JOY?

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may bae in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  John 15:9-12 (NIV)

 

My working life was a series of strivings. Most people didn’t understand how competitive our work was. This morning I was thinking about how we all strive for position, power and money so we will be happy and enjoy life with all the good and fun things the world offers. But many who have obtained/attained those things report that they really don’t satisfy. Perhaps Solomon said it best: “Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:11 (NIV)

 

Now Jesus comes offering a path, not only to happiness, but to JOY. Complete joy! Wow! Joy may be thought of as quadruple-strength happiness. What is this path to complete joy?

·       Remain in Jesus’ love. You don’t have to earn it. You simply abide there.

·       Obey Jesus’ command. In verse 12, Jesus identifies that as “Love each other as I have loved you.”

 

There it is, from the very mouth of God! In our striving, love. In our competing, love. Instead of worrying, trust. Blessed with joy is the person who decides to live that way.

 

Lord, I surrender to Your love. Show me the way to live in it.  Amen.

 

© 2018 Parker Wayland

IS GOD GIVING YOU NEW LIFE?

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4 (NIV)

Throughout my young adult years, I had a very difficult time with my emotions. When I felt offended, I would hold on to the hurt and harbor resentment in my heart for weeks at a time. I was powerless to let those feelings go and they infiltrated my very being. I was not open to receive love from anyone because resentment had imprisoned me. This was before I had a personal experience with Jesus, truly accepting Him as my Lord and Savior.

The good news is Jesus has made me and will also make you new! As we draw close to and commune with God, we realize that we are being made new. He is changing us from the inside out. His Holy Spirit now indwells and teaches us to lay our burdens down. We are no longer imprisoned by them. With each experience, we more readily release them and learn how to forgive and continue to love through His Spirit.

What a gift! I am so thankful I am no longer burdened with resentment and living in a prison of my own making. This new life is so freeing. Now we live in God’s Spirit, experiencing His goodness in ways that are always surprising us. As our friends and family see this new life in us, may we always point to You, Father.  

Thank You for changing us, showing us how to love others as Jesus loves us and gives us new life.  

© 2018  Marianne Lucot

COUNT IT ALL JOY

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3 (NIV)

I’ve been struggling with a complaining Christian lately. It doesn’t matter the day or time; this person always seems to focus on the negative. Being in their presence was wearing me out! Then I had an aha moment that opened my eyes to my own shortcomings—I saw my log. I may not complain regularly, but I sure do struggle to find joy in all things.

Recently, I was running late for a training and found myself lost at the DC Navy Yard. While I should I have been grateful for a safe commute and the ability to walk freely, I was not. Instead, I was bothered by the 15-minute walk from the train station and frustrated when I could not find the training location with ease. I failed miserably at counting it all joy. As a result, I missed the beauty of the military base. My frustration prevented me from seeing it, but that’s minor when I consider the many things my lack of joy has caused me to miss. What about your joy?

I know life happens and there are moments when we struggle to experience joy. If you are like me, you may even get angry with God and question what He is doing during those times. But James tells us to look for the joy in the moments where our faith is being tested. That’s when our character is being built and God is reshaping our thought process. He is pushing us to find joy in all things.

Father, I struggle to count it all joy. It’s hard, but I’m asking You to help me do better.

© Dawn M. Wayman

BIG 'H' VERSUS LITTLE "h"

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 (NAS)

Many times I watched my grandmother iron clothes. She vigorously shook her silver, sprinkler-topped Coke bottle over each piece of clothing dampening it before pressing out the wrinkles.

Decades later, ironing my family’s clothes, I think of her while using my new-fangled iron with steamer and sprayer ready at the push of a button.

One day however, while ironing, the wrinkles were especially stubborn in a pair of khakis. I pressed harder and kept spraying the steam to no avail. I checked the tag to see what kind of fabric blend could be so difficult. That’s when I noticed the plug had slipped out of the socket. My iron was no longer connected to the power.

It caused me to wonder how many times I worry over a problem that appears to be insurmountable. The world has many suggestions to help. When they all fail, exasperated and weary, I realize I’ve been attempting to solve the problem without my power source. The Bible says it is “within me” and what’s more, it is greater than that of the world. HE, the Holy Spirit, is closer than my skin. He lives inside believers. When we pray, God is the power, not us. Prayer is the cord that makes the connection.

Do you have situations that are wearing you out and feel impossible? Take heart, my friend, you have what is needed. Take the authority that is your God-given gift and use it. In God’s time, He—Big “H”, will overcome the little “h” of the world.

Thank You, for being greater than the world!

© 2018 Bonnie Mae Evans