Tag Archive for: Joy

No Comparison

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When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius.

When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’  But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?  Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.  Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’  So the last shall be first, and the first last.” ~Matthew 20:10-16 (NASB)

Dear Father God, I pray that I will not be distracted by what You do for others.  May I not be jealous and may I not covet what You give to anyone.  May I rejoice in what I’ve been given and may I never begrudge anyone anything.  

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Lord I Need You

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I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because his is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:7-8)

Let Us Rejoice

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19 Open to me the [temple] gates of righteousness; I will enter through them, and I will confess and praise the Lord.

20 This is the gate of the Lord; the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall enter through it.

21 I will confess, praise, and give thanks to You, for You have heard and answered me; and You have become my Salvation and Deliverer.

22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

23 This is from the Lord and is His doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

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The Power of Yet

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Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

Habakkuk was living in some pretty difficult times.  Yet, he did not allow this to affect his mood.  He made a choice to praise God even if everything around him didn’t make sense.  He declared that he would praise God even if… Read more

Soaking Up God’s Goodness

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On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:37-38)

Every time I read Scripture, I want to absorb as much as possible.  My desire is to soak up all God’s goodness, His faithfulness, His mercy, His love, and so much more.  I want to soak it up, so that when people squeeze me… The goodness of God comes out.  I pray that I will become a living sponge for the things of God.

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