Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11.
The religion of Jesus is joy, peace, and happiness.
All Heaven is interested in the happiness of man. Our heavenly Father does not close the avenues of joy to any of His creatures. The divine requirements call upon us to shun those indulgences that would bring suffering and disappointment, that would close to us the door of happiness and heaven…. He [the world’s Redeemer] requires us to perform only those duties that will lead our steps to heights of bliss to which the disobedient can never attain. The true, joyous life of the soul is to have Christ formed within, the hope of glory.
Those who abide in Jesus will be happy, cheerful, and joyful in God. A subdued gentleness will mark the voice, reverence for spiritual and eternal things will be expressed in the actions, and music, joyful music, will echo from the lips, for it is wafted from the throne of God. This is the mystery of godliness, not easily explained, but nonetheless felt and enjoyed.
Words cannot describe the peace and joy possessed by him who takes God at His word. Trials do not disturb him, slights do not vex him. Self is crucified. Day by day his duties may become more taxing, his temptations stronger, his trials more severe; but he does not falter; for he receives strength equal to his need.
In those who possess it, the religion of Christ will reveal itself as a vitalizing, pervading principle, a living, working, spiritual energy. There will be manifest the freshness and power and joyousness of perpetual youth. The heart that receives the Word of God is not as a pool that evaporates, not like a broken cistern that loses its treasure. It is like the mountain stream fed by unfailing springs, whose cool, sparkling waters leap from rock to rock, refreshing the weary, the thirsty, the heavy laden.
The Faith I Live By p. 226
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Prayer Requestd
—-About 2 weeks ago a very sweet and kind Adventist lady was assigned to take care of my uncle who is bedridden and he lives with my dear mother who is almost bedridden herself. This sweet lady was only being paid by the Veterans to take care of my uncle but she is so kind and compassionate that she was taking excellent care of my mom too. She said it was her ‘ministry.’ Now her employer is trying to place this Adventist lady with someone else and we are all heartbroken about it. This ladies name is Debbie and she said that she is heartbroken about having to leave. She also saw to it that my dear mother was taken to church for the first time in many months. PLEASE PRAY THAT SHE IS ALLOWED TO STAY AT MY MOMS HOUSE AND CONTINUE HER EXCELLENT CARE FOR MY MOM AND UNCLE. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEIR WELL BEING. Connie
—- I really need prayer & interventions for my son that only God can turn around!! He has a lot of anxiety and depression & he is overwhelmed and not thinking clearly!! I’m fearful for his safety. Lissa
—-Please pray for Omah to walk again, he is in his twenties and uses a wheelchair. Medical gone wrong. Not be walking for nine years Rosemary
—-Please pray for my daughters. One has biopsies on Tuesday, the other has a bilateral mastectomy on Wednesday. Also, the second daughter’s mother-in-law has metastatic breast cancer and isn’t doing well. Vicki
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Dear Friends,
When my mother didn’t take me shopping or to the movies, my grandparents took me to Sabbath School. I didn’t get to go often enough to form any friendships, but I loved to go anyway. One week when I attended, I learned that Jesus was coming soon. That was a totally new thought to me. The teacher told us that at first the cloud would look very small in the distance and then as it got closer to earth it would look bigger and bigger until it would fill the whole sky. There would be billions of angels surrounding Jesus Who would be seated on a throne in the middle of the cloud. He would be dressed as a king and have a silver trumpet in one hand and a sickle in the other. He would blow His trumpet and shout, “Awake! Awake! Awake! ye that dwell in the dust and arise.” All of the righteous would hear His voice and come forth with glorious bodies that would never die. He would then take all those people who love and obey Him to Heaven. (1 Thes 4:16-18; Matt 24:30, 31; Acts 1:11; 2 Peter 3:9-14)
The news of Jesus’ coming thrilled me through and through! I got excited about it! I could picture it all with my seven-year-old mind’s eye. I wanted Jesus to come so badly. My teacher had said that it would be soon, so I began to watch the clouds as soon as we got out of the meeting.
Later that day, my friend, Janie, came over to play, but I did not feel like playing. I was thinking about what the teacher had said. I shared with her what I had learned. Janie was also amazed. We sat on the back steps and scanned the sky. It was almost sundown and the clouds were tinged with a golden yellow and pink. Our eyes searched each cloud. We thought maybe one of those colorful clouds would be the special one.
The faith of a little child is a trusting, believing faith. It is an expectant faith. It is the faith that we all must possess. Jesus declared, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 18:3 Our Dear Saviour was speaking of the wonderful qualities of an unspoiled child. The absolute trust, humility, unconditional love that a little one has in their parent is what He wants us to have in Him.
David admonishes, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him” Ps 37:3-7 The wise man adds, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” Prov 3:5-7 Those with a trusting, humble spirit are of great value in God’s sight. He promises to dwell with them. What a blessing! What a privilege! “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isa 57:15
Let us put our full trust in our Great Redeemer. Let us believe His word and give diligence to make our calling and election sure. (2 Peter 1:10) Let us receive of His grace and mercy so that when He does come in the clouds to take His own to His Heavenly Kingdom, we will look up and say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9
Rose

Fullness of Joy