"Just as the Father has love Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy will be made full. This is my commandment, that you love one another. Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friend." John 15: 9-12 When I took on the task of studying Biblical joy, I found that one source designed by Christ through which we would know Him more intimately and also have a straight pathway to having joyful hearts was, of course, through Biblical relationships. Here are a few quotes from Dancing with My Father that I hope will encourage you this weekend.
It is early morning here in California and I feel so very full of His love, mercies and presence, so humbled to know His constant acceptance and am so blessed to be amongst sweet friends serving side by side with me in reaching out to moms. Ministry friendships are so humbling and such a rich blessing, and a deeply filling well-stream of joy in my life. Thank you, my friends, for loving God and living with integrity and giving your lives generously away. I dedicate this post to you.
The Joy of Biblical relationships
This laying down of our lives—serving, giving, helping—is the key to real friendship and love, and ultimately, the fullness of joy.
Every relationship becomes meaningful in light of doing what God wants us to do—to love—so that our joy can be made full.
Rather, our love is given as Christ gave his love to us—generously, graciously, and freely. There is something very freeing about loving in this biblical way. I can always succeed. I can always be at peace no matter how the relationship goes. If I please Christ by laying down my life, then I have done what was expected of me.
Humans area created to be God’s hand of comfort, God’s word of affection and appreciation, God’s face of love, and God’s works of service and help.
Friendships and other close relationships provide opportunities for people to feel the love of God through words and touch, given by real people who are prompted by his Spririt. P.
We are responsible, though, to initiate forgiveness toward others, to be committed to love unconditionally, and to seek out friendship. Only then can we know the intimate love of God and experience true peace and joy.
So this is our mandate: we are called to initiate friendship, love, forgiveness, and trust. It is thhe way to joy.
Please pray that God's healing love and mercy would soothe the hearts of many here in California this weekend. And we would so appreciate your prayers for God's strength and good health in the midst.