2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
Today was OMA. I love OMA. It is a women's bible study that I participate in two Thursdays a month. What an amazing blessing this group has been to me. You can find out more about it here:
www.onemothertoanother.net
Today we finished up a wonderful discussion about Joy, one of the Fruits of the Spirit. I left feeling happy, filled up with love for my heavenly father, and for my fellow mommies. Here are a few things that I took away from this study:
1. Joy doesn't just happen. You have to actively pursue Joy and exert a small amount of effort to achieve a Joyful state of mind.
2. Be deliberate about spending time with the Lord. The more firmly rooted we are in Him, the more likely His Joy, can be our strength.
3. Profound praise brings Joy. Dancing, singing, raising your hands to honor Him. You know, all those things that we feel self-conscious about when we do them in public. But, here's what the bible says:
1. Joy doesn't just happen. You have to actively pursue Joy and exert a small amount of effort to achieve a Joyful state of mind.
2. Be deliberate about spending time with the Lord. The more firmly rooted we are in Him, the more likely His Joy, can be our strength.
3. Profound praise brings Joy. Dancing, singing, raising your hands to honor Him. You know, all those things that we feel self-conscious about when we do them in public. But, here's what the bible says:
Psalms 32:11
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Psalms 33:1-3
Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Psalms 33:1-3
Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4. Our Joy is unstoppable.
2 Corinthians 4: 8-10
We are hard pressed on every side, butnot crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
We are hard pressed on every side, butnot crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
5. Joy radiates from within. I was reminded today that no amount of work on the outside will bring us Joy on the inside. It just doesn't work that way. We have to choose Joy on the inside and then it will radiate out for all the world to see and people will ask, "Why are you so happy?" And then we, lovers of Jesus, get to tell them why. Isn't that awesome!!!
So as for me and my house...I will choose joy. It will be difficult, because that is not my natural response, but I will still try to choose joy. Won't you choose joy with me today?
So as for me and my house...I will choose joy. It will be difficult, because that is not my natural response, but I will still try to choose joy. Won't you choose joy with me today?
