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Friday, April 29, 2016

Joyful Habits Can Change A Life



             Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Forming a good habit of drinking it daily is a sure way to focus on a life of JOY!

             Developing good habits is not really that hard to do….it’s just making up our minds to do it!  The Greek Philosopher, Aristotle, said: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”  

                Think about the habits that you’ve developed over the years…good habits like brushing your teeth and reading your Bible daily; bad habits like overeating and watching too much television! Our days are filled with habitual behaviors….some good and some bad.  But the fact is…We choose our habits!  

                Prayer is a wonderful habit; one of the best I know!  We can rely on God to fill us with His wisdom and joy…if we will get into the habit of always going to Him first!  In Proverbs 4:11, God promises us:  “I will guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.”

                That sounds simple, doesn’t it?  But what we must never forget is that we are in a battle; our enemy is out to destroy those good, Godly habits by tempting us in our weak areas.  1 Peter 5: 8 – 9 warns: “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith…”

                Standing firm in our faith is a wonderful habit that will help us to walk in His ways….With God’s help we can practice His wisdom and joy until it becomes a natural part of our life.

                Let’s all develop a joyful habit of drinking and sharing the JOY JUICE of JESUS!


Thursday, April 28, 2016

An Unquenchable Thirst...for JOY!



               Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s the best way I know to keep a JOYful outlook on life!

                Many times we have major decisions to make and we just don’t have a clue which WAY to go!  Maybe the decision is between two good things.  That makes it extra difficult to discern what’s best.  It could be that no matter what decision we make, someone is going to be hurt.  

                Many times we get unsolicited advice from well-meaning friends.  But that only seems to confuse us more.  How do we know who to listen to?  Well, there is One Someone Who we can always trust to guide us and help us make the best decisions.  Listen to the reassuring words of God in Psalm 32:8:

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”

Our Heavenly Father desires to instruct us and teach us the right way…..And He has given us the best Instruction Manual and Guidebook ever written….the HOLY BIBLE!  Like a good student who has to discipline himself to study for exams, we should be diligent in studying the scriptures so that we will be able to “pass the test” when our time comes!  He promises to counsel us and watch over us, but we must be obedient to His leading.  

                Let’s determine to study the Instruction Manual so that when test time comes, we will pass with flying colors.  May our Master Teacher be JOYfully pleased with our obedience and faithfulness.

                “Study to show yourself approved” (2 Timothy 2:15) and you’ll develop an unquenchable thirst for the JOY JUICE of Jesus!

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

God's Way is Perfect



               Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s the perfect drink if you want to discover the JOYful way of life!

                Many of us like to aim toward perfection.  We don’t like to make mistakes.  And there is something to be said for giving our best efforts.  However, we must remember that human beings are not perfect creatures.  We all have our weaknesses; as hard as we try not to, we are going to make mistakes. 

                We’ve all heard the old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But Jesus taught, “If it ain’t broke, it can’t be fixed!” He said, “...It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick … For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12, 13b).  

                God knew when he created us that we were going to be broken people.  He made us to need Him.  If we were perfect, we could make it through life without God.  He desires a personal relationship with each of us and wants us to call out to Him in our times of weakness and imperfection. 

                In Psalm 18:30 we receive encouragement from these words:
“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.”

                His way is PERFECT…..Though we will never be! We can take refuge in our perfect Savior.  Doesn’t that soothe your fears and wash you with a sweet peace and JOY?

                The Word of God is flawlessly perfect, so let’s drink the JOY JUICE that comes from following His way.