Regaining Your Joy

"Joy of the Lord" is really just a state of mind and a state of heart.

It is being thankful because you know, first and foremost, that God has given you eternal life in a world of happiness. It is remembering that, above all the frustration and turmoil you may be experiencing in your present state, or the lethargy or boredom that you have with your present circumstances, when it comes down to it, you realize what the priorities of life are—what your life is all about.

To regain your joy of the Lord, you have to look past all your other priorities; all the things that keep you busy, all the things that bore you. You have to realize that, despite all those things‚ you have already obtained the most valuable prize you could possibly gain in any walk of life: Eternal life!

Whether you are a successful world leader or a simple person, because you know the Lord, you have the asset of the joy of the Lord deep within your heart. You can keep this asset no matter what anybody does to you, and no matter what circumstances you may find yourself in. It's like you've already won the main, top prize, Eternal life in Heaven and the extremely wonderful thing about it is: You can never lose it!

This time period you are living in is very short and temporary and "passes away" (Matthew 24:35), day by day, but your spirit is saved and lives on forever.

The joy of the Lord is to realize: That you are a sinner, but God has forgiven you; That He unconditionally loves you & will never give up on you; That at any point when you reach out and take His hand, He will take it immediately into His and forgive you.

The Joy of the Lord is realigning your priorities in proper order and proper perspective. All these other nagging, incomplete, and sometimes frustrating details, that are imperfect and that tend to get you down‚ are really insignificant points that will some day pass away. Yet your spirit will remain and live for eternity.

The Joy of the Lord is fixing your gaze, which determines your attitude and actions, on the eternal values that you'll be living by forever, and cut yourself loose from the temporary setbacks.
You will be among those who fulfill the Scripture, "The spirits of just men made perfect" (Hebrews 12:23). Perfect in love, perfect in joy, perfect in creation—that's you! That's where you're headed. ‘Regaining your joy’ is realizing the truth of this, and not being set back by the façades of the temporal!

The Joy of the Lord is your strength! (Nehemiah 8:10b)

Author: Unknown

Psalm 23 - what's in it for you?

The Lord is my shepherd.—That's relationship.
I shall not want.—That's supply.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures.—That's rest.
He leads me beside the still waters.—That's refreshment.
He restores my soul.—That's spiritual healing.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness… —That's guidance.
… for His name's sake.—That's purpose.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death… —That's tribulation.
… I will fear no evil… —That's protection.
… for You are with me.—That's faithfulness.
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.—That's discipline.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.—That's hope.
You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over.—That's abundance.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.—That's blessing.
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord...—That's security.
… forever.—That's eternity.

—David the psalmist, with comments by an unknown author

Happiness Formula

It's not your circumstances that determine your happiness; it's your state of mind.

Happiness and contentment are in your attitude! It's all in your perspective and your outlook. It's a matter of taking on God’s mind, of looking at situations and circumstances and even yourself through His eyes, seeing things from His view—even if you have to take it by faith.

There's just no reason to be discouraged, to feel down, and to let the things of this world get to you. Why should such trivial things muddy your view, steal your joy, and bring defeat and discouragement?

Seek to be triumphant, and that spirit of victory will become alive in you. Search for ways to see the good in all that is happening, and you will begin to live the good.

Turn to God for your happiness and stability and that's what you will find. Desire contentment in how things are today, not how they could be, and you will find the satisfaction you long for.

The Enemy of your soul only has claim to what you give him. He cannot steal your joy and happiness away; it's your choice whether he can take it. He will taunt you, he will hit you with everything, and he will haggle you until you give in, or better yet, until you turn around and tell him to get lost.

Happiness, fulfillment, satisfaction, contentment, peace, and joy are not contingent on the things of the physical, on your surroundings, on your lacks or problems, but they are contingent on your choices.

Choose to be victorious regardless of how you feel in the physical and that choice will become reality. Choose contentment over all the things the Enemy's pointing out to you to get your eyes off of the Lord, and as you make that decision you will find contentment.

Life's greatest lessons are mastered through learning to make something good out of the seeming bad. It's being faced with a difficult and troublesome time and rather than getting down about it, rejoicing for the good that can be found, or if none can be found, then being thankful for the sunny days and the happy times that you have known and that are yet to come.

That is how you will find the victory. The difficulties and struggles will not necessarily vanish, but the weight of them will not seem as heavy, for you will have placed them in God’s hand. Remember, victory is a state of mind.

What's your state of mind?

Author: Unknown

Kneeling to pray

A minister passing through his church in the middle of the day, decided to pause by the altar and see who had come to pray. Just then the back door opened, a man came down the aisle.

The minister frowned as he saw the man hadn't shaved in a while. His shirt was kinda shabby and his coat was worn and frayed, the man knelt, he bowed his head, Then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed, each noon time came this chap,
each time he knelt just for a moment. A lunch pail in his lap.
Well, the minister's suspicions grew, with robbery a main fear, he decided to stop the man and ask him, 'What are you doing here?'

The old man said, he worked down the road..
Lunch was half an hour..
Lunchtime was his prayer time,
For finding strength and power.

'I stay only moments, see, because the factory is so far away; as I kneel here talking to the Lord. This is kinda what I say:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN TODAY.'

The minister feeling foolish, told Jim, that was fine..
He told the man he was welcome to come and pray just anytime. Time to go, Jim smiled, said 'Thanks.' He hurried to the door.

The minister knelt at the altar, he'd never done it before.
His cold heart melted, warmed with love, and met with Jesus there. As the tears flowed, in his heart, he repeated old Jim's prayer:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY..
SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY.'

Past noon one day, the minister noticed that old Jim hadn't come. As more days passed without Jim, he began to worry.
At the factory, he asked about him, and learned that  he was ill.

The hospital staff was worried too. But Jim had given them a thrill. The week that Jim was with them, he brought changes in the ward. His smiles, a joy contagious, touched and changed the people. This was Jim’s reward. The head nurse couldn't understand why Jim was so glad, when no flowers, calls or cards came. Not a visitor he had.

The minister stayed by his bed. He voiced the nurse's concern:
No friends came to show they cared. He had nowhere to turn. Looking surprised, old Jim spoke up and with a winsome smile; 'the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, that He's in here all the while everyday at noon He's here, a dear friend of mine, you see. He sits right down, takes my hand, leans over and says to me:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM, HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN. ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY, I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY, AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY.'

If this blesses you, pass it on. Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

May God hold you in the palm of His and angels watch over you. Live in peace and peace will live in you.

Time Where Are You

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." - Psalm 90:12

Time is God's gift to mortal man;

It is that fleeting little span

Between our birth & Heaven's door

Where we begin God's evermore

When time is o'er.

How then should we our time employ,

In service, or, in passing joy?

Can we afford to throw away

And squander time in passing play,

O men of clay?

--Rev. R. E. Neighbour, D.D.

* Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening at once.
* "Time is the coin of your life.
It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent.
Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you."
--Carl Sandburg

* To comprehend a man's life, it is necessary to know not merely what he does, but also what he purposely leaves undone. There is a limit to the work that can be got out of a human body or a human brain, & he is a wise man who wastes no energy on pursuits for which he is not fitted; & he still wiser who, from among the things that he can do well, chooses & resolutely follows the best.

--William E. Gladstone

* "The less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in." --Lord Chesterfield

* You may delay, but time will not.--Benjamin Franklin

* 1,440 Minutes A Day
What if you were given $1440.00 at the start of each day to use as you see fit, the only stipulation being that you must give back what you haven't spent by the end of the day?

We master our seconds and minutes, or we become slaves to them; we use time, or time uses us.
More time is wasted not in hours but in minutes.
A bucket with a small hole in the bottom gets just as empty as a bucket that is deliberately kicked over.
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present!

* "We are always complaining that our days are few, and acting as though there would be no end." --Seneca

* "I have so much to do today that I shall spend the first 3 hours in prayer." --Martin Luther

* What Happened to Time

When as a child I laughed and wept, time crept.
When as a youth I dreamed and talked, time walked.
When I became a full grown man, time ran.
And later as I older grew, time flew.
Soon I shall find while traveling on, time gone.

* Most of us spend a lot of time dreaming of the future, never realizing that a little of it arrives each day.

USE THE BEST OF YOUR TIME FOR GOD. IT IS A PRECIOUS GIFT FROM HIM.

DON'T WASTE IT!