JOY!

Our church is doing a 10 week series on "The DNA of Joy" which has been so good! We received the following in a prayer partners e-mail we get weekly. It was written by another one of our pastors, Vern Jensen, and I thought it was excellent. I'm sure I have been considered a "Difficult Person" by many and am so thankful for the work God has done and is continuing to do in me as I strive to become daily more like Christ. And so thankful for the JOY He has given me because of His grace and mercy. The more I learn of grace, the more I'm amazed at what it means and the more I try daily to give it freely as it has so freely been given to me. Sure isn't easy... but glad God is patient with me in my "difficultness." (Is that a word??)

How do you deal with the “difficult people” in your life? They may be in your own family, in the workplace, in your school, your small group, or almost anywhere? Greg challenged us to practice gratitude on them, even as we pray for them, but the most difficult part of his message was to “be patient with them.” Gratitude, prayer, and patience! This is surely enough agenda for one week. I know it is easier to pray for a difficult person that to have patience. But he reminded us that “patience” is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Don’t ever pray for patience, or you will be standing in a lot of long lines, learning patience. Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit and the fruit of patience. Let it be something that God is doing in and through you, not a self-help effort. Then, as we grow in love and the other evidences of “fruit” we will find our relationship changing in regard to those who have been on our “difficult” list. It’s amazing how God can change people! Just look at yourself and give thanks for all that He has changed in you as you have become more like Christ. You can’t live with JOY as long as you are carrying negative feelings toward those around you.

Think about it this week, as you pray!!

Pastor Vern