P
poetrob68
Guest
Who Ate Your Fruit Loops
When I go to church, I am always amazed at
how many christians seem to be without joy.
They have this sour attitude. I can't help but think
they were baptized in pickle juice.I am always
curious what or who has stolen their joy. Who
forgot to tell them they can be joyful? I believe
God wants us to experience joy and when we don't,
it's time for some soul searching. There are so
many reasons to feel joy.
When we realize what the joy of the Lord is, there
are great liberties afforded to us. Among them
strength to stand in the midst of trouble.
We can experience joy even when our earthly temples
begin to breakdown. The ability to witness to people
about the Lord. When the joy of the Lord is in us,
it erupts in to the lives of others. When they look at us,
they don't know what we are hooked on but they want some.
We have a sense of purpose in all we do. We can't wait to
do it and we do it for the glory of God. When joy is absent
from us, we are just not all here. Emotionally, we are
excited but spiritually, we hide in the closet.
Joy affords us the ability to obey God in matters of sin. Think about
it. When we are lonely, miserable and falling apart, that is
when we are apt to make bad choices. Take a pill,
take a drink, or even pick up a gun. With the Joy,
we can discover that things are bad however, we
can rise above them. With joy we can experience
victory. We have no choice. Victory is automatically there
in the midst of joy. We can shout, sing and stand on our
heads because we have a reason.
Joy also reminds us that we are human. We can look at
some things we have done and laugh. Joy can bring
much healing where it is needed. Life doesn't have to
be pins and needles. Life doesn't have to be just surviving.
If all we do is worry about our bills, think about our work
situation and the rat race in general, then we are not
experiencing joy.
It would be a mistake to assume that because we don't
see people's joy, it is not there. We all have unique
relationships with God. Each of us expresses joy in
unique ways.
Some of us sit around on Sundays and watch the Cowboys
lose. Some of us raid the refrigerator late at night and hopes
no one notices in the morning. The only problem with this is if
there are two of you, it is easy to figure out who is guilty.
Some of us find joy in the strangest places. We go to
hamburger joints, order our food and find out they
forgot about us. We may go to the video arcade and
play games we can never win. We even go shopping
and increase our credit card debt.
I guess God allows us to be weird as long as we find
joy.
PS 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you
be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread
your protection over them, that those who
love your name may rejoice in you."
PS 19:8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.The commands of the
LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes."
PS 20:5 We will shout for joy when you are
victorious and will lift up our banners in the
name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests."
PS 27:6 Then my head will be exalted above the
enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I
sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music
to the LORD."
PS 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart
leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."
PS 33:3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully,
and shout for joy."
PS 35:27 May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness; may they always say,
"The LORD be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant."
PS 42:4 These things I remember as I pour out my
soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading
the procession to the house of God,with shouts
of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng."
PS 47:1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to
God with cries of joy."
A good beginning is to notice how often joy is
associated with "Shout," and "Victory," in the above
verses. There are also references to singing. There
is a very good reason for this relationship between
shout, joy and victory. Above all else we have a
massive reason to have joy. As Christians Christ
has given us victory over the devil and his power.
To us his power is dead. In addition we have been
delivered from hell. This thought should excite us
knowing what hell is and what eternity there is like.
We should wake up and hit the road running with
the thought of being delivered from hell.
NE 8:10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice
food and sweet drinks, and send some to those
who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred
to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the
LORD is your strength."
Whenever we think or feel that joy is for the birds, it
didn't come from God. Who ate your fruit loops? Or
Did your fruit loops eat you? Too many times we
run from the idea of experiencing joy. Other times
circumstances keep the joy away.
We have to claim the joy daily, in our speech, our
thoughts.
When I go to church, I am always amazed at
how many christians seem to be without joy.
They have this sour attitude. I can't help but think
they were baptized in pickle juice.I am always
curious what or who has stolen their joy. Who
forgot to tell them they can be joyful? I believe
God wants us to experience joy and when we don't,
it's time for some soul searching. There are so
many reasons to feel joy.
When we realize what the joy of the Lord is, there
are great liberties afforded to us. Among them
strength to stand in the midst of trouble.
We can experience joy even when our earthly temples
begin to breakdown. The ability to witness to people
about the Lord. When the joy of the Lord is in us,
it erupts in to the lives of others. When they look at us,
they don't know what we are hooked on but they want some.
We have a sense of purpose in all we do. We can't wait to
do it and we do it for the glory of God. When joy is absent
from us, we are just not all here. Emotionally, we are
excited but spiritually, we hide in the closet.
Joy affords us the ability to obey God in matters of sin. Think about
it. When we are lonely, miserable and falling apart, that is
when we are apt to make bad choices. Take a pill,
take a drink, or even pick up a gun. With the Joy,
we can discover that things are bad however, we
can rise above them. With joy we can experience
victory. We have no choice. Victory is automatically there
in the midst of joy. We can shout, sing and stand on our
heads because we have a reason.
Joy also reminds us that we are human. We can look at
some things we have done and laugh. Joy can bring
much healing where it is needed. Life doesn't have to
be pins and needles. Life doesn't have to be just surviving.
If all we do is worry about our bills, think about our work
situation and the rat race in general, then we are not
experiencing joy.
It would be a mistake to assume that because we don't
see people's joy, it is not there. We all have unique
relationships with God. Each of us expresses joy in
unique ways.
Some of us sit around on Sundays and watch the Cowboys
lose. Some of us raid the refrigerator late at night and hopes
no one notices in the morning. The only problem with this is if
there are two of you, it is easy to figure out who is guilty.
Some of us find joy in the strangest places. We go to
hamburger joints, order our food and find out they
forgot about us. We may go to the video arcade and
play games we can never win. We even go shopping
and increase our credit card debt.
I guess God allows us to be weird as long as we find
joy.
PS 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you
be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread
your protection over them, that those who
love your name may rejoice in you."
PS 19:8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.The commands of the
LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes."
PS 20:5 We will shout for joy when you are
victorious and will lift up our banners in the
name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests."
PS 27:6 Then my head will be exalted above the
enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I
sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music
to the LORD."
PS 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart
leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."
PS 33:3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully,
and shout for joy."
PS 35:27 May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness; may they always say,
"The LORD be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant."
PS 42:4 These things I remember as I pour out my
soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading
the procession to the house of God,with shouts
of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng."
PS 47:1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to
God with cries of joy."
A good beginning is to notice how often joy is
associated with "Shout," and "Victory," in the above
verses. There are also references to singing. There
is a very good reason for this relationship between
shout, joy and victory. Above all else we have a
massive reason to have joy. As Christians Christ
has given us victory over the devil and his power.
To us his power is dead. In addition we have been
delivered from hell. This thought should excite us
knowing what hell is and what eternity there is like.
We should wake up and hit the road running with
the thought of being delivered from hell.
NE 8:10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice
food and sweet drinks, and send some to those
who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred
to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the
LORD is your strength."
Whenever we think or feel that joy is for the birds, it
didn't come from God. Who ate your fruit loops? Or
Did your fruit loops eat you? Too many times we
run from the idea of experiencing joy. Other times
circumstances keep the joy away.
We have to claim the joy daily, in our speech, our
thoughts.
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