The book of 2 Timothy was a letter written by Paul to encourage Timothy.  Timothy was pastor of the church at Ephesus and was facing great opposition, because of his youth and his association with Paul!  His leadership had come under attack, not only from non-believers, but from fellow Christians, as well. Paul was writing to  encourage Timothy to be bold— to not be intimidated.

            When we are living for Christ and are striving to be a consistent example, we will at one time or another come under fire.  If we allow people to intimidate us, our effectiveness is neutralized.  We need to realize that “in our weakness, HE is strong”; let’s allow the power of the Holy Spirit to help us overcome our fear of what some might say or do.  Then we can move forward with boldness to continue what God has called us to do.

            As Paul said in verses 7-8 of 2 Timothy 1: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.  So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord…”

            Boldly drink in the JOY of the Lord and always be ready to share that joy with others!

Don't Be Ashamed of the JOY of JESUS!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Don’t be ashamed to drink it—anywhere, anytime!

             One of the many reasons that I love being around children is they are unashamed to express their love!  For many years I was blessed to be in the classroom with young students and often they would give me “love notes” written with misspelled words and child-like pictures.  Do you think that I focused on the “mistakes”?  Not for a moment!  Instead, I sensed the love that each of those precious gifts represented. It’s great therapy to be around those who are unashamed to tell you how special you are in their eyes.

            If Jesus were in the room with you right now, would you have a problem telling Him that you love Him? Many of us would easily and readily express our love to Him…one-on-one…face to face.  Then why do we sometimes have a challenge with expressing our love for Him in front of other people?  Are we afraid of what THEY may think?  Are we embarrassed to be talking about our faith?  Are we ashamed of our beliefs?

            Luke 9:26 is a warning that we should all heed: “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

            These, my friends, are the words of Jesus.  Do you want Him to be ashamed of YOU?

            Don’t be ashamed to tell others about Jesus and offer them an extra serving of JOY by sharing with them what a difference He can make in their life! 

Start Fresh...and Press On Toward JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Forget about yesterday!  It’s in the past!  Start fresh today and strive toward a future filled with JOY in the Lord.

            Philippians is one of my favorite books of the Bible.  And I’m sure you can guess why! It’s known as the book of JOY!  Although Paul was writing this letter from prison, JOY radiates throughout the entire book!  Now, if we found ourselves in a similar situation as Paul, would we writing a JOY-filled letter?  Or would be complaining and begging someone to help?

             You’ve heard me say repeated that we have choices in life.  One of those major choices is whether to live in the past….or move forward.  Some of us hold on to the past because it was GOOD….we were “happy” then.  Others hold on to the past because we made ungodly or poor choices that negatively affected our lives; and we can’t seem to forgive ourselves.  No matter what our situation, holding on to the past is NOT a good thing.

            Listen to what Paul had to say about letting go of the past: (Philippians 3:13-14)

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

             May I challenge you to follow the example of Paul and “forget what is behind, strain toward what is ahead and press on toward the goal” of abundant JOY in Christ!?

A "New Thing" Called JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  God has a new batch prepared especially for you!  Leave yesterday’s and taste today’s fresh serving of JOY.

            In Isaiah 43 we read about the Israelites as they were about to leave Egypt and the oppression that they had suffered for so long.  They had cried out to God and he heard & delivered them.  He told them in verses 18 -19, “Forget the former things; do not dwell in the past. See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

            It is easy to get caught up in the things of the past, isn’t it?  And though we never should forget God’s faithfulness through the years, we don’t need to dwell on the “former things” that can keep us from being all He intends for us to become.  Throughout God’s Word He urges His people to put the past behind and press forward.   God has our future in His hands. We don’t have to know exactly what that “looks like”  until He reveals it in His perfect timing. 

            Many of us try to analyze and write our own set of plans. But there is a big difference in being prepared and taking control.  God wants us to be prepared by drawing closer to Him with each passing day, growing spiritually by studying His word and obeying His commands. But never forget that HE is the one in control…and He knows best! Let’s follow His leading and find new JOY. 

             Forget the former things…and let God do a “new thing” in your life! The “new thing” will be filled with JOY…made especially for you!

Don't Waste a Tiny Drop of JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Don’t waste one tiny bit!

            Do you sometimes think you have wasted a part of your life because of poor decisions you’ve made or because things didn’t work out according to your plans?  Often we are so focused on what we should have done or what could have been, that we miss opportunities to shine for Him today.

            Instead of giving in to feelings of guilt and frustration, bundle it all up and give it to Jesus!  When He takes it….we’re released…and can start fresh and anew! Ask God to replace the “hold” your past has on you with a new love for Him.  When you accept Christ as your Savior and Lord, you are a new creation…just as 2 Corinthians 5:17 says: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

            Let’s read that again:  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

            If you are having trouble letting go of the past, allow the truth of this scripture to take hold of your heart.  Just as God changed Paul from a persecutor of Christians to a preacher for Christ, He can change you. God didn’t waste any part of Paul—his background, his training, his citizenship, his mind or even his weaknesses.  Are you willing to let God do the same for you?  You will never know all he can do with you until you allow him to have all of you!

            Don’t waste another minute!  Put the past behind you and look forward to a JOYful future with Christ!