Good morning!

This is normally the day I do my “Love, Tuesday” post but I want to keep the devotionals in order so I will post Day 6 here today.

Have a beautiful day today everyone. I hope you are following along and writing in a journal as you go. It is one of the greatest JOYS to journal what the Lord is revealing to you through His Word and then going back and looking through your old journals to see what He has shown you over the years. This is not something I am super consistent with, but I wish I was, so I’m preaching to myself here… But I will tell you how easy it is to forget what you thought you would hold so close to your heart. So going back and re-reading your thankful journals or prayer journal or even church notes is a powerful thing.

Here is Day 6:

Day 6~

Mother Teresa… we all think of this little old lady as the woman who had a smile on her face even in such horrible conditions in the slums of Calcutta.  Let’s take a look at what she had to say about JOY.

“Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget the joy of the Risen Christ.”

Joyfulness in Christ means:

~loving as he loves

~helping as he helps

~giving as he gives

~serving as he serves

~rescuing as he rescues

“A joyful heart is the normal result of a heart burning with love. It is the gift of the {Holy} Spirit, a share in the joy of Jesus, living in the soul.”

Wow… love this ladies words already!

“What will strike people and invites some to embrace the “religious life”  (I would change that to say a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ) ‘is the witness of our own lives, the spirit in which we react to our divine calling, the completeness of our dedication, the generosity and cheerfulness of our service to God, the love we have for one another, and the apostolic zeal with which we witness to Christ’s love for the poorest of the poor’.“  Mother Teresa

She brought the love of Jesus and a joyful heart to the poorest of poor.  What an amazing example!  I think of her life and testimony and wonder how our lives can also be a light to others?   How can we handle difficulties in our lives in such a way that can encourage others and draw His children closer to Him?

"Joy is prayer, joy is strength, joy is love. Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.”

Read 1 Peter 1:8&9 & Romans 12:12&13

Here are a few things to write in your journal today:

1. Think about what sad conditions she lived in, yet she had the JOY of Jesus shining through her life.  

2. What can we learn from her life and example?

3. Write in your journal what you are thankful for and need to be reminded of this week.

4. Ask the Lord to show you where He could use you as a light and inspiration to others.

Your journey can become just the inspiration someone else needs.

Have a BLESSED day,

Laura