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Monday, July 28, 2014

JOY: A Determined Choice



            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  I’m not asking you if you feel “happy”…but do you have genuine joy?

            It saddens me that many people think joy is beyond their reach.  Maybe it’s because of their bleak circumstances; they feel hopeless and have given up on having joy. Many assume that joy is the same thing as happiness.  It’s NOT!  A few weeks ago our whole family went on a vacation together and I was very happy to have all the children and grandchildren together.  We laughed and played and enjoyed all kinds of fun things. It was a wonderful vacation…and I was one happy “Gigi”.

            But genuine joy isn’t found at Disney World or the beach or any place in particular. It’s found in having a personal relationship with the Giver of genuine JOY…..Jesus.  Here’s a good definition by Kay Warren: “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.”

            Did you hear that? A DETERMINED CHOICE…no matter what our circumstances!  “Joy is a settled conviction ABOUT God.  It’s a quiet confidence IN God. And it’s a determined choice to give our praise TO God.”   (Kay Warren)

            Don’t confuse happiness with joy…it’s much more than external things. There are many things in life that are uncertain, but the JOY of the Lord is one thing we can count on…when we put our trust in Him.


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