Joy - A Missing Delight

 My mom and I talked about this the other day: having joy through everything you go through in life. The ups and the downs. The hidden desires and the present disappointments.  So I was wanting to read the book of Philippians. What better place to look for real, true joy than the Word of God?


The word Joy in Philippians can be used different ways.

 One of the ways it is used is the Greek word "Chara". This is used five times in the book. The meaning according to Strong's is cheerfulness. BUT the second meaning is what caught my eye today.

Calm delight.

 

 

When I think of the word joy I think of bubbly and happy, an active kind of joy.

Joyful children run and laugh and play,

but this calm delight?



 

It must radiate from within,

a peaceful strength,

a contented joy.

Oh, how I lack this but how I want it!

 

 

But here the Lord is showing that joy resides within

and it isn't always manifested actively,

but is radiated from within

in a joyful countenance,

A Calm Delighted Countenance.

I Am, Are You?

Matthew 13:45-46

 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."

Christ came to seek me. 

I am 

"One Pearl of Great Price"

He sought me,

 

 Then He bought me with His own precious blood,

 

and I became a goodly pearl.

 

Isn't that wonderful?

 

We are pearls of great price, 

valuable to our Owner.

Are You An Encourager Today?

Mrs. Bullock taught our dean session today and we have been studying the life of Barnabas, the encourager. There were some things that stuck out to me and I though I would put them up here, to be an encouragement to others.
Barnabas’s encouragement changed many lives and furthered the spreading of the Gospel. In Acts 11:19- 26 we see that Barnabas ended up going to Antioch, then he went and retrieved Paul and they returned to Antioch to abide there for a year. After that year was up there were many added to the church and the people were first called Christians. Barnabas brought Christ out of these people by encouraging them to live and serve Him, because they had the courage to live for God they were called Christians, “little Christ’s”.
So Barnabas changed lives… What about us? Whose life are we changing and encouraging to live for God?
An encourager:

• Is committed to the success of others.

• Doesn’t focus on the failures of a person but focuses on their potential.

• Infuse courage into someone else, helping them to be bold enough to do what they should for God.

• Prays for others and lets them know it. When was the last time you asked to pray with someone? To hear someone pray for you gives you the courage and strength to get through that day.

So today start little and be an encourager. Keep in mind that God takes our failures and makes them successes.