True Joy

A friend of ours wrote once "How can I have Joy?"  She used Websters definition of joy and said that she did not have "it" and that she couldn't have "it" while she is going through so much.  Our friend has three little kids and her husband has been going through tests with lumps on his neck and so far the doctors are unable to find out anything.

Here is my wife's response to her,

"Joy is not a 'feeling' but a 'knowing' that Jesus loves us and endured more suffering than we can imagine so that we'll have eternal life.  That eternal life does start now even though we are stuck in these sin-sick bodies.  Remember Jesus is our 'cure,' and He enables us to look beyond our circumstances.  I know that it is not easy, but it can be done.  The 'world's' definition of  joy is earthly... a "present" joy in things of here and now.  What we have though is so much greater!  It is eternal.

It helps, too, to think of others who are facing trials that are worse than ours and somehow have found joy in it.  Joni Eareckson comes to mind.  Or my neighbor who has had a stroke a few years ago.  She sits in her chair and prays for others.  Recently my friend who has a seven year old diagnosed with cancer after losing a child and having heart surgery on another child and she says, "God is teaching me to praise Him in all things."

Joy. It changes our perspective on everything.

Trials Will Come

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials
1 Peter 1:6

I realize that many of us have sung or at least heard the song “Blessed Be Your Name” by Matt Redman, but I believe the words of it stand true. Please take a few moments now and watch this video. Be encouraged. Move from “shoe-gazing” to Christ praising. Your heart will feel better and it’s what Christ deserves.


For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18

Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings.
Exodus 3:7

Eight Habits of a Christlike Disciple

Some time ago, a friend of mine sent me a link to Faith Church of the Valley in Phoenix. On their web site they had a very strong plan for discipleship of their congregation.  The great thing about this church is that they don't assume that everyone at Faith Church has "arrived" spiritually. The leadership of Faith Church is very proactive in teaching, training and discipling their congregation.

I thought that their "Eight Habits" where really good and challenging. They are listed below:


A Mind Transformed by the Word

We progressively come to view the world as God views it: setting aside the world's values as our minds are continually renewed by God's word.

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,

so that you may prove what the will of God is,

that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Knowing the Scriptures and committing oneself to the Word of God is foundational to our knowledge and growth in Jesus Christ. If we are to conform ourselves more to the Heavenly Man, Jesus, and die to this world, we must be fed by His Word. Peter wrote:

"like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word,

so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,” 1 Peter 2:2

We are to hunger for it as naturally as a baby craves its milk, and we are to be nourished by it, our spiritual food, even as we are nourished by our physical. In the same way we become malnourished if we stop eating our physical food, so we do with our spiritual food.

A voice to speak the good news

We joyfully share Jesus with those who do not know Him: leading them to faith and answering questions. We also provide hope and encouragement for those who already know the truth.

A heart for Christ alone

Jesus, as the one-and-only Son of God, becomes the priority in all of life; as our most precious treasure, we worship Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.

Arms to love

We embrace humanity: coming alongside others in need, extending compassion, welcoming the stranger, and living in a community of mutual care with other disciples.

Hands that give and serve

We live as servants of God and each other: doing good through the gifts the Spirit has given us, living generously and simply, and seeking to bring about the fullest expression of God’s rule in our culture.

Knees for prayer

Our posture before God is one of continual dependence: trusting deeply that God is in charge of everything and conversing always about what we are accomplishing together with Him.

Feet that bring the good news to foreign lands

We fulfill the great commission by establishing church planting movements among the most spiritually unreached people groups of the world.

A body that bears the scars of Jesus

We gladly bear the reproach of Christ: sharing in His suffering and being conformed to His death in order to share in the triumph of His resurrection.

As you read these, what comes to mind?

I don't want to "guilt" you in Godly habits, but how are you doing? Are you seeking Christ today, in all that are?

John, in his gospel, stated, "He must increase and I must decrease." What steps are you taking to do what John did?