Complete Joy?
Mexico 2008 – Your life in Christ – Is your joy complete? – View Original PDF
The last few day’s we’ve gone over some very weighty things. I’m currently reading Good to Great in Gods eyes by Chip Ingram. It is a challenging book. A recent chapter was on “Enjoying Great Moments.” It was a good reminder to me that I need to be faithful in bearing all aspects of spiritual fruit. We need to remember the love, joy, peace and kindness that can be easily forgotten (at least for me) So how do we live these commands out?
Love
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”Joy
Pro 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.Happiness
Ecc 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Ecc 3:12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;
Ecc 3:13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil–this is God’s gift to man.
Read: ~ 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
1. Are you a happy person? What if we asked your friends, or family members, what would they say?
2. What do you think the fruit of peace looks like? How could this be lived out?
3. Do you have the kind of love that Paul talks about in today’s verses? What action would it take to get you to that kind of love?
4. Do you ever stop and take scheduled time to just enjoy the people and gifts God has put in your life? If not what would it take to get you to slow down and smell the proverbial roses?
5. What practical ways can you work at spreading love, joy, kindness and peace?
Challenge
Make the step of getting some down time on your calendar. Plan something with a friend or purpose to get uncomfortable and make plans w/ or include someone you normally wouldn’t. Enjoy your time and have fun.
Prayer Points:
Joy in Christ
Love Others
Abiding in Christ
Saftey traveling home
Pursue Holiness
1. Are you a happy person? What if we asked your friends, or family members, what would they say?
Most days, most times I am. I think I am too aware of how blessed I am to stay “unhappy” for too long. I believe my friends and family would say the same thing; I can get ramped up about stuff, but just as quickly as I get ramped up I am just as quick to power down.
2. What do you think the fruit of peace looks like? How could this be lived out?
The fruits of peace look like a calm household, a kind response or reaction. Less “road rage” or frustration about “long lines”; it is asking “why” someone is acting the way they are instead of reacting defensively or aggressively to something they have done or said.
I think living it out requires “intention”. I have to intentionally not fill up my day, intentionally take time to sit and do nothing, intentionally not work every hour, or “stew”, I have to intentionally remind myself that God is in control and He is better at it than me.
3. Do you have the kind of love that Paul talks about in today’s verses? What action would it take to get you to that kind of love?
In general that is a work in progress for me. I don’t trust the world and most of the people in it. So for me it starts by being more friendly to strangers. My friend Dusty says hello to everyone he sees, offers them a friendly smile, is willing to strike up a conversation, doesn’t matter who they are, he will wave at them on the street, say hello to them as he is passing them in the grocery store, no matter what always friendly. This is where I start. I also have to stay open to what God will do with that, what kind of effect my actions may have on another person.
4. Do you ever stop and take scheduled time to just enjoy the people and gifts God has put in your life? If not what would it take to get you to slow down and smell the proverbial roses?
I definitely have to schedule time, more often than not, as do my friends. Everyone is so busy with work, family, and other activities, that getting time to catch a movie or grab a beer takes a little planning.
One thing that I do, is not get into needing to buy everything, so that I need to work more so I can afford “things”. I also try to live simply and not get wrapped up in being on every committee or panel, or be apart of every volunteer opportunity; recognize its ok for me to go I have a day with nothing planned and that’s ok.
5. What practical ways can you work at spreading love, joy, kindness and peace?
Practical ways…sincerely…be nice. Recognize people don’t know what kind of day, or for that matter, life I have been having; and the same is true for me with them. I have no idea if they have been having a good day or what, giving people the benifit of the doubt. Clearly communicating my meaning, if I am happy for them, being clear about that, if disappointed, being clear about that, “owning” my side of the conversation.