Tag Archives: Spread the JOY of the LORD

A Friday Smile??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #216

03 Friday May 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Comfort, Commitment Or Convenience, Encouragement, Joy, Joy Is Contagious!, Joy of The Lord!, Joy To The World?, Longsuffering, Look up and Praise The Lord, Looking Unto Jesus, Looking up Or around?, Time Is Grace!, Trials, Tried by FIRE!, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?

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A Friday Smile??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #216

Just a few scriptures to hopefully brighten your day and perhaps lift your load for a bit.  Here in Oklahoma we’ve been inundated with rain and abundant and often deadly and destructive storms and tornados; please pray for those around us who have lost so much, some everything (and if you’re not aware look up Sulpher, OK on the internet and see the devastation—a whole town wiped out overnight, and they’re one of several towns in such dire straits.). So, I thought it might be a good time to just rehearse the goodness and faithful blessings of our Lord!  And on more fronts that one, we know that our God has and will take care of His own, including the land of Israel, even if the world disagrees!

“When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion,

we were like them that dream.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter,

and our tongue with singing:

then said they among the heathen,

The LORD hath done great things for them.

3 The LORD hath done great things for us;

whereof we are glad.

4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD,

as the streams in the south.

5 They that sow in tears

shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth,

bearing precious seed,

shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,

bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:1-6

A lost and dying world is watching to see if Christians really live what they talk about!  We will either shine for Jesus or lose the opportunity to bring glory to our God!

“A merry heart doeth good

like a medicine:

but a broken spirit

drieth the bones.”   Proverbs 17:22

Let’s spread some smiles around—not fakey pretend that you’re glad for difficult circumstances, but the joy of the Lord that brings joy from the inside out!  Let’s share both our resources and our godly spirit of joy as we go about each day—rain or shine.  Even as Nehemiah encouraged the people of Israel as they rebuilt during trying circumstances, let’s keep our eyes on the prize not the price!  After all Jesus gave the ultimate price for our salvation, His life’s blood!

“Then he said unto them,

Go your way,

eat the fat,

and drink the sweet,

and send portions unto them

for whom nothing is prepared:

for this day is holy unto our Lord:

neither be ye sorry;

 for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10

Satan can rain on my parade, or cast rocks at my windows, he can even rob me of earthly possessions—but he can never steal my “joy of the LORD” when I keep my eyes on the prize—Jesus!

“But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.”  1 John 1:7

Let us walk in the light of our Lord Jesus, The Light of the world!  When we stay focused on Jesus no one or no thing can rob us of our joy and peace—that which comes from God for He has placed it in our heart (See Romans 5:1-11). So let’s determine to keep that smile which comes out of that very “joy of the LORD”!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run with patience

the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand

of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured

such contradiction of sinners against himself,

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.” Hebrews 12:1-3

And in closing one of my favorite reminders!

“I press toward the mark

for the prize of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:14

Smile and press on my friends, for in Jesus we win!!!  Remember:

“Ye are of God, little children,

and have overcome them:

because greater is he that is in you,

than he that is in the world.”  1 John 4:4

Amen and Amen!!!

The Simple Joys!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #762

05 Friday Nov 2021

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Joy, Joy Is Contagious!, Joy To The World?

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #762     The Simple Joys!!!

 

“Delight thyself also

in the LORD;

and he shall give thee

the desires of thine heart.”  Psalm 37:4

I simply want to share a few words of encouragement today, to lift our hearts, our minds and our spirits up “in the LORD”.  May you know HIS presence today in new and heart-lifting ways.  Remember “our God reigns”, and we win!

“Thou hast a mighty arm:

strong is thy hand,

and high is thy right hand.

14 Justice and judgment

are the habitation of thy throne:

mercy and truth

shall go before thy face.

15 Blessed is the people

that know the joyful sound:

they shall walk,

O LORD,

in the light of thy countenance.

16 In thy name

shall they rejoice all the day:

and in thy righteousness

shall they be exalted.”  Psalm 89:13-16

And as Paul said:

“Rejoice in the Lord alway:

and again I say, Rejoice.”  Philippians 4:4

Amen and Amen!!!

Joyfulness Is Contagious!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #751

08 Wednesday Sep 2021

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, God's love, God's provision, Joy, Joy Is Contagious!, Joy To The World?, The Joy of The Lord!, The Light of The Word IS Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #751  Joyfulness Is Contagious!!!

 

I truly believe this statement of our title—joyfulness is contagious—but we must have joy before we can share it!  I also believe that we can often be distracted from the “joy of the Lord” and become consumed with the “doubt of the world” instead.  Joy is a choice of those who belong to Jesus; a choice to walk in the confidence that our God gives and overcome the doubt that surrounds us.

“Then he said unto them,

Go your way,

eat the fat,

and drink the sweet,

and send portions unto them

for whom nothing is prepared:

for this day is holy unto our Lord:

neither be ye sorry;

for the joy of the LORD

is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10

This passage is from the prophet Nehemiah’s instructions to the people as they celebrated the completion of the wall around the city of Jerusalem.  If you take the time to read the entire book you will find that Nehemiah had led the people in not only a building project, but a project that was completed under great difficulty and opposition.  Here Nehemiah was encouraging the people to put their confidence in God’s provision, and to remember that “the joy of the LORD is your strength”!  It is what we must remember and count on as well.

No matter the challenge, God is ever faithful to provide us with everything that we need; there is never a trial or test that catches our God unaware!  He is ever faithful to provide, especially for HIS own—and God knows those who are really HIS own!

“Nevertheless the foundation of God

standeth sure,

having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one

that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.”   2 Timothy 2:19

And as Jesus said, HE knows HIS own sheep, and they know HIM, and follow HIM!  The question is, who are you following?  From whom or what do you get your strength? The world’s praise?  A bottle (no matter what is in it)?  Success on your job?  Wealth, fame, popularity, or any other worldly prize?  If your confidence and hope are not in Jesus, you have allowed yourself to be misdirected.  But the straight way is still here!

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.

29 My Father,

which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man

is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:27-30

For those who deny Jesus’ deity, this passage sets it straight; Jesus made this clear and certain statement of His own deity, “I and my Father are one”!  For those who claim that Jesus never claimed to be God, here is the true statement that HE made, and HE IS GOD!  And back to that straight way!

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be

which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be

that find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

This is a contrast that many don’t want to consider today, but Jesus said it, and that settles it, whether you/I believe it or not!  If I may paraphrase, Jesus said that there is a wide, easy, popular way that MANY will choose—but it leads to destruction!  Yet Jesus called us to choose the “strait gate”, even though it is narrow, difficult, and not very popular, for “few there be that find it”!  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.  And we who know Jesus and belong to HIM will have HIS joy, as well as HIS strength to press on for HIS glory and our good.

“As the Father hath loved me,

so have I loved you:

continue ye in my love.

10 If ye keep my commandments,

ye shall abide in my love;

even as I have kept my Father’s commandments,

and abide in his love.

11 These things have I spoken unto you,

that my joy might remain in you,

and that your joy might be full.

12 This is my commandment,

That ye love one another,

as I have loved you.”  John 15:9-12

So, will you walk in “the joy of the Lord”, or flounder around in the lies of the world?  Won’t you join me and choose JOY?

Please do—HE has never failed me and HE never will, and Jesus surely came that our “joy might be full”!  Let your joy be contagious!!!

“Nevertheless my lovingkindness

will I not utterly take from him,

nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.”  Psalm 89:33

“Jesus Christ

the same yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8

Amen and Amen!!!