Good Morning Everyone,
I want to take this time to thank each and
everyone of you for your continued support and encouragement. Get Your
JOY In The Morning is approaching the fourth anniversary mark in just a a
little over two months! Can you believe it? Many of you have been with
me from the beginning. Some of you are new to the family. New or old,
you are important to me. I want to thank you so much for allowing God to
have your ear and your heart as He speaks to me. I truly value your
time and do not take it for granted. I want to hear from you! I want to
know where you stand on the messages. Some of you don't read them
everyday but you read them when it's time for you see what you need to
see so that's okay. I want to know if you are forwarding on what you
are reading and how it has affected you. You can email me back
directly. If you haven't already done so, check out the facebook
fan page and like Get Your JOY In The Morning (Get Your Joy in the
Morning). Comments are welcomed. If you have a twitter account, let's
connect on twitter. I'm @GetJOYnTheMorn. May you be blessed beyond measure and see God's glory in your life this year.
With the Love of Christ,
Joy
Friday, January 25, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Beyond the Eyes
1Peter 1:8
8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are fill with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
How can you love and believe in what you cannot see? This is often a question a non-believer will ask of a believer in Christ. But real love and belief is in the heart not the eyes. The whole premise of faith is defined by what you cannot see. We have faith that when we take a breath there will be oxygen there to fill our lungs. We cannot see oxygen but we know it's there. And that's exactly how our Lord demonstrates himself in our lives. We may not be able to visibly see Him but He shows up in various ways. We love Him though we cannot put our physical arms around Him but we can feel His presence through the Holy Spirit. God is spirit first and foremost. So spirit doesn't need to be seen to be felt. When Jesus walked the earth He told Peter in John 20:29 that he believed because he's seen him but blessed are those who have not seen yet believe. We don't have the advantage of having Jesus the man in front of us. But we do have Jesus in the presence of the Spirit and the power in His name. The miracles are still being done but He uses the Holy Spirit within us to carry out His miracles. Jesus was God the Son, in human form. How can you love what you cannot see? Beyond the eyes is the heart and soul from which everything about us derives. It is in these crevices that the Lord speaks to man and captures them if he is open and willing.
8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are fill with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
How can you love and believe in what you cannot see? This is often a question a non-believer will ask of a believer in Christ. But real love and belief is in the heart not the eyes. The whole premise of faith is defined by what you cannot see. We have faith that when we take a breath there will be oxygen there to fill our lungs. We cannot see oxygen but we know it's there. And that's exactly how our Lord demonstrates himself in our lives. We may not be able to visibly see Him but He shows up in various ways. We love Him though we cannot put our physical arms around Him but we can feel His presence through the Holy Spirit. God is spirit first and foremost. So spirit doesn't need to be seen to be felt. When Jesus walked the earth He told Peter in John 20:29 that he believed because he's seen him but blessed are those who have not seen yet believe. We don't have the advantage of having Jesus the man in front of us. But we do have Jesus in the presence of the Spirit and the power in His name. The miracles are still being done but He uses the Holy Spirit within us to carry out His miracles. Jesus was God the Son, in human form. How can you love what you cannot see? Beyond the eyes is the heart and soul from which everything about us derives. It is in these crevices that the Lord speaks to man and captures them if he is open and willing.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
A Selfish Way to Make War
Judges 20:46
46On that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite swordsmen fell, all of them valiant fighters.
Did you know that one of the tribes of Israel was nearly wiped out? And it all started because a Levite and his concubine (live in girlfriend who was not legally married to him) had been raped and abused by the Benjamite men. So the Levite cut up the concubine and sent pieces of her body to other tribes to make war on the Benjamites. But just as the NIV Study Bible states, the Levite didn't see his own selfish act. He murdered her because they took advantage of a woman he didn't even see fit to marry himself. Especially when he was the one who sent her outside. He didn't have the courage to face the Benjamites. He didn't think the Benjamites would take her. War ensued and so all but 600 men of the tribe were slaughtered. A series of selfish acts turned the Israelites against one of their own tribes.
We don't always see how our own selfish acts cause problems but they do. So many people suffer because one refuses to own up to their own mistakes. They would rather hide behind someone else. Selfish ways always lead to others getting hurt. But how many and for how long all depends.
46On that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite swordsmen fell, all of them valiant fighters.
Did you know that one of the tribes of Israel was nearly wiped out? And it all started because a Levite and his concubine (live in girlfriend who was not legally married to him) had been raped and abused by the Benjamite men. So the Levite cut up the concubine and sent pieces of her body to other tribes to make war on the Benjamites. But just as the NIV Study Bible states, the Levite didn't see his own selfish act. He murdered her because they took advantage of a woman he didn't even see fit to marry himself. Especially when he was the one who sent her outside. He didn't have the courage to face the Benjamites. He didn't think the Benjamites would take her. War ensued and so all but 600 men of the tribe were slaughtered. A series of selfish acts turned the Israelites against one of their own tribes.
We don't always see how our own selfish acts cause problems but they do. So many people suffer because one refuses to own up to their own mistakes. They would rather hide behind someone else. Selfish ways always lead to others getting hurt. But how many and for how long all depends.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Your Destiny Is Victory
John 12:27
27"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.
Can you imagine knowing that the whole purpose of your life was to die for someone else? Can you imagine knowing that your physical life would be short? Can you imagine the amount of courage it took for Jesus to walk into His destiny for the sake of the world? Satan actually thought that he was defeating God when Jesus went to the cross. But the story didn't end there! THANK YOU JESUS! Three days later, Jesus got up from death, walked, talked and ate with the disciples before going back to the Father to send us the Holy Spirit. His destiny wasn't failure. His destiny IS victory! Guess what? Your destiny is victory too. Many shy away from fulfilling their destiny due to fear of failure. But you cannot fail when you are walking in the direction Jesus has left footprints on. You cannot fail when in Jesus because His very DNA is victory. How can you fail with the one who stood at the right hand of God and created the world we live in? Your destiny is greater than any stone anyone can throw, including the enemy himself. Your destiny is greater than your past. Your destiny is actually, even greater than you. Why?Because your destiny, like that of Jesus, is never fully just for you. Your destiny is meant to impact others. Your destiny is meant to leave a mark. You don't have to have your name in lights to be a light when you're in Jesus. All you have to do is be who He said you are and go where He tells you to go. Your destiny is victory! WALK IN IT!
27"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.
Can you imagine knowing that the whole purpose of your life was to die for someone else? Can you imagine knowing that your physical life would be short? Can you imagine the amount of courage it took for Jesus to walk into His destiny for the sake of the world? Satan actually thought that he was defeating God when Jesus went to the cross. But the story didn't end there! THANK YOU JESUS! Three days later, Jesus got up from death, walked, talked and ate with the disciples before going back to the Father to send us the Holy Spirit. His destiny wasn't failure. His destiny IS victory! Guess what? Your destiny is victory too. Many shy away from fulfilling their destiny due to fear of failure. But you cannot fail when you are walking in the direction Jesus has left footprints on. You cannot fail when in Jesus because His very DNA is victory. How can you fail with the one who stood at the right hand of God and created the world we live in? Your destiny is greater than any stone anyone can throw, including the enemy himself. Your destiny is greater than your past. Your destiny is actually, even greater than you. Why?Because your destiny, like that of Jesus, is never fully just for you. Your destiny is meant to impact others. Your destiny is meant to leave a mark. You don't have to have your name in lights to be a light when you're in Jesus. All you have to do is be who He said you are and go where He tells you to go. Your destiny is victory! WALK IN IT!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
What Are You Dispensing?
Proverbs 18:4
4The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
The wise king Solomon spoke with wisdom, wrote with wisdom and shared it with those he came in contact with. His wisdom was a gift from God himself. The gift or message of wisdom is actually a spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit that the apostle Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 12. God poured out His gift onto king Solomon. And king Solomon did not withhold his gift from the world. The NIV Study Bible states that the wise person's words are refreshing and are a source of life. Simply put, wisdom gives one strength and power to move forward. Age is no guarantee of wisdom. There are some in this world who believe that one can only be wise if they are older. But Jesus himself was full of wisdom even at the age of 12 and had the attention of those in the temple. Yes, everyone should walk in a certain level of wisdom from life experience but that's assuming one has learned from it. This scenario is not always the case. Here's a question. What are you dispensing? When you speak and interact with others are you dispensing life and strength? Are you speaking with wisdom? Proverbs 18:21 states that the power of life and death lie in the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit. Whatever you are dispensing to others will either be a source of life or a source of death. You are what you speak. So if you do not speak with wisdom then you can only be speaking with the opposite of wisdom, which is ignorance and foolishness. If you do not believe you possess wisdom, then seek it like king Solomon did, from God who freely gave it. Give life and refreshment/encouragement by walking in wisdom and sharing it with others. Do not dispense death with ignorance and foolishness.
P.S. One final note about my family's struggle. God can use even the most dismal of situations to bring life. The homegoing service of one cousin brought new life. Nine family members asked for the prayer of salvation and six stepped forward publicly to declare their new life in Christ. As Jesus stated in John 12:24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
4The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
The wise king Solomon spoke with wisdom, wrote with wisdom and shared it with those he came in contact with. His wisdom was a gift from God himself. The gift or message of wisdom is actually a spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit that the apostle Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 12. God poured out His gift onto king Solomon. And king Solomon did not withhold his gift from the world. The NIV Study Bible states that the wise person's words are refreshing and are a source of life. Simply put, wisdom gives one strength and power to move forward. Age is no guarantee of wisdom. There are some in this world who believe that one can only be wise if they are older. But Jesus himself was full of wisdom even at the age of 12 and had the attention of those in the temple. Yes, everyone should walk in a certain level of wisdom from life experience but that's assuming one has learned from it. This scenario is not always the case. Here's a question. What are you dispensing? When you speak and interact with others are you dispensing life and strength? Are you speaking with wisdom? Proverbs 18:21 states that the power of life and death lie in the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit. Whatever you are dispensing to others will either be a source of life or a source of death. You are what you speak. So if you do not speak with wisdom then you can only be speaking with the opposite of wisdom, which is ignorance and foolishness. If you do not believe you possess wisdom, then seek it like king Solomon did, from God who freely gave it. Give life and refreshment/encouragement by walking in wisdom and sharing it with others. Do not dispense death with ignorance and foolishness.
P.S. One final note about my family's struggle. God can use even the most dismal of situations to bring life. The homegoing service of one cousin brought new life. Nine family members asked for the prayer of salvation and six stepped forward publicly to declare their new life in Christ. As Jesus stated in John 12:24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The Power of Prayer
James 5:15
15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
This scripture is very important to me. Many of you read in November of the trials and attack of sickness over my family. Many of you were made aware that on the day before Thanksgiving my family laid to rest one who lost her battle with cancer as another family member came out of the hospital all on the same side of the family. What you don't know is the day of the memorial service we learned that yet another was in ICU. So after the repast, another family member and I went to the bedside of that cousin and prayed. God had also placed on my heart to petition a group of prayer warriors in addition to my church family that had been praying since I became aware of what was happening. By the grace of God, that cousin came out of the hospital alive. THANK YOU JESUS! There was another cousin on the same side also battling cancer and in chemo therapy. Right before Christmas we received the news that the tumor had shrunk and the cousin was eligible for surgery. The surgery was Monday and my cousin was released yesterday. The doctors removed the entire mass. I PRAISE GOD for what HE has done! I, another family member, as well as my cousin who knows that prayer warriors were called upon offer sincere thanks for those who petitioned God on my family's behalf. You don't know how much I really love you and thank you for the prayers offered in faith for my family. As I write this, I cannot stop the tears of joy. I am forever grateful. To my church family, City of Restoration Christian Center, I love you more than words can express for all you have done on my family's behalf.
No one can ever tell me that prayer does not work and that God is not a healer. Not only has He healed me physically and spiritually, but He is working on my family one by one. Never doubt the power of prayer. Do not take lightly being asked to pray. Your prayer may be the tipping point of what God needs to hear to turn what looks like a hopeless situation around.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER!!!
P.S. Lookout for the relaunch of the Leap of Faith Show on the Leap of Faith Network in February with my girl Stubbs Mon-Fri 6am-9am on www.leapoffaithshow.com and listen out for new Get Your JOY In The Morning segments!
15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
This scripture is very important to me. Many of you read in November of the trials and attack of sickness over my family. Many of you were made aware that on the day before Thanksgiving my family laid to rest one who lost her battle with cancer as another family member came out of the hospital all on the same side of the family. What you don't know is the day of the memorial service we learned that yet another was in ICU. So after the repast, another family member and I went to the bedside of that cousin and prayed. God had also placed on my heart to petition a group of prayer warriors in addition to my church family that had been praying since I became aware of what was happening. By the grace of God, that cousin came out of the hospital alive. THANK YOU JESUS! There was another cousin on the same side also battling cancer and in chemo therapy. Right before Christmas we received the news that the tumor had shrunk and the cousin was eligible for surgery. The surgery was Monday and my cousin was released yesterday. The doctors removed the entire mass. I PRAISE GOD for what HE has done! I, another family member, as well as my cousin who knows that prayer warriors were called upon offer sincere thanks for those who petitioned God on my family's behalf. You don't know how much I really love you and thank you for the prayers offered in faith for my family. As I write this, I cannot stop the tears of joy. I am forever grateful. To my church family, City of Restoration Christian Center, I love you more than words can express for all you have done on my family's behalf.
No one can ever tell me that prayer does not work and that God is not a healer. Not only has He healed me physically and spiritually, but He is working on my family one by one. Never doubt the power of prayer. Do not take lightly being asked to pray. Your prayer may be the tipping point of what God needs to hear to turn what looks like a hopeless situation around.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER!!!
P.S. Lookout for the relaunch of the Leap of Faith Show on the Leap of Faith Network in February with my girl Stubbs Mon-Fri 6am-9am on www.leapoffaithshow.com and listen out for new Get Your JOY In The Morning segments!
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Where Is Your Faith?
Luke 8:25
25"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples.
In the case of his disciples, Jesus had just calmed the winds and the raging waters. Jesus had been asleep when the fierce storm came over the lake. Water was filling the boat but Jesus was still asleep. Can you imagine twelve men panicking in a boat while Jesus is sleep? Jesus was unmoved because He knew the storm would not destroy them no matter how fierce it got. After being awakened and accused of not caring, Jesus simply rebuked the storm and it died down. Did you just hear that? Jesus spoke to the storm and it died down! And then Jesus asked only one question. "Where is your faith?" Has Jesus ever asked you, "Where is your faith?" Just as Jesus was in the boat with the disciples, so He is with you and where you are right now. The problem, your faith isn't with Jesus but with the storm. You fear the storm so much to the point that you have more faith in the storm's destructive power than you do in Jesus' ability to remove the storm or even bring you through the storm unharmed. Why is that? Is it because you do not truly believe what Jesus can do or is it that those you are surrounded by have taught you to fear everything but the one who can actually do something about it? Did you know Satan has to have permission to mess with you as he did with Job? Did you know that Satan's purpose is to shake your faith and show the Lord that you only believe when you get what you want, when you want and how you want it? Did you know that the Lord allows the storm to get close enough because He has faith in you that you still believe in who He is and what He can do in your life? If Jesus has more faith in you than you have in Him, is that not one sided? Yet, He does not have to prove himself to you but still does over and over again. Where is your faith? Is it in what you fear the people will think if you walk in faith the way Jesus is instructing you to do? Here's a thought, when the storm comes close to the boat, will those you are worried about be able to simply speak to the storm the way Jesus does? People come and go but Jesus will be the one in the boat with you no matter where it's sailing. Again, where is your faith?
P.S. Remember to check out the Top Ten Countdown on Church Beat Radio on www.live365.com!
25"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples.
In the case of his disciples, Jesus had just calmed the winds and the raging waters. Jesus had been asleep when the fierce storm came over the lake. Water was filling the boat but Jesus was still asleep. Can you imagine twelve men panicking in a boat while Jesus is sleep? Jesus was unmoved because He knew the storm would not destroy them no matter how fierce it got. After being awakened and accused of not caring, Jesus simply rebuked the storm and it died down. Did you just hear that? Jesus spoke to the storm and it died down! And then Jesus asked only one question. "Where is your faith?" Has Jesus ever asked you, "Where is your faith?" Just as Jesus was in the boat with the disciples, so He is with you and where you are right now. The problem, your faith isn't with Jesus but with the storm. You fear the storm so much to the point that you have more faith in the storm's destructive power than you do in Jesus' ability to remove the storm or even bring you through the storm unharmed. Why is that? Is it because you do not truly believe what Jesus can do or is it that those you are surrounded by have taught you to fear everything but the one who can actually do something about it? Did you know Satan has to have permission to mess with you as he did with Job? Did you know that Satan's purpose is to shake your faith and show the Lord that you only believe when you get what you want, when you want and how you want it? Did you know that the Lord allows the storm to get close enough because He has faith in you that you still believe in who He is and what He can do in your life? If Jesus has more faith in you than you have in Him, is that not one sided? Yet, He does not have to prove himself to you but still does over and over again. Where is your faith? Is it in what you fear the people will think if you walk in faith the way Jesus is instructing you to do? Here's a thought, when the storm comes close to the boat, will those you are worried about be able to simply speak to the storm the way Jesus does? People come and go but Jesus will be the one in the boat with you no matter where it's sailing. Again, where is your faith?
P.S. Remember to check out the Top Ten Countdown on Church Beat Radio on www.live365.com!
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