Encouragement
It is not easy to write this paper as our 'social life' these days seems to be....
'going to the doctors'. The physical therapists come to our home twice a week to try and help strengthen La Moyne's back and my legs.
We must not think only of the physical and mental....
for the spiritual dimension of life goes deeper.
We're blessed with an abundance of God's blessings:
~ present
~ future
~ Eternity
When I arose this a.m. I read a devotional book of quotes from saints of the past, entitled 'Heroes of The Faith'.
Corrie ten Boom who survived the Nazi's concentration camps wrote:
"It is not my ability, but my response to God's ability that counts.
Is prayer your steering wheel...or your spare tire?"
We have a sign on our bathroom mirror:
"Joy isn't the absence of sorrow....it is the presence of God."
Though she was blind, Fanny Crosby wrote:
"Oh what a happy soul I am though I cannot see,
I am resolved in the world contented I will be."
She had the key that opens the door to God's blessings of Joy...
a commitment by Faith to Almighty God!
Jim Elliott who was martyred by the Auca Indians in Ecuador wrote:
"Am I ignightable? God deliver me from the dread asbestos of other things.
Saturate me with the oil of the Spirit that I may be a flame."
A good question to ask ourselves "Am I aflame with the Spirit of God and His Will?
Also, is your Faith and Joy contagious....not superficial, but real!
"The Joy of the Lord is my strength" (Neh. 8:10)
Paul prayed that he might 'finish his course with Joy'. (Acts 20:24)
Jesus prayed "I pray that my Joy might remain in you and that your Joy might be full" (John 15:11) and James wrote "Count it all Joy."
Here is where we often fail. We forget that The God of the Mountains is also....
God of the Valleys. The God of the good times is also God of the bad times!
"Your heart shall rejoice and your Joy no one can take from you." (John 16:22)
Be careful here, for every day you may meet someone who by their attitude or actions may take your Joy from you!!
Fellowship with God in word and prayer must precede 'Followship'.
If your Joy seems to wane (or even be missing) read and study Psalm 51.....
about how David's Joy was restored.
"Behold God is my Salvation. I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song! I will draw the water of my life out of the wells of Salvation." (Isaiah 12:2-3)
Psalms 107:22 teaches that God's work is to be done with Joy and Thanksgiving!
Job 20:5 tells us that "the hypocrites' Joy is but for a moment."
The Joy of Jesus is:
~The Joy of Faith in Christ "Forsaking all I take Him"
~The Joy of Freedom "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free".
(John 8: 32,36)
~The Joy of Fellowship and Followship (I John 1:3-4)
~The Joy of Fulfillment (Gal 2:20,21)
This comes when God fills us full and it is no longer we who live...
but Christ living in us and through us to others!
May you have Jesus' Joy on your Journey for Him!
Remember.....JOY = JESUS and YOU WITH NOTHING IN BETWEEN!"
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Thank you for this "Joyful" article. It is so refreshing to hear you have not lost your joy even when physical ailments have beset you. I am praying for both of you to get better physically - very soon.
Love in Christ,
Julia