January Has Been the Month For Joy

For Christians, joy goes beyond what secular man can understand. Those who do not know our Creator Savior GOD as their personal Savior can't understand the joy that comes through the trials in this life; much less the indescribable joy we have concerning Eternity which has been placed in our hearts by His Holy Spirit. It is not revealed to those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior. The Bible explains our joy  as being  foolishness to those who do not know Him. 1st Corinthians 2:14 says, "For the natural (secular) man is not able to take in (or understand) the things of the Spirit of GOD; for they seem foolish to him."
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The greatest joy that any human being can have is knowing our Awesome, Almighty, Creator, Savior, Holy Father GOD! This knowledge is a free gift to anyone who humbles himself to the fact that they are a sinner. Ask your LORD Jesus for forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit will open your heart to know GOD personally.  His joy will enter into you  and open the blinded eyes of your heart to see your Creator for Who He is - the Great I Am!
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February - "What is Love?"                             

Joy is Our Creator GOD!



Joy is knowing our Creator GOD Loves us as individuals and He wants the best for us! "We love Him because He first Loved us." I John 4:19
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Joy is knowing that Christ Jesus came to be the penalty for our sin. We are now made right in the Father's eyes because the LORD Jesus died to cover the sins for those who accept His gift of salvation.
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Who is joy? Christ Jesus is joy to those who know Him as their savior! "I Can Only Imagine" the joy of being in His Presence!

 



The Joy of our LORD is Our strength

Romans 5:3, "We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on."

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And what is this strength? II Timothy 1:8 tells us, "GOD gives us the strength..." It is the power of the Holy Spirit in us!
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Ephesians 3:16, "I pray that from His glorious unlimited power, He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy Spirit." 
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Joy comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit in each and every Christian! When trials come in life, count it as joy! See the blessings that will follow!
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So, Who is joy? see my next blog!


Joy in Trials

I've been talking about the Joy that Christians have even in the trials of life that we too must face!

 

I haven't been on-line posting lately due to a trial I am now in the mist.

 

As you can see from the picture below, I badly severed my fingers in a fall. Don't ever grab a metal bug shield on the front of your vehicle!! For the faint hearted, forgive me for showing this!

 

 

 

I can say I have joy in my LORD for the very reason that there were no severed nerves or tendons, no broken bones, and especially no amputated fingers! I give my praise of joy to Almighty GOD for His purpose of this trial in my life. It brings me to pray more for those who have worse difficulties in their lives than I have in my hand!

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 So, what is joy?  See my next blog!

The Joy of Almighty GOD's Holy Highway

 

The Christian's Joy can only be understood by another Christian. For it is the recognition of the Holy Spirit in one another! 1 John 4:6, "We are from GOD and whoever knows GOD listens to us, but whoever is not of GOD does not listen to us."

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If one is not a Christian, this joy is as "foolishness." 1 Corinthian 1:18, "For the message of the Cross is as foolishness to those who are perishing (don't believe), but to us who are saved it is the Power of GOD!" 

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The joy of our LORD comes in our salvation, our fellowship with one another, healings, miracles, answers to prayers, helping others, and so much more that I will be sharing in future blogs! The LORD's Highway has so much for us as we make our journey on it to our final glory with Almighty GOD!

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So, what is joy? See my next blog! 

Heaven's JOY Awaits

What is joy? Heaven's joy awaits us!

 

The Christian's joy is in the work our LORD has for us to do on earth as we await that Heavenly joy to come!

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1 Corinthians 10:31, "So whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, do it all for the glory of GOD" and not that for yourselves! When you give Almighty GOD this glory, His Holy Spirit witnesses His joy to others through you!

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Acts 2:28, "You (LORD GOD) have made known to me the paths of life; You (LORD GOD) will fill me with joy in Your Presence!" Thank you, Holy Spirit for your joy in me!

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So what is joy? See my next blog!

Joy For the New Jerusalem

Joy is knowing we will be part of the New Jerusalem that our LORD Jesus GOD has planned and prepared for us for Eternity!

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Revelation 22:2-4, "I saw the Holy city, the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from GOD...And I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of GOD is with men and He will live with them. They will be His people and  GOD Himself will be their GOD. There will be no more death, mourning, or pain, for the old order of things has passed away!" The pure joy of seeing our GOD face to face will be as if we were always with Him!

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Titus 3:5-7, "The Holy Spirit poured out through Jesus Christ our Savior, having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs in the hope (joy) of Eternal Life."

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James 1:12, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because he has withstood the test, he will receive the crown of life (eternal) that GOD has promised to those who love Him!" What joy awaits those who love our Almighty LORD GOD!

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2 Timothy 2:10, "Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Jesus Christ, with eternal glory!" Again, what joy for the elect!

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1 John 2:17, "The world and its desires will pass away, but the man (woman) who does the will of GOD lives forever!" Joyful, joyful we adore Thee!

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So what is joy? See my next blog!

Joy to the World the LORD is Come...

Joy is to the world! However, each person is responsible to receive that joy. Free choice has been given to mankind to accept GOD's joy or refuse His joy.  There's a difference between terrestrial joy and celestial joy. Terrestrial joy is temporary, Celestial joy is Eternal. Terrestrial joy is of the material things of the flesh, when Spiritual joy is of GOD and is everlasting. I Corinthians 15:53-54, 57 "For the perishable must clothe itself with imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory!  But thanks be to GOD! He gives us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ!' " Joy is our immortality in Christ Jesus! Joy is our victory over death. Joy is that life does continue after temporarily separated from this fallen world! But, the question is: Where will you spend your Eternity? Will it be in the full joy of our Almighty Savior GOD, Jesus,  in heaven for Eternity? Or, will it be in agony of the separation from Almighty Savior GOD, Jesus, in an Eternal Lake of Fire where the flame is never quenched and the worm never dies!  Mark 9:48

 

 

Joy, whether in this life or the next to come, comes from trusting GOD in the salvation that comes in accepting Christ's free gift of Eternal life that He offers you for Him paying the penalty on the Cross for your sins. Romans 3:23 says that, "All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of GOD." John 1:12-13 shares, "Yet to all who receive Him (Jesus), to those who believe in His Name, He gave the right to become children of GOD; children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision, but born of GOD!" 

 

 

Choose your joy today in accepting Jesus as your Savior. When His Holy Spirit comes into you, a joy you have never known will open up your heart to the joy of knowing our Almighty Creator Savior GOD!

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So what is joy? See my next blog! 





Joy is Our Eternal GOD

Joy is Eternal. Psalm 16:11, "You (Almighty GOD) reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is unbounded joy...eternal delight!" That means forever, non-ending, always. Because of His presence in our life, joy is ongoing no matter what befalls us on our path of life that leads to being in His glory forever!

 

Joy, for Christians, is not in the temporary possessions that we collect while in this life. Matthew 6:19-21 In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, He shared, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moths eat and rust destroys; where thieves break in and steal, but store up treasures in heaven." Luke 12:15-21 speaks of the greed that treasures on earth can bring about. The rich man wanted more and more so that he could "Eat, drink and be merry," showing that these kinds of joy only brings about death, eternal death in hell at that.
 

Joy is seeking GOD which is eternal and brings about crowns in heaven. II Timothy 4:8 mentions the Crown of Righteousness, I Peter 5:4 mentions the Crown of Glory. Revelation 2:10 speaks of receiving the Crown of Life (Eternal). There are many other crowns which Christians will receive from our LORD. The greatest joy will be the laying of these crowns at the feet of Christ on His throne. See Revelation 4:10.

 

 

Joy in man's earthly existence (for most part) is what can be received and "collected." But the greatest joy for Christians is what can be given to Christ and our fellow man. And, in doing so we store up treasures in heaven that can not be compared to any earthly possession. See Matthew 6:20.

 

 

Joy of treasures in heaven, what are they? On earth man considers gold, silver, precious gems and stones to be of great possessions.  In heaven these "treasures" in their purist form are building materials!!! Revelation 21:18-21, "The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold...the foundations and the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone; the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates each are made of a single pearl, and the city pure gold as transparent glass!" Not to mention the joy of having our own place that Jesus Himself is preparing for  us! John 14:2. Remember, now, dust doesn't exists in heaven, neither anything corrupt (such as decay.) So, we ladies are going to be overjoyed that there will be no need for house cleaning!

 

 

Joy! Such Spiritual Joy for the Christian is in knowing that our Almighty GOD has such joy planned for us that man can not truly understand in his fallen state what the LORD has planned for those who love our Savior GOD! So what is joy? See my next blog!



Joy of the LORD

What is joy? Proverbs 10:28, "The certainty of the righteous (in Christ) is joy." Habakkuk 3:18 says, "I do joy in the GOD of my salvation." John 3:16 says, "For GOD so Loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Whosoever believes in Him shall have eternal life." It's not just a "head" knowledge, but a "heart" knowledge. The Holy Spirit confirms your salvation by entering, guiding, and strengthening you. This is our inner personal joy!

 



 Joy also comes from the things you say. Proverbs 15:23, "A man finds joy in giving a fitting reply - and how good is a timely word.

 

Joy is also found in justice. Proverbs 21:15, "When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous, but terror to evildoers."

 

Joy also occurs in heaven for the lost! Luke 15:7, "I say to you that there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."

 

Joy for our LORD tells us to, "Shout aloud and sing for joy...for great is the Holy One of Israel among you." In Christ's day He was the Holy One. Today, the Holy Spirit in us gives witness to the Holy One.

 

 

Joy is not only expressed by men and the angels, but trees! I Chronicles 16:33, "Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD for He comes to judge the earth."

 

 

Joy even comes from non-living things! Luke 19:14 Jesus was speaking to the unbelieving Pharisees who wished to silence His followers, "I tell you if they (His followers) keep quiet, the stones will cry out" in joy of Who He is.

 

 

Joy will be a global event! Psalm 98:14, "Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music."

 

 

 Joy will be great just before Christ's return. Romans 8:19, "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of GOD to be revealed." But joy will be at its greatest as verse 21 continues, "The creation itself will be liberated from the bondage of decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of GOD!" Heavenly!

 

 

 Joy's greatest gift from our LORD Jesus is found in I Thessalonians 4:16, "For the LORD Himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of GOD and the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air. And so we will be with the LORD forever!" So what is joy? See my next blog! 















JOY

Webster's dictionary expresses the meaning of joy as: "the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires."





Quite a different definition is given in the book of Hebrews 12:2 , "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy set before Him the Cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of GOD." How many of us would count it joy if we were to go through what He did before going to the cross? Then, taking on all of mankind's sin from Adam and Eve to the last human being He will create, yet He counted it as joy for the salvation of those who would accept His free gift of Eternal life!

 However, when you look at what the apostles went through after Christ's ascension, they too faced the wickedness of man. Saul* stood holding cloaks as Stephen was stoned to death for his following of Christ, yet heaven opened up to Stephen and he saw the glory and joy of GOD before being received into heaven to be with Christ and our Almighty Father GOD! *Acts 7:54-60

Saul**, however, came to understand the joy of our LORD when from heaven Christ spoke to him on the road to Damascus and Saul's conversion occurred bringing him to be called Paul. The murderer of Christians now had become the New Testament's greatest witness for Christ! **Acts 9:1-6 

 Biblical history will show the horrific death that the apostles and disciples went through yet their testimonies counted it as joy to suffer and die for Christ knowing that their great reward awaited them in heaven.

 James 1:2, "Reckon it nothing but joy my brethren whenever you find yourselves hedged in by various trials."

I Peter 4:13, "Instead be very glad - because these trials will make you partners with Christ in His suffering and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing His glory when it is displayed to all the world."

II Corinthians 8:2, "Despite severe trials... their joy has overflowed in a wealth of generosity."  

 In America we are very blessed!!! The joy in our hearts is overflowing. Could we say the same thing if we were to come under the trials that many Christians do in other countries? For many of them are under the persecution that Paul and the Apostles encountered, even unto death.

  If you are a Christian, joy means something different to you than it does to those who do not know Christ as their Savior. John 4:14 speaks of our joy being "a well of 'living'  water springing up to Eternal life." Our joy continues whether we are in trials or in great times of blessings from our Almighty GOD.  My father suffered 13 months with pancreatic cancer, but when the LORD called him home, what a joyful moment even though it has now been 23 years. The sparkle in his eyes reflected the very glory of heaven  as he counted the angels descending to take him Home! But then, he saw Christ on His Throne and the joy that overflowed in him caused him to push away our touch and caressing. Just before he died, he let out a joyful glee which made us look to the ceiling knowing he was then with our Awesome, Almighty, Creator, Savior, Holy Father GOD!

 Whether we  be in the joy of our LORD's blessings or the joy of this world's trials, Christ told His own in I Corinthians 10:13, "GOD is faithful Who will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are not able to bear."  So what is joy?  See my next blog!                           



The Armor of GOD

 

The Armor of GOD does for our Spirit what the armor for man did when he went into war.

 

 

Ephesians 6:13-18 says, "Therefore put on the full armor of GOD so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground...stand firm with the Belt of Truth...the Breastplate of Righteousness...feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace...take up the Shield of Faith...Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit which is the WORD of GOD...be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

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Ephesians 6:13-18 closely coincides with the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, 1st Corinthians 13:4-8, 13, and Colossians 3:12.  

 

Fruit of the Spirit

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23

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"Love is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud or rude, nor self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil. Love always trusts, hopes, and perseveres. Love never fails. Faith, hope, love; but the greatest of these is love."     1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13

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"As GOD's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Colossians 3:12

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My New Year's resolution is to pursue these verses and incorporate them into my life in deeper concentration than I ever have before.

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These next 12 months I want to pursue one of the following topics each month: joy, love, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, trust, hope, humility, and perseverance.

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Learning is continual. Even Eternity isn't long enough for us to take in all the magnificent wonder of our Awesome, Almighty, Creator, Savior, Holy Father GOD!       

 

2014 is HERE!

Happy New Year to you and yours!

 

May Almighty GOD's Glory be with you throughout 2014!