SUNDAYS WITH JOYCE

 

 

 

LIVING FOR GOD

(Ephesians 4:31-32 & 5:1-2).....

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children: and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma

 (Romans 12:9-11).....

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord

(Matthew 5:14-16)....."You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. "Nor do men light a lamp and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lamp stand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

(Philippians 4:4-7) .....

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(James 1:22-25).....

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.

(Colossians 2:6).....

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.

(1 Corinthians 10:31).....

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

(Matthew 10:32-33)....."Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. "But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."

(Hebrews 12:1).....

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

(Philippians 4: 8-9).....

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.

 

 

Speak To Us Of Love

 

When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams
as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.

Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say,
"God is in my heart," but rather, "I am in the heart of God."
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it find you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart
and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

~Kahlil Gibran

 

Faith makes all things possible.... love makes all things easy."

The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons came from the journey, not the destination.

When you have come to the edge Of all light that you know And are about to drop off into the darkness Of the unknown, Faith is knowing One of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on or You will be taught to fly"

 

 

 

 

His Power

Through us, Oh Lord, let Your radiance shine forth
As we bow in humbleness and awe.
Arise within us, Oh Mighty Power
As prayer and faith bring clarity of thought.

Your Love alone, will conquer all!
Nothing else can stand with pride.
As You arise within our hearts
Your Glory alone will shine!

No force within or without is greater
but Your power alone brings light to all.
Open our eyes to Your wondrous Being
capturing our hearts as understanding abides.

Your power will rise within our hearts,
revealing strength, forgiveness, and love to all.
Let mercy and peace reign upon this earth
as revelation knowledge has begun.

Holy, my Lord, to You alone.
Everlasting One…with no beginning and no end.
Embracing You with utter wonderment
Oh, how lovely, pure, and beautiful You are!

Viola M. Jaynes