We all have many things to be joyful about in life, but many times we allow
the temporary trials and setbacks to make us forget how blessed we truly
are. It is in focusing on the good in the midst of the trial that we find
how much we still have to be thankful for. If we only murmur and complain
about all the bad that is happening to us and around us, it is human nature
to want to have a pity party and feel sorry for ourselves, but if we change
our mentality and choose to focus on the abundance that we have, the pity
party will not last long. We will be consciously acknowledging that God is
in control of all things and if He has brought a trial into our life, it is
there to serve a purpose in making us stronger, wiser and better than we
were before. We will learn the lesson, grow from it and move on to
greater heights that God has prepared. Doing this without murmuring or
questioning pleases God and frustrates the enemy to no end. (Philippians 2:14-15)

When Job had everything taken away from him, his wife told him to curse
God and die. Job answered her in a profound way and I believe we should
take on the same mentality. We read in Job 2:9-10 “Then his wife said to
him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” But he
said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we
indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all
this Job did not sin with his lips.” We can learn a lesson from Job that
good and bad are promised to come our way, but our countenance should not
be changed based on which one is present in our life. (James 1:2-4)

We should be steadfast in faith knowing that God loves us and will meet
our needs. We simply must remain confident in Him and know that all
things will work together for our good. At the end of Job's trial, God
gave him double of everything he had before. Be encouraged to keep your
joyfulness no matter what may come and in the midst of your trial dare to
give God thanks and praise that All Is Well. (Job 42:10-13) (Isaiah 26:3)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to keep your joy in
all your circumstances. Do not let it go and do not waver in your faith
no matter what may come your way. Stand strong because faithful is He who
has promised.


BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS

A sign in a pet store read, “If anybody has seen the Bluebird of Happiness,
would you please notify this pet store?”

Happiness seems to be in short supply for many people. If the results of
recent surveys can be trusted, there is a general decline of happiness in
today's world. And people were not all that cheerful a few years back! It
was Oliver Wendell Holmes who stated, “I might have been a minister for
aught I know, if a certain clergyman had not looked and talked like an
undertaker.” (I have to say, though, that some clergy and undertakers I've
known could teach the rest of us something about joy.)

Joy and happiness are not always the same things. Happiness can be thought
of as more of a temporary, emotional condition, often based on outside
circumstances. Joy, on the other hand, is deeper. It is often contentment
in spite of the unsettling present. We can be basically joyful, regardless
of a particular unhappy situation that we may be enduring. It is sometimes
just a matter of keeping perspective on our troubles, and especially when
those troubles seem to be in long supply.

You may know the story of the man who had a marvelous way of keeping joy
in his life. He was a carpenter. He followed the same ritual every day
when he came home from the job. He stopped by a small tree in his front
yard and placed his hand on a couple of branches. Then, when he walked
into his home, it was as if a magical transformation had occurred. All of
a sudden, the stress was lifted from him. He became energetic and joyful,
able to fully interact with his children and his wife.

He explained it this way: “That tree is my trouble tree. When I come home
I stop by the tree and, just like I leave my tools in the truck, I leave
my troubles outside of my home. I hang them on that tree before greeting
my family. Anything that does not have to come in my house stays outside.
Anything that I do not have to deal with at home, I leave on that tree.
And in the morning, I stop by the tree and pick up the troubles I left
there in the evening.”

Then he adds, “It's a funny thing, though. Every morning I always find
fewer troubles remaining than I hung the night before.”

Here is a man who has no doubt seen the Bluebird of Happiness. Chances are
it is nesting in a tree just outside his home.

There is wisdom in knowing that some problems can wait until tomorrow and
more wisdom in knowing what to hang on the tree and what to bring in.
Managing daily problems well is vital to maintaining joy.

By Steve Goodier


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

James 1:2-5 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth
to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Job 5:19-23 “He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there
shall no evil touch thee. In famine He shall redeem thee from death: and
in war from the power of the sword. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of
the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. At
destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of
the beasts of the earth. For thou shalt be in league with the stones of
the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.”

Matthew 5:10-12 Jesus declares, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for
righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye,
when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of
evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for
great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which
were before you.”

All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.


Today's Selected Poem: AFTER THE RAIN
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem84.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: RESCUED FROM DEPRESSION
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony37.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry