JOY IS A CHOICE, GOD PLEASE RESTORE THE JOY
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
DON’T GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD JUST TO LOSE?
We have so many people crying, do you know: “I CAN CRY IF I WANT TO…” I think many of us make the choice to mourn and cry about life instead of staying focused … cry all you want to that it is over? Why not smile and rejoice because life happens? We choose to mourn or celebrate daily?
Luke 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR RUNNING OVER CUPS? LORD, RESTORE THE JOY!
Psalm 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
HOW SAD IS IT THAT THE ENEMY SNEAKS INTO THE CHURCH AND STILLS OUR JOY? Seems today we talk about the FIRE and live contented in the smoke? We are glad and full of joy when we SEE THE LORD… we find a real problem, too few see the Lord daily… we see others and judge them. A critical spirit arises and kills the bubbling over…
WHAT HAS HAPPENED WHEN WE FIND IT HARD TO ATTEND CHURCH? I WAS GLAD, WHEN THEY SAID: LET US GO TO GOD’S HOUSE?
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
WHY DID GOD MAKE TODAY? WHAT IS GOD’S ORIGINAL IDEA FOR WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WITH TODAY?
Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24 (MSG) This is the very day GOD acted— let's celebrate and be festive!
Is life worth living? I am told a baby is born with his hands open… a man dies with clinched fist.
Ever wonder why?
HAPPINESS IS AN EMOTION, JOY IS AN ATTITUDE! CHOOSE JOY BECAUSE HAPPINESS IS NEVER ENOUGH.
A lady had cancer and she had been in great pain. Many of her family and friends were avoiding her because they did not know how to help or what to say. She had been depressed and seemed hopeless. One day she had been thinking about her choices. SHE COULD NOT CHANGE HER CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT SHE COULD CHANGE HER ATTITUDES AND HER CHOICES. The chemo and radiation had really made her weak. So she decided before she got out of bed, she was going to CHANGE HER LIFE, my changing her ATTITUDES and CHOICES.
The next morning the alarm clock went off, SHE JUMPED UP OUT OF BED AND SAID: THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY, NO THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY. She looked in the mirror and the chemo/radiation had been so mean. She only had 3 hair on her head. She smiled and said: THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY! And she braided her hair. She had a great day. When she went to bed that night she was overflowing with joy and peace.
She slept well that night. She was up before the alarm clock rang. She jumped out of bed and said to herself: THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY. NO, THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY. She looked in the mirror and she only had 2 hairs on her head. Wow, she was bubbling with joy. She was so thankful to be alive. God gave her a new day. The mirror revealed 2 hairs, she said: I ALWAYS LOVED PIGTAILS, I think they make you look younger.
So she wore pigtails that day. It was such a beautiful, wonderful day. As she lay down she thanked God for his day and the joy she had.
Well, you probably guessed it? The next day the lady jumped out of bed with great excitement to see what the new day had in store. She said: THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY. NO, IT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY. She went to mirror to find she only had 1 hair left on her head. She was not disappointed she said: I KNOW WHAT I WILL DO: I WILL WEAR MY HAIR IN A PONY TAIL. She looked in the mirror and she thanked God for her beautiful pony tail. She had a wonderful day, it was a great day. She smiled and danced and praised God all day.
I guess you know the next point? The lady knew JOY WAS A CHOICE. She could not change her circumstances but she could CONTROL HER ATTITUDES. SHE MADE THE CHOICE AS SHE CLIMBED OUT OF BED… She made the choice TODAY IS GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY. NO, IT WILL BE A GREAT DAY. The mirror showed her she HAD NO HAIR LEFT, NOT ONE HAIR LEFT ON HER HEAD. WOW, SHE WAS SO EXCITED, SHE DANCED AROUND IN A CIRCLE AND SAID: PRAISE GOD--- I DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MY HAIR TODAY. GOD YOU HAVE BEEN SO GOOD TO ME! I WILL PRAISE YOU ALL DAY LONG… THIS IS SUCH A GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE!
LIFE SHOULD BE A GREAT JOY! We often have a holes in the bottom our emotion bucket. BUT OFTEN THE REALITY OF LIFE GROWS HEAVY AND EVERYDAY LIVING BECOMES A TERRIBLE CHORE… THEN WE BECOME A PRODUCT OF OUR MENIAL DAILY CHOICES. EACH DAY SHOULD BRING A NEW JOY FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE US.
WE TEND TO DEVELOP INTO HALF HEARTED CREATURES… HAPPINESS IS AN EMOTION, JOY IS AN ATTITUDE. EMOTIONS PLAY GAMES WITH OUR MINDS. Emotions are UP and DOWN. We tend to allow emotions to play mind games. We allow emotions to live rent free in our minds.
Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
I often thing about POTENTIAL… POSSIBILITIES BEFORE US. We are greatly capable of developing to make life better. There is a great danger of STAYING THE SAME.
*** I hear the words: NO SADDER WORDS OF PEN AND TONGUE THAN THE WORDS, WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN…
ISRAEL HAS REALLY BEEN THROUGH A TERRIBLE TIME. NEHEMIAH KNEW NO ONE COULD APPROACH THE KING WITH A SAD COUNTENANCE WITHOUT ENDANGERING HIS LIFE…
Israel was backslidden. They were slaves in a foreign land… everything seemed dark and gloomy? Nehemiah and his fellow preacher EZRA, and the people been working hard and it seems every obstacle possible was determined to defeat them.
Nehemiah 2:2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
ONE DAY THE PREACHER STANDS BEFORE THE PEOPLE AND SAYS THAT’S ENOUGH CRYING, GET UP AND CELEBRATE LIFE. THE PEOPLE WERE COMMANDED START PRAISING THE LORD… Praise the Lord by faith. Praise the Lord even if you can’t see a solution. Praise God!
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
WHAT IS TRUE JOY? DO WE TEACH A JOY FILLED LIFE CAN BE A REAL POSSIBILITY? WE ARE IN A TERRIBLE BATTLE WITH DISCOURAGEMENT AND DEPRESSION. WE CAN NOT ALLOW OUR CIRCUMSTANCES TO DEFINE OUR LIFE.
One of the most common ideas I hear is: I JUST WANT TO BE HAPPY? How sad that we desire to invest little to no effort … We tend to make poor choices daily and then expect pie to fall out of the sky?
It is not always possible to change your circumstances. BUT YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR THINKING PATTERNS AND YOUR THOUGHTS and become a better you. Too many people are living looking through the REAR-VIEW mirror. Did you KNOW that the people that say IT CAN’T BE DONE, ARE BEING PASSED BY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING IT.
Even SNOOPY has something to say: KEEP LOOKING UP… THAT’S THE SECRET TO LIFE.
THE MAIN THING IS TO KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING… depression can cause us to lose our focus?
JOY COMES BY THE WAY YOU THINK…
CONCLUSION: Jock Purves writes a lesson about a man named JAMES GUTHRIE. James was preparing for his execution because he boldly proclaimed JESUS CHRIST AS THE SON OF GOD AND HIS PERSONAL SAVIOR. The DATE HAD BEEN SET. James woke up about 4 am on the day he was to be executed. James Guthrie started praising and worshipping God boldly around the guards and other prisoners. James was so excited in his worship. He was asked by James Cowie: “HOW DO YOU FEEL?” Then Guthrie replied: “VERY WELL! THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HATH MADE; LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!”
We spend big sums of money on medicine and make up… when to be honest we can also rely of the word of God. JOY AND PEACE ARE LIKE MEDICINE…
Proverbs 17:22 (KJV) A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 (NASB)A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 (MSG) A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.
THERE IS MEDICINAL POWER TO CURE DISEASE AND RELIEVE PAIN IN JOY AND PEACE. There is healing power in the word of God… LET JOY RESTORE YOU.
Psalm 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Psalm 51:12 (NASB) Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Psalm 51:12 (MSG) Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Thank you for reading my stuff. With joy dream again...
