If You're JOYful and You Know It....Shout HURRAY!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’ll make you feel like singing!

            One of the favorite songs of little ones is a tune called, “If you’re happy and you know it.”  This song reminds us that what’s in our hearts, will show on our faces.  Our body language speaks loudly about how we’re feeling.

Sing with me:

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands;

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands;

If you're happy and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it,
Clap your hands.

The song then goes on to say: "If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet... and shout hurray"!

             Can you imagine a child singing this song without a smile on his face? But what about us adults?  Do you have a song in your heart… or does your body language tell people that you are burdened by problems and concerns? 

Proverbs 17:22  “A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

            None of us can be happy all the time; BUT as you hear me often say ….we can STILL have the JOY of the Lord in the midst of trying times.  By trusting in Him to take care of us and resting in His protective care, we can experience that indescribable peace and Joy.  Maybe we should sing:

If you’re JOYful and you know it, clap your hands, stomp your feet and shout a cheerful HURRAY!!

            Never forget that we CAN have a song of JOY in our heart by drinking the JOY JUICE of Jesus!

We Are Precious In His Sight! What JOY!

          Have you had your Joy Juice today?  I’ve found that it’s a great drink for both children AND adults!

            Many of us learned lots of praise choruses and songs about Jesus when we were growing up in Sunday School.  Did you ever sing this song?

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow, black and white
They're all precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

As I was looking at the lyrics to this old song, I found that there were verses I’d not learned as a child.  And it shed a whole new light on the meaning of song. Listen to some excerpts from the remaining verses:

Whether you're rich or whether you're poor
It matters not to Him
He remembers where you're going
Not where you've been

If your heart is troubled
Don't worry, don't you fret
He knows that you have heard His call
And he won't forget

All around the world tonight
His children rest assured
That He will watch and He will keep us
Safe and secure

           Jesus loves all the children of the world! Do you realize that those “children” are you and me….no matter what our ages?  If we’ve accepted Him as our Savior and Lord, then we are His children.  It doesn’t matter what color we are, how much money we have, nor what we’ve done in the past!  If we have repented and responded to His call, then regardless of where we are, we can rest in the security of His loving arms.  Now that’s a JOYful place to be!!!!!

            May we each have a song in our heart because of our relationship with Jesus! After all, we are God's children! Right? Right!

The Fountain of JOY Flows Deep and Wide

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today? Let it soak deep into your heart and remind you how wide is the love of our Lord!

            Do you remember singing the beloved children’s song "Deep and Wide"….complete with hand motions?  It was a favorite of mine as a child.

Deep and wide, deep and wide,
There's a fountain flowing deep and wide.

And then we’d flip the words around and sing,
Wide and deep, wide and deep,
There's a fountain flowing wide and deep.

What is this fountain that we’re singing about?  In John 7: 37-38 we read:

 Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

In these two verses, Jesus proclaims Himself to be the place where the living water is found. In other words, He is the fountain!  (Throughout the New Testament, water for drinking is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit of God that comes to us sinners and shows us our need of salvation.  It is the Holy Spirit that applies the Word of God in conviction. It is the Spirit of God that fills the believer and uses him for the glory of God. Salvation involves every member of the Trinity, but the Spirit of God is the One who abides in us and helps us day by day. He is the "water of life.") Quoted from http://www.sermonnotebook.org/new%20testament/John%207_37-39.htm

            Have you allowed the Fountain to run deep and wide in your life?  If not, ask God to give you an unquenchable thirst for Him.  He is ready to offer you a delicious serving of Joy Juice today made from the clean, pure Living Water from the Fountain of JOY.

Jesus Loves Me....Oh, What JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Jesus loves for you to drink it faithfully!

            “Jesus loves me this I know; for the Bible tells me so.  Little ones to him belong; they are weak but he is strong.  Yes, Jesus, loves me!  Yes, Jesus loves me!  Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so!”

            In recent years, almost every child in this country could sing the words to this song.  It was one of the favorites to sing in and out of Sunday School, church, as well as other gatherings, formal and informal.  The sad truth these days is that many of our children have never heard this precious song; and many adults, who once sung it as children, have forgotten the truth of its words.

            Jesus loves you and me! And the only proof we need is...like the song says… the Bible tells us so!  If it’s in the Bible, it is truth!!!! Every word is God-breathed.  He inspired each Old Testament and New Testament writer to pen HIS thoughts.  (It’s not some make-believe story; nor is it a collection of folk tales or fables.)  From Genesis to Revelation every word is from God….and hundreds of times He tells us that we are loved!

 One version of the song says: “Jesus loves me still today, walking with me on my way, wanting as a friend to give light and love to all who live.”

            No matter which verses you choose to sing, there will always be truth and JOY in the fact that... Yes, Jesus loves us!

            Let's sing a JOYful song because it is true: Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!
 

SHINE.....With the JOY of JESUS!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’ll make you shine with JOY!

            Don’t you love to hear the voices of little children singing?  They don’t care if they are on key or even if the tune is right.  And have you noticed that when they forget the words, so often they can just make up their own?! :)

            This week I’d like for us to revisit some of the songs that we used to sing as children.  Maybe you’ve taught them to your children or grandchildren.  Let’s examine the words of some familiar choruses and see if we can squeeze new joy from the lyrics.

            Do you remember….

            “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.            

             Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”

 It continues with verses that say:

·        Hide it under a bushel, NO! I’m gonna let it shine!

·        Won’t let Satan blow it out!  I’m gonna let it shine!

·        Let it shine til Jesus comes, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

It’s a catchy little tune….easy to remember.  But what does it really mean to let your light shine?

Matthew 5:16 tell us: "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

When we put God first in our lives, we will have a joy in our heart that illuminates our life!  We’ll RADIATE with His love. We’ll be bright ambassadors for Him.  Our purpose will be to glorify Him in all that we do and say! So…let your light shine with JOY.

            Invite Jesus into your heart and let HIS JOYful light shine through you!

Help God Share His JOY!

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  God made some especially for you… just because you have a special place in His heart!

            Many of you are probably like me and have wonderful memories of grandparents.  My grandmother would let me get in the kitchen with her and make my own “baby biscuits” as she made the real thing.  She’d play with me and let me “help” her with jobs that I’m sure she could have done much more quickly without me. At that time I didn’t understand the depth of her love…even though I loved her with all my heart!  NOW, in this season of life, I TRULY understand and appreciate her patient, unconditional love.

            The reason I can understand it now, is that I am a grandmother myself.  I love for my little bundles of JOY! And I let them help me with little chores around the house.  No, they don’t do things perfectly…!  Sometimes their “help” causes this “Gigi”, as they call me, to have more work cleaning up the mess we’ve made.  But the “mess” doesn’t matter, because I would much rather see their smiles of delight and the pleasure they receive from “helping Gigi”.  Their joy brings ME joy because they have a special place in my heart!

            Don’t you think that’s how it is with God?  He doesn’t really need our help, but He enjoys seeing our JOY as we “help” Him with His work.  We have a special place in God’s heart and He invites us to be a part of His work…because of His love for us. He receives JOY from seeing our JOY as we serve Him. 

          Today I invite you to accept God’s love and enJOY helping Him spread His love & JOY... however and wherever He leads.

You are Fearfully and "JOYfully" Made

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  God made a special kind of JOY….especially with you in mind!

            We’ve been talking this week about God’s love for each of us.  As Psalm 139 tells us, He ”knit us together in our mother’s wombs”…and we are “fearfully and wonderfully made”.  But have you ever wondered if God makes some people MORE SPECIAL than others?  Does He need some people to accomplish His will and purpose?

            Think about it like this….if God could only use certain people, that would mean that He is weak.  GOD is ALL-POWERFUL!  He can accomplish His will without any of us!  But it brings Him pleasure to allow His children to be used to accomplish His will and purpose. In order to be used, we must make ourselves available! 

 1 Corinthians 1:26 says, "Look at what you were before God called you. Not many of you were wise by human standards. Not many of you had great influence. Not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and he chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong…. God did this, so that no one could boast in his presence."

            You see, God wants us to know that we are loved!  But He doesn’t want us to become spiritually arrogant.  He can use anyone, if we will be available to Him.  Because of our love for Him, we should want to be used by Him to spread His JOY at every opportunity!  

            YOU! Me! WE are ALL special to Him, so let’s boast only of the Lord as we share our JOY JUICE today!

Authentic Love = Genuine JOY

          Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Nothing can take the place of authentic joy that comes from knowing you are loved!

            Do you KNOW that you can count on the promises of God?  The Bible is God’s inerrant word, and many times throughout the pages of this sacred book, we are told that God is love and that He loved us so much that He sent His Son.

            Some days we tend to believe that more than other days.  When things are going well and we don’t have any major problems, we might believe that God really loves us.  But what about when the rug is jerked out from under us and we are so hurt by circumstances that God has allowed into our lives?  Do we FEEL loved then?

            Grantley Morris writes:

            “Scripture makes no promise that you will  always feel loved, nor that circumstances will always make it obvious that you are loved. God simply promises that you are loved. No suffering or tragedy will ever separate you from God’s love (Romans 8:35-39). A snap-shot in time proves nothing. Only eternity’s movies can adequately portray the infinitude of God’s love for you.” 

            Listen to the reassuring words of Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

            One thing is certain: YOU ARE LOVED…even though some days you may forget to drink your JOY JUICE! :)

The JOYful Truth: YOU are God's Favorite!

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drinking it daily reminds you how dearly loved you are by God!

            Many people don’t truly grasp their importance in God’s eyes.  They just see themselves as one of billions who are in the world and they think that God could not possibly think they’re special.  He is much too busy to be bothered by their concerns.

            How far from the truth is this way of thinking!  You see, God is GOD!  He can listen to each of us simultaneously as we bring our needs before Him.  As Babbie Mason says: “We are each His favorite!” YOU ARE SO VERY SPECIAL  TO GOD!

            Listen to Jesus’ prayer to our Father in John 17:23: Jesus prayed,

“I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Did you hear Jesus say that God loves YOU?   That’s why He sent Jesus…to live and die for you! One woman expressed her understanding of that truth like this:

”I can’t get round it; I can’t burrow under it or climb over it. So the only thing I can do is go through it, absorbing it as I go. Christ is in me – and God loves me as much as he loves Christ. And no way can God’s love for Christ be half-hearted. I went to sleep snuggling into that verse last night.”

            Let's snuggle up with the truth that God loves each of us! Embrace that truth and drink in His love and JOY!

God JOYfully Made You "Thumbbody Special"

          Have you had your Joy Juice today?  It’ll remind you how very special YOU are to the Lord!

            When I was working in the primary and elementary school setting, I would often teach a lesson about how unique and special each of us is made.  I’d have the children look at their fingerprints and remind them that NO ONE has the same set of fingerprints.  Each one is different and unique.

            Sometimes we’d do an art project in which they would put their thumbs in paint or ink and make a picture using their thumbprints.  I’d summarize the lesson by telling them they were “Thumbbody” special.  (Mamie McCullough)

          The children and I decided that we’d have a “secret” signal to speak to one another in the hallways or whenever we were supposed to be quiet.  We’d give each other a “thumbs up” and that not only meant “Hello”…it was also a reminder to one another that we are “thumbbody special”.  It blesses my heart that I often meet some of my former students who are adults now and they lift that thumb and smile.  Some even verbalize “You are thumbbody specia!!”

            Do you know how special YOU are?  Especially to God!  In Matthew 10:30 Jesus tells us the "even the very hairs of your head are all numbered."  You are so valuable to Him that He cares enough to know every detail about you. And He demonstrated that love by sending His ONLY Son to die for you. That should fill each of our hearts with great joy!

           

            YOU are, indeed, “thumbbody special”, so drink that JOY JUICE with an heartfelt smile today!

Trust Your Shepherd....and Find Rest and JOY!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Do you feel weak and tired?  Let God help you!

            We’ve talked a lot this week about being busy and tired. Rest is very important but we often neglect that part of our physical health.  The 23^rd Psalm tells us that we should rest by letting the Lord….our Shepherd…lead us by those “still waters” and by lying down in the green pastures He provides. 

            How does a shepherd lead his sheep? First of all the sheep must recognize the shepherd’s voice; then they must trust him!  Phillip Keller gives us insight: "The strange thing about sheep, he writes, is that because of their very make-up it is almost impossible to make them lie down unless four requirements are met. [1] Because of their timid nature they refuse to lie down unless they are free from all fear. [2] Because of the social behavior within a flock, sheep will not lie down unless they are free from friction with others [3] If tormented by flies or parasites, sheep will not lie down. Only when free of these pests can they relax. [4] Lastly, sheep will not lie down as long as they feel hungry."

            How does this apply to us spiritually?  We must recognize His voice and trust our Shepherd completely, so that we are free from fear. We must allow him to take care of all our pesky problems and our physical needs. When troubles come, it is so easy to get our eyes off God and obsess over our problems. But as our Shepherd, God faithfully guards and guides His sheep, and provides for us.  Notice that this psalm begins with "the Lord," and ends with "the Lord forever." Let us keep our eyes on Him from start to finish!

           Listen to the Shepherd as he leads you down the path of JOY!

JOYfully Stroll Beside the Still Waters with HIM!

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

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

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

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

Doesn’t that scripture give you a vision of peace and rest….to lie down in green pastures and to stroll beside the quiet, still waters?  That’s where God wants to meet us each day.  Let’s take a least a few minutes every day to commune with the Lord; then maybe our days won’t feel so much like a treadmill….Running fast, but going nowhere!

            Take the time to “lie down in those green pastures” and experience God’s rest and JOY as you stroll beside the still waters with Him.

Focus on the Sweet Taste of JOY

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

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

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

 

We should also be aware that “rest” is important from the spiritual standpoint!  Psalm 16: 9 sums it up beautifully:

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

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

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

"Come JOYfully Unto Me"

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

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

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

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

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

           

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

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

A JOY Booster

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

            Many of us try to pack so many things into our days that by the time the sun goes down, we are physically exhausted!  There are those who truly do have health issues that sap their energy and make them weak, but many of us just don’t make wise choices.  We overbook and over-extend ourselves---misjudging what we can realistically get done in one day’s time. It’s as if we expect ourselves to be superman or superwoman! 

When we are weary and tired, every area of our life is affected!  Our patience runs thin with our family and we find ourselves "snapping" instead of responding to them in love.  Our thought process slows down and we can’t seem to make good decisions.  Sometimes physical exhaustion leads to a breakdown in our health and we catch illnesses because of a weakened immune system.

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

            So as you look at your schedule of things to do today, make sure that Bible study and prayer are on the top of you list.  That’s the way to assure that you will be sipping the JOY JUICE of Jesus throughout your busy day.

            Let's slow down long enough to experience God’s JOY and the strength that He gives us when we depend on Him.

Starve the Negative! Feed the JOYful!

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?   If so, get ready for some JOYful thoughts!   

                  Paul says in 2 Cor. 10:5 that we should “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”  He didn’t say, ”Don’t think,” nor did he say, “Take captive some of your thoughts.”  He said to take captive EVERY thought.

         In other words, when a thought pops into our mind, we must analyze it in a split second.   Is it destructive or selfish? Does it encourage and build up, or does it degrade and tear down?   

            Think about it this way:    If we were to put an animal in a cage, it would be in captivity. It would be there until we set it free.  If we were to leave the animal in the cage without ever feeding it, it would starve to death.  It is the same with our thoughts.  If we feed a thought, it will keep growing…sometimes out of control.   That thought can become destructive, not only to you, but also to your family, friends, acquaintances; your job may suffer. 

          God’s Word tells us to “take those thoughts captive” and to “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Col 3:2)  Let’s fix our thoughts on Jesus…He is willing to cleanse our hearts and fill us with thoughts of JOY!

Drink your JOY JUICE faithfully so that you’ll be ready and able to take every thought captive that is not filled with JOY.  Fix your eyes on the JOY of JESUS!

Whatsoever is......JOYful

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  As you sip your juice this morning, make sure your thoughts are JOYful ones!

            You know, we do have a choice about what kind of thoughts we “entertain”.  Even in the midst of trials and troubles, we can still make a conscious choice to think good thoughts.

            Look at Philippians 4: 8:  “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable----if anything is excellent or praiseworthy---think about such things.”

            This verse would be an excellent “life verse” to hide in our hearts so that we can  use it as our weapon when negative circumstances arise and we’re tempted to think bad thoughts.

            We are to think on things that are true, noble and right….NOT false, despicable and wrong. We are to focus on things that are pure, lovely, and admirable….rather than  vulgar, ugly, and disrespectful. The verse tells us to keep excellent and praiseworthy thoughts in our minds, so that our daily lives will reflect His goodness and grace.

            Frequently we are overwhelmed with situations that seem totally out of control.  Instead of dwelling on the negatives and becoming discouraged, let’s call to memory the verse in Philippians and allow God to fill our minds with His thoughts that lead to JOY!!!!

I'm praying Philippians 4:8 for each of us!  May our thoughts be pure as we faithfully drink and share the JOY of Jesus continually.  

Transparent JOY

           Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  As you drink in the joy, are your thoughts transparent?

            What if people could tell what you were thinking every minute?   Would you be pleased with what they would learn about you? 

            Though we know that God is all knowing and that He is intimately familiar with our thoughts, we don’t always live like we believe that. Outwardly, we can pretend to be one kind of person, but on the inside, we may be something completely different.  We may be able to mislead people….but there’s no fooling God!

 In 1 Chronicles 28:9/b (NIV) we read:  “…the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.”  What does He find when He searches your heart? Genuine love, authenticity, transparency?  Or does He see a counterfeit?  A phony?  We can fool others, but God sees the REAL US when He looks at our heart.

Joyce Meyer challenges us: “If you have not been working with the Holy Spirit to break old thought patterns and form new ones, it is time to get started.  Think some good thoughts about people, and as your attitude starts to change toward them, watch your relationships start to change for the better.”

Not only will your thoughts be more JOYful, but you will bring JOY to others by allowing them to see into your transparent heart....when it reflects JESUS!

EnJOY  the  JOY JUICE of Jesus by allowing God to search your heart and find genuine JOY!

Constantly and JOYfully Renew Your Mind

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It tastes a lot better if you are drinking it with a good attitude!!

            We all have days when our attitudes are not very cheerful.  Is it because of our thought patterns?  Think about it!  When you notice your attitude going south….toward the negative….stop and examine the situation. The problem might have begun with your thought-life.  In order to avoid thinking negatively, we must keep our thoughts renewed.  Ephesians 4:23 says: “And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind.”  

            How can we be sure that we are “constantly renewing” our thoughts and our attitudes?  Think for a moment about the person that really gets on your last nerve!  Do you find yourself thinking about all the reasons he irritates you?  Do you replay in your mind over and over again the things she has said or done to hurt you?

             1 Corinthians 2:16 reminds us that we have been given the mind of Christ. But He will not FORCE us to use it! We have to be intentional about thinking with the mind of Christ. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are a new creature; old things pass away and all things become new….even our thoughts.

            My prayer for each of us today is that God will renew our thought patterns. Let’s allow him take those negative thoughts and transform them into JOYful ones.

Drink your JOY JUICE faithfully so that your thinking will be renewed with JOYful thoughts!

Think JOYful Thoughts

     Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Are you thinking good thoughts? It will certainly help you to have a more joyful day!

            Many times we think that since our thoughts are private, they don’t affect those around us.  But this is SO not true.  Our thoughts not only touch others’ lives, they also have a dramatic effect on our own.

            Proverbs 23:7 says: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

          What kind of thoughts do you most often have?  Are they kind or critical?  Are they peaceful or are they anxious?  You see, whatever we think most often, we become.  If we think loving thoughts, we become more loving.  If we think negative  thoughts….we find ourselves with a critical spirit!

            Next time we are tempted to focus on angry, bitter, resentful thoughts, let’s ask God to cleanse our mind and make our thoughts pure and good.  We don’t want to become an angry, bitter person.  The enemy delights in filling our minds with negatives.  With God’s help, we can grasp hold of His strength, get those thoughts under control and replace them with good, kind, loving thoughts.

            So, as you go about your busy day, make sure to continually ask the Lord to help you to have a positive, peaceful, loving thought-life.  This is a major step toward bringing JOY to others, as well as having a JOYful personal outlook on life. 

            Drink your JOY JUICE faithfully so that you will be thinking JOYful thoughts and sharing words of encouragement with those God brings into your path today!

Joyfully Recognizing the Father's Voice

          Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Drinking it prayerfully will produce increased faith and joy!

            This week we’ve talked a lot about learning to recognize God’s voice.  How can we be sure that it’s Him talking to us?  Sometimes we’re uncertain….maybe it’s just our own thoughts….or even the enemy.

            To be sure it is God speaking, we must be very familiar with The Word. If something doesn’t match up with scripture, we know it’s not of Him.  That’s why it’s so important to read the Bible daily, to be saturated with truth so that we recognize something that is UNTRUE.   Satan is our enemy and he is cunning and deceptive. In John 8:44 he is called the “father of lies”.

            So how can we be sure who it is that’s talking to us?  One of the surest ways to recognize God’s voice is the effect his words have on us.  The results should produce increased faith, gratitude and joy!  God’s voice will bring you encouragement and peace.  He tells us to “be anxious for nothing” in Philippians 4:6.  He’s the God who calms our mind and soul.  A sure sign that we’ve heard from him is the peace we feel in the midst of the storm. 

            We, also, will know God is speaking because of our new attitude.  He will place in our hearts a new understanding toward others and we’ll begin to feel greater compassion and mercy.  We’ll find ourselves not only being a blessing to those around us, but receiving JOYful blessings as well!

           Let us listen for God’s voice and experience His encouragement, peace, understanding and JOY!