The Importance of Joy

We had experienced a very fun afternoon with our grandchildren; Smiley face chocolate

chip pancakes with Butter Tart ice cream for lunch, peeping through binoculars from the

deck into the backyard, riding down the hill in Amma's new gardening wagon, then more

rides in the wagon (including the dog), attached to Papa's riding lawn mower! What a

blast; Riding, laughing and enjoying sweet things to eat! Who needs the fair or an

amusement park when you can create fun in your own backyard!?

I'm reminded through these fun moments at how important joy is. The Bible says in

Nehemiah 8:20, "The joy of the Lord is my strength."

But how can we experienced joy, especially when we are hearing so much bad news nowadays, this world is becoming a darker place, and even as we face our own brokenness and pain?

Just like fruit, joy needs time to grow! We do not always experience joy in times of pain and misery. But there are certain things we can do to grow joy, even in times of hardship:

Watch your thought life:

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or

praiseworthy—think about such things...... think on these things" Philippians 4:8

Be thankful:

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1

Give Jesus your broken heart:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” Isaiah 61:1-3

What a beautiful promise – the oil of joy for mourning! I have experienced this kind of healing in my life from the Lord. How about you? Have you given the Lord your heartache and pain and allowed Him to fill you with His joy? Don’t put it off – give Him your heartache today, and He will fill you His joy!

RAIN and WEEDS

Recently I was picking the weeds around our yard that seemed to have popped up overnight from all the rain that had fallen. Then it dawned on me that rain is most welcome for the plants and vegetation that we WANT to see grow and thrive; BUT it also causes vegetation to sprout that we would rather not see. It's a lot of work, keeping up with those pesky plants! But, they are so much easier to pull out when they are small! If you give them time to grow, their roots will grow deeper and stronger. Then they become more difficult to remove.

The rain spoken about in scripture is likened to the Lord's working in our lives. It says in Hosea 6:3 "... He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains watering the earth." (NIV)

The Holy Spirit faithfully works in our lives to bring spiritual growth and fruit. Then we find that as He is working, He also reveals pesky character traits that pose problems when we do not deal with them. Like weeds in a garden; if you don't take the time, care and effort to keep up with negative qualities in your character they will soon grow unchecked and out of control. This causes a greater amount of work, effort and time in the long run! For example; if you've seen the weeds of anger, self-pity, or greed popping up, but do not take the time to pull them out of your heart quickly, they can grow into resentment, bitterness and the endless seeking for more of the things money can buy!

For more helpful insight as to "weeds" and "good plants" in your life read Colossians chapter three.

Take time to evaluate the garden of your heart today!

HOME SWEET HOME!

They say, "Home is where the heart is!" I concur! There's no place quite like home! It's where your security lies, where you can feel at ease, let your hair down, put your feet up; in a nut shell, it's where you can be yourself!
The best and the worst comes out of us at home. We tend to be on our best behaviour elsewhere, but at home, well - you know! You can wash your make-up off, take your earrings out, put your jammies on and simply "chillax"!

I imagine that's partly what I'll feel like when I reach my final home, heaven. Similar to walking in the door of my home after a busy day of running errands;  a gentle sigh of relief, a feeling of peace and tranquillity, time to rest and wind down, my work is finally done - that's the feeling I imagine I'll have when I arrive through eternity's door!
Coming home is also a time to enjoy the fruits of my labour. My husband and I have worked really hard creating beautiful gardens around our property. There are bushes, trees, flowers, a fountain and a few well placed cement figurines. There are bird feeders and bird houses, plants to attract butterflies and arbours with climbing, flowering plants. With all of the time and effort and hard work it's been to create and maintain these gardens, it's so nice just to sit under the awning on our back deck and enjoy the beauty of God's creation. This I also liken to our home in heaven. After all of our hard work here on earth, as tedious at times as it may seem, we will truly enjoy experiencing the fruit of our labours there.
Here are a few scriptures to show this truth:
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)
"One who does righteousness reaps a sure reward." (Proverbs 11:18)
"Whatever you work at, do with all your heart, as working for the Lord.... you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward." (Colossians 3:23 & 24)

I'd like to encourage you today to find the place of peace in your heart, that little bit of heaven here on earth that the Lord gives those who trust in Him. Jesus promised His peace to us; He said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:23)

There is a place in God's heart where we can feel at home, a place of rest He's created for those who trust in Him. That place is the truest, sweetest and best, "Home Sweet Home" that there ever is!  

Hebrews 4:9-11 "So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labours, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest."