Children = JOY! :)

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  You’re never to young or old to enjoy its delightful flavor!

            Children bring much joy to our hearts…especially when we become grandparents and begin to understand the brevity of life. James 4:14 says:   “For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.”

            Indeed, life is short.  We should squeeze as much JOY from it as possible while here on earth….and make sure we’re ready for eternity with Christ---which will be UNENDING JOY!  It’s been my pleasure to spend time with my grandchildren lately.  Observing them in their daily routines has helped me to see some spiritual truths in a new way.

            Two of our grandjoys are old enough to want to help in the kitchen.  At ages six and four they can set the table and put the napkins around. No, it’s not done perfectly.  The silverware is crooked and not necessarily on the correct side of the plate according to Emily Post.  The napkins aren’t folded expertly or artfully.  But they are placed with a willing heart and a joy about helping.  And their joy brings me joy!

            Compare that to how God deals with His children.  God can do anything!  He doesn’t need help from us.  But because of His love, He patiently teaches us by allowing us to make mistakes and not always doing things perfectly.  If we allow Him to show us the best way, we will become better by following His instructions.  It brings JOY to His heart to see us learning to follow after Him.

            Ask God what He wants you to learn  today….and begin practicing it with JOY!

           

Dress Appropriately...with JOY!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Make sure you are dressed appropriately…with JOY!

            We are instructed in Ephesians 6 to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

             Many times I think we forget that we are in a constant battle.  Satan is our enemy and he is continually working to discourage and defeat us.  But we can be prepared for anything he throws our way if we will do as Paul tells us.  “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground…”

               When we have the Belt of Truth buckled around our waist, the Breastplate of Righteousness covering our hearts and protecting us, when our feet have on the Shoes of Peace and we’re carrying our Shield of Faith, then we’re almost  ready to face the enemy.  But let’s not forget the last two pieces of armor that Paul teaches about.   Verse 17 tells us to “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

             Our enemy hates that we have chosen to follow God and will stop at nothing to defeat us.  Just as the helmet protects the vital but vulnerable head from otherwise fatal blows, the hope of salvation can protect our thoughts from our enemy's attacks and temptations to disobey God. http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-teachings/armor-of-god-helmet-of-salvation.htm

            So make sure your Helmet of Salvation fits snugly; pick up your Sword of the Spirit….the Word of God….and now you are dressed and ready for the day!  May it be filled with JOY in the Lord!

            Dress for success by putting on the full armor of God!

Take Up Your Shield of Faith...JOYfully!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  When you are drinking it consistently, your faith will grow and you’ll be armed and dressed for a successful day!

            Part of the “wardrobe” or armor that Paul tells us about in Ephesians 6 is the shield of faith.  This isn’t something we wear exactly, but it so important that we take it with us wherever we go.  (Kinda like us ladies and our purses! :) )

            Why did Paul tell us we need a shield?

·        A shield guards. Just as a shield protects us physically, faith protects our spiritual lives.  We should trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding!  (Proverbs 3:5)

Back to Ephesians 6:16:
...above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

·        A shield deflects. Satan is always hurling his fiery darts of fear, doubt and worry in our direction, but the only time they can hit us is when we let our shield of faith down—when we stop believing that God is in control; that He is working everything out for our good; that whatever happens is for the ultimate best of everyone involved.

When the Roman army joined its shields together, it became an almost unstoppable force. And if we as God's Church will join our shields—by strengthening each other with our faith, building up and serving within the Body —we will become an unstoppable force.  Now doesn’t that bring JOY to your heart?!

             Lift your shield of FAITH and drink in the JOY of the Lord.

Shoes of Peace and JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It will help your clothes to fit better….your spiritual clothing, that is!

            Ephesians 6 teaches us to dress in our Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness. These are two essentials to be dressed appropriately for the spiritual battles that face us every day.  Verse 15 tells us that we should be careful to wear the appropriate “footwear”, too. …… “with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace,” Paul wrote.

            If we proclaim to be Christians, then we are saying that we are followers of Christ.  Our quest is to announce the Good News which will spread His peace throughout the world.  Our “shoes of peace” should fit comfortably as we walk forward…spreading the Gospel.

          In the Apostle Paul's day, he walked countless miles in delivering the good news. Today, transportation and communication have certainly changed, but we must also be constantly ready to do our part to tell others about Jesus.  As the passage in Ephesians 6 reminds us, we are like soldiers. A soldier without shoes could run into real trouble in the heat of battle. Even stepping on twigs and pebbles with bare feet can cause serious pain—and one of the last things anyone wants to deal with in the middle of a battle  is worrying about where to step.  Good shoes allow us to walk freely and without fear while we turn our full attention to the battle at hand. (Info. from my Life Application NIV Bible footnote)


           Let’s lace up our shoes of peace so that we can face the day boldly and JOYfully as we share the Good News of Christ!

Wear the Breastplate of Righteousness and JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drink it as you dress for the day so that you’ll be equipped for success.

            Ephesians 6 tells us how to be certain that we are dressed for success….spiritually.   We are told in verse 14 to: “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place…”

            We know what a belt is, but we don’t often hear these days about breastplates.  I think of a breastplate as something like a bullet-proof vest that policeman wear in the line of duty to protect themselves in dangerous situations.  

            In Bible times, the breastplate was a central part of the Roman soldier’s uniform. It provided protection for the torso, which contains vital organs like the heart and lungs. Without a breastplate, a soldier knew that any attack could instantly become fatal.  But with a sturdy breastplate, the attacks became ineffective and useless, as the blows would bounce off the armor.

            Our verse for today tells us to put on our breastplate of righteousness.  Without righteousness, we leave ourselves open to deadly attacks from Satan.  With righteousness—just as with a breastplate—the otherwise fatal attacks of our enemy are thwarted.

         So, what is righteousness?  Simply stated: To be righteous is to do what is right in God's eyes. God's commandments are righteousness…and lead to JOY in Him.

           Put on your Victory Vest….otherwise known as the breastplate of righteousness and get ready to face the day with JOY!

JOYfully Dress for Success

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drink up as you “dress for success”.

            Whether going on a job interview or getting ready for any special occasion, it’s important how we dress.  Most women enjoy finding just the right outfit. Even guys walk a little taller when they’ve got on some good-looking threads! The main thing is that we dress appropriately.

            For example what we wear to a wedding would not be the same thing we would put on to go to a ballgame.  Our church clothes are different from what we’d wear on the beach.  It’s important to use good judgment regarding the weather, season of the year, or if there is air conditioning or heat inside a building.

            Did you know that the Bible tells us how to dress for success?  There are several passages that tell us what to “put on”, but this week let’s focus on the passage in Ephesians 6 that talks about the importance of daily putting on the armor of God.  Verse 14 says: “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.”

            Now, let’s not confuse this belt with the belt we often choose to wear….you know the one I’m talking about---the belt of bitterness!  Sometimes we even choose the sash of selfishness.  The belt of truth is by far the best choice! Jesus himself tells us in  John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

            So let’s buckle that belt of truth snugly around our waist and know that we are on our way to dressing for spiritual success!

            The belt of truth surrounds us with JOY in the Lord!

             

We CAN Have JOY....through Christ Who Strengthens Us

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  In our weakness, drinking in the joy of the Lord will make us strong!

            Don’t we wish that it was as simple as drinking a potion or swallowing a pill or going into an enchanted forest?  Sometimes we would like to be like Popeye, the Sailor man and simply open a can of spinach and immediately become strong and able to defeat the foe.  Well, we don’t have those kinds of powers, but we have something so much better. 

            We have a God who is amazing and trustworthy and wise and faithful!  He knows that we’re weak and He is willing to supply us with all the power we need.  But it’s a constant process of asking and depending on Him.  Just because we profess our faith in him doesn’t automatically stop bad things from happening to us or nor does it make us perfect.  We must “put on Christ” every day and yield to His power in us; allow Him to work out His righteousness in us and through us.

            Philippians 4:13 sums it up perfectly:

“I can do all things through Him (Christ) who strengthens me.”

       "The power we receive in union with Christ is sufficient to do his will and help us face the challenges that arise.  He doesn’t grant us super-human ability to accomplish anything we can imagine without regard to his plans.  As we contend for the faith we will face troubles, pressures, and trials.  As they come, we can always ask Christ to strengthen us."  (Life Appl. Bible footnote)

            We can do all things through drinking in faithfully the JOY JUICE of JESUS!

           

Power Aide = JOY JUICE

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s the best power aide!

            Even when you feel weak, remember that God is the ultimate power source.  In    Ephesians 1:18-19 Paul points that out:

¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

         Who can have that “great power”?  Those who believe!  That’s you and me!  Paul clearly states that this “incomparably great power” is available to ALL believers.

            Priscilla Shirer uses a great illustration in her book “He Speaks to Me”.  “If your house is in need of a good vacuuming, you must have two things: the power of a working vacuum cleaner and the energy to physically get up and push it across the floor.  One without the other is useless.  To live a sanctified life, you must have two things: the power to do what God has called you to do and the energy to get up and use the power you have.”

            What has God called you to do?  Do you feel inadequate, limited, powerless to get it done?  The wonderful news is that we don’t have to do anything in our strength.  If God calls us to a task, He is more than able to fill us with that “incomparably great power” to accomplish it.  When we allow Him to work through us, we’ll be filled with inexpressible JOY!

            Let’s plug into our power source and get ready to be filled with His energy to push through the day!

JOYful Strength Found In Him

Have you had your JOY JUICE today? It’s especially important to make sure you faithfully drink in the joy of the Lord!  Why? Because it fills you with His strength.

            If you are like I am, some days I feel as if I need extra strength!  It may be due to the busyness of our schedule for the day ahead, exhaustion from running so hard the day before or maybe a tough situation that we’re facing.  But the fact is, we all run out of strength from time to time….sometimes physical, sometimes mental and sometimes emotional.

            There is always a place we can go to get renewed, refreshed and find that extra spiritual strength that is so needed!  Over and over again in God’s Word we’re told of the well from which we can draw strength and joy.  In Psalm 28:7 we are reminded: The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

In that one verse we find so much power tucked away.

·        Where is our strength? In the Lord because He protects and shields us.

·        Where is our strength?  In our heart as we trust in Him completely. 

·        Where is our strength?  In the knowledge that He will help us in our time of need.

·        Where is our strength?  In a heart of joy and gratitude, praising Him for WHO HE is!

            Today if you are in need of extra strength, pour yourself a large serving of JOY JUICE and feel His power fill you with strength to make it through your situation.

            I pray that your heart and mine will leap for joy as we give thanks to him for filling us with his strength.

           

           

CELEBRATE CHRIST with JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  When you drink your personal serving, you’ll be ready to share it with others along the way!

            Have you noticed how easy it is to be self-centered?  I think we all struggle with wanting what WE want, when WE want it!  We think we know what’s best and we don’t like waiting. We ask ourselves “What would Jesus do?”, but do we really do as He did?  Remember in Matthew 22 where Jesus taught us about the greatest commandments:  

 ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

            This week our theme is “strength found in relationship with the Lord”. Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength.  But it doesn’t stop there.  We are to celebrate Christ.  Celebrate our relationship with Him. Celebrate what He’s done for us! Celebrate the opportunities to serve and give in His name.  This is opposite of the “self centered” nature that comes so easily.

            In the passage found in Nehemiah 8:  Ezra and Nehemiah connected celebration with giving.     “Often when we celebrate and give to others (even when we don’t feel like it), we are strengthened spiritually and filled with joy.  So let’s look for ways to celebrate and honor God… and allow Him to fill us with His JOY!” (Life Appl. Bible footnote)

            I’m celebrating today by thanking God for the opportunity to share His JOY JUICE with YOU!  How will you celebrate this day?

The JOY of the Lord IS our strength!

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

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

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---according to my Bible footnote!

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 needs to search our heart and life to see where we are failing to be obedient.  Let’s cry out for forgiveness and ask Him 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.

Yes, the JOY of the Lord is our strength, but we must be diligent in following after Him and being obedient to His instruction.

Standing on the Promises of JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  When we drink it faithfully, it helps us to trust in God’s promises….JOYfully!

            God’s Word…the Holy Bible…is powerful and life-changing.  If we will study it and apply the truths to our lives, we will find strength, peace and abundant joy in our relationship with Him.

            2 Timothy 3:16 tells us the all Scriptures in the Bible are inspired by God.  With this promise we should accept every word as truth that we can “stand on”, regardless of what life brings our way.   As I often do, I recall the lyrics of a hymn I used to sing as a young girl growing up in church.  Though I didn’t realize the truth I was singing, I am so thankful that those words are hidden in my heart even today.  For with each day, I understand them more clearly. 

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

Are you standing on the promises of God today? Is God your all in all as the song says? He wants to be!  The decision is yours.

2 Peter 1:4 tells us: “And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”

            Each of us can have a “double portion” of joy in the Lord when we stand on the promises of God!

May GRACE and JOY Abound!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  The more you share it, the more it multiplies!  That’s a promise!

            We’ve been talking about promises this week!  And though people will let us down and break their promises, we have a God that we can trust….always.

            When you begin to doubt that God cares or that He may not come through to provide what you need, turn to the promise in  2 Corinthians 9:8 and meditate on these words:

            “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

This is not a promise that we will have everything we want or an abundance of money; it’s not a reason to make a wish list and give it to God to shop for us.  The key word in that verse is GRACE. “God is able to make all GRACE abound to you…”

            What is GRACE? According to Max Lucado, “It’s what someone gives us out of the goodness of his heart, not out of the perfection of ours.  The story of grace is the good news that says when we come, He gives. Grace is something you did not expect.  It is something you certainly could never earn.  Someone who tastes God’s grace is the hardest worker, the most morally pure individual, and the person most willing to forgive.”

            Now, my question for each of us today, if we have the promise of grace from God, what more could we want? 

            Accepting His generous gift of grace changes our lives and makes our hearts overflow with gratitude and JOY!

A Double Portion of JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Help yourself to a double portion and let your heart overflow with joy!

            Isaiah 61:7 uses a term that I love because it reminds me of the heartbeat of JoyJoy Ministries.  The verse says: “Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.”

         The term I wanted you to see was “double portion”.  When God gave me the vision for this ministry, I felt as if He wanted me to share a “double portion” of His JOY with others every chance I get!  Hence the name “JoyJoy” Ministries.  It’s awesome the way God works to show you His plan. One day maybe I’ll have the chance to share with you all the details of how He named this ministry.  But for today, just be aware that He desires for YOU to have a DOUBLE PORTION of His JOY!

            Now that doesn’t mean that every moment of every day is going to be filled with laughter and happy times.  But what it does mean is that we can trust in God’s promises to be with us during the good and bad times.  He says He will NEVER leave us or forsake us. And when God says it, it’s a promise and you can trust it!

            The book of Isaiah (where our scripture comes from today) was penned by the prophet Isaiah. His purpose was to call the nation of Judah back to God…to tell them of God’s salvation through the Messiah.  What can we learn from this old book so packed with truth?  That we, too, should return, repent and be renewed; trust in God’s redemption through Christ and REJOICE. 

           Get ready for your DOUBLE PORTION of JOY in the Lord!

JOY in the Grieving

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Even if you are grieving, I promise, you can still drink in the joy of the Lord.

            I have witnessed many hurting people lately, as I’m sure you have. Those who have lost loves ones such as a child, a spouse or a parent; those who have been betrayed by someone they trusted; those facing extreme financial struggles. You may find yourself in a time like this right now. Grief comes into each of our lives at one point or another.

            As I was searching for some comforting words in my Bible, I came across a verse in John 16:22 that addresses grief.  Jesus said, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”  Though Jesus was talking to his disciples in this passage---preparing them for His death---He gave them hope. 

            We can glean a lot from this passage for the truth of His promise is for each of us, as followers of Christ.  Whatever grief we are going through now or will face tomorrow, we can trust that---because of Jesus---we will be able to rejoice again.  Hold close to your heart the last few words of that verse: and no one will take away your joy!

            Talk about ABUNDANT JOY! This promise should make us look forward to the future, expectantly.  Knowing that weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

           Though there will be times of grief, we can trust in God’s promises of JOY.

           

Jesus Promises JOY!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  I promise….it’s a good thing!

            Have you ever broken a promise?  Does your conscience bother you when you do?  We live in a day that many a person’s word can’t be trusted.  When we do meet someone who always follows through on a promise, we know we’ve met a person of integrity.

            I remember vividly that my daddy used to say that in his day, business deals were done on a handshake and a promise.  That’s all that was needed because usually a man was as good as his word.  These days, more often than not, we have to draw up legal contracts, outlining every detail; and people still find loopholes to get out of doing what they promised to do.

            Aren’t we glad that we serve a God that never breaks His word?  The Bible is packed with promises that we can count on. One of those joyful promises is found in 1 Peter 1:3-4:  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade---kept in heaven.”

            If we are authentic Christians, living lives that follows after Christ, then we can count on an inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade.  Doesn’t that make you look forward to heaven?!   We are promised a LIVING HOPE of eternal life.  ONE DAY we will live with Christ FOREVER!  What a JOYful promise!

 

            You can always count on God’s promises….no contract needed!  That’s a reason for abundant JOY!     

Sing an EASTER Song of JOY!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s time for your Easter serving…which should cause your heart to sing!

            Easter is such a time of celebration! A time to express our heart’s deepest gratitude for what God did for us in the form of His Son Jesus.  This week we’ve been talking about singing praises to God.  And what a better time is there than now!  Christ died for you and me….but He didn’t stay in the grave!  He arose!!! And that is reason to celebrate and lift our voices and hearts in song!

            Psalm 18:49 tells us: “Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name.”

            The wonderful thing about singing praises to God is that it lifts us up and draws us closer to Him.  Let’s praise the Lord for His sacrificial love for us. Let’s tell others about Him every chance we get.

            Since I’ve shared lyrics with you every day this week, I’d like to end the week with a beautiful song written by Rick Founds.  These words are the gospel in a nutshell!

Lord, I lift Your name on high.

Lord, I love to sing Your praises.

I’m so glad You’re in my life,

I’m so glad You came to save us.

You came from heaven to earth to show the way.

From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay.

From the cross to the grave,

From the grave to the sky

Lord, I lift Your name on high.

            Praise the Lord by lifting His name on high!  Won’t you join me as we sing our Easter song of  JOY?

"Rejoice in the Lord and Be Glad"...It's a CHOICE!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  A generous daily serving helps to ward off discouragement!

            If you are feeling downcast and depressed, open your Bible to the book of Psalms and begin to read.  The psalms are filled with encouragement and exhortations to rejoice and praise God!   I know; sometimes we just don’t FEEL like praising God…especially in the midst of pain and loss.  As one writer put it:

“Doubt, fear, and defeat become enemies of joy, bringing with them an almost suffocating cloud of depression.”

            So what do we do when we feel that dark cloud following us?  We CHOOSE joy!  As Psalm 32: 11 says: “Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!”

When we CHOOSE to rejoice and sing praises to the Lord, our focus turns from ourselves and our circumstances to His goodness and faithfulness. Do you recognize the words to this beautiful praise song (by Darlene Zschech)?

My Jesus, my Savior, Lord there is none like You.

All of my days, I want to praise the wonders of Your mighty love.

My comfort, my shelter, tower of refuge and strength,

Let every breath, all that I am, never cease to worship You.

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands.

Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand.

Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.

            CHOOSE to rejoice and be glad! And allow that song of JOY to burst forth from your heart.

Sing of His Love and JOY...Forever!!!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  If you’re happy, sad, worried or glad, you can always drink in the JOY of the Lord.

             There are times when it’s easier to be outwardly joyful.  But the truth is, if you have Jesus in your heart, regardless of your circumstances you can experience His peace and joy.  Do you understand why?  Because of His unending love!  Ephesians 3: 17 – 19 tells of the magnitude of His love for us.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

            Guys and gals, when we are “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” we are overflowing with His JOY.  We have a song in our heart and we will want to share about Christ with others.  It’s like the song “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever”. Let the words of this praise song by Martin Smith, sink deep into your soul as you listen:

Over the mountains and the sea,

Your river runs with love for me.

And I will open up my heart,

And let the Healer set me free.

I’m happy to be in the truth,

And I will daily lift my hands,

For I will always sing

Of when Your love came down.

I could sing of Your love forever…..

            Come on and let's sing of God’s love forever!!! Won’t you join me as we sing our song of JOY?!

What a Mighty God of JOY!

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  When you’ve had your daily portion, you’ll find a song in your heart!

            Ever noticed that when you’re happy and things are going your way, you find yourself singing, humming or whistling a tune.  It’s just a natural expression of a happy heart. Psalm 40:3 says: “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”

            The joyful truth about people who have given their hearts to the Lord is that they do have a song to sing….a song of praise for their salvation; a song of love for a Savior who died for them; a song of hope knowing that Christ is the answer to every problem. Indeed, we serve a mighty God….and that reminds me of a song that says just that!

            What a mighty God we serve!

           What a mighty God we serve!

           Angels bow before Him,

           Heaven and earth adore Him.

           What a mighty God we serve!  

I don’t know the writer of this song, but one thing’s for sure…He knew God on a personal basis.  Obviously he had been through tough times and had seen God prove His power and might.

            If you have not made Jesus your personal Savior and Lord, ask Him into your heart today.  No matter what you’re going through, whether it’s sickness, heartache, financial struggles, loneliness, or whatever…..please know that God is able to “put a new song in your mouth, a hymn of praise to” Him.

            This is Joyce Ashley of JoyJoy Ministries.  Sing that song of JOY and allow God to use you as a testimony of His mighty power.

I Just Feel Like JOY is About to Happen!

          Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’ll put a song in your heart!

          As I was working around my house one morning not so long ago, I found myself humming the tune of an old Gaither song.  If you’re “mature” like I am, you may remember it:  “I Just Feel Like Something Good is About to Happen”.  It’s toe tapping, hand clapping, joyfully contagious!  Though I couldn’t remember all the lyrics, the tune stayed with me all morning, until I found myself at the computer googling the words.  And oh, am I ever glad I did! 

            Read the joyful words of the first two verses:

I just feel like something good is about to happen,
I just feel like something good is on its way;
He has promised that He'd open all of Heaven,
And brother, it could happen any day.

When God's people humble themselves to call on Jesus,
And they look to heaven, expecting as they pray;
I just feel like something good is about to happen,
And brother, it could be this very day.

Some people may argue that this kind of thinking is a “pie in the sky”, put on your "rose-colored glasses" kind of thinking.  But I think it’s scriptural! 1 Thess. 5:16-18 tells us to:  "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
When we can do that, then we’ll have that JOY in our heart and will be bursting forth in song!

One day Jesus is coming back!!!  Now that is the ultimate “something good” that is certainly going to happen.  Be JOYfully ready to meet Him!