Be Infused with Jesus and Joy

      Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Why should you drink it?  Because it’s full of spiritual nutrients…and will give you strength!

            We all know people who seem to have more than their share of trouble.  Some have buckled under the pressure, but others have come out stronger for having gone through them!  What makes the difference?  I firmly believe that faith in God is a deciding factor.

            God’s Word repeatedly promises that through Him and in Him we will find strength to meet the challenges that come our way.  But never does he promise that he will eliminate these difficulties from our lives.  If he gave us no rough roads to walk, no mountains to climb, and no battles to fight, we would not grow.  He does not leave us alone with our challenges; instead he stands beside us, teaches us, and strengthens us.  (Life Ap. Bible footnote 18:32-34)

            Psalm 18:30-32 says it beautifully:  “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.  For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?  It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”

            If you find yourself today in the midst of one of those tough challenges, let God be your shield as you take refuge in Him. 

            Allow God to infuse you with His strength so that you can face each challenge boldly and find the JOY of the Lord as your strength.

           

Face the Day with Joy!

            Have you had your Joy Juice today?  It’s the best source of strength ever known to man!

            Of course, when I say “JOY JUICE”, I’m referring the joy found in relationship with God.  When we come to the point in our lives that we realize how limited we are and how limitless God is, then we are at the beginning of understanding how much we need Him. 

            The theme of Psalm 46 is about God’s strength.  My bible notes explain: God is always there to help, providing refuge, security, and peace.  God’s power is complete and his ultimate victory is certain.  He will not fail to rescue those who love him.

            The very first verse in the Psalm 46 summarizes it well. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”  That’s a great verse to memorize, if we’ve not already do so. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”   If these words are in our heart, when the time of trouble comes we can recall them and be reminded that we don’t have to face the situation in our strength.  GOD is there!  He’s our refuge.  When we are weak…HE IS STRONG. 

            So on those days that you are not FEELing very strong, remember the  wonderful truth that we don’t have to be strong, because we have a God who is!  And He is JOYfully ready to help us in our weakness.

       Commit these words to your heart: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”  Now, face the day with JOY!

"Do You Not Know? Have You Not Heard?"

            Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Drink in the JOY of the Lord and receive strength to make it through the day!

            Do you ever feel that you are in a race?  Some days there’s so much to do and we have only a limited amount of time to accomplish it all!  There are responsibilities on the job, chores at home, necessary tasks in raising children and looking after our families.  Then there are church and civic activities, weddings, funerals, birthday parties, yard work---and at times we really want to do something for sheer entertainment.  Most of us push really hard to pack it all into our day.  Even the strongest of people get tired!

            What a blessing it is to know that our God never grows weary!  His power and strength never diminish.  His strength is OUR source of strength.  For proof of that, let’s read in God’s inerrant Word from Isaiah 40:28-31:

Do you not know?    Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.

            Just reading that truth fills me with renewed strength, how about you? 

            Always remember that no matter what we’re facing in the days to come, we know that God will give us His strength to carry on!  What a JOYful promise!