“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great.” ~Jesus
Jesus wants me to love. Jesus wants me to do good. Jesus wants me to not expect anything in return …
Tag Archives: Joy
Friends — Will I find unity in the love and fear of the Master Jesus?
The Master Jesus the Messiah gave us the definition of a true friend: “Greater love has no one than this, …
“For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the Master of hosts; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, who is called the God of all the earth.” ~Isaiah
Without faithfulness to God there can be no discipleship life. Following Jesus is based first on faith that God is, …
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~Apostle Paul
Joy and happiness is essential in the Kingdom of God. The Beatitudes (aka The Jesus Manifesto) traditionally use the word “blessed”. …
“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Master Jesus the Messiah.” ~Apostle Paul
Can I do good? I want to but there is this evil nature that can get in the way. God shows …
Did some religious elite appoint me as a spokesperson for Jesus?
I am astounded at how many companions in faith I have. Due to the power of the world wide web, …
“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” ~Apostle Paul
The joy of deliverance is amazing. When God sets me free, rejoicing is in order. I was tied up missing God’s …
Toleration — It should be exercised for the benefit of those whose faith is weak
How tolerant of other believers should I be? Even when disputing/dialoguing over prominent doctrines, a disciple of Jesus should exercise …
“Happy are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad!” ~Jesus
How did Jesus expect me to react under persecution? Rejoice and be glad! That is right. I’m jump up and down for …
“I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” ~Apostle Paul
Self-control is an issue of my heart. I must not be wishy-washy in my resolve. I must excerpt control of my …
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.” ~Jesus
It starts with faith. I need to get clear with my faith in Jesus. When peace leaves me, I need to …
Church — Disciples are sent out by Jesus the Messiah
Yikes! Many people today understand the church as a building. This is not a biblical understanding of the church. Period. …
Wealth — John the Baptist on Fruits Worthy of Repentance
This is pretty stunning. Of course, John the Baptist is a prophet and is determined to speak the truth of …
“What do you make of this?” ~Jesus
Jesus wants to know. Jesus has a question. What do I make of this? Do I understand? Am I listening? …
Achievement — Is faith required?
Where does faith come from? Faith is not something I conjure up on my own, nor is it something I am …
All the great Martin Luther King, Jr. quotes — A comprehensive list
In honor of a great man and prophet of God, let us all hold our dreams up for the world to …
Heaven — Is it a Real Destination after Death?
What is the deal with heaven? It seems to be a somewhat complicated biblical concept with lots of opinions on …
Tenderness — A Mark of a Disciple’s Behavior
Jesus shows me how to love and be kind. Jesus commands me to love. God wants me to be kind, …
It is time to shout out in great joy! Try this every day or even several times a day. Seriously … it will make a difference.
This is a stunning story in Luke 19. Here is the challenge after you read this scripture. Try this with …
“Then there’s only one thing left to do: Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ~Jesus
Where is my treasure? What is important to me? Is Jesus my Master? Jesus told us to “store up for …
Ecstasy — It can be in Response to Jesus the Messiah
We seem a little reluctant to talk about the ecstatic experience. Is that for mystics and weirdo’s? Maybe it’s not …
Discipleship – Joy is a Benefit and Results from Being a Disciple
Joy is closely related to gladness and happiness, although joy is more a state of being than an emotion; a …
“Jesus came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near.” ~Apostle Paul
Prophecies of peace are fulfilled in the coming of Jesus the Messiah. Peace is real. Jesus wants me to experience peace. …
“Keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.” ~Apostle Peter
The Holy Spirit brings joy to believers, giving us an inner contentment and happiness which is not dependent upon external …
Goodness — Good Works will be Rewarded
In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul lists the “fruit of the Spirit”. “Fruit,” here, means “beneficial results,” the good things that come …
“We don’t want the crowds up in arms” ~Religious Leaders
The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus. They would. The religious elites just didn’t want people to be upset about …
“When you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’ ”
I am a slave of Jesus. Jesus is my Master (aka Lord). Jesus owns me. I have to be clear about …
Faithfulness — It is Seen to God as Marital Fidelity
Faithfulness is the proper response to God by his covenant people; seen in a steadfast commitment which reflects God’s own …
“Jesus rejoiced, exuberant in the Holy Spirit!” ~Luke
Jesus rejoiced. Jesus is exuberant in the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to usher in the Kingdom of God in the …
Victory — It is Complete in Jesus as He defeated Temptation
Jesus the Messiah triumphs over and disarms all the powers of evil arrayed against him. Jesus has won the victory. …
Obedience — It is Demanded of God’s People
I know. Obeying runs against the grain of what I want to do. Jesus demands that I am an obedient …
“A slave of the Messiah Jesus …” ~Apostle Paul
How did Paul see himself? Paul saw himself as a slave of Jesus. This is not a fluke. Paul also …
Joy — Deliverance sets it off
I want the joy of the Lord. I want to be more than happy. I want to celebrate God’s victory …
“A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” ~Jesus
Jesus is beginning to wrap up His manifesto. Jesus changed his brief metaphor from sheep and wolves to trees and …
Peace — We Find it in the Teachings of Jesus the Messiah
The Apostle Paul alerts me that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, …
“You’re impressed by this grandiose architecture? There’s not a stone in the whole works that is not going to end up in a heap of rubble.” ~Jesus
Jesus wants to know. Am I impressed with what man can build? Really? That impresses me? As he walked away …
Goodness – Good Works are a Characteristic of God
Goodness and good works are acts designed specifically to benefit others, which are characteristic of God. I can be good …
Love — It Comes from the Holy Spirit. It is a Gift and it is a Fruit.
Where does love come from? Love comes from the Holy Spirit. It is a gift. It is fruit that grows …
25 Mother Teresa Quotes about Living a Life of Purpose
A Nobel peace laureate, Mother Teresa (1910–1997) was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary. For much of her life, Mother …
Faithfulness — The Proper Response to God by His Covenant People
Faithfulness is the proper response to God by his covenant people. It is seen in a steadfast commitment which reflects …
“Blessed be God — He heard me praying.” ~King David
I need to see how much God cares. It is just who He is. I don’t need to look around. …
Self-control — It Affects the Whole Person Including Physical Self-control
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It is physical and emotional self-mastery, particularly in situations of intense provocation or temptation. It …
God’s Goal — To Live with His People
God has goals in mind. He will accomplish them. When I miss God’s goal, that is known as sin. I …
Kindness — God shows it to His people
I want the quality of compassion and generosity in my life. I need to learn how God loves the weak …
“A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.” ~King Solomon
I have seen it way too often. Something that starts simple escalates. It turns into all out war. My drive …
Peace — These Prophecies of Peace are Fulfilled in the Coming of Jesus the Messiah
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there …
Joy — Disciples Have it Even in the Face of Opposition
Do disciples have joy even in the face of opposition? Absolutely we do. Jesus is kind and thoughtful. I know …
“The Master is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear?” ~King David
I have a number of things I am afraid of. God is God and Jesus is working with me to …
Joy — The Holy Spirit gives Joy to Jesus the Messiah and to Those who were Anticipating His Birth
The Holy Spirit brings joy to believers, giving them an inner contentment and happiness which is not dependent upon external …
Jesus didn’t call me to be Christian. He called me to be a disciple.
Jesus didn’t call me to be a Christian. He called me to be a disciple. Jesus is my Master teacher. …
“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.” ~Jesus
I am thinking this part of the Jesus Manifesto has been ripped out of most Evangelical and Protestant bibles. I …
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” ~Jesus
Did God abandon Jesus? It is a stunning question. From noon to three, the whole earth was dark. Around midafternoon …
Goodness — God is pleased with the good works of his people
How am I doing with being selfless on behalf of others? It is a pretty telling question if I answer it …
Faithfulness — Is seen as steadfast commitment to God in unwavering devotion
Faithfulness is the proper response to God by his covenant people; seen in a steadfast commitment which reflects God’s own …
Self-control — The mark of a wise person and aspect of a disciples character
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It is physical and emotional self-mastery, particularly in situations of intense provocation or temptation. …
Kindness — God shows kindness to all, evil and good.
In Galatians 5:22 we learn that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 …
Peace — Through the Father’s provision for the believer
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there …
Gentleness — In showing consideration to all
Gentleness is an expression of compassion, seen in God’s dealings with the frail and weak, and expected of believers in …
“What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this?” ~Jesus
Jesus sounds upset. The day before he went through an amazing experience. We call it the transfiguration. “While He was praying, the …
Joy — Can it become real in our relationships?
Joy is experienced naturally in many circumstances of my life in Jesus and most importantly in relationships I have with …
Miracles of Jesus — Raising the dead!
There are a number of examples of this stunning miracle in the Bible. Notably, 3 are attributed to Jesus. This …
God is good — God demonstrates His goodness in His actions!
God not only is good but more importantly, God does good. God acts on His goodness and demonstrates it to …
“And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” ~Luke
Am I happy? Do you see my joy? Or am I just a grumpy old man most days? In …
Goodness — God’s people are called on to do good works
How am I doing with being selfless on behalf of others? It is a pretty telling question if I answer …
Is faithfulness encouragement to be trustworthy?
I am called to be faithful and trustworthy. I am challenged by this some days. When I think about it …
“The one who listens to you, listens to me. The one who rejects you, rejects me. And rejecting me is the same as rejecting God, who sent me.” ~Jesus
What am I to do? It all starts with listening. From there, as a follower of Jesus, I am to …
Hope — Does God command it?
Dante passes through the gate of Hell, which bears an inscription ending with the famous phrase “Lasciate ogne speranza, voi …
Self-control — A discipline that is hiding along with the other fruits of the Spirit of God
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It is physical and emotional self-mastery, particularly in situations of intense provocation or …
“Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day.” ~Jesus
Can Jesus depend on me? There have been many times where He couldn’t. I didn’t step up to the plate, …
Patience — It’s importance in enduring life’s circumstances and sufferings
I hate pain. I try to avoid suffering, I hate being poor and I don’t go out of my way …
“Happy are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” ~Jesus
Jesus is a kind, loving King. Jesus is not angry with me. Jesus wants me to be kind and gentle. …
Gentleness — A mark and part of the character of a follower of Jesus
Gentleness is a mark and a part of the character of a follower of Jesus. We know from Galatians 5:22 …
“Peace be with you!” ~Jesus
Here we are. It is “Resurrection Sunday”. I’m celebrating the resurrection of Jesus not bunnies and chocolate candy. That’s just …
“I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” ~Jesus to the religious leaders
Some of the religious leaders [Pharisees] in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I …
I saw Jesus last night …
I saw Jesus last night. Of course, it was not the Jesus I was expecting. He was delivering the “Jesus …
Miracles of Jesus – How they reveal and confirm his Messianic credentials and the coming of God’s Kingdom
There are so many stunning, amazing and supernatural acts of Jesus. They reveal and confirm his Messianic credentials. They announce …
What is peace, how do we make peacemaking real and what is the promise of Jesus?
Jesus says “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” The commendation of peacemakers – It …
“What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?” ~Jesus
Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me …
Everything Jesus had to say about the homeless, wealth, prosperity, poverty, riches, the poor, the needy and giving
Jesus had a lot to say about the homeless, wealth, prosperity, poverty, riches, the poor, the needy and giving. Here …
“Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you. ” ~Jesus
“This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve …
“The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together.” ~King David
The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are …
“But don’t resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this.” ~King Solomon
God has a goal for me. Primarily God wants me to grow up and not be a child my whole …
“I have a dream today.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
I was 9 years old during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. I was living in Atlanta, …
“What am I going to say? ‘Father, get me out of this’? No, this is why I came in the first place. I’ll say, ‘Father, put your glory on display.” ~Jesus
Jesus was on a mission. It would be a painful and horrible death. Jesus knew what would happen. Jesus was …
“Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” ~Jesus
Happy (aka Blessed) are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” ~Jesus Source: Matthew 5:3 (English Standard Version) …
Resolution: Be More Dog
I think this makes for a great new year’s resolution! “Be more dog: When loved ones come home, run to …
“Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” ~Herod
Follow this. This is not what we envision on Christmas. Christmas has become all about “what did I get for …
“If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.” ~Jesus
Jesus warns me that I may not always be welcomed. The message of good news might not be listened to. …
“When we were with you, we made it quite clear that there was trouble ahead.” ~Apostle Paul
Being a part of the world of Thanks-Living means we know about trouble ahead but are thankful none the less. …
“Enjoy the simple, the natural and the plain. Along with that comes the ability to do things spontaneously and have them work.” ~~Benjamin Hoff
Jesus is very clear that not everything is going to be “planned out”. God has a plan. God knows what …
“Don’t think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple.” ~Jesus
Part of the way Jesus taught the Disciples was to send them out periodically to do the job. We call …
“We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us.” ~Apostle John
John was one motivated man of God. He saw first hand the unique relationship Jesus had with God. Jesus and …
“Don’t think that you can be wise merely by being up-to-date with the times. Be God’s fool—that’s the path to true wisdom.” ~Apostle Paul
Do I think I am wise by being up-to-date with the times? If I do, I am being very foolish. …
“I couldn’t be more pleased—I’m so confident and proud of you.” ~Apostle Paul
As we start out on the journey with Jesus, it helps to have leaders who inspire us. Sure, I need …
“There’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.” ~Jesus
Jesus is happy. Jesus is rejoicing. Jesus came to rescue me. I wandered away. I got lost. Jesus noticed and …
What is the suffering to joy ratio in Jesus?
The most important thing to know and believe is that God is in a good mood. He loves me and …
"Invest yourself in everything you do. There’s fun in being serious." ~~John Coltrane
Jesus wants us to invest ourselves. I am to be “more than committed” to him and his way. I need …
“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.” ~James
Really James? A gift? Somehow I think he is serious. This isn’t the way I normally think. Tests and challenges …
"From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere." ~~Dr. Seuss
It helps to have a sense of humor. King David wisely said (Psalm 9:1-2) I’m thanking you, God, from a …
“Something has always come up and prevented it.” ~Apostle Paul
Paul knew how to plan. Fortunately, he listened to God and so sometimes was unwilling to follow what he planned …
