OUR JOY IN LIFE MUST BE CENTERED ON CHRIST !

I have been spending some time lately contemplating my Life and the many things that make up it’s various components. The things that make it fun and pleasurable, along with the many challenges that at times make it seem difficult. There is a vast difference in how I look at Life now versus when I was younger. The older one gets, the more one appreciates the true things of value that make our lives much more satisfying and complete. The Richness of Relationships versus the accumulation of “Things”. The things that bring “ Long Lasting” JOY versus the temporary feel good in the moment things. It is easy to get caught up in the many things that make us “Happy”, but miss the things that God Provides to make us look a little Deeper ! Spending the last few weeks in Africa and experiencing a totally different existence and environment than my own has lead to a lot of Life Changing Revelations for me. LIFE IN AFRICA seems very simple in some ways compared to America, and yet it is Not Easy. Many things that we take for granted as “common” things to have are much different there. From Houses, to furniture, to food and it’s storage, to clothing, to transportation…..all much different than in America. In America, many things are taken for granted while in Africa they are NOT Commonplace. The monetary system there is quite different, and people are not paid even remotely close to us for the work they are involved in. Many of the things that they need in their lives are as costly or even more expensive than here. Kenya has an economy with 80% unemployment, and many men are absent from their homes and mired in the addiction of alcohol. Women hold the families together, and “education” is highly valued and truly focuses on actual knowledge vs. Idealogical discourse and self indulgence. Families there are close and they rely on each other ! What they lack in “Material Things”, they more than compensate for in appreciation and Gratitude for what they DO HAVE ! They find “JOY” in each other, and the very things that seem commonplace here. Beautiful 6 year old Sarah savored the gift of a simple muffin and a candy sucker like she had been given a golden treasure…..content to sit on my lap for 2 hours and just be held in a secure loving embrace ! My heart melts when I think of her, and I wonder how she is doing every single day. The amazing thing about JESUS is that He came to earth to radically wake up the people of His time period to a NEW WAY of looking at life and living it. The things that HE recognized and taught were important are vastly different than those coveted by Mankind and the World….

FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, DECLARES THE LORD, PLANS FOR WELFARE AND NOT FOR EVIL, TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPE. Jeremiah 29:11

DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND, THAT BY TESTING YOU MAY DISCERN WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD, WHAT IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT. Romans 12:2

FOR WHILE BODILY TRAINING IS OF SOME VALUE, GODLINESS IS OF VALUE IN EVERY WAY, AS IT HOLDS PROMISE FOR THE PRESENT LIFE AND ALSO FOR THE LIFE TO COME. 1 Timothy 4:8

As I read the many Words Of God in Scripture, it becomes very clear that Jesus wants us to know that HE IS OUR SOURCE OF LIFE AND KNOWLEDGE, and HE WANTS ONLY THE BEST FOR US ! It is also cleat that “The Best” does not revolve around the things that the world values. It is also clear that for us to recognize the things in life that are valuable we must embrace a “TRANSFORMATION” of our mind, and also EMBRACE THE WILL OF GOD for our very Being. HIS PATH AND HIS PURPOSE….not our own desires and plans. Far too often we want to take the reigns of control and Self Determine what we need to focus on and what individually matters to us. I would also say that along with a transformation of our mind, two other very important steps must be at the forefront of our very existence. OUR HEARTS MUST BE TRANSFORMED, AND OUR RELATIONSHIP AND INTIMACY WITH GOD MUST BE CHANGED ! Our true desires must mirror those that Jesus speaks of, and it is Critical to be in a place of intimacy with Jesus in every aspect of our life. Constantly Seeking Him and Talking To Him about everything. A 24/7 dialogue about our life, feelings, needs, struggles, gratitudes and JOYS :) This Intimacy will propel us into HIS WILL AND SET US ON THE PATH AND PURPOSES WE ARE TO PURSUE WITH ALL WE ARE. If we travel outside of God’s Will, we often end up in frustration and bitterness because we are going after the Wong Things on the Wrong Path. At the center of it all is one thing. TRUST ! Knowing in your heart that God knows you Intimately and will place you exactly where you need to be. THAT IS WHERE JOY ABOUNDS !!!

MAY THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING, SO THAT BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT YOU MAY ABOUND IN HOPE. Romans 15:13

COUNT IT ALL JOY, MY BROTHERS, WHEN YOU MEET TRIALS OF VARIOUS KINDS. James 1:2

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS, KNOWING THAT SUFFERING PRODUCES ENDURANCE AND ENDURANCE PRODUCES CHARACTER, AND CHARACTER PRODUCES HOPE, AND HOPE DOES NOT PUT US TO SHAME, BECAUSE GOD’S LOVE HAS BEEN POURED INTO OUR HEARTS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US. Romans 5:3-5

JESUS CHRIST IS THE CENTER OF OUR JOY ! Jesus is the very source of our New Life as we have been Transformed into a New Creation. Gone are our needs to have all the temporary things of the world to be Happy and Joyful. In the Words Of Jesus….”ALL YOU NEED IS ME” ! Jesus will be there in all your needs, your struggles, your pursuits and relationships….IF you invite Him in. ALL IN ! The Christmas season can be overwhelming as we rush about trying to organize and put all things perfectly in place, or it can be a great time to Truly Focus On Christ And The Joy He Brings. In Him we can truly find Hope, Peace, and Rest. Seek Him and find the Joy and the Peace that you need. God in His infinite wisdom sent His Son to a small, unimportant town (Bethlehem) to the lowest of low( Shepards) to begin the Hope Of The Gospel for all Mankind. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE GIFT AND BLESSING ! My Heart Swells and Soars as I recognize how much God Loves Me. My voice Sings Praises and Thanks that He took me into His Hands and Heart. May you truly see that your JOY resides in Jesus, and all the things that He desires for you ! Trust Him and Seek Him. Build the intimate relationship that He So Desires To Have With You ! And May JOY ABOUND IN YOUR HEART :). TRUST AND FIND JOY/JAA

THEREFORE MY HEART IS GLAD, AND MY WHOLE BEING REJOICES; MY FLESH ALSO DWELLS SECURE. Psalm 16:9