I can honestly say I don’t have enough joy in my life. How about you?

I get so busy, trying to manage too many responsibilities…and it all just gets to be too much at times. That steals my joy.

So, I can’t offer much advise on the topic of joy… Except to say that joy MUST be a choice. I make choices which lead to joy or choices that lead to the lack of joy. So what are we to do to experience joy and reflect God’s joy to the world? I say we try the following as a start: when tempted to complain, argue, or be moody…let’s pause. Let’s make a choice to be joyous instead.

Think about how wonderfully God has blessed you. And if that isn’t easy to do in your current phase of life, instead, think about how much more suffering Jesus Christ endured for your sake. What you are experiencing is nothing compared to that.

Let me know how it goes…I want to hear from you!

How do you measure up? Christians are called to be role models to our society. How well do you love your spouse, your children (or parents), or complete strangers?

The Bible doesn’t say “Love those who love you” or “Love just those who deserve to be loved”. On the contrary, LOVE must begin and end with you. Let YOUR love be the spark that encourages others to do the same.

In the coming week, just pause now and then and contemplate…”in that conversation or in that action, how well did I show love?” Only by focusing on this Fruit can you hope to Love others as God calls us to.