His Joy is Our Strength...

Are you having any fun yet? Is your faith boring? Are you tired of the same old stuff? Do you feel weak when you think about your life in Christ? Have you really experienced the love of Jesus? All the doubt, all the fear, all the boredom is a result of not having real joy. The reality of a Christ centered life is nothing at all like religion. Religion is a downer. It doesn't have any life. It's all contrived by us and we don't have the answers. It's really dumb.

There is no high like the one you get from the Holy Spirit. I remember the day that I got water baptized. A fellow elder in our old church was annointing my forehead with oil and praying for me before the baptism. The Holy Spirit flatened me. I lost my legs and rolled down an embankment and I was laughing uncontrollably. I didn't feel a thing. I just could not stop laughing. I don't ever remember that happening again but I will never forget that moment. God was playful with me that day. He tickled my belly and I couldn't stop laughing. I was the true definition of a "holy roller" that day.

Nehemiah said it best.

Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Very few folks ever experience the real joy of the Lord. It's not about rolling down embankments and laughing your head off (although that was pretty cool). It's more about knowing His presence and walking with Him daily. It gives you strength. It really does. I like feeling strong. Little guys like that in general because the big folks can be intimidating. I like it because it gets me out of myself. The Kingdom life is different than church life. It's exciting and all encompassing. Your in the real battle and guess what? We win in the end!

For God so Loved.......