A Glass-Full of JOY!

Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Do we always set a positive, joyful example!?

            Yikes!  When we realize that we are a role model for someone, we have to stop and examine our words and our actions.   People are watching…Whether it’s a friend or colleague, a child or an adult, a family member or simply an acquaintance….YOU make a difference in someone’s life! 

            To be a positive, joyfully contagious example, we need look into the Word of God. The Bible provides us with a wealth of guidance in the form of Godly principles.

            One such example is in 1 Thess. 5:16-18 where Paul tells us to: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  In that short passage we find:  Joy! Gratitude! And Prayer! Those three are always linked!.)  Joy springs from a heart of gratitude and prayer. (Lydia Brownback, page 82 in JOY, A Godly Woman’s Adornment

            The opposite is also true; pessimism and grumbling are linked to depression.  We can choose to see our glass half-empty and complain about our lives….and the price we pay is our joy and peace. On the other hand, we can choose to rejoice and give thanks no matter what. When we do this we are saying, “Not my will, God, but yours be done.”  We’ll find our glass not just half full, but our hearts overflowing with JOY in the Lord!

            Let’s fill our Joy Juice glass as full as possible today by following the contagious example of Jesus!

Outrageous Joy

            Have you had your Joy Juice today?  That’s exactly what we need to make certain that our day is outrageously joyful!

            Do you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed and stressed? Sometimes before we even get out of bed in the morning, our anxious thoughts start racing. Let’s make up our minds from the get-go that no matter what happens today, we’re going to “count it all joy”.

            Remember the verse in James 1:2?

“Count it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

            Perseverance….plugging ahead… trusting God with each step! That’s what we need to do in order to face each new day with an OUTRAGEOUS joy because of our faith and confidence in Him.    Do you realize that God cares more about our joy than we often do?  It’s for that reason that he does not leave us alone in our misery. According to author Lydia Brownback, “God orchestrates for us and in us the humility we need in order to see that God is a kind Father and compassionate friend who sometimes allows hard situations into our lives so that he can show us our need for grace and deepen our relationship with him.  Such humility is necessary in order to count it all joy.”

            Let’s choose to have an OUTRAGEOUS day of JOY in the LORD by putting your complete trust in Him!

Share His Joy...TODAY!

          Have you had your Joy Juice today? Why don’t you share a refreshing serving of joy with someone who looks as if they could use it? 

        I guess most of us try to find a warm drink to keep us toasty in the middle of winter, but sometimes it’s something cold that really quenches our thirst.  Matthew 10:42 talks about offering a refreshing drink to someone who needs it….and expecting nothing in return.

                 Listen to the words of that scripture: “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." 

              The emphasis here is not really on the cup of cold water, but on the attitude of serving.   As my Bible footnote explains:
            “How much we love God can be measured by how well we treat other.  Jesus’ example of giving a cup of cold water to a thirsty child is a good model of unselfish service.  A child usually hasn’t learned to return a favor.  God notices every good deed we do or don’t do as if He were the one receiving it.  Is there something unselfish you can do for someone else today?  Although no one else may see you, God will notice.”

            Come to God in your prayer time today, asking for guidance about who needs your help.   It could be a simple word of encouragement, a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on.  The Holy Spirit may touch your heart to give materially or financially.  Whatever God leads you to do, do it joyfully!  

            Expect a joyful opportunity today to share His joy with someone in need.