A Cheerful Look Brings JOY.....

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Take a look in the mirror after you’ve had your personal serving and see what kind of expression is on your face!  I’ll bet it’s a great big smile!

            References to JOY are sprinkled throughout the whole Bible, but we’ve focused this week on one chapter in Proverbs, chapter 15.  Our verse for today puts a smile on my face, and I hope it will yours’ as well.  Verse 30 says:

            A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; and good news gives health to the bones. (Proverbs 15:30)

            Susan Vaughn, author of Half Full, Half Empty, says that “there is a powerful link between facial expression and emotion.”  She believes that people who try to act happier actually feel happier.

            While it is important to think and act positively, the Bible tells us that true spiritual joy begins deep inside of us, then spreads to our face! When we’re JOYful on the inside because of our love for Christ, our faces can’t help but show it in the form of a smile. A joyful heart is heart of gratitude!

As the poet, Fitzhugh, wrote:

The smile on the face that reveals true joy
Always comes from deep within;
It springs from a heart that is full of thanks—
That's where our joy must begin.

            A cheerful look brings joy to the heart!  So start smiling NOW!

Drink and share the Joy Juice of Jesus…with a smile!

An "Apt" Reply is a JOYful Reply

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  That’s a great question to ask everyone you see! And when they ask “What’s Joy Juice?” you can tell them all about the JOY of the Lord!

            God made us all with different personalities. 

• The sanguine personality is a sociable person who loves to laugh and has plenty of energy and enthusiasm. 
• The choleric has strong leadership traits, is well-organized and goal-oriented. 
• Then there’s the melancholy who is a sensitive person who is serious and analytical.
• And the phlegmatic is the peaceful, patient, compassionate person.

            No matter which of those describes your personality, we all still grapple at times for the appropriate words, don’t we?…especially in sensitive situations. But if, we will allow the Lord to put His words in our mouths, we will experience genuine joy…especially when the other person recognizes it as a “timely word”.

            Like the verse in Proverbs 15:23 says: A man finds joy in giving an apt reply---and how good is a timely word.

            We must all caution against speaking too quickly. We need to be prayed up, asking God to give us that “apt reply”.  If we rush in with advice before the person is ready, it will not be well received.  God will give us the right words in His perfect timing, if we are listening to His voice.  What a JOYful privilege and responsibility it is to be used as God’s mouthpiece.

            I hope that today’s serving of JOY JUICE has a timely word ...especially for you!

"A Wise Son Brings JOY"

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Make sure to serve some to your children as you’re pouring yourself a serving.  No matter what age we are, we all need the JOY of the Lord.

            Proverbs is overflowing with references to my favorite “J” word.  Just in the 15^th chapter alone there are five verses that talk about joy and cheer and rejoicing.  Let’s look at verse 20 today.

            A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

A wise son brings joy…..Wise in this verse isn’t talking about “book smarts”.  It’s referring to the wisdom found in the truth of scripture.  Two verses immediately come to my mind.

• One of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12) commands us to: "Honor your father and your mother."
• Then in Ephesians 6:1 we find, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”

            Just those two verses alone should be enough to explain why a wise son would bring joy to his parents. 

1. He honors and obeys them, doing what they ask with a cheerful spirit.  
2. Even in old age, the parents can count on a wise son or daughter to help care for their needs. 
3. When the family unit is working as it should, there is much joy. 

 But a lot of responsibility rides on the shoulders of the dad and mom in the home.  They should be modeling Godly wisdom before their children.  A home that’s built on the firm foundation of Christ, is a home filled with JOY.

          Let’s pray for wisdom as we sip our JOY JUICE today and ask God for protection of our Christian homes.

A Continual Feast of JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Feast on it daily!

            Most often we think feasting is something that’s reserved for special occasions…like Thanksgiving or a wedding celebration.  But scripture refers to feasting in a different context.

  

Look at the passage in Proverbs 15: 15: "All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast." 

Ever been "oppressed"?

Being in an oppressed state is not a fun place to be!  I’m sure we can all think of times when we felt oppressed.  One definition of oppression is: “To cause someone to feel distressed, anxious, or uncomfortable.”   Yep, we’ve all been there, done that, haven’t we?  Felt distressed, anxious and uncomfortable.

            GOD will carry us through...

             With the state of our economy and the many challenges our country and communities are facing today, we do often find ourselves in less than desirable circumstances.  BUT our faith in God should be a source of strength and comfort.  Our trust in Him to carry us through the “oppression” and give us hope for better days is enough to put joy in our hearts.  As our verse for today reminds us:  the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

            Let’s pray for our community, our country and all those who are oppressed and sorrowful. But let’s also remember to serve the Lord with gladness of heart and partake of His continual feast of JOY!

             Prepare the banquet table and always be ready to feast on the JOY JUICE of Jesus!

Scriptures Overflow with JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  There’s plenty to be found in the pages of God’s Word. 

            Many of you may be in the habit of reading the Bible every day. That’s a great habit!

• Some like the early mornings for their quiet time. 
• Others find time later in the day.
• Night-owls read God’s Word before they go to bed each night. 

No matter when you find the time, the important thing is that you FIND THE TIME.

JOY RADAR         

         When I read, my spiritual radar is tuned in to the verses that refer to JOY and REJOICING and GLADNESS.  It’s amazing how often those words can be found in scripture.  Sometimes when I least expect it…and maybe need it the most…I’ll read a verse that refers to JOY.

            For example, just this morning I was reading in the 15^th chapter of Proverbs.  In that one chapter alone I spotted five verses that deal with joy and cheer.  Let’s look at the first one today.

            Verse 13 says: A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

 

            A happy heart!  That comes from having a relationship with Jesus. A happy heart is a grateful heart because it holds the JOY of knowing that NO MATTER how much heartache comes our way and tries to crush our spirit, our constant companion, Jesus, is right there with us.

            Drink your JOY JUICE continually so that it’ll seep into your heart and bring cheer and JOY, regardless of your circumstances.

ME FIRST....Give me my JOY!!!!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  ME FIRST…ever heard that?!

            For many years I’ve observed children

• in the classroom,
• at church,
• in my own home and 
• various other places.

One thing is pretty consistent. Most of them like being FIRST!

            Whether it’s to play a game, line up at the water fountain or be served a snack, the tendency for children is to want to be first.  Occasionally you’ll find a kind-hearted kid or one who is so shy that he doesn’t know how to be assertive; but most children,down deep in their hearts, really like being the first one to do something.

Grown-ups like being first, too!

            Are we adults so different?  How many of us get agitated when we have to stand in a long line at the grocery store? Ever been to a social gathering and watched the people line up to fix their plates?  Why do people like to be at the front of the line? We just don’t like to wait!

Me first, God!

When God is answering prayers, we all want to be first on his list…right? We want our requests answered now…not tomorrow, or next week and certainly not next year or longer.  Our impatience many times leads us to poor choices.  We make impulsive decisions based on our lack of trust that God has a divine plan for us…and it’s so much better than you and I can imagine.

So let’s recall often the verse in Matthew 20:16 that says: "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

 For a JOYful outlook on life, please accept God’s timetable for answering your prayers.  Putting God FIRST is the best path to genuine JOY in the Lord!

"Love Your Brother"...with JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  God loves you!!!  Now, that’s a serving of JOY…don’t you agree?

            Yesterday we talked about the verse in 1 John 4:19 that says, “We love because he first loved us.” Our human capacity for loving (unconditionally) is limited; but God can love through us…if we allow Him to!

            Let’s look at the next verse in that same passage. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar.  For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom has not seen. 

OUCH! 

  It’s not always easy to love other people, is it?  What we must remember is that we are all God’s creations; and though we may not love a person’s words or actions or lifestyle, we are to love that person because God commands us to.

            Oh, it’s easy to love some people…those who love us and are good to us.  But where the true test comes is when we are called to love our enemies---those who have hurt us; those with polar opposite views; those who abuse us or take advantage of us in some way.

            As Christians we are to be representatives of Christ.  We can’t control other people, but we can allow God to be in control of our heart, words and actions.  Let’s pray without ceasing for God’s guidance and be 100% sold out by letting Him love through us.

            If you can say, “I love God” and truly mean it, then help yourself to an extra large serving of

                                                     JOY JUICE!