Devotionals

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NOTICE -- There will be NO E-Cheer tomorrow, 1-23-03 -- we'll
be on a trip.

This week we're having our prison quartet sing at church -- they're
behind a few bars and always looking for the key.

The very first hymn in our hymnal is "Joyful, Joyful We Adore
Thee" with the text by Henry VanDyke and the music from
Beethoven's ninth symphony. That's not what you call "slouch
music" or a 7/11 song. Most of us know the hymn and sing it
heartily, but from the pulpit I can always see some who aren't
singing at all (and there may be valid reasons) and others who look
like the song says, Joyempty, Joyempty... I have always felt pity
for those who cannot seem to find joy in their salvation and express
it in song.

According to Scripture, joy is a vital element of faith in God. In
the KJV, the word joy is used 155 times, but in the NLT , that I
enjoy, it is found 263 times, making it a more joyful rendering of
the Bible. If you need more joy in your Bible reading experience,
use the NLT.

If you are lacking joy in your Christian life, I'll guarantee that more
is lacking than just joy, and an introspective search into the reasons
would be advisable. There are at least 80 expressions of joy in the
Psalms. One of them is in 51:12, "Restore to me again the joy of
your salvation, and make me willing to obey you." Maybe that's
the key for you -- being willing to obey Him.

Don't forget -- NO E-Cheer tomorrow.

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