What We are Becoming...

Acts 17:11
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Romans 5 (selected)
Peace and Joy
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. [Scripture emphasis added]

When God begins to build His character into what He desires for us to become [like Him] -sometimes it is a struggle and a steep climb uphill. But, the end result is worth more than gold!

Looking Upward and Choosing JOY,

Stephanie
[Joy to the World]

Out With the Old - In With the New

This morning our family was trying to explain to my 3 1/2 year old grandson about New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. We explained that today is Day #365 - the last day of the year - and tomorrow would begin Day 1 - all over again for a brand new year. Needless to say, I don't think he quite grasped it! But that's OK.

As the last day of the year is almost completed and a new year stands at the threshold of a new horizon - God is making all things NEW! A New Beginning! Every day God gives us new beginnings because His mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness! [Lamentations 3:23]

Leviticus 26 (selected)

9 " 'I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep My covenant with you. 10 You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. 11 I will put My dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people. 13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high. [emphasis added]

Look at the promises of this passage!! Wow - it says we'll still be eating last year's harvest when we will have to move it out to make room for the new! That's a promise I want to take hold of! Was this promise just for Israel - just for Abraham? No, it was for all - all who belong to Christ are the seed of Abraham.

Galatians 3:26-29

Sons of God

26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. [emphasis added]

This is a difficult night for many people - especially those who have lost a loved one recently. The last day of the year tends to be one we want to hold onto - so that we won't let go of the memories that we cherish. Yet at the same time - as the New Year dawns - there is freedom to go on - freedom to be all that God desires us to be. My prayer is that you allow God to teach you how to embrace both. The memories and the new frontier that awaits you. I will do the same.

Looking Upward and Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Joy to the World]

ENTHRONED!

Psalm 29 (selected)
A psalm of David.

1 Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His Name;

worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;

the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;

the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,

Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD strikes

with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;

the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks

and strips the forests bare.

And in His temple all cry, "Glory!"
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;

the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
11 The LORD gives strength to His people;

the LORD blesses His people with peace. [emphasis added]

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Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Joy to the World]

That They May Know

1 Kings 8 KJV (selected)

53 For Thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be Thine inheritance, as Thou spakest by the hand of Moses Thy servant, when Thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O LORD God.
54 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.
55 And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying,
56 Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto His people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant.
57 The LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers: let Him not leave us, nor forsake us:
58 That He may incline our hearts unto Him, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and His statutes, and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers.
59 And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of His servant, and the cause of His people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:
60 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.

Today, what caught my heart so profoundly was how Solomon - after he had finished praying all those things - AROSE, and stood up with his hands spread up toward heaven. He blessed the people by blessing and praising the LORD, and reminded them that God would be faithful to fulfill all that He had promised to them. Then he asked [boldly] 'be with us' - 'let Him not leave us nor forsake us.'

Jesus Christ fulfilled that prayer when He came to earth wrapped in human flesh.

Matthew 1:23

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel" —which means, "God with us."

Jesus Himself also fulfilled the plea of Solomon when He said in:

Matthew 28:17-20

The Great Commission

17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." [all Scripture emphasis added]

May we all stand boldly with our hands toward heaven and ask God to fulfill even more of the great and precious promises that He holds out to us today - waiting with anticipation as we say, "Come, Lord Jesus!"

Looking Upward and Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Joy to the World]

Following All the Stars Today!

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Driving home from my daughter's this morning I got behind a car with the license plate [ STAAS] - I assumed that is the way New Yorkers might pronounce STARS!!! Only God could give me the title for this Journal and then put me behind a car with THAT license plate. What are the odds? With God - Everything is possible to him who BELIEVES!

ALL THINGS NEW!

2 Corinthians 5 (selected)
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. [emphasis added]

This little passage of scripture I'm sure I must have shared before. It is so power-packed with messages from God that I could not decide what title to give it. In it, God reminds us that HE is the initiator of all love. Ponder that thought for awhile. Here are some of the other titles I thought of. Perhaps you can ponder what they mean and how God might speak to your heart today on this BLESSED DAY we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus!

Reconciliation for Life

O, The LOVE of CHRIST!

CRAZY in LOVE with GOD

From Death To Life

Bye-Bye Old Life

Hello Victory!

Live... for the Love of Jesus

The Ultimate Relationship

Seeing... Through Christ's Eyes

Privileged Ambassadors

Appealing LOVE

Imploring Love

Attainable Righteousness

Committed for Life!

The Message: COME!

May the love of Christ compel your heart to share the message of His redeeming love today and every day!

Choosing Great JOY,

Stephanie

[Joy to the World]

Wrestling In Prayer for You

Colossians 4 (selected)
1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Further Instructions

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.

16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
17 Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."

Do you have anyone in your life like Epaphras? One who wrestles in prayer for you to stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured?

This is what The Message says about him:

12-13 Epaphras, who is one of you, says hello. What a trooper he has been! He's been tireless in his prayers for you, praying that you'll stand firm, mature and confident in everything God wants you to do. I've watched him closely, and can report on how hard he has worked for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

This is what the New Living Translation says about him:

12 Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. 13 I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis. [all Scripture emphasis added]

We are all called to be devoted prayer warriors for the needs of other for the purpose of accomplishing the will of God. But aren't you glad that there is someone interceding for you in prayer here on earth as well as Jesus Himself - who lives to intercede before the Father on our behalf?

Hebrews 7

24 ...but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them. [all Scripture emphasis added]

Someone is praying for you and for me - right now - a friend - a prayer warrior - and JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF - so we can live our lives to the fullest potential of God's will! Praise Him with a thankful heart, today!

Choosing Great JOY,

Stephanie

[Joy to the World]

O BETHLEHEM STAR!

Matthew 2
The Visit of the Magi

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6 " 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.' "
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him."
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Job 9:8-10

8 He alone stretches out the heavens

and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion,

the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
10 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,

miracles that cannot be counted.

Luke 21:25

[Jesus speaking]

11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. 25 "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Psalm 19:1-4
For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language

where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun... [all emphasis added]

Click on the Link below to view a "Trailer" of an awesome video about God's creation on The Bethlehem Star. That is why God named my present journal : Follow the Star - The Wonders of Your Love. Only HE could bring me to this end through His Word... His Word of TRUTH! I've been seeing stars everywhere - all so He could show me the meaning of the one important star - the Star of Bethlehem which points to the Messiah! Click on the other sidebars and print out the scripture that goes with each one. Be blessed and remember to PRAISE the GOD of all Creation while you still have your chin on the floor! Click here: Star of Bethlehem

Looking UPWARD and Choosing GREAT JOY,

Stephanie

[Joy to the World]

Did I Not Tell You

Luke 1 (selected)
45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
Mary's Song
46 And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for He has been mindful
of the humble state of His servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is His name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear Him,
from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as He said to our fathers."
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

John 11:40
Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" [emphasis added]

What has Jesus come to do for you? What offering of "Thanks" will you bring to Him this Christmas? What one thing is Jesus asking you to trust Him with, where He asks you the same question that He put to Martha?

Will you Believe Him? Will you trust His Heart? Will you bring Him a song of praise?

Looking Upward and Choosing GREAT JOY,

Stephanie
[Joy to the World]