Joy That Lasts
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Psalm 16:11
Christmas season comes and goes each year and yet the true meaning of Christmas is that God came and stayed and its that knowledge that provides for us lasting joy! Being just a couple days away from Christmas we are being inundated with advertisements for items we are supposed to buy this year. Things we are told we must have or need. Advertisements pop up everywhere, everything from your latest Google search to list after list of the “top 10” things “everyone” is buying this season.
And with all the hype and slick advertisement there is this almost implied promise that if you give or get whatever item that is being promoted you will find lasting joy. If that were really true then why are we searching for the perfect gifts again this year? If we are completely honest I’d be willing to bet that you can hardly remember, if at all what you got for Christmas last year. What’s even funnier to me is most of us remember gifts we didn’t get more than those we did receive.
That reminds me of a middle aged couple who went Christmas shopping at the mall where the husband wandered off while his wife shopped. She couldn’t find him so she called him on his cell phone to ask where he was. He said, “do you remember that jewelry store on the corner where we went about 10 years ago? That one where you saw that beautiful diamond necklace but I told you we couldn’t afford it then but one day when I had the money, I’d buy it for you.” “Yes, I remember” his wife said, trying to hold back the excitement. “Great, well, I am at the donut shop right next door to it.”
The point is this, true, lasting joy is found in Jesus not in the gifts we give or receive. You see, friends, it’s not presents that will bring you joy that doesn’t fade away but God’s presence in our lives, the awareness that He has drawn near to us that provides us lasting joy. Jesus is God’s gift to us given to us that first Christmas in Bethlehem, our reminder that God came to us and dwelt among us.
Joy isn’t the absence of anything, not the absence of pain or sorrow, hurt or heartache, not even in the absence of sickness or disease. True joy, lasting joy is in the very presence of God. Joy is ours each and every time we are aware of Gods presence, aware that He is right here with us, walking among us. Thats what made the first Christmas so special and it’s what makes Christmas so special again this year. God is here, He is among us by His Spirit. That is why we sing, “Joy to the world! The Lord is come” not that He did come or even that He will come again. The Lord is come is in the present tense because He is here! Enjoy the gift of Christmas, be aware of Gods presence in your life, after all that is His gift to each of us!
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
John 15:11
I LOVE YOU!
Psalm 16:11
Christmas season comes and goes each year and yet the true meaning of Christmas is that God came and stayed and its that knowledge that provides for us lasting joy! Being just a couple days away from Christmas we are being inundated with advertisements for items we are supposed to buy this year. Things we are told we must have or need. Advertisements pop up everywhere, everything from your latest Google search to list after list of the “top 10” things “everyone” is buying this season.
And with all the hype and slick advertisement there is this almost implied promise that if you give or get whatever item that is being promoted you will find lasting joy. If that were really true then why are we searching for the perfect gifts again this year? If we are completely honest I’d be willing to bet that you can hardly remember, if at all what you got for Christmas last year. What’s even funnier to me is most of us remember gifts we didn’t get more than those we did receive.
That reminds me of a middle aged couple who went Christmas shopping at the mall where the husband wandered off while his wife shopped. She couldn’t find him so she called him on his cell phone to ask where he was. He said, “do you remember that jewelry store on the corner where we went about 10 years ago? That one where you saw that beautiful diamond necklace but I told you we couldn’t afford it then but one day when I had the money, I’d buy it for you.” “Yes, I remember” his wife said, trying to hold back the excitement. “Great, well, I am at the donut shop right next door to it.”
The point is this, true, lasting joy is found in Jesus not in the gifts we give or receive. You see, friends, it’s not presents that will bring you joy that doesn’t fade away but God’s presence in our lives, the awareness that He has drawn near to us that provides us lasting joy. Jesus is God’s gift to us given to us that first Christmas in Bethlehem, our reminder that God came to us and dwelt among us.
Joy isn’t the absence of anything, not the absence of pain or sorrow, hurt or heartache, not even in the absence of sickness or disease. True joy, lasting joy is in the very presence of God. Joy is ours each and every time we are aware of Gods presence, aware that He is right here with us, walking among us. Thats what made the first Christmas so special and it’s what makes Christmas so special again this year. God is here, He is among us by His Spirit. That is why we sing, “Joy to the world! The Lord is come” not that He did come or even that He will come again. The Lord is come is in the present tense because He is here! Enjoy the gift of Christmas, be aware of Gods presence in your life, after all that is His gift to each of us!
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
John 15:11
I LOVE YOU!
Recent
Archive
2021
January
Test PositiveHow Not To ForgetYour Best Year EverRelationship Over RulesKeep The Main Thing The Main ThingBonding FiresTake Me To ChurchWeight Gain Is GoodNot Seeing Is Believing Everything You Need To KnowLove Wins!Servants Not Slaves8 P's and 7 B'sWhat The World Needs NowThe World Is Falling... Into Place10 Minutes That Change The WorldHow To Kill A ButterflyWhat's The Score?You Can Know For SureWe Need A Good Wind StormThe Little Things
February
The Power of KindnessThe Cure For WorryThe Truth; The Whole Truth; And Nothing But The TruthGod UnderstandsDefining MomentsBetter Than NewLittle's Make Big'sOne Hour Could Change Your WorldInstructions With PicturesGrow Through ItFire and IceA Sweet Sweet SoundThe Way Up Is DownThe Gift of YouThe Cure For DepressionA Flower In Life's SidewalkLets Be FriendsOur Secret WeaponLove Win'sAll Gave Some, Some Gave All
2020
January
February
March
Why We Can Be FriendsBe What You Want Other's To BeThere Is A Song In Your HeartThe Afterward of FailureWhy God WhispersDon''t Worry, Be Happy!I Can See Clearly NowI'm In It For The Long HaulTrade In Your Fears For PeaceDaddy Hold YouThe EndA Guy Can't Just Sit AroundThe Birthday Boy!Worry Never WorksPromises PromisesTwenty Inches From BlissFit From HomeThe Silver Lining of SufferingThe Gift of PainDo Not Be Afraid
April
Two Tickets To ParadiseI'll Trade YouNo Substitute For TrustOur Greatest NeedHope DispensersYour Finest HourDreams Do Come True!How To Survive A PandemicFeeling ChippieThe Good In Good Friday!The Dark Before The DawnHow Stars Are BornOne A Day, And Leap Year Too!Please, Breathe On MeYou Can't Afford To WorryChristmas In AprilAre You Jesus?Comfort FoodSocial DistancingNew NormalThe Beauty of SelflessnessThrive Not SurviveDon't Ask Why Ask WhatEmpty Is GoodI Miss Your FaceGet Out Of Jail Free
May
Marriage IS WorkYou Are EssentialThe DestinationCourage Looks Like LoveLive The AmenRelentlessYou're Never AloneOpen For BusinessYour're ContagiousGod's Got Big EarsHigher EducationA Season, A Reason, A LifetimeTo Grope Is DopeYou PickWomen Like GodMaking A DifferenceOne Way LoveBlessed To BlessPeople God Uses
June
How To Defeat RacismDon't Be An AnimalJesus IS The AnswerBefore Not AfterDreams Do Come True!ImagineTell It Like It Can BePeace MakersHold OnThe Name Above ALL NamesThe Real You!Don\'t Lose Your PassionA Tale of Four Father\'sJust Do It For Jesus!IfIn or Out?Stay FocusedPriorities MatterGod's Green Thumb
July
August
Whistle While You WorkDon't Worry, Be Happy!Holy Moly, Just Look At You!You Can Do Hard ThingsJoy Is On The Way!Why Not Me?What's Your Backstory?ForgivenessJesus Is Our RainbowJesus In, Jesus OutThe 7 Factors of FriendshipBecause of YouLord, Teach Me To PrayHopeless End or Endless Hope?The Stress RelieverDefining MomentsA Supernaturally Scheduled DayWho's In Your Boat?
September
Hang In There 5 Minutes More!You Can Do It!What You See is What You GetMountains Were Made To ClimbLet Go, Let GodThe Third OptionWhat Will You Be?Better Than New!You Are A Best Seller!Heaven On EarthPray, Don't PreyTo love Is To ObeyIf I Could Live My Life Over AgainLet It Shine!Need A Hug?A Beautiful MessRun Through The TapeCause and EffectLife Is The PitsJust Say Yes
October
How To Have A RevivalLord, Teach Us To PrayBroken and BeautifulWhy God WhispersDig DeepThings Are Not As They AppearChildlike FaithGreat JobWhat On Earth Am I Here ForSafe In God's HandYou Be JesusYou Never Have To Advertise A FireRetraining ElephantsMission PossibleGo Nuts Today!Don't Hide The CracksOne Step AheadWho's Your Caddy?THINKPeter's Favorite PsalmFound Together
November
Success Through FailureNo FearAgainst All OddsGod Works For You But Not For YouThe Worship of TearsThank God For FleasHow To Thank A VeteranSoar Like An EagleOne Out Of TenHow To Get Through A StormCling OnKeep SwingingChoose Winning!The BlessingLessons From My Washing MachineHow To Put Happy Into Your ThanksgivingWe Exist To AppreciateThe Gift That Keeps On Giving
December
Peace On EarthHope In The DarkLessons From Long LinesHe's Making A List And Checking It TwiceKeep Rolling!You Have A ReservationWhen Heaven Met EarthThe Great Gift ExchangeA Thrill of HopeThe Real DealThe Perfect GiftFace Your FearsWinning Over WorryStability From A StableThe "awe" of HeavenJoy That LastsMessage From The MangerChristmas In Three WordsLook Up Not ForwardJust Because
2019
February
Heavenly RemindersThings Are Not Always As They AppearZihuatanejoSatisfied Wanting MoreGet In The Game!Always The Nails, Never The HammerA Four Footed EnemyAll InWhat's Love Got To Do With It?Lessons From A LeperLessons From A Former LeperNo MatchYour Mess Is Your MessageLessons From Your GPS"Ooooo ooooo ohoohohoo"Jesus MarveledShe Walks In BeautyShaken or Stirred?Bring The Rain
March
I Can't Love You AnymoreThe Gift of AttentivenessWha't Outside Your Tent?I'll Carry YouIt’s Worth The PainWorship On The BrainA Door of HopeGet Busy LivingHow Knowledge Becomes Power Please Do Not DisturbNew Normal5 Minutes LongerOur Conquering KingA Matter of PerspectiveAge Old WisdomFaith Your FearsThe Best Day Of Your Life… Starts Now!Who Grace Looks LikeHow To Have Lifetime JoyTo Know You Is To Love YouMistaken Identity
April
Life After The End Of The RopeLet's Get RealWhy God Made MountainsForgive And ForgetLoving You Is EasySweetly Broken Keep The Main Thing The Main ThingKnow God Know PeaceWisdom Never Gets OldOut of the WhirlwindMonday: A Pure and Holy PassionTuesday: The Passion Of JesusThe Passion Week: WednesdayJesus Love From Head To ToeFriday: The Passion JesusThe Ta-da of HeavenWhat's The World Coming To?A Love InvasionThe Gift of YouI'm With You AlwaysHow Is Your Balance?Bring The Rain
May
In Regards To HeavenHope WinsIshteeLove Is A VerbFinishing WellYour New Favorite BookGod Has No GrandchildrenCrossing GuardsYou Were Made For MomentsLiving Like A Rock StarA Wonder Filled DayLess is MoreAll Washed UpIf Your Child Goes Astray... Pray!Like Parent Like ChildBring Back The KingWith God You ARE The MajorityJesus IS EnoughWe Will RememberYou Are Stronger Than You ThinkEscape ArtistsYou Can't Back Into Your FutureThe Worship of Tears
June
For HankGod's 'GPS'A Friend Like YouDesire Discipline DelightDesire, Discipline, DelightYou Be JesusYour WorthA Living Love StoryThe Gift of GraceThe Power of AmenA Dad For All SesonsStuck On YouJust OneI Hope You DanceIt's Your Turn To ShineGlorious Day!Ancient Social MediaA Door of HopeLiving Like JesusPlease, Don't Shoot The Messenger!
July
Flawed Instruments Glorify GodHelp Is On The WayMay You Always Remain As You Are TodayOne Nation Under GodDivine AppointmentsDon't Trip Over Your PastWho's Counting?ShineLove Is A VerbBig Shoes To FillYou Never Have To Advertise A FireLet The Walls Fall DownOne Small Step, One Giant LeapOur God Rocks!Stirred To ActionThe Power of LoveTo Know Him Is To Love HimJesus Loves Pizza
August
September
October
Broken and BeautifulIn The Hands of The PotterRecognitionExtraordinarily OrdinaryBonded By A BonfireColor EverywhereWords To Live ByThe Best of MeJust Say YesChoose HappyThe Best Weekend Ever!Three Yet OneJust KISSGame ChangerHow To Beat An Escape RoomIt's What's Inside That CountsWhen Longer Isn't Long EnoughThe Whisperer
November
The Healing Power of a HugA Work In ProgressThe Best Day of Your Life Starts... NowYou Have Beautiful EyesLord, Teach Me To PrayFive Star FaithDebt Free LivingWhen Close Isn't Close EnoughHave I Got Something Just For You!Perfect In Any LightYour Strength Is Your WeaknessIt's Only A TestYou're Living An Adventure
Slow The PaceThe Art of AppreciationLasting MemoriesBlack Friday Saved My Life
Categories
no categories