THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Isaiah 65:14 "My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts."

As I drove through the mountains in early spring, I noticed a bubbling brook flowing close to the road. It was swollen with spring snow melt and gurgled happily through the land. Bouncing along, it hit rocks, sending spray into the air like a joyful shout. Overflowing with the joy of spring it couldn't be completely contained within it's banks. It rippled across the still partially frozen land, telling it's story that spring is here.

I thought that, as a Christian, I should be just likethat little stream. I shouldn't be able to contain the joy within me. The joy Jesus fills my life with is more that sufficient to bubble over and spread to those whose lives I touch. There are many people out there who are frozen into an unending winter of despair and fear. They need to hear the message that spring is here. I might be the only person who can touch them with that spring thaw of Jesus' love. Am I being fair to keep that joy to myself?

Prayer: Father, grant me the courage to allow my joy in you to bubble over to everyone around me, in Jesus name, Amen.

by KDW
published in Secret Place
Spring Issue, 1996

O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.

With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.

Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together

Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.