The Joy of Jesus (Church Online)

Monday, September 30, 2013

Free - Monday, September 30, 2013 | Daily Word

THE KEY TO FREEDOM IS TO PUT GOD FIRST.

Daily life may appear confining at times. I might feel boxed in by deadlines, burdened by health concerns, or weary of relationship issues. Realizing I have a choice, I seek a path to freedom.

In The Golden Key, Emmet Fox noted that the key to restoring peace and harmony is to “stop thinking about the difficulty, whatever it is, and think about God instead.” With this in mind, I turn my thoughts away from my concerns and affirm the truth that God is all there is.

If worrisome thoughts resurface, I replace them with powerful affirmations of God’s loving presence. I regain my freedom by centering my thoughts on God. As I do, my mind quiets, my body relaxes, and I am free.

Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.—Psalm 118:5

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Student of Life - Sunday, September 29, 2013 | Daily Word

I AM ALWAYS LEARNING.

As a student of life, I am always learning. Living is like an endless education, and I learn something new every day. Sometimes circumstances test my mettle. With faith in myself and with the spirit of God in me, I surmount any obstacle and grow from the experience.

I learn by doing. I try what I have not tried before, and I take risks, knowing I may not always succeed. But I will always learn. As I follow my inner guidance, I make progress, building my faith and confidence. 

Every day, I continue to grow in awareness, seeking to learn more about God, myself, and life. I am guided by Spirit and blessed with the answers I seek.

Give instruction to the wise, and they will become wiser still; teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.—Proverbs 9:9

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread -- Color Courage

September 29, 2013


Our Daily Bread is hosted by Les Lamborn

READ: 1 Corinthians 4:10-17

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. —1 Corinthians 11:1

A radio ad for watches suggests that listeners buy a watch with a bright color band and then wear it with clothes of other colors. When people notice your watch because of its contrasting color, the ad says, “They’ll see that you have ‘color courage.’ And they’ll want to be like you.” Something in us enjoys having others follow our example.

If you do a quick reading of 1 Corinthians 4, you might think the apostle Paul sounds a bit boastful when he says to follow his example of self-sacrifice (v.16). But a closer look at Paul’s words shows why he wrote so confidently. He could ask people to imitate him because he imitated Christ (11:1), the greatest Servant of all.

The persecution he endured and the position he held in the church (4:10-17) all happened because Paul followed Jesus. When he mentioned that even if the Corinthians had 10,000 teachers he would still be their father in the faith (v.15), he was acknowledging that Jesus is the only reason people could trust his teaching.

If we want people to imitate us, we must first imitate our Lord. If we have any reason for people to follow our example—if we have any courage to point others to the Savior—it is because of Him, not us. —Anne Cetas

Joyfully following Jesus the Lord
And trusting His lead every day
Makes us examples that others can see
To follow when trials come their way. —Sper

Others should imitate us only as far as we imitate Christ.

Bible in a year: Isaiah 7-8; Ephesians 2

Friday, September 27, 2013

Healing - Friday, September 27, 2013 | Daily Word

I AM HEALED AND RENEWED.

Today I express my gratitude to God for healing: Thank You for the divine blueprint of wholeness and perfection within me and for my natural state of health, vitality, and strength.

Thank You for Your presence in me, renewing, restoring, and sustaining me. Every organ, cell, and function of my body is being restored to wholeness through the healing power of Divine Life in me.

I behold my true nature as Your child and I see myself as a picture of health—moving, speaking, working, playing, and functioning with ease, confidence, and purpose.

I love and care for my body, for it houses the sacred being I am. I am healed and renewed, and I am grateful.

The Lord, your God, is in your midst … he will renew you in his love.—Zephaniah 3:17

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Forgive - Thursday, September 26, 2013 | Daily Word

ACTING FROM MY DIVINE NATURE, I FORGIVE MISTAKES.

Words uttered thoughtlessly in frustration or anger can be hurtful. If I am on the receiving end of someone’s unkind words, I have the choice to forgive or harbor bitterness. I choose to forgive.

We have all been careless or thoughtless at times. I forgive others as I forgive myself, for words said and unsaid, and I release any resentment.

Moving forward, I consciously choose thoughts and words that affirm and uplift. The thoughts I hold and the words I speak to others are carefully chosen expressions of God’s ever-present love. I commit to living my life as the caring, loving expression of God that I am.

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble.—Hebrews 12:15

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Guidance - Wednesday, September 25, 2013 | Daily Word

ATTUNED TO DIVINE WISDOM, I KNOW WHAT IS MINE TO DO.

I seek to live my best life and express my highest potential; yet I may not always know how to go about it. In every moment, I have a choice between a variety of actions and attitudes. When I am unsure about what is mine to do, I turn within for divine guidance.

As I withdraw from the noise of my confusion and enter into a state of stillness and peacefulness, I become open and receptive to inner wisdom. In the Silence, my thoughts are illumined and I experience clarity and insight. The spirit of God within gives me the insight and direction I need to follow a positive course of action. I am confident of my next steps to be of true service and to live my most God-inspired life.

O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill.—Psalm 43:3

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Divine Order - Tuesday, September 24, 2013 | Daily Word

DIVINE ORDER IS AT WORK IN MY LIFE.

We behold divine order when we see a seed sprouting through the soil. Something marvelous has happened on a microlevel. The seed responded to the good soil and grew. The pattern within the seed, the seedling, and the maturing plant was divinely ordered.

I am like the seed that sprouts and grows to become all I can be. Divine order has been unfolding in my life from the day I was born. I see it manifesting when I experience a breakthrough in spiritual understanding, reach a goal, or find myself at the right place at the right time. My bounty is great. My heart is full. All is in divine order.

The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how.—Mark 4:26-27