Joy Comes in the Morning

Despite what our governing authorities decree . . . “those who trust the LORD will be joyful!”  (Proverbs 16:20-b)

“The joy of the Lord is your strength!”  (Nehemiah 8:10)

As genuine Christians (true Believers), our appropriate response to this decree that homosexual marriage is legal in all 50 states should be:

1. Let us not be guilty of “hateful" or rude remarks/actions (un-Christ-like) behavior or speech toward people who think and live in opposition to God’s Word.
2. Let us express only what would please the Lord and serve to draw people to HIM.
3. Let us be mindful that our job, as ambassadors of Jesus Christ, is to help that happen, not to hinder it from happening.
4. Let's be contagious, rather than contentious, by speaking the truth only in love!

God gave us the Great Commission (“Go into all the world and preach the Gospel”) for a very important reason:  to share His love and truth in a way that would bring people to HIM!  That's it in a nutshell!

NOTE:   According to James 3:18 (NLT), “Those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteous.”

  

Another version says it this way:   “…the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.”

Everyone wants to have true peace, to know true love, and to find true joy (not just circumstantial happiness)   These things can only come through participating in a genuine relationship with Jesus!

Robert Murray M’Cheyne said, “The purest joy in the world is joy in Christ Jesus.”  

Let’s help others find it!  Then, everything else will fall into place in their lives, as the Holy Spirit works in their minds and hearts.

Joy by Choice

"Peace is joy at rest;

joy is peace on its feet."

I love this quote by Anne Lamott, and this one by Jack Hyles:

"Happiness is untested delight;

joy is delight tested."

Mother Teresa said,

  "Keep the joy of loving God in your heart,

 and share this joy with all you meet."

John Templeton said, 

"If we try hard to bring happiness to others,

 we cannot stop it from coming to us also.

  To get joy, we must give it,

 and to keep joy, we must scatter it!"

Henri Nouwen said,

"Joy does not simply happen to us --

 we have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day."

The bottom line is:  "True joy comes only from God,

 and He shares this joy with those

who walk in fellowship with Him." 

(said by Jerry Bridges)

Well said!

Never Too Late to Try Again

Didn't like yesterday?  Don't like today?  It's never too late to start fresh....tomorrow!

You become your thoughts!

This little nugget which I came across just now, speaks volumes!

"Far-reaching are the benefits of right thinking. 

You become like you habitually think."

Further thoughts?  Leave a comment below.

Love Jesus More

I just saw a quote by PCD (Phillips, Craig & Dean - Christian musicians):

"I pray for nothing more

than for you to love Jesus more."

That statement seriously caught my attention and has captivated my thoughts!  Do you pray that way?  No matter what else you are praying for, do you preface it with this prayer?  This should be my / your daily prayer--for me, for you, and for everyone I pray for!  If you pray for healing for someone who is sick, needy, dying, in desperate straits, etc., pray first that he/she will come to love Jesus more!  That must be first and foremost, no matter what else the prayer request!

Have you prayed that yet today?

  

Garbage In -- Garbage Out

You change what you are and how you think by changing what goes into your mind.  If an undesirable or detestable thing enters--kick it right back out the door,and deny it entrance next time it arrives on your doorstep!  Take control of what is allowed to dwell in your thoughts! 

A New Year . . . Time For Change!

Dwell on Good Thoughts

The New Normal

Ahh, it's a new year and, hopefully a new start! For me, today is the first day of "back to normal", but also for me, the question is: "Do I really want to go back to 'normal'"?

What is "normal"? (besides a setting on the dryer)

1. Is "normal" good or not so good?

2. Is "normal" boring or exciting?

3. Is "normal" enjoyable or depressing?

4. Does "normal" feel like freedom or captivity?

5. Does "normal" hurt or heal?

6. Does "normal" drag you down or lift you up

7. Are you looking forward to getting back to normal or dreading it?

I think I would like to start out 2015 with "abnormal"--a cut above last year's "normal", and make that my new "normal". However, making new year's resolutions is usually just a exercise in futility! Maybe I'll try taking one day at a time for this week, trying one new thing each day. (It may work best for me if, at the end of the day, I jot down what I did different that day, so I won't forget!) Then, on Saturday or Sunday, I'll look back through my list and make a note of any progress I made. Repeat the experience the next week, and evaluate again on the next Saturday or Sunday.

Hmmmm...it would be so nice to get to the end of January and find overall, the month was a cut above "normal" for me.  What if I repeated the experience in February and each month thereafter for the whole year? What if by the end of 2015 I had a new "normal"? It could happen. It really could! It's up to me.

I'm not going to make a list of all the things I'd like to change about how I do life. I'm just going to make a list of what I actually do differently--today, and tomorrow, and this week, and this month, and this year!

Perhaps it will be a slow start and slow progress, but I'll rejoice over each thing as it happens! Rising above "normal" is definitely possible!

Where do I start? Lord, help me to see it, know it, and do it!!!