Joyfulness

     I just finished reading the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119 in the New Living Translation version.  It is filled with loads of insight for discernment.  Actually, it tells us how to find joy, and if we miss joy in our lives it is our own fault.  I believe God wants me to live a joyful life.  It is a gift that I, personally, do not want to miss.  Below are a few verses about JOY but don't just take them out of context.  Read the whole chapter to get the full meaning.

     Verse One: "Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of His laws."
     Verse Two: "Joyful are those who obey His laws and search for Him with all their hearts."
     Verse 35: "Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found."  I have joy through Christ, but to find happiness increases my joy.
     Verse 43: "Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for your regulations are my only hope."  This one does not include the word JOY, but if I had no hope I would have no joy.
     Verse 92: "If your instructions hadn't sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery."
     Verse 162 "I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure."  Who does not rejoice when they find treasure?  I rejoice even when I win a "free" prize, but I can have "free" joy everyday through my Christ who died for me.  Oh, let me rejoice!

     I simply cannot leave out one of my favorite verses.  But this one is from the KJV which is the one I always fall back to:  Verse 105: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
    

Mobile Phones

     A friend of mine lost her smart phone a few days ago.  She hunted high and low; at her home, at the office, and in her car.  I felt her frustration.  Whenever I forget to pick up my phone in the mornings as I leave for work, I will always return to get it, no matter how late it puts me to work.  It just seems something is missing without my phone.  What if I miss a call?  How can I check Facebook to see what is happening?  How can I text message and all the other means of communication my mobile phone allows me to do during the day? 
     Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we were all as desperate to talk to God as we are to insure we have our mobile phones?  Psalm 119:10 gives us an example of what we should do, “I seek you with all my heart…”   
     What is the most important desire of our heart?  Do we stress and become as frustrated in not taking time to seek God as we are over losing our cell phone?  Are we as committed to talking with God as we are in communicating with friends?  Are we as dedicated in plugging into the God who is longing to direct our paths as we are in making sure our mobile phones are recharged?  Do we seek to fill our minds with the scriptures as much as checking what is posted on Facebook or in other news media?  Finally, have we allowed our mobile phones and other devices to become idols that prevent us from having time to communicate with the God of the Universe, the One who is waiting for a call from us?