Written Joy

            Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Write someone a note of encouragement and share a special kind of joy!

            In these times of computers, email, cell phones and tablets, we sometimes forget to use the old-fashioned pen and paper method of encouraging one another. Who doesn’t like to receive a hand-written personal note from someone who has words of gratitude or congratulations & just “thinking of you”? The fact that someone cared enough to invest their time in such a loving action…means much. When was the last time you dropped a card or letter in the mail?

            Written encouragement truly is a gift of joy.

·         It’s deliberate; and that deliberate action sometimes means even more than the words one says in the note.

·         Written encouragement is definite. One can go back and read and reread as often as they’d like.  It’s a continual definite reminder.

·         And it’s also direct. Verbal encouragement is good, but we can miss the mark sometimes when we speak.  However, as we write our words, we are thoughtful and careful to make sure that our thoughts are captured appropriately.

·         Written words are durable…they are the gift that keeps on giving! A spoken word may soon be forgotten; but a written word lasts long.

 (Some of this info came from David Jeremiah’s The Joy of Encouragement.)

            The scripture verse in Acts 15:31 sums it up well:

“When they read the letter they rejoiced over its encouragement.” 

                Who do you know that needs a written word of encouragement? Let’s write that note today…with JOY!

               

Encourage Others and Spread God's Joy!

          Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Be an encourager as you spread the sincere,  authentic joy of the Lord.

            The Bible tells us to encourage others.  Everyone needs encouragement on a consistent basis! In Romans 12, Paul gives us wise instruction about the characteristics of godly encouragers.

•    In verse 9 we read: “Let love be without hypocrisy.”  In other words, good encouragers are genuine, the real deal…not fake and phony.

• Verse 11 says: “Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”  Good encouragers are diligent, consistent, & passionate in their service to God.

•  Verse 13 goes on to say: “Distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.”  Those who take the initiative and do whatever it takes to minister to someone’s needs  certainly bring encouragement.   

•   Good encouragers are selfless.  Verses 14 -15 tell us to “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

•  And lastly in that passage, we are told that encouragers have a spirit of humility: “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.” (Verse 16)

Let’s be true, joy-filled encouragers---authentic, selfless, assertive Christians---busy about serving God!

                Much of this information comes from David Jeremiah’s book The Joy of Encouragement

He Will Cover You with His Feathers

            Have you had your Joy Juice today?  A smile lifts us up! Do you have yours on right now?

            Before we step out the door each morning to greet the day and face people at work or school or at the store or wherever we go, most of the time we try to make ourselves look presentable.   Ladies may put on makeup, fix their hair and try to find an outfit that flatters; guys shave the overnight stubble off their faces and run a comb through their hair. Most of us try to improve our looks as best we can. Our aim is to cover all the imperfections and make ourselves look better on the outside.

            The problem comes when we think making the outside look good will hide what’s on the inside.  No amount of makeup or “fixing up” can make us whole on the inside. Author Susie Larson says: “If we really want to know true beauty, if we really want to live full and free lives, we have to give God access to those places we work so hard to cover up.”

            The passage in Psalm 91 reminds us that GOD will cover us. Listen to the Psalmist’s words:

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

            Allow God to cover you with His wings and you will be find inner beauty which will bring a smile to your face and joy to your heart!