Gratitude

Good Morning Everyone,

I pray this letter finds you well. I just want to take a moment to first thank God. I thank Him for EVERYTHING! I also thank Him for all of you. I appreciate each of you whether a new reader or not so new. I thank God for every person who has supported and encouraged whether in deed or word. I thank every person who has every forwarded a daily message, talked about it, bought one of my books, listened to a radio program, attended a book signing or speaking engagement. I thank God for every person who has been willing to lend their name publicly to the works associated and have openly supported without shame or reservation in any way that God has moved upon the heart to do so.

Please know that you are appreciated.

With the Love of Christ,

-Joy

The Foundation & Greatest Motivation

1Corinthians 13:1

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I have become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

1Corinithians 13:1-13 is the most common scripture referenced in a marriage ceremony because it speaks of the greatest gift which is love. But many do not understand that love is to be the foundation for which all things are built and all things are accomplished. It is to be the motivation of every gift given and service rendered. However, many have other motives. The apostle Paul spoke of the different ways a person can use a spiritual gift as well as giving to the poor. To Paul's point, if love of others is not the motive for doing any and all things, then, whatever the gift, the action, the service, it will not matter.

Proverbs 16:2 says All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits.

The Lord sees every motive because it is in the heart. He sees beyond what man sees. And as the Lord told Samuel upon choosing David as king, man looks at outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart. If what you are doing is not based on love, sooner or later the true motive will appear. If what you are offering is not based on love even the recipient of whatever you are offering will eventually be made aware. And then what?

Why is love so important? Because God is love. It is not just some saying. 1John 4:8 says He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

God is the foundation which means love is to be the foundation and motivation.

P.S. Remember to tune into the Leap of Faith Network (www.lofnetwork.com) and listen for my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Show Mon-Fri 10-12pm and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment throughout the day!

From Rebellion to a Sinking Ship

Jonah 1:12

12And he said to them, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me."

Jonah is a familiar story to many. There are multiple lessons to be drawn from it. But one of the most important lessons is the impact of one's rebellion's on others. We live in a society where the "all about me" is considered not only acceptable but it expected. Jonah decided he would not do what God had instructed him to do. He figured he could run. Jonah was on a ship and God caused a storm to develop in the sea. The people on the ship who did not know God cast lots to see who was the cause and the lot fell on Jonah. Jonah knew when he had awakened that the storm was because of his rebellion. Jonah didn't know his rebellion would put others in danger. So to calm the storm down he told them to throw him into the sea.

The "me" syndrome and the problems that come with it really do put others in danger. No one likes to talk about that but when God shows the way to go and you do not heed, you really do impact others. Your reach in this world was always designated to be beyond your immediate self. What is rebellion? Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines rebellion as the resistance to authority. Why would you resist the authority of God who loves you, wants the best for you and can see the end before the beginning? To be "all about me" and rebel against the ultimate authority of God will put you in a place where people want to run from you or throw you overboard to keep from being on a sinking ship.