CHOOSE JOY!

(I wrote this in my journal in December and ran across it again recently so I thought I’d share it with you.)

Today is a day to choose joy.

Stop mourning over past sins and mistakes. Let Godly sorrow have its work and lead you to repentance. Repent! And then choose joy!

In Nehemiah, chapter 8, the people of Israel were listening to the words of God’s Law being read once again in their home-land. God was restoring Israel. She had previously been exiled for her stubbornness and sinful rebellion. Now she was being restored.

When Ezra read the Law, the people wept and grieved for they now recognized their sinfulness. They were heart-broken.

God had used sorrow to bring them to true repentance. Then, Nehemiah the prophet spoke to the people: “No more weeping! This is a sacred day to the Lord. Do not mourn, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

God blessed that day. He was so excited. His people had returned to Him, not only by location, but in the repentance of their hearts! Glory Hallelujah!

He said: “Rejoice! Have a festival! Celebrate! Enjoy! Eat choice foods! Drink sweet drinks! Share your food and drinks with others. Party! Because God gives you joy! In return for your heart-repentance, He places joy in your hearts --- deep down inside of you. And this joy shall be your strength!”

So today: Choose joy ! ! ! Let Godly sorrow do its perfect work and bring you to true repentance of your sins, then look up? God will pour His joy from heaven into your heart, all over you ‘til it runs from you to others. Rejoice! The kingdom of God is at hand and it’s a joyful one. He’s setting the banquet table right now. Party!

Thank You God that You know me. Thank You that You loved me so much that You sent Your Son Jesus to pay with His own life for my very sins. Thank You Jesus for being obedient to God, even in sorrow, joyfully looking forward to our reunion with Him because of Your great sacrifice.

I love YOU, Lord! Please now, make me obedient to You in the same way so that I will rejoice every day knowing that my face-to-face eternal encounter with You is getting closer by the minute.

Rejoice!
Rejoice!
Rejoice!
Bee Joyful!
Amen!

TEACH US TO PRAY

Our Father, who art in Heaven…

Dear Heavenly Father,
Holy, Holy, Holy is Your name.
May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, (even though we know that for that to really happen, things will get to looking a lot worse here before they start to get better). We still want Your will. Amen!

Give use this day our daily bread --- and thanks, God, that our daily needs never get forgotten by You. You always remember what we need and have it prepared for us ahead of time.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who’ve sinned against us. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us. Lord, I forgive all those who have wronged me. Please, You forgive them too.

Lead us not into temptation. We know You never tempt anyone. Your word says so! But we know that You allow temptation in our lives so that we can become strong. It gives us a chance to practice righteousness, strengthening those “faith” muscles that will make us stand strong in battle. Just like You made gravity to tug on us and we fall when we’re learning to walk, we needed something that would counter us, pull against our muscles so that they could grow strong with resistance training.

Help us to resist temptation! To grow strong! To keep resisting! To keep growing and strengthening so that ultimately we will be ready to stand and even be found standing when all the battle dust blows away.

Thank You, God, for Your sovereignty. Thank You that You don’t just leave us out there to fend for ourselves. Thank You that You are faithful to deliver us from the evil one - from evil and the evil one. Thank You that we can cry out to You for deliverance and help and You are quick to save. It’s Your choice that we would be delivered!

Thank You for Your strength in us. Thank You for this great grace You have given us.

Thank You, God!
Yours is the kingdom!
All power belongs to You, in Heaven, on Earth, and under the Earth!
Yours is all the glory for eternity, now and forever,
Amen and amen!

I love You, Lord! Help me to love You as I should! Help me to fear You as I ought! All praise and honor and glory to You, Heavenly Father, Almighty God!


I am offering a free PDF of the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew in my handwritten calligraphy shown above. It is ready to print on your 8.5” X 11” paper in sepia tones. The print is formatted to fit in a standard size 8” X 10” frame. E-mail me to let me know that you want it sent to you. In the subject line of the e-mail enter: Teach Us To Pray. Thank you! If you don’t get the PDF in your e-mail from me within 48 hours it will mean that I did not receive your e-mail. Please e-mail me again in that case.

You may e-mail me at: Joy@BeeJoyfulQuilts.com. Thanks! Enjoy!

NEW BOOK ON THE MARKET

Hello dear family and friends!

Oh, what a joyous occasion this is: Jonathan's book CHRISTIANITY FOR BEGINNERS went on the market today.

Within the next few days it will also be available on Amazon.com and in the newsletters to bookstores, libraries, and online booksellers around the globe.

Celebrate this day with us! This is a day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!

We are offering a special price for a limited time only of $10.00 per book plus shipping if you choose to order directly from us,(e-mail: Joy@BeeJoyfulQuilts.com to do this).

Thank you for all your generous prayers and encouragement in this process. It has been a long journey, yet now we feel we have just begun. Praise God in Heaven!

Jonathan & Joy

HEAVENLY ADDITION

Excerpts and renditions of the 2nd letter of Peter in the New Testament

From: Simon Peter, the apostle of Christ Jesus to all believers, grace and peace come from the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus.

God, Jesus, have given us everything we need for life and godliness --- these also come through our knowledge of Him (God, Jesus) who called us and saved us. Because of what He’s given us for life and godliness (all) we can participate in Jesus’ divine nature by escaping corruption caused by evil desires --- or rather, to live above them (conquer them) through our participation in (living in) His divine nature.

We are to make every effort, use all opportunity to add: Faith + Goodness + Knowledge + Self-control + Perseverance + Godliness + Brotherly Kindness + Love. If we keep adding these to our lives in increasing amounts, the will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember: we need this knowledge. It brings grace and peace, gives us everything we need for life and godliness, brings us his precious promises, allows us to walk/live in His divine nature and keeps us effective and productive as Christians and servants of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If we do not continue to add these things into our lives, we become nearsighted and forget the cleansing God did in us through Jesus and by the Holy Spirit. That makes us no good for the kingdom because our focus is too near to ourselves.

So do these things: Add to Faith + Goodness + Knowledge + Self-control + Perseverance + Godliness + Brotherly Kindness + Love. Be eager to do this and to keep adding these things so that you will make your calling and election sure (steadfast, permanent). If you continue to do these things, you will not fall ever and you will receive a rich (open-armed) welcome into Jesus’ eternal kingdom forever and ever. Amen!

PRAISE GOD FOR A NEW DAY

Well, it’s a gorgeous day! It’s gonna be a good one.

I had my new favorite breakfast drink: a whole sweet potato and orange juice, blended to liquid. It’s not my favorite because of how it tastes, even though it tastes good. It’s my favorite because it puts me on the road to healing. Yes!!!

Yesterday was good, too. I got to go to lunch with my good friend Jan and hear how her novel is coming along. Can’t wait to read the whole thing. You’ve got to get it as soon as it goes out on the market. I just love having a friend who writes.

I love having friends! God is so good --- He’s given me many. He even gave me incredibly wonderful children to be my friends too, for life! That’s amazing! Thank you Heavenly Father!

By the way, here's the newest print for VintageVerses.etsy.com. It's not listed yet, but let me know if you want it and I'll get it on there asap!

Joyfully,
Joy

A PSALM OF JOY

Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”


Psalm of Joy

Lord,
Can a believer sit with You as she works on her needlework?
Can she worship as she’s sewing?
Can she praise you with the works of her hands?

Will You speak to her as she pens your words?
Will You water the seeds she’s sowing?

Will you walk with her as she waters her yard?
She’s blessed so much by Your flowers.
Each one she sees as a personal gift ---
You’re so generous with Your giving.

Will You help her as she pulls her weeds, to remove roots of bitterness;
So the sun can warm the soil of her heart and life can sprout anew?

Will You bring her joy as she creates?
Will You heal her heart of pain?

Lead her in paths of righteousness.
Touch her hands to bless your name.
Bow her heart in prayer to You.
Raise her voice in songs of praise.

For You are Lord --- all thanks to You!
You’ve healed the lame and raised the dead and caused the blind to see.
There’s nothing that You cannot do --- no task too difficult.
So raise this body and heart and soul
To sing and praise Your name.

All glory to my God and King!
Exalt my Savior’s name
For He has made my heart to fear, my soul to live again.


Psalm 146:2 “I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I have breathe.”

Free Print offer!

Hey guys! I guess this is a way to offer to you a free print after all.

Pick out any scripture calligraphy, scripture photo print or hymn print that you want and I'll send it to you free. If you want the pdf or jpg to print yourself, I'll send it by e-mail (no shipping). If you want the print already printed on parchment or photo paper, I regret that I'll still have to charge the $3.00 shipping to cover the postage and the packaging. (I just can't absorb that at this time.) Just let me know what you want. Limit one per address, please. Offer good until December 31, 2009.

Here’s how to do it. Find the print that you want. Do NOT click on it because that will send you to paypal. E-mail me the name of the print along with the address that you want me to ship to. I’ll provide the instructions for shipping.

Please check back often as I’m adding more all along. If there is one that you want but you don’t see on my website, please just ask. I have several that are not posted yet but are in the works. Thanks!
Here's the link:
My Website

Thanks for the encouragement!
Joy