‘joy’
I don’t use snopes. I use truthorfiction.com. However, when it comes to truth there is really only one we can fully rely on, that person being Jesus Christ. After all He is the way, the truth and the life.
Most of this stuff that gets sent out over the internet as a BIG WARNING is hype. Truth is Christ promised we would have trouble in this world and along with that promise came this encouragement, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Further more, many types of emails that go out with, “if you care let all your friends know” plastered on them are meant to spread fear. Jesus said, “(NLT) Matthew 10:28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” We are also told in 2Ti 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Other such emails are sent to make us angry about something. Eph 4:26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, Eph 4:27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Eph 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.
Here’s another one. “If you love Jesus you will send this to 10 people in the next 30 seconds.” My love for Jesus is not measured in the emails I send. It is measured in whether I’m keeping His commands. Some wishy washy email that only speaks of God’s love but says nothing of His justice and the need for repentance is only going to spread a false sense of security to people who are already complacent in their relationship with God almighty. You want to show Jesus you love Him? Push away from your computer, come out of hiding and love some real people you can see. Share with them the Gospel. Share your food and clothes with them. Visit the nursing home, the hospital and the jail. Go out into the streets and talk to some homeless folks. Give a smile to the check out clerk at the store who is moving a little slow. Say, “God Bless You!”, instead of griping how long they took. Show the love of God.
So, Truth is, I ignore a lot of these forwarded emails. Yes, I hit delete without even opening them. Father, God can be trusted. Pray, write your congressmen and senators, but speak with grace and truth, not bitterness and anger. Share your faith with people face to face.
Feel free to save this and send it to those people who insist on filling your inbox with all their fears, guilt trips and rants. Or you can delete it. There are no miracles waiting to happen one way or the other as a result, except that some may find you unreasonable in your trust of almighty God and may remove you from their spam list.
Oh, one more thing, please don’t send me those forwarded emails. Someone will no doubt write me and say, “But you like getting jokes, don’t you?” Yes, yes I do. Pro 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. So send on the good CLEAN jokes.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.
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(NLT) 1 John 5:21
Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.
We are created with a God sized hole in our lives. Though many things will try to fill that place, none but God can fill it correctly and adequately. Only God is sufficient.
So, what is first in your life? Who is first in your life? Is there anything that pushes God off the throne of your heart?
You see, when you chose to become a Christian, in your heart you believed that God raised Jesus from the dead, and you confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. (Rom 10:9) Do you confess Him, Jesus Christ, as Lord? If so, then is He Lord of your life? If He is Lord of your life what things, people, situations, thoughts, desires, etc., are clamoring for control of your life?
What things do you need to lay aside to truly give Christ the throne of your heart, mind and body?
You may be saying, “Isn’t this my life to live as I please?” 1Co 6:19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
There is no safer, calmer place to be than in the middle of God’s will with Him at the controls of your life.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood, Sr.
1Co 6:19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,
1Co 6:20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body
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2Thess 1:4 We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance (patience)* and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. 5 And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. 6 In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you. 7 And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. (NLT) *my note.
Could other people say about you what Paul said of the Thessolonians? We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance (patience)* and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.
The truth is that most of us in this country know very little about suffering. Our lives have not been threatened. We’ve not been imprisoned for proclaiming the Gospel. Oh our jobs may be less than desirable, or we have had some sickness, but suffering? I think not.
Phil 2:14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
Today, when troubles arise:
1. Check your attitude.
2. Don’t whine, Shine.
3. Walk in the Spirit’s fruit of patience.
4. Rejoice.
5. Watch for God:
A. to increase your patience.
B. to take care of the situation.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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Jas 1:2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance (patience)* has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
Jas 5:7 Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look ”the Judge is standing at the door! 10 For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. (NLT) * my note.
“Whatever you do, don’t pray for patience.” If you’ve been around the American church long you have heard that statement. It’s usually said as if the person saying it prayed for patience and they heard God in heaven respond, “MUHAHAHAHAHA, I’ve just been waiting for some fool to pray that prayer so I can show just how cruel I can be.”
We’ve been discussing the fruit of the Spirit and this week we we’ve reached “patience”. Keep in mind that this is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit and therefore it is already in you. So again we ask the question, “If it is in me what will it take to unlock the door to get at it?” The answer is “trials, troubles, tribulations”.
Does that frighten you? James told us to consider it an opportunity for joy. Why? Because in the troubles our endurance (patience) grows; is made complete or mature or perfect. When patience is fully grown we will have need of nothing. In other words, we will be completely content with God and His provision. We won’t be whining, we will be trusting.
When we cringe with fear at the prospect of gaining patience we show that we do not fully trust that God is full of tenderness and mercy. (James 5:11)
Today, when troubles come, rejoice because that means God is perfecting your patience. Trust Him because He is full of tenderness and mercy.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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Romans 15:13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Heavenly Father, Bless all Your children this day. You are our source of hope. Fill us completely with that Joy and Peace that is in us through Your Holy Spirit. We trust You, Father. Cause us to overflow with confident hope through the power of your Holy Spirit.
In us, Father, be glorified.
In Christ our Lord, AMEN!
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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1Thess 5:10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 12 Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 13 Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. 14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. 16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 19 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 20 Do not scoff at prophecies, 21 but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 22 Stay away from every kind of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 24 God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending Your Son that might have life eternal.
Please open our eyes today to these things; opportunities to encourage, to honor our spiritual leaders and pray for them. Help us see the path to peace with each other. Grant us wisdom and Grace in warning the lazy and in strengthening the timid and caring for the weak.
May we constantly see Jesus and hear him saying, “Father forgive them…”, of those who nailed Him to the cross. Cause that fruit, patieince, we so carelessly mock, to flow through us in all our dealings with others.
Fill us with Your Joy. Remind us when we allow anything to cover it up. Cause it to be evident in our lives. Remind us to pray instead of worrying. At all times remind us to count our blessings.
Father forgive us for grieving your Holy Spirit. We yield to you today. Speak to us and grant us clarity of thought. Keep us from evil and make us Holy in every way.
We praise You that we can trust You in all areas of our lives.
In Christ our Lord, AMEN!
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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John 15:1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
Keep in mind, joy is a part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), so if the Holy Spirit is in you, joy is in you.
In John 15:1-11 Jesus offers the path to that Joy, or if you will, the way to unlock what God has placed in you through His Spirit.
Strong’s defines the Greek word “chara” for joy this way:
“Cheerfulness, that is, calm delight: – gladness…”
After looking at many other passages and definitions I have formed my own definition for Christian Joy: Calm delightful confidence in my Creator, God and Lord.
Today abide in Christ and His Word. And may your Joy be full.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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Psalm 2:1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? 2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? 3 Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die. 4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!” Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall. 5 But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. 6 I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me. (NLT)
My wife put these words on our kitchen wall, “When you can’t see God’s hand, trust His heart.” Read verse 5 again. It says His love is unfailing.
Dear brother & precious sister, rejoice because He has saved your soul. Sing because He is good to you. When you begin to do these things you will sense His joy. It may be in small ways at first, but continue to praise Him. Continue to rejoice in His goodness and continue to sing about His goodness.
Today “Count your many blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings, see what God has done.”
I count you among my blessings.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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1Peter 1:2 God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace. 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. (NLT)
How are you handling the trials of life? The fiery trials you face test your faith.
I’m reminded of Yukon Cornelius on Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. He would toss his pick-ax into the air and then test it for gold by licking it. Now whether one can taste gold or not Yukon’s reaction was always the same, “Nothin’”.
You either have gone through trials, are in one right now or soon will face one. If God were to speak out about the results of your fiery test what would be the conclusion? “Nothin’?”
Do you take Peter’s suggestion above and look forward to the joy ahead? Vs 6. Do you rejoice in your salvation with inexpressible joy?
Can you, do you believe Romans 8:18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
Today focus on the joy ahead and let that guide you into inexpressible joy now, no matter what you are going through.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. (NLT)
If you are a child of God His Holy Spirit is at work in you. Romans 8:9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)
Part of the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is Joy. Paul tells us to follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. He produces joy, if we are to follow Him we should allow that joy to rise to the surface of our attitude. We should allow joy to be one of the buffers in our responses.
I believe it was Warren Wiersbe who I first heard say, “Happiness depends on happenings, but joy depends on Jesus who is the same yesterday, today and forever.” In other words, our joy is not dependent on our circumstances, rather firmly planted in our immutable God and the assurance of the promises of God in Christ. 2Cor 1:20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.
The fruit is there for the picking. It is a by-product of the Holy Spirit, so joy in Christ. Rejoice!
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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