F4S: There really ought to be JOY in the journey. Can you think of something better to have inside, as you walk with and witness for Christ?

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

There really ought to be JOY in the journey. Can you think of something better to have inside, as you walk with and witness for Christ?


Father God, thank You for being so creative, so generous, and for loving me... for loving us! Thank You for standing with me and with my believing friends cuz of simple faith in Jesus. Please comfort, encourage, uplift and touch the hurting one today. And I ask that You show me / us some new creative ways to witness with Your old truth to those not yet saved.. and to encourage those believers who want to grow spiritually, building em up real good ..the people around me / us today! We all need You more than any air to breathe, every moment we need You. Please help me live the life, shine real bright, and be a consistent example of Your wise expressive love ..tactfully applying truth in serving this very day. Thanks for real J O Y, for your yoke-breaking freeing anointing, and for just providing for each of us. Live big inside each of us for Your sake. Yes, be glorified. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.


Did you know that Isis terrorists are on the move and our leader skips looking at nearly 60% of all daily intelligence briefings that would help keep Americans safe? True. 

"Did you know that at least 52 million people die and go into eternity each year? It's true." ~ Skip Heitzig

It's not God's fault. He's never intended for there to be death for anyone. He's done wrong. He told us the wages of sin is death.. He's warned us all the way back to the time of Adam and Eve, but He's also not trying to rub our noses in it. He's given us the Solution to the problem of sin. So put off all bitterness and choose JOY in Jesus. Listen to me, when we each look around or check out the daily news ..and there is nothing wrong with knowing what is goin' on around us so we can pray informed.. we can easily forget to pray and instead find reasons to abandon joy, contentment, and gratitude... but please don't do it. 

Count your blessings one by one. Do it often. Think about it. If you were to go to a professional therapist, they would have you go back and recount all the negative things in this sin-cursed world that people have done to you, or recount all the circumstances beyond your control that have happened to you. Who wouldn't feel worse after that? Who wouldn't feel that they need their therapist even more after that, and be willing to pay him or her on a regular basis? (not saying I know all their motives or that all these professionals can not help people). 


“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits..” Psalm 103:2
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” ~ Jesus Jn.16:33
Instead, try to go back in your personal history and see if you can't find at least seven or eight wonderful things that have happened in your life, and then give thanks to the Lord for those things. Recounting the few, the handful of good things, and there might even be more than sevena handful of thingswould soon make you feel a lot better inside huh. It think it would actually be helpful—yes, do more than just make you feel better. 

Our unchanging God has already given and He has been faithful. In fact He gave us His best, His Son Jesus Christ. And we do have a lot to be thankful for, but guess what.. experientially ..the best is yet to come. Heaven! Yup, for every believer! Not that far away. So express sincere thanks and give praise to Him for every blessing that has been granted, or that has happened in your life. 



Heaven is a real place, hell is a real place, this earth is the decision-zone so to speak (we each have "an either or proposition" to accept or reject Christ as our Savior), and guess what! You, I and all others have sinned, but there is comfort, forgiveness, hope, restoration, life and healing in this Jesus of the Bible. There’s life in God’s Word for you and for your friends. Sure, read through the Psalms for such solace. Ask God how all these Bible truths can guide you in life, no matter the great challenges that you or a loved one are currently facing.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, ‘His steadfast love endures forever.’ Let the house of Aaron say, ‘His steadfast love endures forever.’ Let those who fear the Lord say, ‘His steadfast love endures forever.’ Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.” Psalm 118:1-18

“Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.” Psalm 107:43

Choose and begin to thank, to praise, and to rejoice in the Lord. Your bones will flourish like a well-tended garden of herbs, and your cheeks will start to glow with the bloom of youthful health and vital freshness. Worry, blame, fear, envy, distrust of direct authority, and inner anxiety are poisonous to your spiritual growth! But His JOY is a ministering, comforting balm. Yes, it can be healing for you. If you will but rejoice in Christ, God the Father will pour out His power and use you for His glory.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah.” Psalm 68:19

“His glory is great through Your salvation, splendor and majesty You place upon him. For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of Your presence.” Psalm 21:6

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

If you could just look a bit closer.. you'd indeed see a fine strand if ya will in each and every blessing or good experience you've enjoyed.. a sort of string that winds around and leads directly back to the Lord Himself ..our caring Creator. 

Sure! It's cuz of His great mercy and free amazing grace! It's cuz He really loves you and hasn't for even one second forgotten you. Yup, so there ya have it, the truth and reason to thank Him. And He has so much more for us, His Church! So let's rejoice! Let's enjoy fellowship, meaningful companionship, worshipful relationship with Him today ..and then go share with others the Good News of Christ's Cross and His empty tomb! facebook.com/shareJesus