Complete JOY! How? Where?

Complete JOY! How? Where? 

Good morning, Lord! I wasn't going to have coffee this morning as a nap sounded like a good plan for this afternoon, but then I remembered Nadia and I have appointments at the dentist today and I need to work on updating our customer base today. So…I had coffee and I realized that coffee in the morning  = no nap during the day. Yay! I forget how cool coffee is! Thank You, Lord, for coffee!

Father, I pray You'd bless this time in Your Word and that You'd meet with me today and speak to my heart. Please be with Steve today and bless him with favor everywhere he goes. In Jesus' name, AMEN! 

The question to ponder today is: What does it mean to "abide"? From the text (John 15:1-11), list as many lessons about a relationship with Jesus as you can.

First let me say that I still feel my flesh resisting Jesus before I read the Bible sometimes. I feel like, "Really? Reading the Bible is going to change my life? God is going to speak to me? Am I really going to walk away with some "take-a-ways"?" Then I ask for forgiveness for my unbelief and then read. And Yes; it's true! God does speak to my heart in practical ways-to situations that I am dealing with today! God, You are so much bigger than I give You credit for sometimes. Please forgive me. Work in the mighty way that You do and change my heart again today. In Jesus' name, AMEN!

First, I know that I can do nothing without God. If He is not first and I try to do things my way…frustration. Oh, how much smoother the day seems or how much better I can handle the stresses of life when I have spent time with You in the morning. It is like the verse says, "Abide (spend time with) Me ...and bear much fruit (that will last)." We are told the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. I'm not sure where this is, but I was taught that fruit is also witnessing and leading others to Christ. I know that if I've spent time with God and my "love tank" is full from Him, it generally pours out to others almost effortlessly.

Therefore, I am to abide in (spend time with, bask in the presence of)God daily. After I beat my flesh into submission and get to reading and spending time with You, Lord, I really do feel more ALIVE than I've ever felt without You. You give me hope and joy and enable me to be victorious over battles in my heart, mind, and flesh.

Verses 9-12 talk about how God loves us and we are to remain in His love so that OUR JOY may be complete! Hallelujah! God wants us to have COMPLETE JOY! How wonderful! How exciting! How loving of Him! I want complete joy! What do I need to do to get this? Spend time with and remain in communication with God, spending time with Him. Praise be to God! I don't know how You do it, Lord, but I am so thankful to be a recipient of Your truth, Your love, Your joy-in me!

Scary verses: 2 and 5--In verse 5, Jesus said we are the branches and in the 2nd verse He says God will cut off unproductive branches that bear no fruit. BUT THERE IS HOPE! Verses 7 and 8 say that we already have victory, basically! Jesus said, "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing Yourselves to be my disciples."

So it's not like I have to do many works that seem godly, but it is a consequence, outcome of remaining in Christ. I wanted to say a "natural" consequence, but, obviously, it is supernatural as God is not natural but supernatural-above the nature He created. He's the creator of what we call the natural world and cause and effect.

What is my responsibility? To remain in God's love (v.9). What does that mean? Obey God's commandments (v10). Doesn't this sound like rules and regulations and not a relationship?

I am thinking back to my own earthly dad. I remember when living at home, if Dad asked me to do something -get something for him or help him, what a JOY! I love my dad very, very much and to do something for him gave me joy! This is how I can relate to my Heavenly Father-he asks me to love others-not always easy sometimes. How can I find the same joy? I need to remember that it is God who asked me to love others and He is pleased when I do (obey Him). THAT pleases me. :)

In my mind, I'm like a little daughter of God's: young and innocent, wanting to please Him and finding joy when I do.

Lord, following your commands is not always easy or fun at the time, but what is fun is pleasing You. Help me to remember that when I am obeying You, You are pleased. You love me no matter what, as our children are loved no matter what, but we are really pleased and proud of them when they choose to do what is right. Please help me to constantly abide in You today and every day. Help me to remember to talk to You and ask You for help throughout the day. For You said, "Ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you-for Your glory" v.7-8)

I want to bear much fruit and show myself to be Your disciple. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN!