God’s Kindnesses Lead to Joy

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed,

because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV)



As I wrote the following thoughts, I sat in my living room joyful for the cool breeze coming through our living room window. I heard birdsong in the air.

A few days ago,I noticed that the birds’ singing always precedes a bright sunny day. This  morning I realize that the gentle stirring of the breeze and the birdsong are kindnesses from God.

God displays his kindness in many other ways. He answers our prayers, comforts us when we hurt-physically, and emotionally. He guides us through times of doubting and distress. He brings people into our lives to help us see Him in their lives. He forgives us when we do wrong. For all these kindnesses He extends to me, I thank Him with joy in my heart.

Singing and Joy

“The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing;

everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will

overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 51:11 (NIV)



The Lord redeems His children. They return from bondage to sin and enter God’s realm. Those He brings back are joyful, so much they sing. They choose to look to Him and away from sin and its accompanying sorrow. The draw of evil quickly dissipates, taking sorrow and sighing with it.

We see this happen when a sinner repents and begins to trust the Lord for everything that comes into his or her life. Our Biblical forefathers and the heroes of the faith learned to surrender all to God. What do we have to give to the Lord, in order to fully belong to Him?

. I see this scripture in two lights. First is our need to be in prayer for all who fall away and for those at risk of forsaking God. Second is the realization that t

Sadness into Joy

“Let me hear joy and gladness, let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

Psalm 51:8, 12 (NIV)



King David felt sorrow for his sins. He asked God to forgive him. The repentant king wanted to be able to fellowship with the Father again. David pleaded to be reinstated as a child of God.

If we are honest, we know we all have times when we have gone against God’s ways and done what we wanted. When I look back on my life, I see times when I chose to do a task my way rather than His. Because of my stubborn heart the outcome wasn’t what I intended.

Had I consulted God on a more regular basis, I might have received guidance and been stronger in my faith as a teen and as a coed. Had I listened when others spoke about certain cultural issues, I would have been better able to withstand some stresses in my young adult life.

I thank God for bringing me to the place where the only way I could look was up. Although I have had some difficult times in life, He allowed me to receive His love and guidance to grow into who I am today.

Joy and the Holy Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”.

Gal 5:2223 (NIV)



The apostle Paul writes to the believers in Galatia about the qualities possessed by one who has the Holy Spirit in his or her life.

The second on listed is JOY. Several years ago, I had a co-worker and friend tell me she thought I was a joyless Christian. She was correct because I had a lot of pent up feelings about conditions surrounding my life, things I didn’t know how to deal with. But, at that time, I didn’t know how to respond to her appraisal.

The path Jesus took me down for me to find joy in my heart led through very complex scenery. The issues that affected me were not necessarily mine to claim; I had to learn to separate the problems of family members from myself.

Making this time in my life more complex was the health issues of a couple of elderly relatives, the betrayal of another elderly relative, the continued health condition of our son, and a few other things.

I read a book I had owned for years, IN HIS STEPS, by Charles Sheldon. I read this in preparation for Vacation Bible School. As a result, I eventually started looking for another church. I found one that allowed me to experience the Holy Spirit and to find joy. In finding the Holy Spirit, I found I could relax and allow God to guide me into a closer walk with Him. I am thankful my friend planted a seed when she shared with me her observation about me. I am also thankful to God for making me who I am this day.

Joy In Giving

“Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and

their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.”

2 Corinthians 8:2 (NIV



The apostle Paul speaks of the gift the Macedonian churches gave to support his ministry. The people were facing times of uncertainty, but they had JOY. This elation of their spirit overflowed and people caught it and chose to share with Paul and his fellow missionaries. Paul appreciated the monetary gifts because they were sacrificial in nature.

When we choose to donate time, funds, or talent and that action comes at a cost beyond the gift, that decision and the gift become special. As we work for the Lord, we find joy that guides us as we do His Will.

As we hear of opportunities to work for God we have to seek His guidance to discover where He wants us to serve Him. Whatever way He leads us to help; when we do this we find immeasurable joy in our lives.

Heavenly Joy

“And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders

and goes home. In the same way, I tell you, there will be

more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over

the ninety-nine who do not need to repent

Luke 15:5, 10. (NIV)



The parable of the lost sheep speaks to our hearts as we see people won to Christ. God accepts us with joy. He’s thrilled to rescue us from our life of sin. The angels join in with exuberance when one caught in sin turns away and asks Jesus into his or her heart.

This joy the angels have is greater than what they feel for those who already belong to God, They really get excited because another soul has been redeemed from the enemy and the kingdom of God has grown.

As God’s children, we are to witness to those around us who have fallen in sin. We are to live our lives in such a way that they see God and His work in our lives. Our lives are to make people of the world want what we have-Christ in our hearts- for themselves.

God Surprises Us With Joy

“for his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may remain for a night but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

Psalm 30:5 (NIV)



When we sin, God notices our transgression. He finds a way to show us where we fail Him. After we repent, our Father guides and protects us as we live for Him.,

While we work for, fellowship with, and follow our Lord, God grants us favor. He allows us to enjoy certain blessings, reserved for His children.

Hubby and I recently enjoyed one of those blessings-I sometimes call them ‘God moments’. We chose to go out for lunch at a buffet place on the far side of town.

As we sat there eating and talking, he looked up and asked me, “Is that who I think it is?”

“It’s Connie’s sister, Judy.” Connie and Judy and their two sisters were close friends of Hubby’s late sister, Martha. Hubby and Judy had graduated from high school together.

He went and spoke to Jill. She got out of line and came over to me and gave me a big hug. We talked and, a little later, here came Candy. She asked about our extended family. I told them about Son moving out of state and about his new job.

As we left the restaurant, we passed by their table. I jokingly went up to Judy and said something cute.

I told Connie that we were due to have some sad times soon. Martha’s birthday was coming in five days. I even went so far as to say, “We’ll all have a month of it.” She nodded.

I call this meeting a ‘God moment’ because they thought a lot of Martha and miss her almost as much as we do. He ordained this meeting and gave us His love and comfort in an otherwise humdrum day.

I will remember the joy I felt that day for a long time.