Don't Outlive Your Joy

Yesterday was an amazing and wonderful day! Our dear friend, Stacie, put on the Lord in baptism! Stacie has been an acquaintance of ours since we moved to Spearman and became Hospice volunteers. Just recently though, our relationship has grown. Stacie has been coming to worship and bringing her boys to Sunday school. Stacie and I have been visiting more and more and last Friday night, we went to a movie in Guymon together----kind of a "girls night out". Anyway, on the way home, we began talking about God and salvation. By the time I dropped Stacie off, we both knew her heart was being pricked and that she would be unable to sleep. (Of course, neither would I) We also spent a lot of time together on Saturday and by Sunday morning, we knew she was ready to commit the rest of her life to Christ! I wish y'all would have been there. I am sure you can recall similar scenes---the nervousness, the stepping down into the water, the trembling confession, the immersion and the glorious unrestrained look of joy and peace as the new person rises up from the water! The joy on the faces of the congregation gathered round to welcome this new sister into Christ, the tears, the smiles, the hugs and the love----I know you have all experienced this! Remember?
Friday night after I dropped Stacie at her house, I called Ned. I know my voice was trembling with excitement! I had forgotten the thrill of teaching someone the Gospel and seeing it make an immediate and powerful impact on their soul! He could hear it in my voice and when he came home on Saturday, he could see it in my face! We stayed awake for a long time talking about how wonderfully God's Word changes souls and lives of both the learner and the teacher. On Sunday morning, we both were practically giddy with expectation. Even today, I am thrilled as I see the joy and peace on the face of my friend and new sister.
And on Thursday, I got the pleasure of meeting my blogsister, Monica. It was so wonderful to sit over lunch and talk Bible with someone who obviously loves the Lord and is not afraid to share it. She encouraged and blessed me so much and I left Amarillo with much joy in my heart. God blessed me with both of these events in one week and I was almost overwhelmed with joy! (Had our internet service not been down, I would have emailed everyone of you to tell you about it) That joy was too much to keep to myself!!!!
I have been thinking a lot about joy!!!! If you have ever helped a lost soul find the Lord, you know what I am talking about----that excitement---the Lays potato chip phenomenon--you know ---one just isn't enough--you want more????? If you have ever been blessed to sit with a kindred soul and talk about the love you share for God, then you know what I mean!
I have experienced this same joy many times and yet I am ashamed to say that I get busy and forget. I forget the joy that comes with seeing the planted seeds begin to sprout and bloom and even reproduce. I forget the joy that comes with the assurance of eternal salvation! I forget the joy that comes with encouraging one another with the Word! Too many times I get so busy with life that I outlive my joy!
This should not be! I am a child of God, blood bought, loved, chosen and protected by Him. I should have a joy in my heart that cannot be quenched by worldly cares or squelched by the responsibilities of busyness! I am His!!! And He is mine!!!! And one day, I will live with Him forever and eternal joy will be mine!
So as I say my prayers for you, my friends, I pray that today and everyday, you will remember what you have to be joyful about. I pray that God will shower you will His blessings, cover you with His love and fill you with joy!

Peace
Neva
PS--Join me in praying for our new sister in Christ--welcome to the Kingdom, Stacie!