January 3, 2013

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you obey my
commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."
John 15:9-15 (NIV)

Right in the middle of Jesus telling his disciples to make a commitment to him ("remain", "obey", "bear fruit",  "love",  "do what I command"), Jesus speaks of completing their joy.  He said that if they "obey" and "remain", they will experience joy.

I have found that joy is something which, when I seek it, eludes me.  I can't find it by seeking it out.  But when my focus is off of my own happiness and it is on Jesus and living for him and thereby living for others, then joy finds me.  When I give up my life for his sake and the sake of others I find my life. When I seek my own comfort, pleasure or joy lose them all.

When do I discover joy finding you?

                                            Additional Covenant Partner Opportunities

            *Learn what the "Good News" is and how to explain it clearly and succinctly
                                                   Life Cafe Wednesdays 7:00-8:30.  January 9, 16, 23, 30

            *A Beautiful Mess        A musical evening of fellowship following the journey of a
                                                   lost child back home.  January 12, 7:00pm