Forget Kryptonite

source: Heidi Guthrie (Blythe)
thank you helpmet!

Who doesn't want strength??We can go to any health food store, fitness center, or just sit and watch the commercials on ESPN to know that the world is searching for the ultimate source of strength. Baseball players have fallen from popularity searching for it, young men and women have died trying to attain it, and countless scientists are spending their lives trying to find the secret for it.

Well, guess what? It's no secret! I have found the source of strength, and it's not in a bottle, powder or pill. It's recipe is found in a book that we all have easy access to, and it's been free to the public for several thousands of years!

Are you ready? Can you handle it?? Here it is:

Nehemiah 8:10 ..."Do not be grieved, for the Joy of the Lord is your strength."

I once heard a sermon on Joy from the late, great Adrian Rogers. He had a handle on strength, to be sure. He once shared a story about how a demon-possessed man jumped from the balcony of his church, landed on his feet, and started running toward him. Pastor Rogers put his hand out, called out to the powerful name of Jesus, and a few hundred witnesses attested to the fact that it looked as though the man had suddenly run into a plexiglass wall and fell flat on his back. Now, that's what I call strength!!

So, when Pastor Rogers started speaking about strength, I perked up and listened. He shared that most of us live our lives in the pursuit of happiness.

It's our inalienable right, after all. The problem with happiness, however, is that the root word of happiness is "happen." Therefore, happiness is based on happenstance, or what happens in our lives. Happiness is fleeting, because it is situational and based upon our present circumstances.

Not so with JOY!! Joy, for a Christian, goes so much deeper than mere happiness!

JOY is constant: Acts 13:52 And the disciples were continually filled with Joy and the Holy Spirit.

JOY is filling: Romans 14:17 For the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit.

JOY is contagious: II Corinthians 2:3 ...having confidence in you all, that my joy would be the joy of you all.

JOY is comforting: II Corinthians 7:4 I am filled with comfort. I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.

JOY is unconditional: James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when you face various trials...

JOY is commanded: Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!!

JOY is Christ's example: Heb 12:2-3 ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

JOY is indestructible: John 16:22 Therefore you too now have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one takes your joy away from you.

Forget Kryptonite!! It's not an issue! While Superman's strength can be zapped by others, our joy as Christians can only be given away!

Now, THAT'S strength!!

And one more for the road, Dear Sisters...

This one's for you, and it's absolutely true!!

Phil 1:3-5 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with JOY in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.

Be full of JOY today, Dear Ones!