Philippians---The JOY Book!

Philippians is my favorite book in the Bible....because Paul's attitude of JOY and contentment are woven throughout the tapestry of these 104 verses like threads of priceless gold.  Paul was in prison!!! Yet instead of throwing himself a pity party, he surprisingly sent a joy-filled message to the Christians in Philippi.  And what an encouragement his words are to US, as well!

Have you taken the time to sit down and read this little book all the way through?  It won't take long.  There are only four short chapters.  I can guarantee that if you will read, study and saturate yourself with the wisdom in this joyful letter, you will be drinking in the JOY JUICE that I love to talk about so often.

In the first chapter of Philippians we learn that there is JOY in LIVING---whether or not we get what we want, in spite of difficult circumstances, and even when there are conflicts, hurts and unexpected tragedy.

In the second chapter, we learn there is JOY in SERVING!  It starts with the right attitude (humility); it is maintained through the right theology (God is God); and it is encouraged by the right models and mentors (friends like Timothy and Epaphroditus).

In the third chapter, we learn there is JOY in SHARING.  Paul shared three joyful things in his letter:

• His testimony
• His goal in living
• His reason for encouragement

In the fourth chapter, we learn there is JOY in RESTING.  Resting in Him means begin content in our circumstances because we are trusting Him to be in control.

WOW!  Now that's a lot of JOY for one day!  Dig into the book of Philippians and discover your own servings of JOY JUICE......made especially by God with YOU in mind!

Today's Serving of JOY JUICE

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It may just help to ward off anxiety!

Philippians 4:6 reminds us to "be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let you requests be made known to God."

Wait just a minute!  Surely we read that incorrectly!  Did it say: "BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING"???????? How on earth can we NEVER be anxious????? It's impossible in our own strength!

God knows our human limitations.  And He is always there for us.  He instructs us to go to Him in prayer with EVERYTHING!  As we bring our requests to Him, we should do so with a thankful heart.  This gives us a whole different perspective about our circumstances.  We can TRUST God to take the situation....and take care of it!  He will do that!  Because He cares for us....just as 1 Peter 5:6-7 says: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because HE CARES FOR YOU."

That knowledge alone should fill our hearts with a sense of peace and an overflow of JOY!

CHOOSE JOY!!!

In yesterday's blog I mentioned that the remainder of this week I would post some of the things that God laid upon our hearts at the "EnJOY the Journey" Ladies' Conference at Rothwell Baptist Church in Pooler.  One of the recurring themes of the weekend was that JOY is a CHOICE!  WHAT????  A CHOICE???
Yep!  Keep in mind that JOY is not the same as happiness.  We might not always be happy about our circumstances but we can CHOOSE JOY because of our relationship in Christ!

I told the story of our three year old granddaughter, Naomi, coming to spend a couple of days with us.  When it came naptime, it took her FOREVER to calm down long enough to fall asleep.  She was so excited to be a GiGi and Papa's that she was "wound tight".  As she laid in her bed, she talked to the stuffed animals, the dolls, the pictures on the wall, imaginary friends......she talked and talked and talked!  I finally opened the door and said, "Naomi, you've got to stop talking and take a nap!"

I closed the door, expecting to hear a little sniffle or even a loud cry.....but instead........she was obedient!  She stopped talking......AND STARTED SINGING at the top of her lungs: "I'VE GOT THE JOY, JOY, JOY, JOY down in my heart, down in my heart toooooooo staaaaaaaaay!"   NAOMI CHOSE JOY!  She was determined to not let anything steal her joy that day---not naptime, not GiGi, not hurt feelings!

What about you and me?  Are we just as determined to not let ANYTHING steal our JOY?  If we have Jesus as our personal Savior and Lord, then we have every reason to remain JOYful!  We can't control our circumstances most of the time, but we CAN control how we react to those circumstances.  Let's determine to always CHOOSE JOY.....so that Jesus can produce some delicious JOY JUICE in our lives!!!  A double portion of JOY---enough to share with all those He brings into our path today, tomorrow, and all the days to come!

Basking in the Afterglow of JOY!

To each of you who prayed for the "EnJOY the Journey" Conference at Rothwell Baptist in Pooler, GA this weekend....THANK YOU!  God was there!  And His love and JOY was evident!  It was an AWESOME weekend that passed, oh so quickly! 

From the time we arrived, Tammy, Amanda and I felt wrapped in His love.  The instant we met those PRECIOUS ladies, we felt as if we'd known them for years!  Lots of laughter and smiles were shared from the time we got there til the time we left.  And we are still "basking in the afterglow of His JOY"!

You see, when you have the love of Jesus in your heart and you are seeking to serve Him, God brings those who have common hearts into your path.  No matter what age or what your talents and gifts may be, if you share the love of God, then you have MUCH in common!  I am soooo thrilled to have new friends who are praying for me and who give me the sweet privilege of praying for them!

I'll be posting this week some of things we talked about at the conference.....so "stay tuned for more JOY"!

Anticipating JOY in the Lord!

Well, this is the day the Lord has made!  I'm reJOYcing and being glad in it!  My ministry "partners" for the weekend and I will be traveling to Savannah today---anticipating a JOYful weekend with the sisters at Rothwell Baptist Church.

Today, I'd like to ask you to pray for God's annointing on the whole weekend, from beginning to end.  Pray for the music, the sound equipment, the speakers, the women who will be attending.  Pray for EACH of our hearts to be tender toward Him.

TRULY, we are anticipating HIS JOY to be evident throughout this conference!

Thanks ahead of time for your prayers!!!!!! 

Count it ALL JOY!

Do ever feel that you are under attack?  I do!  And this week has been one of those weeks!  From every direction I felt those "fiery darts" of the enemy heading my way!  But our powerful awesome God is my strength and my SHIELD!!!!!  Therefore, I can still "count it ALL JOY"!

I set aside this week as "study time" to prepare for a ladies' conference that I'll be leading in Pooler, GA. (outside of Savannah)  I had been so busy up until this week with many family, church and ministry activities....all of which were wonderful, fun and good!  BUT I knew I really needed some quiet time, prep time and study time to make sure I was ready to deliver the messages that God has in store for the sweet ladies at Pooler Baptist.

WELL, you guess it!  Distractions and obligations, urgent needs and interruptions came by the multitudes.  Things began to happen that I'd NEVER in a million years dreamed up!  Heartaches, health concerns of family members, friends who were hurting......You get the picture!!!!!

BUT OUR GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!  And I experienced through it all, a sense of PEACE.  You know the kind....that peace that passes all understanding.  It could have come only from God.  I've not had time to study like I'd planned, but I have had time to talk to God in the midst of all the "opportunities".  And He has assured me that HE has everything under control.

Soooo, I'm off to Savannah tomorrow!  And can hardly wait to see what God has in store for our mini "EnJOY the Journey" Conference!  It's GOT to be a special time, because the enemy has worked so hard to keep it from happening.  I'll let you know how God "shows up and shows out"!  I'm counting it ALL JOY!!!! AND asking YOU to pray for God to pour out His JOY JUICE onto all of us!!!

Your Personal Serving of JOY JUICE

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  All you have to do is ask and you can have as much as you desire!

In Matthew 7:7 we find the words of Jesus: "Ask and it will be give to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."  As we pray, we are given these simple guidelines to ASK, SEEK and KNOCK.  And then verse 8 gives us an unconditional promise: "For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

Doesn't it fill your heart with JOY to know that when you ask, seek and knock, God is listening?!  These verses are promises to the Christian.  HE hears and answers our prayers!  Now, He may not answer in the way that WE think is best or in OUR time frame.  Remember: "His ways are not our ways".   But if we trust that God is always going to answer our prayers with our best interest in mind, this fills us with such peace and assurance---blessed assurance as the old hymn says---packed full of JOY!