JOY!

Joy.  1a : the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight b : the expression or exhibition of such emotion : gaiety
2: a state of happiness or felicity : bliss

3: a source or cause of delight

Joy is also a Fruit of the Spirit.  We are to be joyful in all things.  We all want joy.  We all desire joy.  True and lasting joy only comes by faith through grace in believing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  We are to 'Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!' (Philippians 4:4)

No matter what we are going through, no matter what the adversity, we should always have the attitude of joy.  Is this impossible in the reality of daily life?  James 1:2,3 - 'My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.'

There is outward joy and there is inward joy.   We can be ecstatic in our joy.  Outward.  It is so exciting when you KNOW the truth.  Jesus Christ died for us so that we may have eternal life.  And the blessings of life He bestows on us.   James 1:17 - Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.    Inward.  2 Corinthians 6:10 'as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing'.   We may be having hardship.  Some very extreme.  But we have an internal sense of joy.  This joy comes from God.  Through Jesus Christ and dispensed by the Holy Spirit.

This all comes down to my JOY banner.  I was just going to post the picture and the recipe.  But all of the thoughts above were going through my head and I decided to post them. 

The weather is dark and dreary today.  I cannot get a good picture.  If you click on it you can get a closer look.  I will try again on a sunny day.

By the way, do you have joy?  True joy?  I want you all to have it my friends.  And it only comes through faith by grace in believing Jesus Christ died and rose again for you.  Because hell is more than a 4-letter word.  And I don't want any of you to go there.

Debra