May 14, 2024 … Living For God’s Joy …

May 14, 2024 …  Living For God’s Joy   …      

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    

…  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics with Laura Story singing … Blessings … Poignantly and joyfully singing of how we Christians need to realize that the blessings\ and the joy in life often come disguised with tears and heart ache. 

Japanese Cherry Blossom Time 

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Highlight Passage: … Ecclesiastes 8:15 [NLT] … 

15 So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.         

… Solomon trying to help fellow believers to live life, savor the moments of joy God provides for us, especially with all the hard times which come in life.                                                             

Highlight Passage (in context): … Ecclesiastes 8:14-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … </b> 

… Solomon, from the experience of life, desires for all mankind to seek and enjoy the joyful times in life from Godly wisdom.                                                                          

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 118:24 [NLT] …  

 24  This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.  

… Likely King David sings of taking - and enjoying - each day God gives us.  

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 17:22 [NLT] … 

22 A cheerful haart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.  

… Solomon exhorts fellow believers to live life with a joyful heart which is good medicine for the soul.  

Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:33 [NLT] …  

33 Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and HE will give you everything you need. 

… Jesus teaches His followers (and us) that when they (we) seek God above all else, the Lord will provide God’s faithful with EVERYTHING we need in life.      

Reference Passage: … John 16:24, 33 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus teaches His disciples, the night of His betrayal, that in the midst of all the trials of life, that following Him, as Lord, will give them God’s peace.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:28 [NLT] …  

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  

… The Apostle Paul confidently teaches that we need to find good in all things and moments we encounter in life.    

Reference Passage: … James 1:2-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  James, the half-brother of Jesus, tries to help fellow Christians realize that even the trials of life give God’s faithful the opportunity for joy in knowing that Christ provides all we need to enjoy life. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Kirsten Holmberg -  AT THIS LINK  -  wrote about the Japanese, who have learned to savor the joy of the very short season when their plentiful cherry trees are in blossom, … providing them with a short season of beauty and joy with the delicate beauty of the  pink blossoms and their sweet smell in the air (see photo).   

And I’m sure my fellow readers have heard the old saying, ”Take time to smell the roses!”, which teaches us to discern and to enjoy the moments in life which God gives us to find a little joy in the midst of all the trials and tribulations in life.  So, if my readers have taken in the wisdom and teachings of the truth in the linked song and the Scriptures shared above, I’m praying that we all look for the fleeting joy which prayerfully will come to us today from God’s time that He gives to each of us. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for the time You, Lord, have given me to be with and for You today. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me today, … to see and live in the joy You have given to us. Lord.     … Amen

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Blogger Not:: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.