Joy-We Should Be Living It

One of the classes Barbie took while we were in NO was called The Joy Factor- it was motivational and was saying that Joy can make your salon more pleasurable to come to etc- she said how there are Joy robbers and Joy can be contagious-these are several factors of joy. I agreed with all that and a couple of times we used that statement like "your robbing my joy" when something or other happened, but being the deep thinker I am, I've been thinking about it ever since.

I'll start out with the acrostic I had written in the front of my Living Bible, which was the bible of my youth- I had written the key to real joy is J-Jesus First, O- others second, Y- yourself last. I think many of us live YOJ. It's the me generation, The I 's have it.

I have not always put Jesus first and often times even now I must do a check and I find myself lacking. Truthfully, I must say I desire to put Jesus first, to serve him and love him, to lead others to him, to know Him better, to let others see him in me and I fall short, but I keep trying and I have consistently been trying. Others second was usually an easy part for me, I love to do for others and I am a people person and I am a nurturer. I have also been a pleaser, so much so that at times in my life I have been a doormat almost for others. There again, it must be in the right perspective, be a servant for Christ and live to help those in need. Go the extra mile for others. BUT, share the love of Christ with everyone, even those who despise you, especially them. Yourself last, is the opposite of watch out for #1- you are your own best friend. I feel that this is do not be selfish - do not think me, mine, I want as your daily mantra.

Mother Teresa said " If you are joyful, do not worry. Joy will shine in your eyes and in your look, in your conversation and in your countenance. You will not be able to hide it. Because joy overflows." I want this JOY_ I want to live it, so others will see and say I want that! As others watch us, and believe me, when you say I am a Christian, they are watching and waiting for those falls- they see if you have that fruit of JOY. Joy is how you look at life, its your attitude. Joy is how you handle difficulty and challenging circumstances. And talk about Joy robbers, SATAN is alive and well and desiring to take our JOY.

Did you know that looking at Gods word- Joy is mentioned 209 times in the King James version. Looking at a commentary on Crosswalk. com and looking at the Greek and Hebrew and Joy and all the words that are a form of joy and its meaning, it is mentioned 677 times in God's word. That's alot of Joy! I believe that next to love, it's something that God thinks is important enough to mention that many times-HE wants us to have it and show it and share it.

Some of my favorite Joy verses are:

Psalms 30:4-5 Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His,And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment,His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. (even in the storms of life, we will have it)
Psalm 16:11You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (with His word as our guide and filled with his promises, how can we not have it)
Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
Psalm 126:3The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. (these Psalms show joy with a thankful heart for what He's done for us!)
Acts 2:28You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.
Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, (God fills us with this joy, when we have His Holy Spirit in us)
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness...
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed you are our glory and joy.
11 Thessalonians 5:16 Be joyful always.
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
1 Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, (AMEN and AMEN)

3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

I know this was long, but if merchants motivate with Joy, think how Christians can motivate with it. In this day and time, don't you think people are seeking for the answer what will bring me JOY? Let's help them out and let them know the source of JOY-let's let it overflow!

Be blessed my friends and spread JOY!