Fullness of Joy

January 11, 2008

Fullness of Joy:

Psalm 16:11 "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

Fulness - satisfaction (of food or (figuratively) joy):—fill, full (-ness), satisfying, be satisfied.

Joy - lithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival):— X exceeding (-ly), gladness, joy (-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice (-ing).

Is. 35:10 "And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

Is. 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified^H6286.

First I will look at the prophecy in Psalm 16:11… at the right hand of the throne of Jesus there are pleasures forever. Joy will reign eternal in that day! Amen! Everlasting joy, joy and gladness, the oil of joy… and there are many other verses that refer to the Spirit of Joy that will be given on that day when our precious Saviour Jesus Christ sets up his Kingdom!

But David isn't only talking about the future here, he is also talking about the here and now. In the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures for evermore. How many of us really have been in the presence of the Lord? I mean, sure, He lives in us… but have we touched Him? Has he touched us? Have we been in the presence of the Lord? David had. And that is where we find fullness of joy. Pleasures for evermore? Not to be found just anywhere… only at His right hand. Where are we seated? Are we that close to Jesus? Psalms is loaded with verses of David's joy… shouting for joy, exceeding joy, dancing with joy, singing in joy… it's all over the place. Here was a man who dwelt continually in the very presence of God and it showed in his face, his actions and his words. Look at the average church choir/worship team and what do you see? Do you see fullness of joy? Is it visible? Is it overflowing? Do they tell you in one glance, "I've touched God today and I just have to share it with you." What about the congregation, Pastors? Do their expressions encourage you to go on with your sermons, or to give up…. There's just no joy in the Lord left out there. Or perhaps it's the Pastor! He just hasn't an ounce of joy in him to spill over to the church. Are God's people touching Jesus? Have they been in the presence of the Lord? Are they sitting at His right hand?

Ecc. 2:26 "For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy:…"

This is not something that is difficult to obtain… it's a gift! If you look at yourself in the mirror and realize that you look like a sourpuss, act like a deadfish and have nothing to give anyone and want to do something about it, or perhaps it's not so bad as that, you just don't feel joyful… just get in touch with your Saviour! Start building that relationship. He died for you not just to give you eternal life, but so He could abide in you as a resurrected LORD! He anticipates the moment that he can work His gifts in you. Joy is no different than anything else that He gives… it's always been there for you, you simply have to ask and believe and receive. And honestly, how hard is it to be joyous when you are having an intimate relationship with someone so amazing as Jesus?

*Joy is different from Happiness… Joy is a gift from the Lord… a Spiritual overflowing that wells up inside that can't change due to circumstances. Happiness is a choice, and ebbs and flows with emotion, and the happenings of everyday life.

Better Is One Day

Better is one day in your courts, better is one day in your house. Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere.

That song hit me hard on Sunday. Here I am stressing about all of this stuff on purpose, and I was singing about the one thing that truly makes me happy. If church was everyday, I'd be there everyday. I know the song is specifically singing specifically about spending time in Jesus' presence, but all I could think about was how much joy is found at church. How strong his presence is there. How free I am to worship there. How many friends I have there. How many lives are changing for the better there. The growth. The fellowship. The love. Jesus. The Spirit of God. The unity. The family. The teaching. I could go on and on. Best of all, I love how I've grown personally, how people care about me, and how I have ministries that I am involved in that touch other people. I help people to worship every week! I have watched a church grow in worship over the last few years, and although it should in no way be credited to me (Glory to Jesus and His Holy Spirit, and what an amazing worship team and band we have!!), I have had a part in it! It is an awesome feeling. And I get to make the missionaries feel super special when they come in. That is a real treat! I love it. Really, everything else could just go away, and I'd stay there in those moments forever.

Chris says this is another sign that I'm called to ministry. *SHRUG*

I'm going to start working at ElderBeerman. I got the job! I know I'll like it... I've been looking forward to it so much. I'm just not certain that it will give me the same joy and fulfillment... Will I be satisfied there? Do I want to be satisfied there? Don't get me wrong, I will give them my all, 100%! It's what I do! I love clothes, I love retail, and I love ElderBeerman! But if I'm truly made for something else, I'm just afraid that I'll still feel like something is missing...

Perhaps a little unfair...

Upon reflection, I was perhaps a little unfair to you, Lord. You have been present in our lives... just not in the miraculously huge way that I feel that we really need. There was that awesome gift we received on Sunday that I didn't even thank you for, and I apologize. You do show in little things along the way that you are here. In fact, funny thing is, you have been more present in some ways than you have been in a long time. What ways? Oh, like waking me up in the morning to spend time with you, like speaking to me through your word... you have been more real to me this year than you have been in a long time. If you seek me you will find me if you search for me with all your heart... and I've been seeking. I've had no choice but to seek. My heart has found joy in nothing else. Fulfillment in no other thing. You have become my ultimate obsession. And indeed, I have found you... and yet I am still far from satisfied. I know there is more. I know that I have not yet discovered all that is to be found in you. You are beyond my comprehension, far above my understanding. I can always go deeper, wider, farther into you. And I long for it - for that ultimate satisfaction that is found in being fully in love with my Saviour. And yet when circumstances of life get tough, who do I blame? You. The one person in my life who always gets me. The one person in my life who I should trust 100% of the time with everything I am. You are the first one that I blame. I feel abandoned. I feel alone. I know it isn't true. You said you will never leave me. You will never forsake me. But were those just words? Sometimes I feel that you are a taker. You take from me everything that I am willing to give to you, and you give nothing back. That is so unfair. But what is more unfair? You being a taker, or me feeling that you are. You who gave yourself... your very life for me. You who gave up everything so that I could live... So that I could be one with you... So that I could spend eternity with you. I am the most unloyal of friends. The most undeserving of your servants. Trust? What do I know of it? Faith? It is as a foreign word to me. I want to know more of your mercy, but want to learn little of patience. I want to learn more of your love, but less of longsuffering. I want to learn of your compassion, and less of trials and tribulations. I want to experience more of being under the shadow of your wings, and less of carrying your cross. These tears. You see them, right? I know you do. And you have the power to wipe them away. To reach down with your peace, with your reassurance that it's all ok. That you are going to fix it. That you aren't molding me into the woman you want me to be for nothing. You aren't setting me up for failure. Because right now, that's all I feel like. So yes, I know you are here, I know that you are present in my life, and I know that I am likely the one who needs to learn the lesson here, but this once I'd love to have you come down and just make it all go away. Of course, it won't happen. I will cry. I will wait. I will learn. I will trust. I will grow. Somewhere on the other side of all of this I may even laugh. At least I know that even though there are times that I feel like it , I'm not alone - you are here. I can talk to you. We can be closer than ever before. Thank you for that.