What’s your favorite ice cream?
For me it’s Graeter’s Chocolate Chip Coconut.
We buy the pints so we don’t pig out on it and also because it’s so expensive, nevertheless in a house full of boys I have to guard it with my life if I want to have more than one helping.
Well there is something much more valuable than ice cream that I have to guard and that’s my joy.
This morning I was listening to a message that reminded me of five things we can do to guard our joy.
It was based on Hebrews 12:1-3.
- First is surround yourself with people who bring joy. ie., "therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, . . ." (v.1a)
- Second, stay on task, ie., "let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (v.1c)
- Third, strip down to the essentials. ie., "let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us. . ." (v.1b)
- Fourth, stay focused on Jesus, ie., "let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scoring it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (v.2)
- Fifth, stick with it. "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (v.3)
Which one do you need to do? For me I need to do more of the first one, I need to surround myself with people who bring joy. Life can get pretty serious. I need people who will laugh with me and yes even at me sometimes, so I can guard my joy in the journey.
What’s your favorite ice cream? For me it’s Graeter’s Chocolate Chip Coconut. We buy the pints so we don’t pig out on it and also because it’s so expensive, nevertheless in a house full of boys I have to guard it with my life if I want to have more than one helping. Well there is something much more valuable than ice cream that I have to guard and that’s my joy. This morning I was listening to a message that reminded me of five things we can do to guard our joy. It was based on Hebrews 12:1-3. 
