DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT TUESDAY – IS THERE A HOLE IN OUR BUCKET? Part 2.

After attending church one Sunday morning, a little boy knelt at his bedside that night and prayed, "Dear God, we had a good time at church today--but I wish you had been there!" - Source Unknown.

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation." With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. – Isaiah 12:2-3. TNIV

What is worship? Worship is to feel in your heart and express in some appropriate manner a humbling but delightful sense of admiring awe and astonished wonder and overpowering love in the presence of that most ancient Mystery, that Majesty which philosophers call the First Cause, but which we call Our Father Which Are in Heaven. - A.W. Tozer.

As we continue our series on JOY, we remind ourselves that JOY is... The happy state that results from knowing and serving God. - Holman’s Bible Dictionary.

Webster’s Dictionary defines Joy as... 1.a. Intense, and especially ecstatic, or exultant happiness. b. The expression or manifestation of such feeling. 2. A source, or an object of pleasure, or satisfaction.

Joy is found over 150 times in the Bible. If such words as “joyous” and “joyful” are included, the number comes to over 200. The verb rejoice, appears well over 200 times. Today we discover that...

JOY GROWS OUT OF REAL WORSHIP!

Most church people don't “REALLY” worship the Lord. Worship involves 2 elements...

1. CONFESSION!

The 3 phases of complete confession are...

MEDITATION! - On God and His Word... I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees. - Psa 119:48.

REFLECTION! - On how we are living our lives... Don't fall into the trap of making promises to God before you think! - Pro 20:25. CEV

CONFESSION! - About sin, neglect, and bad choices we have made... Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. - Heb 3:1.

Prussian king Frederick the Great was once touring a Berlin prison. The prisoners fell on their knees before him to proclaim their innocence -- except for one man, who remained silent. Frederick called to him, "Why are you here?" "Armed robbery, Your Majesty," was the reply. "And are you guilty?" "Yes indeed, Your Majesty, I deserve my punishment."

Frederick then summoned the jailer and ordered him, "Release this guilty wretch at once. I will not have him kept in this prison where he will corrupt all the fine innocent people who occupy it." - Today in the Word.

2. CELEBRATION!

In Israel’s National Holidays, there are 5 joyous to 2 solemn ones. The God of the Bible encourages JOY! Confession MUST be balanced by JOY! For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, - Rom 14:17.

Author Leo Buscaglia tells this story about his mother and their "misery dinner." It was the night after his father came home and said it looked as if he would have to go into bankruptcy because his partner had absconded with their firm's funds.

His mother went out and sold some jewelry to buy food for a sumptuous feast. Other members of the family scolded her for it. But she told them that "the time for joy is now, when we need it most, not next week." Her courageous act rallied the family. - Christopher News Notes.

ONE OF THE QUICKEST WAYS TO MEND A HOLE IN OUR BUCKETS IS... TO CONFESS AND CELEBRATE IN THE WORSHIP OF JESUS!

Be encouraged!
GBYAY