JOY
When I am in the presence of the Lord I will have joy. The choices I make each day determine the joy that I will experience that day. Events, activities and accomplishments don’t create joy. A living and growing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to have joy as the foundation of an active life.

5/14/04 Psalm 69:32
The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help live in joy.

JOY
God is with me. My faith in Him gives me the spiritual eyes that I need to see Him at work in all areas of my life. The world’s actions are easy to see. The activity of the Lord is discerned in our relationship with Him. Seeing the Lord at work in our lives is His gift to us to encourage us as we serve Him.

5/15/04 Psalm 70:4
But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "God is great!"

GIFT Salvation is a gift that comes from the Lord. It is all of Him and fully available for any one of us to claim. We choose the Lord but He has already chosen us. I belong to Jesus because I accepted His gift. I want to know the Lord better each day.

5/16/04 Philippians 4:4
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice!

REJOICE
Circumstances do not affect my joy. My joy is rooted and grounded in the eternal Lord. I can be myself and live my life with the full knowledge that I count, my life is valuable and the Lord Jesus Christ will walk every step with me. I belong to Him.

5/17/04 Philippians 1:25
I am convinced of this, so I will continue with you so that you will grow and experience the joy of your faith.

FRIENDSHIP
We serve Christ together. It is our responsibility to honor, respect, care for and help each other. Jesus brings us together. Our service together adds strength to what we are doing in the Lord.
 

5/18/04 Ephesians 3:8
Just think! Though I did nothing to deserve it, and though I am the least deserving Christian there is, I was chosen for this special joy of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.

EVANGELISM
I am called to share Christ with everyone I meet. This is not difficult. Out of my growing relationship with Christ, the Lord of glory, I am able to talk authoritatively about what the Lord is doing in my life. Evangelism is simply telling. If I don’t have a growing relationship with Jesus there won’t be anything to talk about.

5/19/04 Galatians 5:22-23
But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.

HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit points us to Jesus. He doesn’t serve at our beck and call; He simply guides us to the Lord Jesus. When we come to Jesus we will change. If I am not changing day by day, I am refusing to listen to the Holy Spirit and fellowship with Jesus.

5/20/04 Romans 14:17
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

JESUS
Jesus is God’s everything. When the Holy Spirit leads us to Christ we have an opportunity to live under His control. If I refuse to spend time with Jesus and refuse to obey Him I will fail as a Christian. There is no Christianity apart from Christ.

5/21/04 Romans 4:8
Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord."

FORGIVENESS
I am free in Jesus. Free from all those past failures. Free from my current mistakes. In Jesus I am free to come to the Father and grow in my relationship with Jesus. Jesus is strong enough to forgive my sin and overcome my sinfulness.

5/22/04 John 17:13
"And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be filled with my joy.

ALIVE
Jesus is alive. He lives in me. He lives in you. Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of life. When I live with Jesus one day I will walk with Him and talk with Him face to face.

5/23/04 John 16:22
You have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.

JOY
Joy is the result of letting Jesus have control of your life. Everything you do will come under His scrutiny. My faith equips me to do what Jesus says. Obedience is the stairway to a life of growing faith in Jesus and faithful service to Jesus.

5/24/04 John 15:11
I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

JOY
My sin had a death grip on me. I was blind in my sinfulness and the things of God were not interesting. One day I accepted His offer of eternal life in Christ Jesus. My sins were washed away and Jesus came to stay. I now have joy each day.

5/25/04 Luke 19:6
Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.

JOY
When you come to Jesus you will have joy. Joy in your heart that the world cannot take away. Christ knows what you need and will work in your heart to equip you to deal with the obstacles you face each day. In Christ I can accomplish the plan that the Lord has for my life.

5/26/04 Luke 10:21
Then Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.

JOY
Joy is not something you have because of your position or status in the world. Joy is in you because you have become a child of God. You have given your life to Jesus and are alive in Christ for eternity. Jesus is with you and equips you to deal with your life.

5/27/04 Luke 2:34
Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, "This child will be rejected by many in Israel, and it will be their undoing. But he will be the greatest joy to many others.

WORLD
The world will never accept Jesus. The very mention of His name causes an immediate reaction of rejection. Jesus loves you. He will be your strength and joy. Ask Christ to lead, guide and direct you each day.

5/28/04 Luke 2:10
but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone!

GOOD NEWS
You have good news in Jesus. Jesus loves you. You are no longer at war with the Lord. You have new life in Christ. God has a plan for your life and you are living it. You count and the things you do have eternal value. Good news from the Lord Jesus Christ.

5/29/04 Jeremiah 31:25
For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing."

JOY
Life sidetracks us. It beats us down. Jesus equips us to see the truth of life. He is my joy. In Christ I have a growing relationship. The Holy Spirit guides me moment by moment. The weariness of life is replaced by an awareness of the eternal and an invigorating relationship with the Lord. God is in control.

5/30/04 Isaiah 61:10
I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.

VALUE
The world only values the rich and famous. The poor and ordinary are shoved aside. In Christ you are a child of the Creator. Your value and worth is immeasurable by heaven's standards. God loves you. The life you are living is a life that is precious to the Father. Christ died for you.

5/31/04 Isaiah 61:3
To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.

JOY
Jesus is involved in your life. That is one of the Lord’s 7,000 plus promises in the Bible. You are not alone. Your work is important. Every person you meet is valuable. The life you live is a life that Jesus died for. Be encouraged. The Lord is with you.