Sustained With Joy

Your eternal word, O LORD, stands firm in heaven. Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created. Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans. If your instructions hadn't sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery. I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life. I am yours; rescue me! For I have worked hard at obeying your commandments. Psalm 119:89-94

I can imagine my brother, Barry, saying this to God. God does sustain him with joy. He has joy deep in his heart…and he shares it with others. He truly cares about other people…and their relationship with the Lord. He is living in the Philippines now with his sweet Philippine wife, Evelyn. They are joyfully building onto their home there and enjoying a warm winter season. They worship the Lord where they are—knowing that the Lord has promised to never leave them, forsake or forget them. They don't forget God. In this season of Thanksgiving—they give thanks for the Lord and His faithfulness—to them, to their children and grandchildren—two of whom are yet to be born. This is a joyful season, yet JOY is not happiness. Happiness can fade—it depends on external circumstances. Joy is a gift from God.

Paul wrote to the church at Corinth about the churches in Macedonia. We can learn a lesson from them. Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in His kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 2 Corinthians 8:1-3.
During this time of Thanksgiving…let us give THANKS and be joyful—filled with abundant joy from the Lord. Jesus said…I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10 NASB. A life filled with abundant joy. What more could we want?
Prayer ~ Jesus, Thank You. Thank you for being You…for giving us an abundant joyful life—physically and spiritually.

Happy Birthday, Barry.

JBlessings~Today…and always.

© 2016 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.