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JOY IN JESUS

Good Wednesday Morning!
Week 3 of our Words for Wednesday Summer Series features the writings of our sister, Dolores Callier. One can easily hear her sweet voice while reading below.

JOY IN JESUS
In my daily devotions this year, I am using two books that present names and titles of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One name of Jesus the Son is Life, and the Bible tells us that all Christians will share in His glories, including eternal life. “Let heaven fill your thoughts; don’t spend your time worrying about things down here. You should have as little desire for this world as a dead person does. Your real life is in heaven with Christ and God.” Colossians 3:2-3 (The Living Bible - TLB).
Christians look forward to spending eternity with Jesus as He has promised. But, it is possible to focus on the hereafter so much that we miss the blessings of the here-and-now. Because Jesus is Life, we don’t have to wait until we die to have His joy. If He is our focus, we can face all of the obstacles and frustrations of our daily life with joy.
The Holman Bible Dictionary defines Joy as the happy state that results from knowing and serving God. It is not the same thing as pleasure, which is a pleased feeling, enjoyment, gratification of the senses, fun, or amusement. Joy grows out of a right relationship with God, not from our self-centered pleasure seeking. Some people think God is a kill-joy, but He knows joy and wants His people to know it too (Psalm 104:31). Joy is also a fruit of the Spirit:  “But when the Holy Spirit controls our life he he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace. . .” Galatians 5:22 (TLB).
A Christian’s joy is tied to our walk with Jesus because He is our life today, and forever. Jesus spoke of His own joy and the joy He came to bring to us. “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11 (King James Version). When Jesus knew His crucifixion was near, He prayed, “And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so that they would be filled with my joy.”  John 17:13 (TLB). His prayer was for ALL who would become Christians to be filled with His joy, so it is available to us today.
The first time that Lib Rhew, who is experiencing eternity with Jesus, gave me a card, it was signed: With Joy in Jesus. That sweet phrase brings a smile to my face and my heart whenever I hear it or think of her. Are you allowing Jesus, The Life, to fill your life with His joy? 
These are your Words for Wednesday.
With Joy in Jesus,
Dolores Callier

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