I Choose God's Joy

Jesus, You’re the Center of my joy
All that’s good and perfect comes from you
You’re the Heart of my contentment,
Hope for all I do
Jesus, You’re the Center of my joy.

Richard Smallwood’s song, “Center of My Joy”

We often hear people say, and sometimes say ourselves, “I’m so happy! I have a wonderful job and family, a nice home and car. I’m so blessed!” Isn’t it wonderful to experience God’s blessings and prosperity in our lives? But what do we say when we have to sell our home and car because our spouses or we have lost our jobs? Can we still say that we are “happy?” Do we find ourselves using words like joy, gladness, hope and contentment when our world is falling apart around us? One scripture of hope is Psalm 30:5b, “Weeping may endure for a night, but JOY comes in the morning.” This means that even for believers there are seasons of weeping and sorrow and seasons of joy and gladness. But even in times of sorrow, we can find solace in Psalm 102: 12-13, “You will arise and have mercy on Zion; For the time to favor her, Yes, the set time has come.” God is saying even in this time of tragedy and sorrow, it is our “set time” to move from this season of sadness into a season of joy. Today is the day that we can choose to have God’s joy!

In the New Webster’s dictionary, joy is defined as intense happiness or great delight. It is synonymous with words like bliss, elation, glee, pleasure and happiness. But what does it mean to have God’s joy? The state of being content and having hope even when things seem chaotic and hopeless is God’s JOY.

People often equate joy with happiness. Psalm 4: 7 distinguishes between the two, “You have put a gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased.” In this scripture, the joy that comes from knowing and trusting God is contrasted with the happiness that we sometimes confuse with joy that comes from pleasant circumstances. As believers, it is important for us to recognize the difference between happiness and joy. Joy is lasting; happiness is temporary. Joy is predictable, happiness is unpredictable. Joy overcomes mourning, sorrow and confusion; happiness covers it up. You can have joy and not necessarily be happy.

Our first experience with God’s joy is when we ask God to save us and we become one of His children. When we realize that what has been missing in our lives is the joy that comes from a personal relationship with the Lord, we “with joy draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). In John 15, Jesus teaches us that when we become connected to the Vine, His joy remains in us and we become full.

But what happens when Satan attempts or even succeeds in stealing our joy through various circumstances of life? How do we keep or regain God’s joy in our lives? Pastor Rosie S. O’neal said in a sermon recently, “You should counter each negative thought or comment with a spiritual response.” By taking this approach to life’s challenges, you choose to use God’s joy to overcome a negative situation. When the doctor says he’s done all he can do, your response must be, “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord (Psalm 118:17). When a potential employer says you don’t appear qualified, your response should be, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Having God’s joy allows us to look adversity in the face and declare, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). We ask God for so many things: salvation, patience, wisdom or discernment…but how often do we ask Him for His joy? Jesus urges us in John 16:24, “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” This is not limited to miracles, interventions or tangible items, even though our joy becomes full when we ask God for things in Jesus’ name. When we ask God for joy in Jesus’ name, He grants our requests.

The good news of salvation is that Jesus came to give us joy and hope in times of heaviness and sorrow. When we have a personal relationship with Him, he consoles us and gives us the “oil of joy for mourning” (Isaiah 61:3). Oil is a substance that can either be liquid or easily liquefiable. It has various purposes. It can be used as a fuel or lubricant or for food or medicinal purposes. The oil of joy can be used to fuel our desire to serve God even in the face of adversity, to lubricate, soothe and heal our deepest hurts and wounds, or it can be used to feed us the Word of God. Today is the day we can choose to have [the oil of] God’s joy!

For those of us who already have God’s joy, it doesn’t stop here. There is something that we as believers are commanded to do. After we become connected with the true Vine (Jesus Christ) and are full of God’s joy, Jesus gives us some commandments (John 15:1-11). With the benefits of God’s joy, comes responsibility. John 15:12 says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” God’s joy allows us to demonstrate His love even to people who are different than us, who hurt us and who seemingly do not love us. Furthermore, we can go on to love one another so much that we would be willing to do whatever it takes to help our friends, even if it means laying down our own lives (verse 13). When we choose God’s joy, we are eager to go out into the world and bear fruit (John 15:16). We want to share God’s joy with those of our friends and loved ones who have yet to experience it. We become further filled with joy when we share the truth of God’s word and His love with others. Paul talks about this in 1 Thessalonians 2: 13, 19-20 when he says,

when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe….For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.

Part of our joy is derived from the lives that are changed through the true Word of God. Today is the day we can help others choose God’s joy!

I urge all of us to choose God’s joy! To have that “unspeakable joy” that allows us to “bless the Lord at all times.” It is our Father’s fervent desire to impart to all of His children the joy that can only be given and remain through Him. God’s joy requires us to see light in darkness, hope in turmoil, and joy in sorrow. Today is the day to choose God’s joy!

Today

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. T

oday, I say no to toxic relationships, thoughts, people, words, and actions.

Today, I start treating myself, like I will be treated by others.

Today, I take responsibility for my words, thoughts and actions, and how they may impact people, relationships, and situations around me.

Today, I realize that my past is done, my present is slowly unfolding, and my future is brightly yet to come.

Today, I begin taking the steps to get healthy, mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. My body is my temple, most importantly, it is the temple of the Holy Spirit, the only one I have, and I must take care of it with all I have.

Today, I decided to stop looking to others for happiness and love.

Today, I decided to grow up, and be real.

Today, I decided to stop wondering, and worrying, and placed all aspects of my life in the Hands of my heavenly father, give myself up as a sacrifice of faith and make the best effort in all endeavors.

Because of today, all of my Tomorrows will be much better.

My S.O. sent this to me...what a way to start off a Monday! I am making this a declaration in my own life....

A Call to Sisterhood...

I decided to re-launch my former e-zine, now blog, God's Gift, with this article I wrote a couple of years ago.

Ghetto. Hoodrat. Golddigger. Chickenhead. ‘Ho. B*!#%.

These are not just some of the degrading words used to describe women in rap song lyrics. These words are what we women, so-called sisters, call each other. And I’m here to implore, beg and plead with all of us to STOP IT! I’m calling all women, all over the world, to sisterhood.

Over the past few months my concept of sisterhood has been tested, challenged and even shaken. I’ve always felt that relationships with women were not easy to maintain, but the past few months have been worse than ever. It has made me first look inward to my own role in this process. And I have to say, when you turn the mirror on yourself, sometimes what you see is not pretty. I realize that I could certainly grow in how I phrase things. And I’m working on that. I also realize that I don’t always have to have the last word, and it’s better to just let some things go. I’m working on that as well.

I belong to several online discussion groups. These groups have allowed me to meet some of the smartest and most thoughtful people in the world. A few of them I have developed close relationships with offline. One of the women in the group, who I do not know, engaged me in an email exchange that caused me to rethink my relationship with women. By the end of the exchange, I was called a ghetto, uneducated “child” who was also a fake. I admit that after this, I let a few of my own insults fly…and I’m not proud of that. But this exchange made me think about why we women (of all races and ages) do this to one another?

Several years ago, I heard a sermon called “Crooked Crowns.” The preacher exhorted women on the value of helping each other reach their full potential (becoming queens) and to help one another avoid the pitfalls that Satan tries to set for us. But the most important lesson I learned in the sermon is this: if one of our sisters falls and her crown becomes “crooked” then it is other sisters’ responsibility to help her up, dust her off and STRAIGHTEN HER CROWN.

Sisterhood is defined as “association or unification of women in a common cause.” This needs to be the unifying call to women all over the world. Our individual causes and purposes may be different, but we do share many commonalities including:

• Being nurturers to our family, children and friends
• Finding and walking in our divine purpose
• Being happy and whole individuals
• Leaving a legacy to our family and hopefully our community
• Being the best women we can be

These common threads among women, despite our racial, social and religious differences should be what we use to unify ourselves. With the alarming rates of violence against women and HIV/AIDS among women, we have to rely on ourselves and each other to protect ourselves. But with so much infighting, we are only making it easier for others to destroy our minds, our bodies, our spirits and even our lives.

It is so unfortunate to hear women say, “She’s grown. I can’t tell her anything.” Or “That’s none of my business.” While both may be true, if you can help straighten another sister’s crown and prevent her from endangering her future or her life, then is it not better to speak the truth in love? I may not be my sister’s keeper, but she is my sister. Genetics and blood are not the only things that make women sisters. And we need to find those things that can make us unified and work on building relationships from that point.

In order to heed the call to sisterhood, we, as women, need to do the following:

Use your words to EDIFY not destroy. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” When you approach a sister, make sure that your words edify, which means “to instruct especially so as to encourage intellectual, moral or spiritual improvement.”

Use words of “covering, caring and correction.” My mother coined this phrase. Our words should cover (or protect) our sisters. This means that you don’t allow anyone else to tear a sister down in your presence, even if you know this person is doing something wrong. If it’s severe, then suggest that the person go the sister directly or you go to her yourself. Your words should also be caring, meaning they should leave the person feeling like someone has their best interest at heart. If you see that your sister’s crown is crooked, then you can give her a word of correction. But just follow the advice in Ephesians 4:15, “speak the truth in love.” Always make sure that you have the credibility (with that person and in general) and right motive for giving a word of correction. My close friends and family know that I will definitely accept a word of correction from them. And when I ask my online discussion group for their opinions, I expect to get honest and truthful answers. But I don’t accept a word of correction from just anyone…especially if it is not given in an edifying or respectful manner.

Have and show respect. This one is pretty self-explanatory. Respect goes a long way. Respect also means to know when to “agree to disagree” and move on. Reaching this compromise does not mean that you bad-mouth or no longer talk to the person, it just means that you agree to not let this one issue interfere with your common causes (remember the definition of sisterhood).

Talk to sisters the way you would want someone to talk to you. This is definitely one I can work on. I tend to be a blunt person. But I realize that everyone cannot accept that style of communication. I am learning the meaning of my grandmother’s saying, “You get a lot more flies with honey than with vinegar.” Bottom line, tact and decorum go a long way.

As you use one hand to reach up, use the other hand to pull someone else up. Someone used this to describe Oprah on her show recently. As each of attains success in our respective callings, we should seek to find at least one person who we can take by the hand and help them achieve success in their own calling. This produces a diaspora of people who are committed to building a community of success stories and changed lives.

Imagine a world where there are no “video honeys,” “gold diggers,” or “hoodrats” for rappers and men to talk about or exploit because every woman has successful and fulfilling careers and businesses or were in school improving themselves. It may seem like wishful thinking, but if each one of us mentors one person, and that person mentors one person, we could change the entire atmosphere of this country and the world!