JOURNEY OF JOY

I WANT TO EXPRESS THANKS TO MY DEAR
FRIENDS WHO HAVE ENCOURAGED ME
TO BEGIN THIS JOURNEY OF JOY ONLINE
TO: CHRIST JESUS WHO PROVIDED THE
MATERIAL THROUGH THE INSPIRATION
OF HIS PRECIOUS HOLY SPIRIT, AS I HAVE
LEARNED TO SPEND TIME WITH HIM & LISTEN
to: Margo who sent daily email encouragers, and
convinced me I could learn
how use this computer
to: Aunt Nora who proved I COULD DO IT
at any age...& encouraged me to
share the poetry daily
To: Diana my prayer partner who supports me
and keeps me exercising @ the mall
to: Sunny who sent tags & shared her testimony
of faith in God through online ministry
to: all of my friends & relatives who reminded me that
every good gift is from above...TO SHARE & prayed for me.
SPECIAL THANKS to: my dear friends
Jason and Sammi
who have provided this site
with their expertise that I only dreamed of having
 
 
MY SONG OF JOY was initiated by my Lord Jesus Christ
who reminded me that HE HAS MY LIFE IN HIS HANDS
and no matter what I have been denied in life....
He plans for me to glorify HIM and SING FOR JOY
TRUSTING IN HIS PLANS FOR MY LIFE!
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,"
Jeremiah 33: 2 "This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it--the LORD is his name: 3 `Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'

I was never able to bear children, BUT BLESSED BECAUSE, HE allowed me to ADOPT 2 wonderful kids...
and claim many others
as my spiritual children
When we adopted I claimed other scriptures
  PS 113:9 He settles the barren woman in her home
    as a happy mother of children.
Luke 1: 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
 
Whenever mocked for my faith...I claimed these verses
  Luke 6:22 Blessed are you when men hate you,
    when they exclude you and insult you
    and reject your name as evil,
      because of the Son of Man.
23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
 
> Jesus has good plans for YOU to have JOY too
   John 15:9 "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.
 
  Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
 
>SOME OF MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES TO SHOW YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO FIND JOY...PEACE, HOPE,
FAITH, TRUST, LOVE FOR GOD HIS WORD, AND OTHERS

 >IF YOU HAVE NO FAITH IN HIS WORD...
you have not experienced REAL FAITH...
for FAITH COMES BY HEARING
AND HEARING...BY THE WORD OF GOD
 Psalms 33:4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
    he is faithful in all he does.
5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of his unfailing love.

 

>IF YOU HAVE NO FAITH....IN JESUS
You have not experienced HIS LOVE & Mercy
and Faithfulness to all His promises
 Psalm 145: 13 The LORD is faithful to all his promises
    and loving toward all he has made.
 14 The LORD upholds all those who fall
     and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,  and you
    give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires
     of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways
      and loving toward all he has made.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him,
     to all who call on him in truth.
 
>IF YOU HAVE NO PEACE, YOU DO NOT TRUST HIM

He will keep in perfect peace, those who have
their mind focused in Him, because they trust in Him
read Isaiah 26:3

>TO TRUST HIM...

YOU NEED TO KNOW HIS PERFECT LOVE
 Perfect love casts out all fear

John 3:16 For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten son,
that whosoever believes in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life


>YOU CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN JESUS TO LEAD YOU
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

>YOU CAN TRUST IN HIM
 Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation--
    whom shall I fear?
  The LORD is the stronghold of my life--
    of whom shall I be afraid?

>CONFESS YOUR SINS, REPENT, AND ENJOY HIS FELLOWSHIP
1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

>HE IS FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE YOU AND CLEANSE YOUR HEART
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Psalms 33:4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
    he is faithful in all he does.
5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of his unfailing love.

>PURSUE A LIFE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT PAYS:
 Isaiah 32:17 The fruit of righteousness will be peace;
    the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.
    18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places,
    in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.

TAKE YOUR BURDENS TO JESUS--HE CARES FOR YOU
 I Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him
 because he cares for you.

1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
15 And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.

>COME TO HIM WITH CONFIDENCE
AND FIND TRUE BELIEVERS TO SUPPORT
AND ENCOURAGE YOU...PRAYING TOGETHER IN FAITH

 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

>>TRUST HIS LOVE,
LISTEN FOR HIS VOICE AND OBEY HIM
Jesus said:  My sheep know my voice, and they follow me
 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  

>RESOLVE TO SERVE HIM as Joshua said: in 24:15
as for me and my house...we WILL serve the Lord

>GIVE HIM PRAISE AND BE THANKFUL FOR PEACE
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 
>HE WILL COUNSEL YOU & GIVE YOU JOY - NIGHT AND DAY
  Psalms 16:7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
  Psalms 149:4 For the LORD takes delight in his people;
    he crowns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the saints rejoice in this honor
    and sing for joy on their beds.
 Psalms 90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
    that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
 
  Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation;
    I will trust and not be afraid.
  The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song;
    he has become my salvation."
3 With joy you will draw water
    from the wells of salvation.
 
EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF THE LORD...IN HIS PRESENCE
  Psalms 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
 
Nehemiah 8:10 the Joy of the Lord is your strength
Psalm 16:11
 
  Psalms 71:23 My lips will shout for joy
    when I sing praise to you--
    I, whom you have redeemed
 
>HIS HOLY SPIRIT WILL BRING YOU A FRUITFUL LIFE
 Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load.
 
>JESUS CHRIST IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU STRONG IN FAITH
    Jude 1:24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy-- 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
 
I CONSIDER YOU A PART OF MY FAMILY, AND I PRAY THAT YOU WILL GROW IN WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN FAITH AND TRUST IN MY LORD & SAVIOR
  3 John 1:2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
PLEASE REPORT YOUR PRAISES
AS YOU PROGRESS IN FAITH
                           JOY BARBER