Finding Joy

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,”  James 1:2

I read the story of a man named Robert Reid.

The article said, “His hands are twisted and his feet are useless. He can’t bathe himself. He can’t feed himself. He can’t brush his teeth, comb his hair, or put on his underwear. Strips of Velcro hold his shirts together. His speech drags like a worn out audiocassette. 

Robert has cerebral palsy.”

The disease keeps him from driving a car, riding a bike, and going for a walk. But it didn’t keep him from graduating from high school or attending Abilene Christian University, from which he graduate with a degree in Latin. Having cerebral palsy didn’t keep him from teaching at St. Louis junior college or from venturing overseas on five mission trips. 

And Robert’s disease didn’t prevent him from becoming a missionary in Portugal.

He moved to Lisbon, alone, in 1972. There he rented a hotel room and began studying Portuguese. He found a restaurant owner who would feed him after the rush hour and a tutor who would instruct him in the language. 

Then he stationed himself daily in a park, where he distributed brochures about Christ. Within six years he led seventy people to the Lord, one of whom became his wife, Rosa. 

“I have everything I need for joy,” he said.”

Everything for joy?  The world would say he didn’t.  He had a debilitating disease... couldn’t do many things for himself... His emotions might have got the best of him if not for one critical component in Robert’s life:

A lifelong relationship with his loving God.

Robert knew that joy doesn’t come from circumstance...it comes from connection.  Staying tethered to Christ in the darkness... when the world seems hopeless, helpless, and harmful.  Joy isn’t temporary...it doesn’t shift with the wind... 

Joy is knowing that Jesus Christ is there and will never leave.

Joy is being confident in your salvation.

Joy is doing more than the world says you can because your God will get you through.

Joy is remembering that your legs may not work, but your heart can still dance.

Joy is feeling blessed even when the storms roll in.

Joy is leaning on God’s promises in spite of what you see in front of you.

Joy can’t be taken from you... 

It isn’t a feeling.

It isn’t an emotion.

Joy is recalling what Christ looks and sounds like in the darkest part of the valley.

Joy is following your Shepherd simply because you remember that He knows the way.

Joy is more than happiness... for happiness fades.  It is an inner and unending spring of confidence that comes from knowing the size and strength of God. 

If you don’t have joy in your life today... it is my prayer that you would do your very best to seek it.   Let nothing hold you back from the life of joy that God has for you.  He is good... He is loving... and He died so that we can live the life we were created to.  

Filled With Joy

It’s been said that laughter is like changing a baby’s diaper... it doesn’t permanently solve any problems, but it makes things more acceptable for a while.   So true!  When we are upbeat, positive, and keep our sense of humor... good things happen.  Doctors tell us that happy people decrease their chances of heart attack, high blood pressure, and hypertension.  And those are just the medical benefits!  

The Bible reminds us in Proverbs 17:22 that “A joyful heart is good medicine”  But how can we remain happy throughout our trying days?  Psalm 16:11 answers that by saying that we can find joy in God’s presence.  So that’s the key!  Stay close to God... and He will give us the joy that allows us to laugh when others are anxious and have peace when the world seems dark.  When we deliberately stay in God’s Word, talk with Him consistently through prayer, and worship Him through our actions... we draw closer and become filled with more joy in the process.   Want to be happy and healthy but find yourself stressed and worried?  Get closer to the One who gave you both the reason and ability to smile!

Choose

At Potential Church, we talk to so many people who are suffering.  Maybe they experience a dating breakup, a failed marital relationship, or just an overwhelming sense of failure or loss.  I turn to this scripture...

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

I love this verse.  Simply put, it says that when we hurt... God is there.  But lets look at it a little closer.   More specifically...the word “brokenhearted”.  Ever felt that way?   Have you ever had your heart broken?  Maybe she said I do... but really didn’t.  Maybe you risked it all... and lost it.  Perhaps you were abused, misused, or accused and it hurt.  You’ve cried all you can cry and now look skyward... desperately hoping for a sign from God that everything will be ok.  

Today’s verse is for you... the brokenhearted and crushed.  God is near.. He saves you from the pain.  This scripture doesn’t say that He’ll get to you... or that He’s thinking about you... it says He’s NEAR you.  Next to you.  With you.  His loving arm over your shoulder and His eyes filled with empathy and concern.  

But God is there for a reason... not just to comfort... but to strengthen you.  God wants to remind you that you weren’t created to suffer.   You weren’t knit together to be a victim.  You weren’t designed to be in pain forever.   So what can you do to feel better?  

Choose.

Walter Anderson writes, "I am responsible. Although I may not be able to prevent the worst from happening, I am responsible for my attitude toward the inevitable misfortunes that darken life. Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have -- life itself."

Every day that our lungs take in air is a blessing.  Every new set of 24 hours is a fresh opportunity to begin the journey back.  If your heart hurts today... choose to give it to God.  Decide on joy over sadness.  Focus on counting blessings not burdens.  God will be there.  Always.  When you are wounded... He heals.  Remember, you are far too valuable to this world... don’t let your pain define, restrict, or outright stop you from accomplishing the destiny for which you were created.   

Find yourself in an emotional pit today? Allow God to strengthen and heal you... and then choose to begin the walk out of it.  You can do it.  I’ll be praying for you as you do.   

Joyful Heart

It’s been said that laughter is like changing a baby’s diaper... it doesn’t permanently solve any problems, but it makes things more acceptable for a while.   So true!  When we are upbeat, positive, and keep our sense of humor... good things happen.  Doctors tell us that happy people decrease their chances of heart attack, high blood pressure, and hypertension.  And those are just the medical benefits!  

The Bible reminds us in Proverbs 17:22 that “A joyful heart is good medicine”  But how can we remain happy throughout our trying days?  Psalm 16:11 answers that by saying that we can find joy in God’s presence.  So that’s the key!  Stay close to God... and He will give us the joy that allows us to laugh when others are anxious and have peace when the world seems dark.  When we deliberately stay in God’s Word, talk with Him consistently through prayer, and worship Him through our actions... we draw closer and become filled with more joy in the process.   Want to be happy and healthy but find yourself stressed and worried?  Get closer to the One who gave you both the reason and ability to smile!

Ours

There’s a story told of a northern girl during the Civil War.  It’s said as she watched southern general Robert E. Lee ride past her house on his way to Gettysburg she said, “Oh, I wish he were ours.”   Lee’s reputation was so compelling... his behavior so genuine that even the opposing side wanted his influence...

This got me to thinking... how many people watch us during the course of our day?  I would guess there are far more than we might suspect.  I wonder how many of them look at us and want to be more like us because we are in a relationship with Jesus Christ.  How compelling are we living out our faith?  How genuine is our joy?  2 Corinthians 5 calls us “Christ’s ambassadors”... a big responsibility... but a huge opportunity to show others how wonderful Jesus is!   Let’s commit to living our lives in such a way that even those that don’t know us look at us and want the joy, peace, patience, and strength that only Christ can provide.  

It Can't Be Taken From You

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,”  James 1:2

I read the story of a man named Robert Reid.

The article said, “His hands are twisted and his feet are useless. He can’t bathe himself. He can’t feed himself. He can’t brush his teeth, comb his hair, or put on his underwear. Strips of Velcro hold his shirts together. His speech drags like a worn out audiocassette. 

Robert has cerebral palsy.”

The disease keeps him from driving a car, riding a bike, and going for a walk. But it didn’t keep him from graduating from high school or attending Abilene Christian University, from which he graduate with a degree in Latin. Having cerebral palsy didn’t keep him from teaching at St. Louis junior college or from venturing overseas on five mission trips. 

And Robert’s disease didn’t prevent him from becoming a missionary in Portugal.

He moved to Lisbon, alone, in 1972. There he rented a hotel room and began studying Portuguese. He found a restaurant owner who would feed him after the rush hour and a tutor who would instruct him in the language. 

Then he stationed himself daily in a park, where he distributed brochures about Christ. Within six years he led seventy people to the Lord, one of whom became his wife, Rosa. 

“I have everything I need for joy,” he said.”

Everything for joy?  The world would say he didn’t.  He had a debilitating disease... couldn’t do many things for himself... His emotions might have got the best of him if not for one critical component in Robert’s life:

A lifelong relationship with his loving God.

Robert knew that joy doesn’t come from circumstance...it comes from connection.  Staying tethered to Christ in the darkness... when the world seems hopeless, helpless, and harmful.  Joy isn’t temporary...it doesn’t shift with the wind... 

Joy is knowing that Jesus Christ is there and will never leave.

Joy is being confident in your salvation.

Joy is doing more than the world says you can because your God will get you through.

Joy is remembering that your legs may not work, but your heart can still dance.

Joy is feeling blessed even when the storms roll in.

Joy is leaning on God’s promises in spite of what you see in front of you.

Joy can’t be taken from you... 

It isn’t a feeling.

It isn’t an emotion.

Joy is recalling what Christ looks and sounds like in the darkest part of the valley.

Joy is following your Shepherd simply because you remember that He knows the way.

Joy is more than happiness... for happiness fades.  It is an inner and unending spring of confidence that comes from knowing the size and strength of God. 

If you don’t have joy in your life today... it is my prayer that you would do your very best to seek it.   Let nothing hold you back from the life of joy that God has for you.  He is good... He is loving... and He died so that we can live the life we were created to.  

The Key to Joy

It’s been said that laughter is like changing a baby’s diaper... it doesn’t permanently solve any problems, but it makes things more acceptable for a while. So true! When we are upbeat, positive, and keep our sense of humor... good things happen. Doctors tell us that happy people decrease their chances of heart attack, high blood pressure, and hypertension. And those are just the medical benefits!

The Bible reminds us in Proverbs 17:22 that “A joyful heart is good medicine” But how can we remain happy throughout our trying days? Psalm 16:11 answers that by saying that we can find joy in God’s presence. So that’s the key! Stay close to God... and He will give us the joy that allows us to laugh when others are anxious and have peace when the world seems dark. When we deliberately stay in God’s Word, talk with Him consistently through prayer, and worship Him through our actions... we draw closer and become filled with more joy in the process. Want to be happy and healthy but find yourself stressed and worried? Get closer to the One who gave you both the reason and ability to smile!

Wonder

I found this story and I want to share it with you today... I’m praying it inspires you as it did me...

“A friend of mine opened his wife’s bedside drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package: ‘This,’ - he said - ‘isn’t any ordinary package.’  He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box. 

‘She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on. Was saving it for a special occasion.  Well, I guess this is it.’  He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral home.  His wife had just passed away.  He turned to me and said: ‘Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion’. 

I still think those words changed my life. 

Now I read more and clean less.  I sit on the porch without worrying about anything. 

I spend more time with my family, and less at work. I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through. I no longer keep anything. I use crystal glasses every day. I’ll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it.  I don’t save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to. 

And, on each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day. 

Each day, each hour, each minute, is special. “

Some people live life wondering and some people live life wonderfully.   

The wonderers can’t decide what to do.  Should they use it or store it away for later?  Have the conversation or pretend something never happened?  

They wonder what could have been.

They wonder if it ever will be.

They worry while they’re wondering about things that are out of their control.

Wonderers spend their entire lives counting on a tomorrow that they aren’t guaranteed...borrowing trouble from a future that’s hasn’t come yet...waiting on life to be perfect before they start living it.  

There’s no need to wonder what God’s plan is for us...

Luke 9:62 - “Jesus said, ‘No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.’”  

Get after it!  Live a wonderful life!   When life puts puddles in your path... don’t let them drown you... splash in them!  You are part of God’s family!  The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords paid the highest price, His own life, for you to live in freedom!

God’s word tells us to not hesitate... to not look back... to go after life with a renewed sense of passion and focus.   We should be so busy getting the maximum out of today that we don’t have time to even think about what may happen tomorrow!  We aren’t guaranteed another sunrise... but we do have this one.. this breath.. this chance.. this time.. and this day to make a difference.  

Waiting for the clouds in your life to part before going back outside?  Don’t.  The world is a beautiful place... and you are a beautiful part of it.   If you stay inside too long, you’ll miss the rainbow that’s coming.

Live wonderfully... joyfully... expectantly... 

Hold nothing back for tomorrow.

Today is a special occasion.  

Your heart is still beating.

Get out there and live.