Psalm 37:40
40The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
When
your are on top, some do want to see you fall. But for David, before he
was ever formerly made king he had enemies who sought him. The most
natural response from those who are sought by enemies is to do what?
Lash back. But what King David became skilled at doing was seeking God
when his enemies sought him. Though he had strength and though he
eventually had an army to make war with, he went to the Lord and sought
Him first. The difference between one who trusts in the Lord and one who
doesn't is one who seeks Him. Your enemies seek you because they do not
trust God and some may not even know Him or have abandoned Him. When
you seek God when they seek you, you hand over to God your problems and
show that you know God is bigger than any difficulty, including man. By
you seeking God when they seek you, you show God that you are ready to
hand over the areas of your life that you once took pleasure in
handling. When you seek God because enemies seek you, you give God the
opportunity to show His glory and His strength in a way that everyone
knows what is done is of God. When you seek God, He hides you like a
father who protects his loved ones in times of trouble. When you seek
God, He gives strategies that will surely lead to victory. When you seek
God because enemies seek you, God delivers right on cue.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Is It Clear Yet?
John 16:31
31"You believe at last!" Jesus answered.
Jesus was preparing the disciples for His departure. He told them they wouldn't see Him for a little while then they would see Him. It's the "now you see me now you don't" scenario between the time of the crucifixion and the resurrection. The disciples didn't understand and began to ask each other questions. When Jesus knew their thoughts without them asking Him and began to clarify for them, they understood. What seemed like perplexing parables to them became clear. They confessed that He could only be from God. And it was at that point that Jesus knew they finally believed. When you believe and Jesus begins to speak, you will understand. No more will it sound like the teacher on the Charlie Brown cartoon. His voice will be clear. And when you finally know that you can hear Jesus clearly, it's like a room that's been totally dark and suddenly the light bulb comes on and illuminates the room. It's bright and gives the room a new look. Jesus speaks but because of sin and disbelief, ears cannot always hear. And just because you believe in general doesn't mean that's in ALL things Jesus says through the Holy Spirit. There are different levels of belief. What has Jesus told you? Has the light bulb of belief finally come on for you? Is it clear yet?
P.S. Checkout my girl Stubbs and the relaunch of the Leap of Faith Show on the Leap of Faith Network coming in February on www.leapoffaithshow.com and listen for new Get Your JOY In The Morning segments!
31"You believe at last!" Jesus answered.
Jesus was preparing the disciples for His departure. He told them they wouldn't see Him for a little while then they would see Him. It's the "now you see me now you don't" scenario between the time of the crucifixion and the resurrection. The disciples didn't understand and began to ask each other questions. When Jesus knew their thoughts without them asking Him and began to clarify for them, they understood. What seemed like perplexing parables to them became clear. They confessed that He could only be from God. And it was at that point that Jesus knew they finally believed. When you believe and Jesus begins to speak, you will understand. No more will it sound like the teacher on the Charlie Brown cartoon. His voice will be clear. And when you finally know that you can hear Jesus clearly, it's like a room that's been totally dark and suddenly the light bulb comes on and illuminates the room. It's bright and gives the room a new look. Jesus speaks but because of sin and disbelief, ears cannot always hear. And just because you believe in general doesn't mean that's in ALL things Jesus says through the Holy Spirit. There are different levels of belief. What has Jesus told you? Has the light bulb of belief finally come on for you? Is it clear yet?
P.S. Checkout my girl Stubbs and the relaunch of the Leap of Faith Show on the Leap of Faith Network coming in February on www.leapoffaithshow.com and listen for new Get Your JOY In The Morning segments!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Which Way Are You Walking?
Isaiah 2:5
5Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Isaiah was one of the prophets who repeatedly spoke of the coming of the Lord. Jacob was given a new name by God, Israel. And Isaiah is urging the house of Jacob or Israel to walk in the direction of light that leads to the Lord. To walk, as defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary is 1) to move or cause to move on foot, 2) to pass over, 3) to perform or accomplish by walking, 4) to follow a course of action or way of life (humbly in the sight of God) also a manner of living, conduct or behavior. So many of us take steps every day but which way are you walking? Are you walking on the path God has for you? Are you walking in the light or are you walking towards darkness? Are you taking the steps that God has laid out of you or are you taking your own path? The direction that God has provides you with a definite security in Him where you are protected. When walking on your own path, you have no idea where it leads. It's like walking through the woods with no compass. Walking through the woods means you're not supposed to stay there but if you have no compass, which is the Lord's light, then you are bound to be lost and wander there for longer than you are supposed to. So which way are you walking?
P.S. Remember to check out my man V of the Artist to Artist Show Mondays on www.Qliveone.com and listen for new Get Your JOY In The Morning segments coming soon!
5Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Isaiah was one of the prophets who repeatedly spoke of the coming of the Lord. Jacob was given a new name by God, Israel. And Isaiah is urging the house of Jacob or Israel to walk in the direction of light that leads to the Lord. To walk, as defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary is 1) to move or cause to move on foot, 2) to pass over, 3) to perform or accomplish by walking, 4) to follow a course of action or way of life (humbly in the sight of God) also a manner of living, conduct or behavior. So many of us take steps every day but which way are you walking? Are you walking on the path God has for you? Are you walking in the light or are you walking towards darkness? Are you taking the steps that God has laid out of you or are you taking your own path? The direction that God has provides you with a definite security in Him where you are protected. When walking on your own path, you have no idea where it leads. It's like walking through the woods with no compass. Walking through the woods means you're not supposed to stay there but if you have no compass, which is the Lord's light, then you are bound to be lost and wander there for longer than you are supposed to. So which way are you walking?
P.S. Remember to check out my man V of the Artist to Artist Show Mondays on www.Qliveone.com and listen for new Get Your JOY In The Morning segments coming soon!
Friday, January 25, 2013
You Are Important
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
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
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!
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