full of joy

 Be full of joy all the time.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NLV)

 

The Oxford dictionary defines joyful as “feeling, expressing, or causing great pleasure and happiness”.

If you Google “what does is mean when someone is joyful?” the results include the Collins Dictionary definition of “full of joy, as a person or one’s heart; glad; delighted.”

For some, it is difficult to be full of joy this time of year, for those that are facing the season without someone that they have loved joy is a challenge.

I truly wish that everyone could have some joy every day, not just at Christmas, but every day find one thing that brings them joy.

If a person can find that one thing that brings them joy and focus on it, maybe there is more joy to be found.

It starts with a tiny ember and grows to a huge flame, let your joy show to the world and spark someone else’s joy.

Be full of joy – all the time.

 

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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

fellowship

And let us not forsake the fellowship that we have among ourselves, as the manner of some is, but let us exhort one another, and that so much the more because you see that the day draws near.

- Hebrews 10:25 (NMB)

 

I specifically chose the New Matthew Bible translation of today’s verse for the word “fellowship”.

As we round the corner to December, we will start seeing more invitations to Christmas parties and events.
Sometimes they can be overwhelming, and we just don’t have the energy to “people” anymore.

Go anyway. (I really have to work on telling myself this.)
We need fellowship with one another, it is how we stay strong. 
We need fellowship with one another to build each other up. 
We were not made to be alone, so why would we try to force ourselves into seclusion?

Go to the party, go to the parade, go grab coffee with your friends.
And never stop encouraging one another in all things. 

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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

do good

 Don’t forget to do good. Don’t forget to share with others. God is pleased with those kinds of offerings.

- Hebrews 13:16 (NIRV)

 

Here we are in the season of giving.

It seems like every day between now and Christmas we will get subtle and not so subtle reminders to give and to share.

Dave Ramsey tells us that real financial peace doesn’t happen until you’re giving back.

I think that it works the same way with everything else too.

When we do good things, it makes our heart happy, it brightens our day, it changes our whole outlook.

When we do good things in the name of God, it makes His heart happy, and it certainly changes us.

Look around, what can you do that is good today?
How can you share with others? 

I bet if you look, you can make a difference in someone’s life.

 

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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

send me

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

- Isaiah 6:8 (NKJV)

 

Here I am, Lord, send me.

What if, every time someone asked for help, we would respond with those six words?

Every day we see requests for volunteers or help in some form.

Schools, churches, non-profits all need a helping hand.

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving this year, my chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association spent four hours ringing the bell for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign.

What a humbling experience.
As people walked past our kettle, we noticed that many did not seem happy, and it broke our hearts a little.

We had a few that said, “bah humbug”, one that said he doesn’t celebrate the holidays because of his ex-wife.
One that wanted to argue that it’s not “Merry Christmas” but “Happy Holidays”.

The best part though, was seeing the little children put money in – talk about cheerful givers!
They may not have known the impact they are making on the community, but they made an impact on our hearts.

In 2021, Bethel Music and Jenn Johnson released their song Send Me:
If it's bandaging the broken

Or washing filthy feet

Here I am Lord, send me

If it's loving one another

Even when we don't agree

Here I am Lord, send me

If I'm poor or if I'm wealthy

I'll serve You just the same

Here I am Lord, send me

On the mountain or the valley

I will choose to praise

Here I am Lord, send me

If I'm known by how I love

Let my life reflect how much I love You

I love You

And before You even ask

Oh my answer will be yes

Cause I love You

I love You

If the truth cuts like an arrow

I will say it anyway

Cause here I am Lord, send me

And if it means that they'll reject me

Lord I will still obey

Cause here I am Lord, send me

...

When I'm standing in Your glory

I'll be glad I chose to say

Here I am Lord, send me

Well done good and faithful

I live to hear You say

Here I am Lord, send, sing it (Send me, oh)

Here I am Lord, send me (Oh)

...

Here I am Lord, send me
Everywhere you look there are opportunities to step up and help others.

How often do we answer the call for help?
More importantly, how often do we respond to that call with a cheerful heart?

Here I am, Lord, send me.

 

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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

don’t get angry

A wise man controls his temper. He knows that anger causes mistakes.

- Proverbs 14:29 (TLB)

 

Today is the most anticipated shopping day of the year.
Perhaps the scariest day to set foot in a retail store! 

Over the years there have been stories of people that not only got angry while doing their “Black Friday” shopping, but their anger turned them to violence.
Frenzied shoppers packed into stores hunting for the best bargains, believe it or not, people used to camp outside the stores in order to be the first in line.
Then mayhem would ensue, people would get injured fighting over the deal of the season.

It’s not worth it.

I will be the first to admit I have a very quick temper and also the first to admit that this is not a good thing.

My temper gets the best of me sometimes and I say things that I immediately regret.

The Bible tells us fifty-two times that we need to be slow to anger – fifty-two, that is like a reminder each week.

If you are out today shopping, don’t let anger ruin your day, and be polite to the people that are working while you get to go shopping.

 

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so good

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

- Psalm 107:1 (NKJV)

 

Depending on the translation that you read, this verse could say His love, mercy, kindness, loyalty, grace, or compassion is what endures forever.

The truth of the matter is that it is all those things, every one of the character traits listed is in the amazing gift we are given from God.

He is so good to us that we should always give thanks.

No one else can promise this kind of love, only God.

Give thanks for the goodness of God.

 

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before the turkey

Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it.

He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it.

Luke 22:17a; 19a (NLT)

 

This may seem weird, that I am pulling the front half of two verses out and putting them together, but the point I want to make today is that Jesus gave thanks.

He knew at that last supper that it would be His last meal, he even said it in verse 18 when He said,  “For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”

He knew, and yet he gave thanks.

I have seen a lot of t-shirts and tattoos that remind us that Judas ate too.
Whoa, that is a lot to digest, isn’t it? 

Jesus sat down and had a meal with the man that He knew would betray Him, the man that would lead Him to being arrested, beaten and enduring a horrific death on the cross.

And He still gave thanks.

Maybe before the turkey we should also give thanks.
 

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all the things

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

 

This is a hard time of year for some people.
Maybe getting together with family isn’t a joyful time for some, but they feel obligated to go because it’s a holiday.

It might be the first holiday without a loved one, or there has been a separation and this is not the year that they get to be with their children.

To some, Thanksgiving is just a day on the calendar.

To others it is the one time a year they get to see their families.

But for others, Thanksgiving is a day where anxiety is the main course.

Giving thanks in all circumstances can be a personal challenge because there are many circumstances that just hurt.

It is hard to give thanks for all the things, but let’s see if this helps:
Be thankful for your home, no matter how cluttered or what condition it is in – many are homeless.

Be thankful for food – many are hungry.

Be thankful for warm blankets and clothing – many are cold.

Be thankful for friends and family – many are alone.

Be thankful for pets – many have never known unconditional love.

Be thankful for courage – many live in fear.

Be thankful for freedom – many have died for your rights.

Be thankful for your car – many must walk miles every day, no matter the weather.

Be thankful for children – many have been taken.

Be thankful for police, firemen, and EMTS – they are working while you enjoy your day.

Be thankful for the military – many will not be with their family and friends this year.

Be thankful for education – many don’t have the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for your faith – many are persecuted for their beliefs.

Be thankful for this message – many can’t read.

Be thankful for the Christmas music that grates on your nerves after hearing the same song 1,000 times – many can’t hear.

Be thankful for your job – many are unable to find employment.

Be thankful for laughter – many know only pain and sorrow.

The more thankful we are, the more we find to be thankful for.

We give thanks in all circumstances because we belong to Jesus.
When you give thanks for everything, you’ll be surprised at how your outlook changes.

 

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I will carry you

Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.

- Isaiah 46:4 (NKJV)

 

I know I just used this verse a couple of weeks ago, I usually try to not be repetitive in my writing, at least not in the same year.

I heard this song by Ellie Holcomb that she released in 2021 called I will Carry You” and it took my breath away.

I know you're tired, I see it in your eyes

All that anxiety that rules your mind

I'll be your shield when you don't feel like

You've got strength enough to fight

I'll stand by your side

I will carry you

Through your darkest night

When you're terrified

I will carry you

When the waters rise

When your hope runs dry

I will carry you

You are not the sum of your mistakes

You don't have to hide the parts of you that ache

I choose you as you are a million times

'Cause I am not ashamed of you

I won't walk away from you

…

Up and over the mountains (oo-oh)

Valley deep as the ocean (oo-oh)

When you can't keep going (oo-oh)

I will shoulder your burdens

…

I will carry you

Through your darkest night

When you're terrified

I will carry you (carry you)

When the waters rise

When your hope runs dry

I will carry you

So many days we fight our internal battles thinking that no one knows what we are going through, and that is simply not true.
How often we let our anxiety take control of our lives and prevent us from doing the things we long to do, but we don’t feel like we can.

How many times we feel like we can’t go fix something that is broken because we messed it up so bad.

Read those words carefully please: God knows how we are struggling.
God knows how we hurt. 
God doesn’t judge us for the mistakes of our past. 

We are not alone.
God will carry us. 

 

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I see you

Let no one show little respect for you because you are young. Show other Christians how to live by your life. They should be able to follow you in the way you talk and in what you do. Show them how to live in faith and in love and in holy living.

- 1 Timothy 4:12 (NLV)

 

Do you ever feel like someone is watching you?

It can be a creepy thing, but for real - we are being watched.

People see us.

People watch what we say and do, how we act and treat others, they want to know if we live up to our words.

We should always strive to set an example for others.

The little kid that is watching us in the store, at the park, or in church.

What kind of example are we setting for that child?

In church, is the child seeing us perusing our phones , or listening to the sermon?

Are we being rude and cutting in line at the store or in the park, or are we helpful and friendly to others?

It’s not just children, and it doesn’t matter how old or young we are there, is always someone watching.

I try to live up to expectations, but I know I am not perfect.

I want to be a good example, but I am pitifully human, and I will make mistakes.

We are all human and we will all make mistakes, whether we want to admit it or not.

Let’s do our very best to live our lives the way we want people think that we do.

Set the right example.

 

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great things

God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; He does great things beyond our understanding.  He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters His lightning through them. At His direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever He commands them.

- Job 37:5-6, 10-12 (NIV)

 

God does great things, things beyond our understanding.

Consider this, God has created every blade of grass, every gust of wind, every grain of sand.
They each have a purpose, and even though that purpose may be difficult for us to comprehend, God created them for that purpose.

Even us.

God created us for a purpose, and He has a plan.

God provides direction for His creation to do what He has created it for, His creation only has to listen.
We just have to listen for the great things He has planned for us.

 

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there is hope

This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.

- 1 Timothy 4:10 (NLT)

 

Sometimes, we see ourselves at the end of the rope.
The struggle is real, whether it is visible to others or not.

There are times that we just want to throw in the towel and give up the fight.

But we don’t.
We fight through every day, every attack of darkness because we have hope. 

When our hope is in the Lord, we have the promise of a better future – even when we can’t see it.

If you are at the end of your rope, just hang in there a little longer, everything will be ok because we serve a mighty God.

 

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joy in the sorrow

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.

- 1 Peter 1:6 (NLT)

 

Today is the celebration of life for a man I knew only briefly.

He was an incredibly talented man and he loved God with every part of his soul.

He endured a horrible trial that lasted many years, yet he never lost faith.

Even at the end, he proclaimed his faith in God, knowing that his pain would end, and he would see his loved ones again someday.
Sunday afternoon I learned of the loss of a lady that touched the lives of many, she too wore her faith and lived it every single day.
Her horrible trial was less than a year, but she fought with dignity and strength.
Cancer sucks y’all.  

It is hard to explain how we can love and trust a God that we cannot see, especially when we are watching people we care about go through a horrible trial, or when we are going through one ourselves.

But when we reconcile everything that God has done for us, how can we not trust Him?

The love and comfort that we feel when we give ourselves fully to Him, that is worth every trial.

I know I am not alone, even when I can’t see Him, He is there.

I know these friends of mine are not alone, that they are both now experiencing the wonderful joy they were promised by the awesome God they served with their whole hearts.

 

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it’s all good

For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving.

- 1 Timothy 4:4 (NKJV)

 

Everything God created is good.

But what about that mean guy down the street, he’s not good at all!

God created him good; it was the devil’s influence that turned him bad.

What about spiders and snakes?

What about viruses and germs?

I found that much of the internet slices and dices these words to be about everything from animals to alcohol, from favors to food, from Gnostic heresy to Jewish doctrine.

Receive everything with a thankful heart, even the hard stuff, because it is going to be used for good somehow.

Even the spiders are precious to Him.

While it pains me to admit it, some spiders do good.

So today I am thankful for spiders – as much as they freak me out, they too are God’s creation.

 

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let’s talk

If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.

- Matthew 18:15 (NLT)

 

Let’s talk about social media.
I personally have a love/hate relationship with social media because it can be a good thing or a horrible thing.

It’s good when it allows people to reconnect with long lost friends and family members, and it bridges the distance by instantly sharing your life with your connections.

But it has become the norm to post everything on social media, from baby’s first steps to what you are having for dinner.

Things that used to be kept private are now put on display for the whole world to like, share, comment and discuss.

This can cause a lot of hurt and a lot of harm.
Recently I have become aware of several pages that are set up specifically to call people out when others make questionable decisions.

Instead of posting random vague jabs at people that you feel have wronged you, take the advice in the Bible.

Instead of posting negative things on social media for the whole world to bash the person that offended you, speak to that person directly and privately.

You might be surprised to learn that he or she did not even realize they hurt you.

Once the issue is out in the open and resolved, you can move forward with your relationship. 

That my friends, is a win/win.

 

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qualifications

We know we are not able in ourselves to do any of this work. God makes us able to do these things.

- 2 Corinthians 3:5 (NLV)

 

Quite often we experience things in life that leave us perplexed, scared, nervous and definitely thinking “I’m not qualified for that!”.

Seriously, most of us parents weren’t “qualified” to be parents when it happened.

The first day at a new job can be quite daunting, obviously, we met some standards or criteria or we would not have been hired, but were we qualified on that first day?

God is amazing in that He qualifies us to do His work.

There are many examples in the Bible of God calling on people that were not what we would call up to par for the task they were called to complete.

But God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Remember that next time you are facing a challenge that leaves you thinking that you can’t do it, because if God called you, He will qualify you.

 

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too proud?

Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

- Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)

 

Today’s society and social media is so focused on image, we have done irreparable damage to little girls by making them believe that only a certain body type is acceptable.

We have setting expectations for little boys that they have to excel at a specific sport.
It has been drilled into children that they have to be the best at everything to succeed, and in doing this we have put pressure on kids that they should not have.

We spend our entire lives striving to be the best, to have the best and to ensure that we are the “Joneses” that everyone else needs to keep up with.

Never boast or be prideful of things, instead, be humble because being conceited is quite honestly ugly.

Things are meaningless, and if the only goal in your life is to have “stuff”, then friend, you need to rethink life.

One of my favorite quotes (and I have used it in my “daily bread” before) is “God won’t ask”

God won't ask what kind of car you drove, but He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

God won't ask the square footage of your house, but He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He'll ask how many others you clothed.

God won't ask about your social class, but He'll ask what kind of class you displayed.

God won't ask how many material possessions you had, but He'll ask if they dictated your life.

God won't ask what your highest salary was, but He'll ask if you compromised your principles to obtain it.

God won't ask how much money you spent on yourself, but He'll ask how much you gave back to Him.

God won't ask how much overtime you worked, but He'll ask if your overtime was for yourself or for your family.

God won't ask how many promotions you received, but He'll ask how you promoted others.

God won't ask what your job title was, but He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

God won't ask what you did to help yourself, but He'll ask what you did to help others.

God won't ask how many friends you had, but He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

God won't ask what you did to protect your rights, but He'll ask what you did to protect the rights of others.

God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

God won't ask about the color of your skin, but He'll ask about the content of your character.

God won't ask how many times your deeds matched your words, but He'll ask how many times they didn't.

God won't ask if His Son loved you, but He'll ask if you loved His Son.

Put aside your vanity and pride and listen to what God wants from you.

If you only focus on yourself and continue on the path you are on, well, the fall is going to be quite painful.

Each and every one of us have the vanity trait, whether we admit it or not – it is in our nature. 

But when we turn to God, when we allow Him to fill our hearts, He changes us and then we want to please Him, listen to Him and worship Him in spirit and in truth.

This my friends is not done in vanity, but in His unending love for us, His creation.

 

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a bad situation

How horrible it will be for the world because it causes people to lose their faith. Situations that cause people to lose their faith will arise. How horrible it will be for the person who causes someone to lose his faith!

- Matthew 18:7 (NOG) (Names of God Bible)

 

I don’t think I have ever used the Names of God Bible in my “daily bread”, but for some reason this translation hit me right between the eyes.
Over the years I have had so many friends that have given up their faith in God because of a bad situation.
They can’t fathom how god could “let” this bad thing happen and they resolve that because the bad thing happened, there is no God.

Remember the old saying about one rotten apple can spoil the whole barrel?
The same holds true for humans, just because a woman was in an abusive relationship does not mean that all men are violent.

Even though there is a woman that does everything she can to destroy others does not mean that all women are vindictive.

Yes, there are some horrible people in the world, bad apples, spreading their influence to cause others to lose their faith.

There are other people that are similar to lemmings, blindly following the crowd without thinking.
Don’t be a bad apple, think about how you influence people around you. 
On the same note, don’t be a lemming and just “go with the flow”. 

People should lead people to God, not away from Him.

 

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