The Joy Factor

Saved - Forgiven - Given Grace - Mercy Poured - Love Perfected - Sacrifice Made - Death Conquered - Savior Slain

Our Hearts are so deeply impressionable.  The world is constantly telling us, "you're not good enough", "be faster", "be smarter", "be normal"  all being followed by the "You can do it" mentality.  We are being forced into a generation that follows generations after generations of sinful addictions.  Sex, Lust, Porn, Jealousy, Envy, Insecurities, Homosexuality, Drunkenness, Drugs, Lying, Murder, Adultery,  the list could actually go on forever.  All of these things that have been impressed upon of from Fathers, Mothers, Grandparents, Teachers, Pastors, Mentors, Brothers, Friends, Classmates, Teammates, and even complete strangers.  We continue to find ourselves indulging in a world that makes all of this acceptable.  Consumed by wanting and desiring more and more of what ever it is we can get our hands on.  Focusing ourselves on something that can't be obtained with out sacrificing...  something.  So we move on to the next thing, until we find ourselves caught up in this place that will chew you up and spit you out in the blink-of-an-eye and leave you in a world of hurt.  With pain leaking out of every orphis you have, you can't help but wonder 'how do I fix it'?  So you go from one pain to another, until you have given up and settle for something so much less than what is offered.


Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest...
                                  -Matthew 11:28

those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
                                  -Isaiah 40:31

the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
                                 -Galatians 5:22-23
Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
                                 -John 16:24


Today I spent my day just beating myself up once again, because I was consuming myself with the sins that I was committing.  The sins that I felt as if I was trapped under.  When the reality of the situation was, I trap myself by my pride.  My "you can do it" mentality.  The idea behind having to come before the Lord to say, "God I can't do this, I do suck, I am sinful piece of material, that you have found in your eyes LOVABLE enough to shine down on in MY deepest darkest times.  You Lord find it by YOUR mercy, that I can shine your love to others.  That I Lord, may be used by YOU to lift up YOUR name!  Father forgive me, my heart desires to disobey you even when you give me EVERY opportunity to step out of sin, and into YOUR light!  God here is my life."  Loosing all pride, and being humbled by the grace and mercy of the Lord.

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
                            -Titus 3:4-7 


NOTHING we do will ever be good enough to save our own souls and bring us from the wandering desires that need to be filled by the Lord.  We must recognize it is by Him alone that we will be satisfied, it is by Him alone that we will be saved.  It is by Him alone that we will have eternal life.


That is "The Joy Factor"


Love You Guys,
Josh