Get Your Joy On!
Good Morning Girls! Are you ready to get your joy on? I wish you were all here in my living room right now having a cup a coffee, watching the sunrise, and listening to me preach you all happy! God is so fun. I never thought studying joy could be so......well, joyful I guess. The longer I do my blog, and continue my own little "independent bible study", the more I realize that the Word really isn't rocket science. When I approach it with excitement, curiosity and innocence of a child, the Lord makes things seem so clear to me. In fact, sometimes they seem so obvious that when I am led to blog them, I argue a little bit and say "umm, Lord, that's a little obvious don't you think.....I would like to encourage them with something that will enlighten them, and help them see something they didn't see before". His response is something like "and how long have you understood this?" and I say "about 30 seconds........but I'm sure everyone else already knew it......." I usually don't get a response after that. You know, God doesn't really give us the silent treatment. The silent treatment is unfair and immature. No, when you don't receive a response from God in the midst of a "discussion", it is usually because He knows that you know what you should do, and He is going to wait patiently for you to do what is right. Remember, God has already passed the patience test, so He can wait a long time. Forever and ever amen kind of long time! Wow! That was an unplanned detour.....must have been for someone.....let's move on to joy! True joy comes from the Lord. However, simply saying the prayer of salvation will not bring you the everlasting joy that brings you through everything life throws your way. There is more. It says in Jeremiah 15:16: When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my hearts delight. It is the Word of God that brings joy. Remember when you were first born again, and you were told the Good News, and how it made you feel. I remember feeling like a kid again! I would sing "Jesus loves me" while grocery shopping. Every time I saw someone wearing a cross necklace I would say something like "your a Christian too huh?....cool". I didn't care that they would look at me like I was from another planet! I was full of the joy of the Lord! I guess I attracted a little too much attention because it didn't take long for the devil to set his sights on me and my joy. I struggled off and on for months. I would sit in church, at the edge of my seat, soaking in every word. Pastor Mac would reference something that he assumed we should all know, and I was clueless. I would talk to someone and they would reference the Word, and it was like they were speaking Greek to me. One day, it registered. I need to read my bible. So I read, and that was okay. Unfortunately, it was a little like algebra. Now and then I would be sitting in church and Pastor Mac would talk about something I had just read, and he would explain it, and I would just about jump out of my seat and yell "THANK YOU"! I would get so excited! Every time I receive revelation of God's Word, I am filled with more joy. It is still that way today. God's Word is great. Understanding God's Word...........priceless!
Nehemiah 8:12 So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God's words and understood them
Love you all-
Jen
Nehemiah 8:12 So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God's words and understood them
Love you all-
Jen
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