Hang Out with Humble, Joy-filled People!

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  If you are drinking it faithfully, you’ll find yourself on the road to overcoming pride!

            We know that we all have a sin problem….and one of those sins is our pride!  We will not overcome this pride issue until we understand the sinfulness of pride.  Pastor Joe Thorn points out that many people tend to treat the sin of pride like a neighborhood dog. We know it can bite us, but for some reason we don’t think it will. The truth is, it will devour us. Until we understand the danger of this sin, and begin taking it seriously, we will never overcome it. (http://www.joethorn.net/2007/09/04/overcoming-our-pride/)

One suggestion to help us overcome the pride issue in our lives is to surround ourselves with humble, Christian men and women.  Instead of seeking the company of those who value material wealth, possessions, social status or power, we need to align ourselves with those who exhibit humility and godliness. Find people who look like Christ---who have the attitude of Jesus----which is humility.

As we read and study the Holy Bible, we find a variety of men and women who learned the hard way to be humble.  Some never learned…and pride was their downfall. But one of my favorite examples is Paul.  He came to understand his need for that “thorn in the flesh” that God sent to keep him humble. And he could proclaim, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”  1 Tim 1:15

While drinking our JOY JUICE today, let’s JOYfully thank God for the thorns which keep us humble!

Be An Example of JOY

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Don’t let pride get in the way….drink it regardless of who’s watching!

            Peer pressure is always a challenge.  From youngsters to seniors, the influence is always there.  The Bible never uses the term “peer pressure,” but it does tell us how we should face the many trials that will come our way…and these frequently include pressure from our peers. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

            Often when people succumb to peer pressure it’s because they allow pride to take hold and rule their thinking.  They don’t want to appear “different” or “uncool”.  They want to fit in with the crowd.  In other words, their thinking has “conformed” to “the pattern of this world.”  But when we completely “sell out” to God and are faithful in our prayer time and bible reading…we will be transformed by the renewing of our mind.   That’s when it we will experience a boldness to stand up for our convictions.”

            No matter what your age, at times you will feel the pressures of the world pulling at you.  Let’s get into the habit of never making a choice without first consulting God!  He always has the answer and will help us to stand up to peer pressure!

             Speaking of peer pressure and pride, offer the JOY of the Lord to your friends and watch the transformation begin!

A Prideful Attitude Does NOT Equal JOY

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Humbly, yet faithfully, drink in the joy of Jesus and be on guard against PRIDE!

            Throughout Scripture we are told about the consequences of pride. Proverbs 16:18-19 tells us that “pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” That's just one of the many passages in the Bible that warns us about pride.

            A prideful attitude does nothing to build up and edify.  Just the opposite is true. Pride keeps people from humbling themselves before God and realizing their need for salvation. Pride in children keeps parents from seeing their children's faults and disciplining and correcting them to make them better. Pride in self keeps us selfish and self-centered. Only God knows how many nations, marriages, families, churches, businesses, lives have been wrecked by pride.  

Jesus’s example shows us what to do to avoid the dangers of sinful pride. Philippians 2:5-7 says, 

 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
  Who, being in very nature God,
      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
  but made himself nothing,
      taking the very nature of a servant,
      being made in human likeness.
 
In other words,  we should put away selfish pride and drink the JOY JUICE of Jesus with an humble attitude!

Be Poor in Spirit...and JOYfully Put Away Pride

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Let’s not get prideful as we drink it!

            Though we want to “do everything as unto the Lord” and strive to do the best we can in every area of our lives, we don’t want to become prideful. There is a difference between the kind of pride that God hates (Proverbs 8:13) and the kind of pride we feel about a job well done. The kind of pride that stems from self-righteousness is sin, and God hates it because it is a hindrance to seeking Him.

               Psalm 10:4 explains that the proud are so consumed with themselves that their thoughts are far from God: “In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” This kind of haughty pride is the opposite of the spirit of humility that God seeks.  We should strive to be “poor in spirit”…That means to recognize our spiritual bankruptcy and our inability to come to God aside from His divine grace. ( http://www.gotquestions.org/pride-Bible.html)

            So often we stumble because of prideful thoughts.  If we do not identify pride as a stumbling block to our spiritual growth, we will fall face first into destruction.  Pride is something that EACH and every one of us has to deal with….no matter how young or old, rich or poor, no matter which church (or if) we attend.  Proverbs tells us that pride breeds quarrels (13:10), leads to disgrace (11:2), punishment (16:5), destruction (16:18) and ends in downfall (18:12). 

            May each of us be “poor in spirit” as we put away pride, so that we will inherit the kingdom of God!  What a JOYful day that will be!

There Is No "I" in JOY!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?   I’m so proud of you if you have!!

            It’s nice to hear the words “I’m proud of you!” isn’t it? Especially, when they come from someone we love and admire.  Children especially need to hear encouraging  words. They like to make their parents and teachers proud.  And in this sense of the word, pride is good!

 But often we get snared in the trap of sinful pride.  Look at the word PRIDE; in the very center is the letter “I”.  How appropriate! You see, the meaning of sinful pride is preoccupation with self….ME, MYSELF, and I!

In Proverbs 6:16-19 we read:   "These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren."

The number one thing on this list of sins God hates is the sin of pride. Let’s remember that pride is the sin that led Israel to reject all the prophets that God sent to warn them of their evil ways. Pride is the sin that caused the Pharisees to reject Jesus.  Pride is the sin of the church of Laodicea that led to their incredible blindness. Are we so different from those prideful people we read about in the Bible?

 Let's all be reminded of the importance of keeping the JOY JUICE of Jesus within easy reach!  We never know when we might need to wash down a prideful thought or word!

Get Rid of the Weeds that Choke Out JOY

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Is your life packed so full that you can’t see the JOY Jesus wants you to have?

            Our minds are often crowded with thoughts, concerns, worries. Sometimes we are consumed with good plans; other times we are apprehensive and fearful. 

            When we are always “on the go”, running and racing and moving in fast motion,  we are not going to hear God. We experience the barrier of “busyness” which separates us from the will of God.  Be reminded that “busyness” is not always the same thing as being productive!  Rick Warren warns: “If you keep going, going, going but you aren’t spiritually growing, growing, growing, you are busy, not productive!”

            Jesus teaches us in Luke 8 that distractions are like weeds that grow in our  minds and hearts…just like weeds grow in a garden.  These weeds will keep us from hearing the voice of God in our lives.  Here are three weeds to be cautious of:

1. Worries… The Greek word for worry means “pulled in different directions”. When we worry, we can’t hear God!
2. Riches…We can be so consumed with making a living and accumulating material things, that we can’t hear God.  What is your priority?
3. Pleasures…God gives us pleasures….and that’s great! But if we get so busy pursing PLEASURE rather than GOD, then we will not grow close to Him.  We will not recognize His voice.

      Be reminded that it takes no effort to grow weeds.  Weeds are a sign of neglect! Let’s focus on Jesus and be filled with JOY in relationship with Him.

Good Fruit....JOY!

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  What kind of fruit flavor do you enjoy the most? 

            We’ve been talking a lot this week about hearing God and how important it is to slow down long enough to seek His will in our lives.  When we do make spending time with Him a priority, then we will begin to bear fruit!  THAT, you see, is where the JOY JUICE comes from….from the fruit of JOY.

             Fruit is mentioned quite often in the Bible. In the New International Version (NIV), the word fruit appears more than 150 times. We see it first in Genesis 1:11, the first book and chapter of the Old Testament, and its final occurrence is in Revelation 22:2, the last book and chapter of the New Testament.  If we find it so often throughout the Bible, from start to finish…then it must be really important!

            When people observe your life, do they see good “fruit” or bad “fruit”? 

            Matthew 12:33: Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.

  

As faithful Christians we should be producing plenty of good fruit to share with others every day!

And of course, that includes sharing your JOY JUICE squeezed from the fruit of the Spirit!

            Ask the Lord to plant His fruit in the garden of your heart; let Him water it with the Living Water and watch the crop abound!

Slow Down and Hear the JOY!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Try not to be in such a hurry that you miss the special flavor of God’s JOY.

            We make time for most of our responsibilities.  We even find time for pleasures and activities that are optional.  We certainly make time for the urgent tasks at hand.  But do we always make time for God?

            If we can’t find time in our day to spend a few minutes with God, then we are NOT going to hear Him speak. We need to slow down and sift through the noise in order to recognize His voice.

            Have you ever flown in an airplane?  At that height and speed, we don’t see details of what is below. If we choose a train as our mode of transportation, then we see a little more of what’s around us.  When we ride in our car, more details come into focus.  BUT when we walk…we see LOTS of details along our path.  You see, the faster we go, the more we miss.  And this is true in our spiritual walk, too!

            So often our days are so hurried and jam-packed that God gets only our leftovers.  We may WANT to hear Him speak, but we tell Him to do it quickly because we’ve got SO MUCH to pack into our day!  What’s sad about this lifestyle is that we will be shallow in our faith.  God needs quality time in order to truly change our hearts and speak to us.

            Will you commit today to spending quiet time with Him every day…time to read the Bible, pray and listen to what He says to you? 

           Slow down and hear the JOY being poured into you!

Do You Hear the JOYful Message?

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Pay close attention to how it sounds as it’s being poured out into your life!

            God has given us five senses.  Sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing.  This week we are focusing on “HEARING GOD”.  We use our physical ears to hear the sounds around us every day.  But I’d like for us to think about listening to God with an open mind and a willing HEART! 

            If we want God to speak to us, we must first cultivate an open mind.  We have to be willing, eager and receptive in order to hear Him.  In Luke 8, Jesus uses the parable of the Four Soils to give us the keys to hearing God speak.  Keep in mind that in Jesus’ day there were no tractors or farm machinery to plant the crops.  The farmer would take his bag of seed, and toss the seeds by hand onto the ground.  As they landed on different kinds of soil, some would thrive and others would die.

            In this parable, the farmer represents God, the seed is His Word and the soil represents the different responses we can make.  Rick Warren teaches that there are  three mental enemies that can cause us to have the “hard soil” of a closed mind, thus being unable to hear God:

1. Pride…We think we don’t NEED God’s help because we can handle it ourselves.
2. Fear…We are afraid of what God might say or ask us to do.
3. Bitterness…When we hold on to a hurt and refuse to forgive, our heart grows hard and we become resistant to His love, Word and His voice!

    Let’s prepare our minds and hearts to receive God’s JOYful message!

           

Listen with a JOY-filled Heart! GOD IS SPEAKING!

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Listening to God’s voice will bring special JOY to your heart!

              Do you believe that God speaks today…to each of us individually? Do you hear Him speak to YOU?

            We know that God speaks to each of us through His Word…the Bible.  But do you hear Him in other ways? In John 10:27 God says: “My sheep recognize my voice and follow me.”  The Lord is our Shepherd and we are his sheep.  If we profess to be a Christian, a child of God, then we should be listening for his “voice”….on a daily basis!

            Jon Walker writes that there are three reasons why it’s absolutely vital for us to be able to hear directly from God:

1. It proves you’re in God’s family! Just as parents talk to each of their kids, God talks to all of His children! He doesn’t just single out preachers and missionaries or those who have been Christians for a long time! He talks to all believers.  Just as children recognize their mom or dad’s voice, we should be able to recognize our Heavenly Father’s voice.
2. It protects you from mistakes.  The Message Bible puts it like this in Proverbs 3:6….”Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, and everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”
3. It produces success in life.  Keep in mind that God’s meaning of success is not the same as the world’s.  God’s definition: being exactly who God made you to be so that you may experience abundant JOY in relationship with Him.

Listen for God’s voice, follow His plan and be filled with JOY!

           

Be Self-Controlled and JOYfully Alert

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Remember, it’s made from the genuine fruit of the Spirit.

            When we talk about the fruit of the Spirit, we easily think of love and joy and peace…..but there is one fruit that seems to have an extra hard time growing in our lives.   It’s the fruit of “self-control”.  We’ve talked this week about anger and how we should let go of it!  We discussed being forgiving of others…as Christ has forgiven us!  

            1 Peter 5:8 warns us: “Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”   Many times I think we allow our lives to become so busy, so stressful, so out of balance that we are in a constant state of hurry, frustration and exhaustion.  Our “fuse” is much shorter when we are tired and stretched beyond our limits.  That is when that old enemy is ready and waiting to pounce!  He sees us when we’re getting close to the edge and he finds delight in stealing our joy & ruining relationships!  He laughs when we loose our temper and spout angry words at others.  When we fail to exhibit the fruit of self-control, we are an easy target!

             So how do we allow self-control to grow in our lives? By relinquishing every area to the Lord and asking for His guidance.  Our hearts’ desire should be to bring JOY to our Father by allowing the fruit of the Holy Spirit to grow abundantly in our lives..  (For a complete list go to Galatians 5:22-23.)

           

           “Be self-controlled and alert!” Put away anger; be forgiving and REJOICE ALWAYS!

Forgiveness = Letting Go and Letting God Give You JOY

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It has healing power….just like forgiveness is heals an angry spirit!

            When we’ve been hurt by someone and are angry with them, it’s not always easy to move ahead.  We often hold on to the hurt, replay it in our minds, cherish our right to be angry with them for what they have done! Forgiveness….let’s talk about that today!  According to Charles Stanley:

·        Forgiveness is NOT saying that nothing bad happened! It is not denial.

·        Forgiveness is NOT saying that the injured party felt no pain.

·        Forgiveness is NOT saying that there should be no negative consequences for the offending party. 

Forgiveness is very simply “letting go”.  It is refusing to hold the person in the prison of your own heart.  Forgiveness is releasing everything related to what the offender did and leaving his or her punishment up to God.

            Are you willing to forgive others…regardless of how deeply you have been hurt? When you refuse to forgive, you are the one who is hurt most.  To be emotionally free, we MUST forgive.

            Ephesians 4:32 says: “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”  Consider how God forgives us….how Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins.  If He can do that, can we not forgive one another?! 

           May we allow God to work through us and help us to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us.

The Root of God's JOY Makes Sweet JOY JUICE

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today? It comes from the root of God’s JOY—

 sweet peace and complete faith in Him.

            Hebrews 12:15 speaks of a “root” that we want to avoid!  Look at the New Living Translation: “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”

            So often that “root of bitterness” grows in our hearts before we even realize that it has sprouted! We allow anger to be unresolved and we respond to others inappropriately! That’s when damage is done to relationships and if we don’t ask God for His help, we’ve got a dilemma on our hands!

            Anger produces negative energy.  We need to redirect that energy into good behavior and wise choices. Especially when we profess to be a Christian, people are watching to see how we react in stressful situations.  That reminds me of a story told by my friend, Mary Southerland, in one of her online devotionals.

            A minister was making a wooden trellis to support a climbing vine.  As he was pounding away, he noticed a little boy watching him.  The youngster didn’t say a word so the preacher kept on working, thinking the boy would leave—but he didn’t.  Pleased at the thought that his work was being admired, the pastor finally asked, “Trying to pick up some pointers on gardening?”  The little boy said, “Nope.  I’m just waiting to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer.”

            May we always be aware that people are watching!  God, please help us to react with JOY no matter how tough our circumstances!

Let Go of Anger; Drink in the JOY

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Let go of any angry thought and drink in the peace and JOY of Jesus!

             Letting go of anger is not always a simple process.  At times it can be very complicated. Be persistent in your prayers, asking God for wisdom in knowing how to deal with your feelings.  “The JOY of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)…..even when dealing with anger!

            One of the first steps that we must take is to admit our anger to God.  He knows…but He wants us to confess that before Him and seek His guidance in dealing with it!  When we put our thoughts and feelings into prayer and open our heart to God, He can help us come to grips with the challenge.  Instead of trying to justify our anger, we need to purpose in our heart to give up all rights to it! NO EXCUSES! Let’s tell God exactly how we feel. He is the One Who can truly take those negative emotions and transform them into something positive.

            James 1:19 encourages us to be “quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.” How often do we do just the opposite of that?!  We are slow to listen to the “other side of the story”; quick to tell others how WE feel and many times lash out with a quick temper!  And where does that lead?  To an “unJOYful” place called “Bitter City”!

           Bring your problems to God and allow Him to heal those places of your heart that have been damaged by pent up anger and bitterness.  He can restore relationships and bring JOY and healing in ways you can never imagine!

To Be or Not to Be: Angry or Joyful???

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It will help you greatly if you are having a problem with anger!

  

            May I ask you a personal question?  Are you quick-tempered?  Do you lash out at others before you even realize it?  Then chances are you may have anger that you’ve not properly acknowledged and dealt with!

            God gives us emotions….and anger is one of those emotions.  It’s not necessarily wrong to be angry. But it’s how we handle our anger that many times presents the problem. Ephesians 4:26 says: "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”   When we refuse to let go of our anger, it will  fester and the root of bitterness will grow in our heart. That’s when Satan gets a “foothold” in our lives.

            If our anger is vented thoughtlessly, it can do a lot of damage.  We hurt others with our careless words and can destroy relationships.  If we bottle it up…it can destroy US! So what is the answer?  Simply put: we must release the anger.  And God is willing to help us to just that! Charles Stanley suggests that there are 6 prerequisites for releasing our anger:

1. Shed the excuses.
2. Be willing to change your attitude.
3. Choose not to worry.
4. Refuse to cherish your anger.
5. Refuse to self-medicate your anger.
6. Be patient.

If we will prayerfully follow these steps, we CAN experience JOY rather than anger!

       ANGER causes hurt; but JOY in JESUS brings healing.

BOUNCE with JOY

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Bounce on over to your Bible if you find yourself running short!

            This week we’ve talked about doing our spiritual laundry!  Though we don’t like to wear dirty clothes or have stains on our outer-wear, sometimes we forget to check our “inside” for sin dirt!  Just as we have to frequently wash our clothes, we need to often do an inspection of our heart.  When the grime of daily living is left unattended, the stains become deeper and darker.  BUT there is a simple remedy:  It’s called repentance!

            Each and every one of us is a sinner.  That’s why Jesus came, lived and died for us.  Nothing that we can do could pay our sin debt.  BUT praise God, Jesus has paid it all!  When you ask Him to remove the stain of sin from your life, you will be like a new creation---as 2 Corinthians 5:17 explains: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”  Doesn’t the make you want to bounce with JOY?!

            Let’s think about our laundry once more….When the dirty clothes go through the soapy wash cycle, are rinsed and spun, then it’s time to remove them and put them into the dryer.  I use a Bounce fabric softener sheet,  so that when the drying process is complete, our clothes will be soft and sweet smelling.  That’s what the JOY of Jesus does in our lives.  When we’ve asked Jesus into our hearts and He washes away our sin, we’ll find our words and deeds much softer, kinder, with a sweet aroma and filled with the JOY of the Lord. 

            Accept the cleansing power of Jesus and experience the abundance of JOY that will “bounce” into you and from you!

             

A Cheerful Heart...A Joy-filled Life

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It will help to CHEER you, that’s a guarantee!

            Have you noticed how many different laundry detergents are on the market these days? As you walk down the grocery store aisle, observe some of the labels on the boxes and bottles.  You might find, as I did, that many of them can be equated with what happens when we let Jesus do our spiritual laundry.

            Of course, you can probably guess that my favorite brand of dish detergent is JOY!  But on the laundry product aisle, the one that catches my eye is C H E E R!!!!  Cheer!  When we experience the JOY of salvation through Christ, then we will have a CHEERful spirit!

       Proverbs 17:22 (ASV) says it perfectly: “A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.”  I’d choose a cheerful heart over a broken spirit any day, wouldn’t you?  Did you know that we can have a cheerful, joy-filled heart…even in times of sadness? That’s not a contradiction!  Let me explain…

        The difference between a Christian with a broken heart and others who don’t know Christ, is that Christians can lean on the Lord to carry them through the time of heartache.  The JOY of the Lord is their strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)  In other words, when you allow God to comfort you, carry you and sustain you, He will give you a generous serving of His love and joy.

           What will you choose to clean your heart today?  I hope it’s the cleanser made with the JOY JUICE of Jesus!  If so, you’ll experience a cheerful, joy-filled heart regardless of your circumstances! 

           

"Go To God" for Immeasurable JOY

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  If you spill a little on your clothes, don’t worry…it doesn’t stain!

            Many of us have children or grandchildren who seem to often spill their food or drink all down the front of their clothes…ESPECIALLY when they have on their nicest outfits.  And come to think of if, we adults are just as prone to stains, too. I have one friend who is always prepared with her trusty “Tide-To-Go” stain stick!  It promises to get the stain out. 

            Why is it that we don’t like to have stains on our clothes…on the outside of us….but we don’t give a lot of thought to the stains on the inside.  Those stains upon our heart (called sin) have a much greater impact on our lives than a soiled shirt or dress or any article of clothing.  Maybe because we can’t actually see the sin stain with our eyes, we pretend it’s not there. 

            We may be able to hide our sins from other people, but GOD knows they are there…and He’s the One Who really matters!  When it comes to removing the stains from our clothing, we often look for the easiest, quickest way…..like the Tide To Go stain stick!  But when it comes to confessing our sins, many people don’t realize that we’ve got something so much better!!  I like to call it the “Go To God” stain remover…..And it’s made with the concentrated JOY JUICE of Jesus! 

            Isaiah 1:18 tells us about the cleansing power of our God:

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

            Let's use our “Go To God” stain remover and experience the JOY that comes from having your sin stains removed as far as the east is from the west! (Psalm 103:12)

Give ALL Your Life to Christ and Find JOY!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Just when you think your JOY is ALL used up, Jesus will replenish! So don’t fret!

            The word ALL is used in ALL kinds of ways!  We ALL probably overuse the word at times….We say things like: “I didn’t sleep ALL night, when we really mean that we didn’t sleep well.  Have you ever heard your child use the famous line…."ALL my friends going!"  Which means some of their friends will be able to go.  We ALL exaggerate by using that word “ALL” all the time!

            There’s even a laundry detergent named ALL.  The words on the outer label urge you to buy the product! It says: ALL---small and mighty.  3X concentrated….a pure clean for your clothes and skin!  I mean, how could you resist such an effective product?  3X more powerful…we may never have a problem with stains again!

            We might exaggerate the word and sometimes overestimate the effectiveness of a product, but when it comes down to spiritual truth, the word ALL takes on a whole new meaning.  Jesus promises to forgive us of ALL our sins! That’s no exaggeration!

1 John 1:9 says  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” He also promises to take care of ALL our needs. Philippians 4:19   “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

            Give ALL your life to Christ….that’s when you will find abundant JOY in ALL things!

GAIN Spiritual Cleansing with the JOY JUICE of JESUS

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Sip on it consistently as you are busy about your daily chores.

            All of us have chores ....different tasks that have to be done! All of us would agree that dirty laundry seems to pile up quickly and clothes washing time comes all too frequently! Regardless of who ends up with that duty in your house, the fact is…it’s not always a fun task!

            As I opened my cabinet over the washing machine one morning, I began to look at some of the products I had purchased.  The shelf was lined with an assortment of things that promised to help remove the soil from our clothes.  As I read the names on the bottles and boxes, I began to smile!  It occurred to me that “JOY JUICE" is our product of choice when we have spiritual laundry to do!

            As I turned on my washing machine, I selected my “GAIN” washing detergent from the shelf and added it to the tank.  Pretty soon, my clothes came out clean and smelling so much fresher that when they had gone in!

            In much the same way, we need to get the dirt and stinky grime out of our lives.  We should allow God to consistently give us a spiritual cleansing.  He uses “Gain”, too.  He promises when we give our life to Him that we will GAIN His forgiveness for all our sins.  We will GAIN eternal life.  In James 2:5 we read:    "Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?"   Did you hear that JOYful promise? We will GAIN an inheritance by becoming His child and heir.

            OKAY! It's time to do our spiritual laundry!   Pull out the JOY JUICE of Jesus and “gain” His cleansing!