Verse of the Day - Psalm 146:5

But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. ~ Psalm 146:5 (NLT)

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This is a sit-down talk with all believers in Jesus, okay.

I read this verse and then think about the church and wonder, Where is the joy? Where is the hope?

Yeah, we say we believe in Jesus, that we have faith in God. Hmm...I just really wonder how strong that belief is, how deep that faith is.

If you only trust Jesus to save you from your sins, but don't trust Him for your life situations and the world at large, do you really trust Him at all? Do you think His power ended at the empty tomb, or that He's up in heaven playing cards with Moses, and just doesn't have time to take care of world concerns?

How different are we really than all the unbelievers walking the streets, who are stressed to the max over everything--the war, inflation, terrorism, Christmas? Where is our joy in the Lord and the hope that comes from trusting -- really trusting -- in Him?

I'm sorry to bear down hard on the redeemed today, but I just feel as if we give lip service to our faith, but we don't put shoes on it and walk the streets with it! Christian, you have a treasure with your relationship with God, and He is Master of the universe, and capable of ALL THINGS! Beyond that, He is sovereign and doesn't always work the way we think He should. Your responsibility and privilege is to choose to believe that His being in charge is a good thing, and that He will take care of all things in His time.

Believer, do you believe that?

When we can honestly say that we can let God be God, resting in His will and accepting all things from His hands, we can know joy! But if we keep wringing our hands at the difficulties in life and worrying about this and that and round and round it goes, we are the unbelieving. Please listen to that. If you say you are a believer in God, then "get to gettin' "! Start BELIEVING, instead of disbelieving.

Give God the honor He is due by placing ALL your faith -- not just for your salvation -- in Him. He says that when your heart and mind give in fully to Him, you will have a joy that is gonna make a difference. A joy that speaks volumes to you and the world around you.

Love,
Joelene