Midweek

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Jesus said:  “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you”                            John 15:1-12
           Do you have joy in your heart? There are times when happiness eludes us. This is normal and we need to understand that there will be times when we aren’t happy. But, joy is not dependent upon our circumstance. Joy comes when we feel secure in the Lord. Joy comes when we live in God’s presence. Joy comes when we are answering God’s call. 

A short story to share about joy (author unknown):
           The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.  As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window.  “I love it,” she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

 “Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen the room….just wait.” “That doesn’t have anything to do with it,” she replied.       

 Joy is something you carry in your heart and it doesn’t depend on the arrangement of your furniture or size of your bank account. Each day is a gift from God. It is your choice how to use the time you are given.

May your joy be complete in Christ our Lord.