Joy!

Joy is a Christian benefit reserved specifically for the followers of Jesus. Happiness and fun are wonderful experiences that even the lost, unbelieving world can experience. An amusement park, vacation resort or favorite activity such as fishing, hunting or golfing can bring fun. A degree of happiness is experienced in accomplishments, relationships and even possessions. A new car or home brings some happiness. Marriage or the birth of a child and then a grandchild brings happiness.

But the negative aspect of happiness and fun is how fragile and temporary they are. The roller coaster ride ends, the vacation comes to a conclusion; then it’s time to come back to the real world. The glory of accomplishments fades, relationships get rocky, and a single dent in your car can change that happiness to a cloudy day.

You need a consistent, ever-abiding, positive experience that gives a sense of well-being. You need an overwhelming feeling that everything is going to be all right. Joy is the answer. One of the songs logged in my memory from children’s church proclaimed that joy comes from the priority sequence of Jesus and Others and You.

I think back to when our church conducted a Kids Camp missions outreach for Native American families. Ladies were in the kitchen preparing the next meal. Three men were outside repairing and spray painting the outside of the mission church. Across the camp our people were involved with Bible Quiz, recreation, nursing scrapes and bruises, clothes distribution and leading the different teams of children. Stan, our children’s pastor was leading the ministry outreach. Everyone was busy. You could hear laughter. People were enjoying other people.

Jesus was the reason we were there. Others needing Jesus was our motivation. Sacrifices were made. People back home gave financial support to underwrite the expenses. Vacation time was given as an offering to the Lord. Distance from family and loved ones was a sweet-smelling aroma offered to God. I believe even the cold showers and sleeping on a bunk bed were being received as an offering.

The overall outcome of it all was JOY! There was this overwhelming sense that we were doing something for the kingdom of God. Fulfillment flooded our souls, because Jesus was touching those kids through us. Joy is experienced when you place “others” after “Jesus” and ahead of “you.”

- Gary Rogers is senior pastor of First Assembly of God in Coweta, Okla

Reposted from pe.ag.org

Peace

I like to sit quietly on a beach and look at the ocean and see the waves crashing and the sun shining down on me, or sit on my porch and listen to the birds singing and just look at the sky and the trees and the flowers. It brings me peace. I like to put on praise music and just sit with my eyes closed, listening to the words that bring glory and honor to my Lord and Savior.

Too bad all of life isn’t peaceful and serene. Things come into our lives that make us fretful or worrisome. Our children get sick. The bills keep coming. The cost of living gets higher. Hurtful words are said. Accidents happen. Death comes. And the list goes on and on. So in the midst of all these not-so-peaceful moments, what can we do?

The only thing I know that works is to spend time in prayer and communion with my Heavenly Father, to seek Him, to listen for His words of comfort, and I find them in His precious Word. His Word brings life and truth to us. Here are a few peaceful promises to consider:

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3, NIV).

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8)

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14:19)

And some more for you to look up: Ephesians 2:14; Philippians 4:6,7,9; Psalm 29:11; John 14:27; Psalm 119:165; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Proverbs 16:7; James 3:17,18; Proverbs 14:30.

In the midst of a not-so-peaceful world, I encourage you to take a “time out.” Find a quiet place of rest, let God’s love fall over you, sit in His presence, rest in His arms. It is there we find the peace that we need.

by James and Dorothy Rugg live in Dalton, Pa., and pastor Mill City AG

re-posted from Pentecostal Evangel