"The JOY of the Lord is Our Strength"

               Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s filled with ingredients that will give us strength!

                One of the verses often quoted about “joy” is found in Nehemiah 8:10: “The joy of the LORD is your strength.”    It’s good source of encouragement to share with others when they need emotional strength.  But let’s not misuse this verse as a simple platitude for those who are hurting. Simply quoting it doesn’t fix a broken heart or instantly fill the void caused by loss.  To understand the intent of this scripture, let’s look at its context, the writer and to whom he was speaking. 

Much of the book of Nehemiah was written in the first person, suggesting of course that Nehemiah was the author. Ezra, however, most likely served as the editor-in-chief! This book records the history of the third return to Jerusalem after captivity, telling how the walls were rebuilt and the people were renewed in their faith.

In chapter 8 we see that the people were weeping openly as the laws of God were being read.  They realized how disobedient they had been.  But Ezra encouraged them to be filled with joy because the day was holy and it was a time to give gifts to those in need.

Each of us has been disobedient.  Let’s cry out for forgiveness and ask God to give us a spirit of renewal.  As Ezra and Nehemiah tell us: it is in following God and giving to others that we find JOY.

"The JOY of the Lord is our strength."  Let’s be diligent in following after Him and seeking to be obedient to His instruction.

"Be What You Is....Not What You Ain't" :)

                Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Stay filled up on the Joy Juice of Jesus and make sure you serve it to others with integrity! 

                 There’s a quote in David Jeremiah’s book A Life Beyond Amazing that makes me chuckle! An old Southern preacher gave his wisdom in a sermon about integrity. He said: “Be what you is, not what you ain’t;  ‘cause if you ain’t what you is, you is what you ain’t.”  Do you love that as much as I do?  Though the grammar may not be correct according the rules, that statement holds much truth!  

                To live with integrity means you live a genuine and sincere life….real, authentic, transparent and true.  We should be the same person no matter what the circumstances.  Billy Graham’s children gave testimony at their dad’s funeral service that he was the same man at home as he was everywhere else.  Billy Graham was a man of integrity. 

                “Authentic people don’t wear masks to hide who they are.  They don’t adjust their personae or modify their standards to fit whatever group or situation they’re in.  They’re the same people, acting by the same standard, wherever they are.  The ‘you’ at church should be the same as the ‘you’ at home, at work, while driving, when on the Internet, or when posting on Facebook or Twitter,”  challenges David Jeremiah) 

                May we each aim to be the person described in Psalm 15:2:

“He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart.”

            “Be what you is…not what you ain’t.”  Be a joy-filled Christian overflowing with integrity!

Don't Shatter Unity; Instead, Scatter Joy!

                Have you had your Joy Juice today? Being a man or woman, boy or girl of your word says that you are a person of integrity. 

                One such person of integrity was George Washington, the first president of the United States.  Before leaving Mount Vernon to assume the presidency, he wrote these words: “Integrity and firmness is all I can promise—these, be the voyage long or short; never shall forsake me although I may be deserted by all men.” 

                Washington was highly trusted and admired by his peers. Why? Because of his character! They trusted him to keep his word…because he had always done so and proved himself faithful and trustworthy. 

                David Jeremiah says, “Keeping your word is a cornerstone to integrity, and people around you will know it and respect it.  Integrity means all parts of your character are unified by faithfulness to truth.  Breaking your word breaks that unity, and the shattered pieces of character fall away like shards of broken pottery.” 

                Some of our friends may tease us and call us “cracked pots”…but we don’t want to be a person who breaks our word and shatters unity.  David said it beautifully in Psalm 133:1: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”

                Keep your word, live in unity and share the joy of the Lord!