I've God the Joy, Joy, Joy Down In My Heart

Author Eugene Peterson has some very interesting observations regarding "joy."  For example:

Joy is not a requirement of Christian discipleship; it is a consequence...it is what comes to us when we are walking in the way of faith and obedience.

All suffering, all pain, all emptiness, all disappointment is seed: sow it in God and He will, finally, bring a crop of joy from it.

So often we believe that joy is something that we must muster up for ourselves.  Of course, we can't produce joy but how often do we fall for the lie that if we do something that makes us feel good (regardless of what God says about it) or if we obtain some new thing, we'll be joyous?

If we care at all about our relationship with God, living outside of His will won't bring a lasting joy.

And stuff can't make us happy.  Stuff breaks down or wears out or falls apart.  How much joy is there in all of that?

Where do we look for joy? Paul wrote to the Philippians: Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!

Our joy is in Jesus.  He puts the bounce in our step, the smile on our face, the joy in our hearts.

Listening to Him in His Word...speaking to Him in prayer...being in His house to receive His gifts...sharing His gifts with the people around us - that is where joy is found. 

We can't produce joy.  Jesus gives it as one of His precious gifts.

Worship the Lord faithfully and serve His people lovingly.  Watch and see if He doesn't fill your heart with joy overflowing!

Top 10 Signs Your Pastor Isn't Prepared For Bible Class

10) Falls asleep during “Drive Thru the Bible” and wakes up to see everyone has gone home

9) Spends an hour showing pictures from his recent vacation to Mexico

8) Tells class: “My dog ate my study notes.”

7) Comes in exactly one hour after class should have started and asked, “Am I late?”

6) Answers every question in class by saying, “Let’s circle back to that next week.”

5) Spends the hour in class asking for help in filling out his March Madness brackets

4) Cuts class 45 minutes early so he can get home and watch “Will Trent”

3) Tells class: “My dog ate my Bible”

2) Announces a new assignment: WWJWOTVITWTVIG (What would Jesus watch on television if there had been television in Galilee)

1) Asks each member of the class, “And what does this verse mean to you?

Looking for cheerful givers

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for the Lord loves a cheerful giver.  2 Corinthians 9:7

Interestingly, the word translated, "cheerful," in the Greek could also be translated as "hilarious."  Such a person is happy to be able to give back to the Lord a portion of what the Lord has blessed that person with in the first place.

A college student who went to Africa on a mission trip told of seeing hilarious givers.  In the church where they worshipped, no offering plates were passed.  Instead, a large metal pot was set up in front of the altar.  On the pastor's cue, the people were invited to give their offerings.  The student said, "The people gave with great, great joy.  They danced down the aisles.  Most only had a few coins to give.  Others put vegetables from their garden in the pot.  It didn't matter.  They were excited that they could give something back to God and His church.  It caused myself to ask, "Do I give my offerings with that kind of joy and excitement?"

I guess it depends on how you look at the tithe or offering you give to the Lord's church each Sunday.  Do you place your offering envelope in the plate with an attitude of "have to" instead of "want to?"  A "have to" giver does so reluctantly or under compulsion.  A "want to" giver does so with gratitude for all that has been received from the Lord's hand - forgiveness, salvation, peace and joy.  These are gifts that can't be bought but are given in great abundance by the God who loves and gave His Son to be Savior from sin, death and hell.

May the Lord help us all to be cheerful giver of our gifts every time we worship! 

Spirit, tomorrow write the preached Word in our hearts

 A prayer from the sainted Dr. Luther:

Eternal God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant us Your Holy Spirit who writes the preached Word into our hearts. May we receive and believe it and be cheered and comforted by it in eternity.  Glorify Your Word in our hearts and make it so bright and warm that we may find pleasure in it, through Your holy inspiration think what is right, and by Your power fulfill the Word, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord.  Amen.

From The Lord Will Answer, page 256

Longing for Jesus

Love these words...they're part of a prayer written by Bo Giertz and found in the book, "To Live with Christ," page 660:

Allow my weakness to become a hand that reaches out for You, an emptiness You can fill, a longing that never stops hoping for You.

God is doing His handy work in us

Creation is God's Word.  This is what we confess in the First Article of the Apostles' Creed - I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

But God's creating work is not limited to this world we live in.  His handy work does not end with fields of beautiful flowers or majestic sunsets.  God is doing His best work in each of us.  He has given us life and everything we need to sustain this life.  He gives us the help and protection we need to keep the old evil foe at bay.  He treats us as a loving father who cares for and nurtures His dear children.

As His children we recognize that we disappoint our heavenly Father.  We sin against Him in our thought life, the words we speak and the things we do.  In repentance and faith we come to our Father and express our sorrow over our sins.  We claim the forgiveness won for us by Christ at Calvary.  We ask the Lord to help us live holy and pleasing lives.  This is the prayer of the psalmist David in 51:10: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Prof. John Burg writes: David is praying for a miraculous act that can be performed by God alone.  His prayer can be answered only through the work of the Holy Spirit, who alone can work repentance, faith and a willing spirit...Because this renewal is never perfect in this life, David prays that the Spirit will keep him steadfast...so he will not fall again.  Let David's prayer be your prayer today. 

What is contentment?

Here's the answer from one of my favorite authors, the sainted Rev. Richard Lauersdorf:

Contentment is not a human production.  It's God's work in us as He keeps our eyes fastened on Jesus.

From As Luther Taught the Word of Truth, page 129