The Word Illustrated #70--Keep your joy!

The Word Illustrated #70
© Pamyla Floyd
3/18/2011

Keep your joy
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving – Psalms 69:30

Websters defines joy as the emotion evoked by well being, success or good fortune, or
by the prospect of possessing what one desires.

The definition of rejoice is to experience great happiness. It's easy to rejoice, sing praises and lift up the name of Jesus when things are going well. If we get up and the sun is shining, birds are singing, all is well, and we are good. But, what if we are awakened by thunder breaking overhead with dark doom filled clouds and monsoon rains? Can we still rejoice and give thanks to the Lord for who He is and for all He's done?

James 1:6 describes one who wavers like a wave in the sea driven and tossed to and fro. We are to be steadfast and unmovable in our faith. Whether the day is clear or cloudy, the report good or not so good; we are to remain in faith and continue to trust God. Thus, keeping our joy.

Growing in Christ means that yes, we may have to face some tough times, or wait for a promise that tarries long. We can't afford to be fair weather Christians who are always crying, complaining and speaking doubt and unbelief. This is not someone walking in faith. Abraham was told that he would be the father of MANY nations. The bible says that he being not weak in faith, considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb!

Now that's faith. Can you imagine the joy of a word spoken? He held onto the promise for 25 years. Many us get tried of waiting on God and give up. We lose our joy and allow satan to keep taking us in the same circle year after year. My grand mama used to tell me, “It's always darkest before the dawn”. My advice to you is to keep moving forward, stay joyful, stay in faith and keep trusting the Lord. If He has made you a promise, rest assured that if He said it, He will perform it! He holds His word above His name!

God bless,
Pamyla

If you want to know how to ask Jesus into your heart, or want help in leading someone to Christ, please visit my Salvation page. If you want prayer or need help finding scriptures to stand on, please email me: thewordillustrated at yahoo dot com

Reference Scriptures:

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice – Philippians 4:4

Rejoice evermore – I Thessalonians 5:16

Note: The illustration is of a stork rejoicing and the dawn of a new Spring day

The Word Illustrated #65--Who do you belong to?

The Word Illustrated #65
© Pamyla Floyd
11/18/2010

Who do you belong to?

Thy people shall be my people, an thy God my God – Ruth 1:16d

That’s a good question for us to ask ourselves. If we look back at the book of Ruth, we will see two central characters namely Ruth and her sister in law Orpha. Both were from Moab (the world), and like us, had an encounter with the true and living God. After their husbands died, they along with their mother in law Naomi headed for Jerusalem.

Along the way, something interesting happened. You see, at some point, we will have to ask ourselves who we really belong to. While it was apparent that Ruth received the great I Am for herself. It is also apparent that Orpha SEEMED to accept Him as her God.

If we go to church because Granny did, or because that new person we are dating or married to does, or because it seems like the right thing to do; then we need to check out our ‘salvation’. The time to accept Christ in our lives is now! At some point we must ALL come broken in spirit, repenting, asking forgiveness of our sins. We must too must believe and confess with our own mouths that YES, Jesus is the son of God, whom He hath raised from the dead.

If we think we are saved by riding on the coat tails of others, we are sadly mistaken. Have you ever heard someone say that they USED to be a Christian? They can say that because they never had a personal relationship with Jesus. They never received Him and when they didn’t get their way, they went back into the world (Moab) where they served teh same gods as before. So, I will ask you again. Who do you belong to? If you are not sure, or want help in the prayer of salvation, please email me.

God bless,
Pamyla

If you want to know how to ask Jesus into your heart, please visit my Salvation page. If you want prayer or need help finding scriptures to stand on, please email me: thewordillustrated at yahoo dot com

Reference Scriptures:

Philippians 2:12b-- work out your own salvation with fear and trembling

Habakkuk 3:18 -- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation

Note: The illustration is of a woman.