A Tribute of Joy (Janis Luke Roberts)

                Have you had your Joy Juice today? Have an extra serving in honor of a dear friend’s birthday! 

                Today is a special day! For many years…on this date, I’ve had the joyful privilege of telling one of my dearest friends:  “Now, you are as old as I am!”  Our birthdays are six days apart…and for those six days, Janis Roberts….my childhood friend, always reminded me that I was OLDER than she! From kindergarten to high school, from child-rearing days to enjoying our grandkids, we had a close, fun, teasing, loving relationship—which made for lots of precious memories.

                 This birthday is very different. A few months ago, we lost this unique lady who brought such joy to many, many people throughout her journey here on earth.  She always told us, “I love every bone in your body….especially your funny bone!” And she meant that! She loved large and made each of us feel special.  That was a God-given gift—one that she didn’t keep to herself.  She generously shared….laughter, love and a whole lot of genuine JOY in the Lord.

                Tears are a part of the grieving process.  There will always be a part of my heart reserved especially for her.  But in the midst of missing her immensely, there is joy in knowing that, as Christians, we will see her again. Heaven truly must be a more joyful place because of her being there.  Janis left a legacy….a legacy of joy.

                I would like to encourage you to leave a legacy.  Live each day to the fullest and share God’s love & joy with your world…just as Janis Luke Roberts did!!!

 “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”  Matthew 25:23

"Be Strong & Courageous" and Joyful!

                Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Don’t be fearful of what the day will bring! Trust in the lord and find joy in Him.

                If I were to ask you what kinds of things you fear, some of you would have a ready answer— while others might say, “I don’t fear anything.”  But let’s consider that when we worry or are anxious about something, that is a type of fear.  Some people live in bondage to fear; they’re fearful about many things that may never happen.  Others admit fear of heights, snakes, spiders, bad weather and such.  If we are honest with one another, I think we’d all have to admit that, at times, we are fearful. 

                Sometimes my fears are about something that I want to happen but I’m afraid it may not. The fact is, when we focus our thoughts on things we have no control over and they begin to consume us…then we are letting the enemy steal our joy.

                The Bible tells us in Deut. 31:6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

             How do we rid ourselves of unfounded fear? By trusting in God to walk with us 

•  every step of the way
• on each and every day
• in our work and in our play
• no matter what others may say! 

!                That’s how to rid yourself of fear and be ready for God to fill your heart with joy.

             Don’t be fearful; instead, be joyful!   

God is ABLE!

                Have you had your Joy Juice today?  May we be willing and able to drink in the Joy of Jesus daily. 

                As I was reading the Bible, the word “A B L E” caught my attention.  A simple word; only four letters. And I’d read it and heard and spoken it thousands of times before.  So why, now, was this little word waving its arms and capturing my attention? Was it the Holy Spirit’s prompting?

                I began to look into the scriptures more deeply.  Time and time again, I found the word “able” and I began to see the significance of that little “treasure”.  One verse that kept coming to my attention was Ephesians 3:20: “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

            Do we believe that GOD IS ABLE? Is our faith strong enough to not put limits on Him?  Do we bring before Him EVERY need in our life knowing that He is ABLE to take care of us? Scripture reminds us that:

1. God is able to turn BAD NEWS into GOOD NEWS. John 11:1-7, 18-21, 32-44 See also 2 Kings 20:1-6
2. God is able to turn DISAPPOINTMENT INTO DIVINE APPOINTMENT! John 20:11-18; Lu. 24:10-31, 41, 52
3. God is able to turn LITTLE INTO LOTS AND NOTHING INTO SOMETHING. John 6, 2Cor. 9:8-11; Lu 6:38; Mal. 3:10; Matt. 17:24-27
4. God is able to HEAL WHEN THERE IS NO HOPE.
   Matt. 9:18-26; Matt. 17:14-18
5. God is able to turn A SINNER INTO A SAINT. Luke 7:36-50

                 This is Joyce Ashley of JoyJoy Ministries.  God is ABLE to turn the bitter things of life into sweet servings of joy.