Links to Messages by Pastor Sue Bryan

JOY

          JOY is being aware of the reality that God is changing lives through the efforts of the Total Living Center.

          JOY is seeing Dave today and listening to him share that I was missing a page from my Bible he borrowed.  How many “Christians” would have read enough to find a page missing in Romans in a week’s time?

          JOY is loving and serving others and seeking to imitate Christis humility, all seeking to understand the Apostle Paul when he wrote, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being likeminded , having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to you own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

          JOY is looking to Jesus and seeking always to do His perfect will of living a life of love and mercy, and doing as St. Paul suggests. “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

          JOY is reaching the heart of others through a life of no complaining or arguing, but one of seeking to shine for Jesus. Again St. Paul has a precious word for us. “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.  But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”

          JOY is surrendering to the ways of the Lord, instead of the ways of the world. It is in our complete surrender to Him that the blessings flow in abundance. Jesus conveyed this truth when He said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

          JOY is seeing the joy in the lives of those who have been changed through the many ministries of the Total Living Center.

          May you know the fullness of the JOY of the Lord.  Amen!
                                                            Pastor Sue

July 5, 2009

October 15, 2009