Overflow Like A Fountain of Joy!

Have you had your Joy Juice today? Overflow like a fountain, burst forth with joy.

Be a cheerful example to each girl and boy!

That’s a fun way to say: “Be filled with joy in the Lord!” How can we do that?  Oswald Chambers shares his wisdom: He wrote:  

“Have the right relationship with God, finding your joy there, and out of you “will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). Be a fountain through which Jesus can pour His “living water.” (I like to call it Joy Juice!)  A person who has the right relationship with God lives a life as natural as breathing wherever he goes. The lives that have been the greatest blessing to you are the lives of those people who themselves were unaware of having been such a blessing.”

            I hope those words touch your heart like they did mine! Indeed, “A cheerful heart is a good medicine!” as Proverbs 17:22 says. Share your joyful heart with others.

Mark Twain said, “To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.” But let’s remember that just as we have the opportunity to share our joy, we also have the ability to crush someone’s spirit. The end of the verse in Prov. 17:22 says…..”but a crushed spirit dries up the bones!”  Mean words, harsh actions can crush someone. We must always be aware that we leave a mark on every person we meet. Let’s choose to share our joy and leave a good mark. 

                May we strive to overflow like a fountain of pure joy and leave a good mark as we share that joy others.

Be Passionate about the JOY of JESUS!

            Have you had your Joy Juice today?  I’m referring to the joy of Jesus!

            Continually I read about “joy in the Lord”.  It is a passion of mine to learn more and more about true, genuine joy.  Wouldn’t it be such a “reward” to leave a legacy of joy for our children and their children after them…to pass along to each new generation?

            In order do that, we must grasp the joy that Jesus, himself possessed. Oswald Chambers explains:  

“The joy of Jesus was His absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice to His Father— the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do— “…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2).  Jesus prayed that our joy might continue fulfilling itself until it becomes the same joy as His.” (John 15:11)

            How do we apply this truth?  We have to be totally committed to our relationship with God.  We can’t be “Sunday Christians” and live carelessly the rest of the week.  Of course, God does not expect perfection.  That’s why He sent Jesus.  But we can aim toward being more like Christ every day.  Let’s pray for a sensitive spirit, a tender heart, mercy toward others and an attitude of gratitude toward God.  When we become one with Christ, then we will begin to grasp a deeper understanding of true joy.

            Be a blessing by focusing on the joy of Jesus! Let’s pray that His joy may manifest itself in our hearts---more and more each day!

Give "Hidden Joy"

Have you had your Joy Juice today? Joy is not like a game where it hides and you seek….but there are servings of joy stashed in unexpected places.  

     Each of us is continually on the receiving end….as well as the giving end….of friendship.  We can find joy in all types of circumstances….but “hidden joy” may be incognito at times!  If we are really tuned in and looking for it, however, we can see joy in a variety of ways….such as:

•  A text that says: “Thinking of you!”

• A selfless gesture, like sitting with a grieving friend and simply listening, without trying to give answers.

• Joy may be in the form of babysitting or carpooling for a tired parent.

•  Or dropping off a pizza & the trimmings at meal time.  

• A card in the mail still is a great way to put a tangible touch to our thoughts and care.

        Wouldn’t you admit you’re just a tad joyful when someone lets you ahead of them in the grocery store check-out line?  What about finding that your bill has been paid when you check out at a restaurant?  Talk about a joyful “find”!

        These kinds of “hidden joys” are truly unexpected and certainly nice to receive!  But EVEN BETTER is the joy we receive when WE do random acts of kindness for others.  That is what brings the special joy to our hearts!  Matthew 6:4 in The New Living Translation says:

“Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

One of those rewards ….is genuine JOY!

            Give to others and learn the beauty of “hidden joy”.