19^th April 2010

SEEDS FOR HARVESTING 5 /12

Nehemiah 8:10
"The joy of the Lord is my strength."

The "Joy of the Lord"
is not something that we can create
in our own minds and hearts.
It grows from our knowledge
of how much God loves us and cares for us.
It does not begin in our thoughts
or even the joy of being loved by our loved ones.
This "joy of the Lord" is Jesus' special gift to us.

He said
"That MY JOY may be in you,
and that your joy may be made full. "
He also said to His disciples before His crucifixion
"I will see you again and your heart will rejoice,
and no one takes your joy away from you."
Our joy is experiencing Jesus' presence
in our hearts and lives.
It is God's special gift to us.

Also our "Joy of the Lord" is not our own
to hide away to protect and feast upon.
For it to grow in us we must be willing to share, it with others.

We can even find joy in suffering, as Jesus did.
"For the joy that is set before Him
He endured the cross."
Even as Jesus was dying on the cross
He experienced the glory of God shining through.
He said before His crucifixion
"The hour has come;
glorify Thy Son that the Son might glorify Thee."

Bob Imms 11.4.10