To see the smile upon someone's face...
To see a spirit lifted up from darkness ...
To see excitement replace hopelessness ...
To see happiness overshadow despair ...
To see a bounce in one's step dismiss fear ...
To see comfort overcome grief ...
To see joy emit from confusion ...
You see, it is not the action that is the focus of joy; but rather the result. It is not what we do but how it affects others. It is not the size of the action but the magnitude of the response. It is not the price tag of the gift, but the invaluable light it ignites in others. Our joy is enhanced as we spread it to others. Our light shines brighter as we reach out to others, as we spread the goodness of God so that others may receive God's Holy Spirit and the resulting joy that we already have.
Remember joy is an internal feeling that we can only get from our belief in Jesus Christ and our receipt of God's Holy Spirit in our soul. This joy is everlasting. This joy becomes the core of our being; who we are because of who's we are.
Pseudo Joy
Sometimes we seem to focus on what we give to others, particularly at Christmas, the holiday of buying gifts. Sometimes we seek to purchase the special gift to purchase for those we care about (family, friends, co-workers, etc.). Usually the gift is purchased at a store and we spend as much as we can on each person. If someone else provides a gift of higher monetary value, we feel overshadowed and our gift may not seem as 'special'. The focus being on the purchase price of the gift. Or maybe we our gift did not seem to be pleasing to the recipient. It doesn't matter the purchase price, we never see them wearing or displaying the gift and they don't speak of it. Where is the joy?
Another question I have is how long do the benefits last for these material gifts? My answer ... not very long! Why? Because the focus is only on temporary excitement for a moment of happiness, a moment of appreciation. Of course, this is what we should expect from a worldly experience ... only temporary moments of happiness and then a return to the darkness of worldly life.
Real Joy
Real joy is everlasting. It exists through the good times and bad. Real joy is spiritually based and cannot be achieved through any materialistic means. Real joy is giving of yourself, your time, your feelings, your gifts.
I believe that a better expression of our belief in Jesus and our gratitude to God for sending His Son to die for our sins and setting us free is to commit an act that would answer the question 'What Would Jesus Do?". Doing as Jesus is a great way to say I BELIEVE. [Of course, as Christians our goal is to be like Jesus everyday so we don't really need one day set aside but I am just going with the flow!]
What would Jesus do to help hungry people?
What would Jesus do to help homeless people?
What would Jesus do to help jobless people?
What would Jesus do to help uneducated people?
What would Jesus do to help children and youth?
What would Jesus do to help senior citizens?
What would Jesus do to help disabled people?
What would Jesus do to help others find forgiveness?
What would Jesus do to help others find love?
What would Jesus do to help others find peace?
What would Jesus do to help others find joy?
Didn't Jesus pass along the Great Commission to us? Isn't it our task to go out and 'touch' others with the gifts God has given us to plant the seeds of Jesus? Aren't we Christians supposed to help Jesus by feeding his sheep?
I believe in God's word. If we do what it says, we will find joy. I believe in God's Holy Spirit. If we do what He says, we will find joy. Jesus commanded us to love God and to love others. If we do as Jesus did, we will find joy.
Study the Bible and listen for God's instruction and direction through His Holy Spirit. If you have accepted Jesus, you will find joy. If you have not, try Him by so you too may have internal joy through all life situations and circumstances. Read the section below on 'How to be Saved, then pray to God, declare your belief that Jesus died for release from our sins, confess your sins, ask for forgiveness, & commit to repent (change your sinful ways).
Then build a new life, start your journey towards a spirit-filled, joyful life with one God, believing in His Son Jesus Chris, and being filled with His Holy Spirit.
Join a group of Christians with programs that will help you grow in your knowledge and understanding of God's word; grow in the application of God's word to our lives; grow in sharing God's word with others.
God bless you and may the joy from the Holy Spirit reside within you and ignite your light forever.
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How To Be Saved
EVERY PERSON IS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET RIGHT WITH GOD
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son (Jesus Christ), that whoever believes in Him (Jesus Christ) shall not perish (die and go to hell)but have eternal life.John 3:16
EVERY PERSON IS SINFUL AND SEPARATED FROM GOD.
For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death .Romans 6:23
EVERY PERSON HAS BUT ONE WAY TO REACH GOD.
Jesus said to him,"I am the way and the truth and the life,no one comes to the Father (God) except through me." John 14:6
Christ died for our sins...Jesus was buried...He was raised on the third day, according to the scriptures.1 Corinthians 15:3-6
EVERY PERSON IS CALLED TO MAKE A PERSONAL DECISION TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR.
But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. John 1:12
For by grace you have been saved through faith;and that not of yourselves,it is the gift of God,not as a result of works, that no one should boast.Ephesians 2:8-9
EVERY PERSON MUST INVITE JESUS CHRIST INTO THEIR LIFE AND ACCEPTING JESUS CHRIST MEANS REPENTING and TURNING TO GOD.
"Behold, I (Jesus Christ) stand at the door and knock;if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him..." Revelation 3:20
You, too, can accept Jesus Christ this moment by asking Him to come into your life. You can do this by praying a prayer like this:
Lord Jesus, I need you. I confess to you that I am a sinner and have sinned against you. Please forgive me of my sins! I turn my life over to you and accept You as my God and Lord and Savior. I invite You to come into me and to take control of my life in every area of my being. I give you permission to be my Lord and Master forever. Thank You, Father God, for forgiving my sins -- past, present and future -- and for sending Your Son, Your only Son, Jesus, to die for my sins and to give me eternal life. Thank You, Father, that You have promised that You will never leave me or forsake me now that I have asked you to come into my life. I pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen."
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