The Giving Spirit of JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  When you give some away, there is sure to be JOY coming your way!

GIVE JOY!     

      Do you have a giving spirit? Most of us don’t mind sharing… until it begins to be a sacrifice. Think of the brave military men and women who serve our country.  They are often expected to give up time with their precious families and the comforts of home; they even have to put their lives on the line many times.  That’s sacrificial giving.  

THE Supreme Sacrifice

             In Romans 8:32 we are reminded of the supreme sacrifice: He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

            Many years ago, Jesus died on the cross…gave his very life…for you and me.  That was God’s plan from the beginning.  And He continues to “graciously give us all things”.  He knows our needs and has a plan to take care of us.  The problem comes when we don’t trust Him enough, so we take matters into our own hands.

            When we trust Christ for salvation, we must remember that NOTHING can separate us from His love.  And with that love comes protection,  provision and wisdom…plus so much more! Oh, yes…and JOY, of course!

            Make Jesus your role model and give sacrificially.  When we’re giving to others, we’ll have extra JOY JUICE to share! 

Give JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Share some with others~ It’s a great way to give!

G-I-V-E

            When you hear the word “give”, what kind of emotion does it evoke in you?  Do you feel joyful over the prospect of being able to give to others?  It probably depends on WHO you’d be giving to, right?

            We love to give to our children, grandchildren and special friends. It’s a pleasure to be able to express how we care by giving them something that makes them happy.  But what about when we feel “obligated” to give and we find ourselves giving grudgingly rather than cheerfully.

            In Luke 6:38 we read, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

            Do you know what Jesus was referring to in this passage?  In the previous verses He had been urging His followers not to judge or condemn others, but rather to forgive. For example:  “People who have gracious and compassionate spirits, refusing to judge and condemn, will find gracious attitudes and compassion returned toward them.  People who forgive easily will find that they are forgiven their own offenses more easily.  The measure with which we give determines the measure with which we receive.” (The Bible for Hope, pp 1326)

            Do you desire forgiveness?  Then---be willing to forgive!  That’s one sure way of receiving a great big portion of the JOY JUICE of Jesus!

            Let’s give generously…and be ready for a good measure of JOY !

Every Day is a Good Day to Share the JOY of Jesus!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s a special treat whether you’re jumping with joy or feeling overwhelmed with problems.

            Whether you’ve started your day with joyful pep in your step or if you feel as if your “wagon is draggin’”…either way… I’ve got some good news for you! Every day is a good day to be treated with the blessings of God.

WHY ME, GOD?

On those tough days, please realize that your circumstances may be God’s way of refining you and preparing you for blessings beyond your wildest imagination.  We can choose to rejoice in those times….not because of the situation, but knowing that God is with us as we walk  through it.

As Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:6-7:  "In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

When gold goes through the refining process, it has to be heated to a high temperature so the impurities will rise to the top and can be skimmed off.  In the same way, our problems turn up the heat in our spiritual life and cause a refining that may never take place otherwise.  We’re being purified and polished to reflect His love and joy!

Let’s not get discouraged by the time of trial in our lives, but accept it as a joyful treat from the ONE who loves us immeasurably. 

Go...and Spread JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Let’s treat someone who really needs a special serving.

            We’ve been concentrating this week on the blessings of God in our lives. We’ve called them JOY treats.  Today let’s think about how to share a treat with someone else.  Can you think of a person who is having a tough time emotionally, financially or physically?  Ask God to show you how you can bring a ray of hope and joy into their life. 

·        A brief word of encouragement might be just the treat they need.

·        They may be in need of help with a project around the house.

·        Sometimes a casserole or a pie is the perfect treat…in more ways than one.

·         A grieving person may simply need the comfort of your company…a silent treat. 

What about helping a stranger?

            Remember the story of the Good Samaritan? The priest and the Levite were religious leaders. You would expect them to help the man who had been attacked and left bleeding on the side of road, but they went out of their way to avoid him!  But not the Samaritan…why is this so significant?

The Jews and Samaritans had been enemies for hundreds of years. The Jews of Jesus' society considered the Samaritans to be ceremonially unclean, socially outcast, religious heretics.  Yet, the Samaritan in Jesus’ parable took pity on the poor man who had been robbed and beaten. He gave freely of both his time and his money to help this Jewish man who was not only a stranger, but also an enemy from a foreign country. Jesus challenges us to "Go and do the same."

            Be a Good Samaritan by drinking and serving the JOY JUICE of Jesus.

Look for JOY Treats!

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Treat yourself to as much as you can hold!

            Blessings are like treats!  Today let’s be on the lookout for treats of JOY.  If we’re seeking them, we can find them hidden throughout our day. Sometimes we’re just too busy or in such a rush that we miss them!  Other times they are disguised as something else---maybe even a problem.

            We’ve all heard stories of how some person was delayed on his way to work or on a trip, and then found out later that he had avoided a bad accident.  I wonder how many times we’ve been treated to the protection of God?!  Today, let’s look for the obvious treats of joy that we miss frequently because of our busy, hectic schedules. Or maybe our JOY glasses need cleaning so that we can see more clearly. A few examples:

• Laughter among friends
• A smile and kind word…just when we need it
• The birth of a new baby
• A slice of your favorite pie
• A card from a family member or close friend
• The ability and strength to face a new day

Okay…are your joy thoughts flowing? Start making your own list of the hidden treats God has packed into this day especially for you. As Psalm 16:11 says:  "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

             How many joy treats can you find today?  Make sure the Joy Juice of Jesus is number one on your list!

The Sweet Treat of JOY

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  For a treat that’s sweet to the taste and that will fill you to overflowing, make sure to have the Joy Juice of Jesus within easy reach.

Treat = Blessings

            We’re using the word “treat” this week to describe God’s blessings.  Indeed, He pours them out into our lives every day, yet so often we have our eyes closed and we miss them! Let’s open our spiritual eyes so that we can focus on all the treats that He creates for those He loves….which is you and me!

            One such treat is family.  Though family members don’t always see eye to eye on everything, there is a bond like no other.  They share common memories.  They’ve experienced heartache and laughter, fun road trips and quiet days at home, loss and gain, as well many other things that tap into every emotion. All of that pulls individuals together to make a family.

            Now, I’m not so naive as to believe that all families are happy and get along well.  But the intent of our loving heavenly Father is that we should live in His love.  That includes forgiveness. Robert Muller said: “To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.”   I like to call this the JOY of the Lord!

            So, as you think about your family today, be treated with the knowledge that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us beyond measure.  “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1)

            Treat yourself to a great big serving of Joy Juice and be sure to share generously with all your family members.

JOY---The Treat That Can't be Beat!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s a treat that can’t be beat!

            This time of year we notice God’s beautiful handiwork as He pulls out His paintbrush & strokes beautiful reds, oranges and golds onto the summer-time foliage creating the autumn leaves.  Fall is God’s special treat to us after the long, hot days of summer.  Each new season is a welcome change and brings with it special treats for the time of year.  He wants us to enjoy His creation….but so often we get caught up in the “busyness” and simply take it for granted.

God's Treats

            It’s the last week in October, but instead of spending our time thinking about “Trick or Treating”, why don’t we focus our thoughts on how God gives us treats every day?  Let’s pull out our JOY magnifying glass and take an up-close-and-personal look at how each new day is packed full of treats from our Maker.

            The first treat he wants to put in our treat bag is so big that you’ll want to share it with others.  It’s called: the LOVE of God.

            There are hundreds of verses in the Bible that tell of God’s love, but one of the simplest to remember is found in 1 John 4:8: GOD IS LOVE.

           

            God proved His love for us by sending His Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sins.  You talk about a “treat that surpasses all”.  That’s a treat created with indescribable LOVE and JOY.

            Open your heart and receive the treat of God’s love...and JOY!