To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to morn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones; And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sow; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NKJV
 
Jesus did not promise us an easy life. He promised we would have tribulation. Jesus kept His promise. We experience times of great joy and sorrow as we journey through life. 
 
You may be experiencing great joy today. Perhaps God has brought love into your life. Maybe He blessed you with a child. You may be embarking on a new career or ministry opportunity. Perhaps this is a season of gathering and reaping in your life. 
 
Many of us have lost our jobs. Businesses may fail. Some of us may lose our homes. Maybe you lost a loved one. This may be a season of weeping and morning for you.
 
Regardless of circumstances we have this in common; God chose us to live at this time in history. He chose our families. He custom designed our personalities and appearance. God created us with unique gifts and talents. You are unlike anyone who has ever lived.
 
God has his hand upon you today. Jesus loves you. He is still on the throne of creation. Jesus has not allowed chance and circumstance to interfere with His plan for your life!
 
When we find ourselves in the cauldron of adversity it can be difficult to remember Jesus loves us. It may be difficult to believe Jesus will not give us more hardship than we can endure. Jesus uses seasons of trial and turmoil to transform us into useful vessels.
 
God wants us to be thankful in every season of life. Jesus created all things. He knows what it takes to make us useful vessels. Jesus knows how to use us to bless other people. Jesus knows what it takes for us to experience joy regardless of circumstances. 
          
My family and I suffered through a season of great adversity. We remained thankful. We found joy in a season of trial and turmoil. We looked past the hardship. Jesus blesses people who wait upon Him. Jesus blesses people who look to Him for deliverance.
 
I do not know what this season of life holds for you. I do not know what tomorrow holds for me. God ordains the seasons of our lives. He holds tomorrow in the palms of His loving hands. Jesus will be with us in the next season of life just as He is with us today!
 
God wants you to trust Him during seasons of trail and adversity. He wants you to lean on Him during seasons of blessing and prosperity. Trust Jesus in every season of life!
 
The things Jesus allows into your life must pass through the filter of His great love for you!
 
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Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down: and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, Speak Lord for your servant hears,” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 1 Samuel 3:9 NKJV
 
A woman named Hannah was barren. She was married to a man who had two wives. The other wife gave her husband children. She taunted and teased Hannah. They became bitter rivals. God gave Hannah an overwhelming desire to have her own child.
 
Hannah made a vow to give the child back to God if He blessed her with a son. She promised her son would be set apart and dedicated to serving God all his life. The Lord answered Hannah’s prayer. She kept her vow.
 
Hannah took Samuel to live in the tabernacle to minister before the Lord. Samuel lived there with the priests. God rewarded Hannah by giving her other sons and daughters.
 
God deposited the greatest desire of Hannah’s heart into her hands. She trusted the Lord enough to let go and give him back to God.
 
What dreams and desires has Jesus put into your heart?
 
Are you willing to let Jesus do as He pleases with your greatest dreams and the deepest desires of your heart? Hannah did. God blessed her beyond her wildest dreams. She asked the Lord for a son. God gave her four sons and two daughters.
 
Samuel gave God first place in his heart and life. God raised him up to be a great prophet. Jesus can use the smallest acts of obedience to accomplish the greatest miracles.
 
Samuel did not recognize the voice of God the first or second time the Lord called Him. He did not recognize the voice of God until someone who knew The Lord told him God was calling him. Jesus is calling you today. Do you recognize His voice?
 
Jesus is calling you to give Him first place in your heart and life today. He is calling you to speak to people who do not know Him today. Jesus wants you to tell people His greatest desire is to live in a loving relationship with them today.
 
If you give Jesus the desires of your heart He will bless you beyond your wildest dreams. Jesus will bless you because He loves you. Jesus will bless other people through your acts of obedience. Jesus will bless them because He loves them!
 
You do not have to be a prophet to serve Jesus. You do not have to make a vow or take an oath. Seek Jesus. Answer the call to go and make disciples in your corner of the world. You will be blessed. People will be saved.
 
Will you glorify Jesus with your greatest dreams and desires? Will you trust Jesus enough to release them if He has another plan for your life?

He who loves His brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in Him. 1 John 2:10 NKJV
 
The Lord once said to me, “Serve your brother.” Today the Lord is telling me to love my neighbor. How can I be sure it is God is speaking to me?
 
Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. As I have loved you that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples that you love one another.”
 
God’s second greatest commandment to us is, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
 
John loved Jesus deeply. There was something about his character and personality that enabled John to express his love for Jesus so freely. God created John. The Lord filled John’s heart with love for Jesus.
 
I love Jesus! The Lord has forgiven me of so much. I love Him very much. It is easy for me to love Jesus. God gave me that gift. The Lord created me with the capacity to freely express my love for Jesus!
 
Loving people is not easy for me!
 
When I feel like someone wrongs me I turn my back on them. When someone is rude or disrespectful I want to give it back to them. When I am attacked I want to fight back.
 
How can I love my unlovable neighbors and serve people who take advantage of my willingness to serve them?
 
John wrote, he who loves his brother abides in the light. Jesus is the light. We cannot find our way through the darkness of sin and shame without loving people the way Jesus did. Loving other people is the best way to express our love for Jesus!
 
The Christian life is lived out in relationship with Jesus. The Christian life is also lived out in our relationships with each other. Jesus wants the evidence of our love for Him to be seen in the way we live in loving relationships with each other!
 
How can you and I love each other? We must submit to Jesus. We must confess that loving people is impossible without Jesus. We must let Jesus love people through us!
 
If you tell me I should not steal, cheat, or lie, be unfaithful to my wife or look at pornography I can feel surprisingly good about those things. Loving people is not so easy for me. Jesus wants all me to turn to Him so He can love people through me!
 
Tell Jesus you want to love your neighbor. Tell Him you want to serve His people. Jesus will give you the faith to love them. He will give you the faith to serve them.
 
Abide in the light of Jesus Christ so you will not stumble in your faith!
 
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Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 NKJV
 
There is a time and a place to curse the darkness. Our primary calling is to pierce the darkness of this world with the love of God!
 
The world is an evil place. It is growing darker by the day!
 
The days before the flood were even more depraved. The bible tells us people’s thoughts and deeds were continuously focused on sin. The gene pool was polluted. Perversion and sexual debauchery became the norm of human existence.
 
It was so bad God only found eight people worthy of salvation when He destroyed the world with a deluge of water.
 
Jesus has found untold millions of people worthy of salvation since the flood!
 
Not one of us is righteous. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. We are not worthy of salvation because of good deeds, thoughts, words or even Facebook “likes”. God declares us righteous and worthy of salvation through faith in His Son Jesus Christ!
 
Do not walk through life cursing the darkness of unsaved people and their lifestyles. Pierce the darkness with the love of God by sharing Jesus with people. Allow Jesus to form His life in you and live out His life through you!
 
Share with people you meet the reason for the hope that resides within you. There are millions of people looking forward to an eternity of love and everlasting life with the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. You are one of them. They can be as well!
 
Curse the darkness when you must. Praise the Lord of salvation today and every day!
 
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You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!” Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you. 2 Chronicles 20:17 NKJV
 
The king of Israel received news that a great army was coming against God’s people. They would be hopelessly outnumbered and overmatched!
 
Sometimes thinking about the size of our problems is worse than facing them.
 
King Jehoshaphat turned to God in prayer first. He did not wait until all his resources were exhausted.
 
God wants us to cry out to Him in faith first. Not as a last resort when all else fails but as the first and most effective action we can take!
 
The people of Israel were God’s chosen people. They were His beloved people. The Lord was with them.
 
Today all people who call on the name of the Lord and put their faith in Jesus are the people of God. We are His chosen people, His beloved people. Jesus is with us today.
 
God fought this battle for His people. He brought about a great victory for them!
 
Jesus will fight your battles today. Jesus will bring about great victories in your life if you position yourself in faith!
 
When a man’s ways please the Lord God causes even his enemies to be at peace with him. How will you please God today? By faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God!
 
Jesus promised we will suffer trials and tribulations in this world. He also promised never to leave us or forsake us. Jesus will never turn His back on us. Jesus will be with us as we walk in enemy territory through the valley of the shadow of death!
 
The Lord of Heaven and Earth is not calling you to fight your battles with a sword or spear. He is not calling you to fight your battles with a gun or a knife. God wants you to fight your battles through faith in Jesus Christ!
 
God is calling you to humble yourself before Him today. He is calling you to submit to His will for your life today. Jesus is calling you to fight through the temptations and deceptions you face today. Jesus wants us to trust Him today!
 
The battle between good and evil is the Lord’s. Trust Jesus to fight that battle because Jesus is always victorious!
 
Position yourself in faith. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord who is with you!
 
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The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV
 
The imagery here is so beautiful and comforting. Take time to meditate on this verse. Let it sink deep down into your soul. Let Jesus minister to you. Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship. It is a loving relationship between you and Jesus!
 
Jesus is with you when you get up out of bed. He is with you when you lay your head down at night. He is with you in trials and hardship. He is with you when your cup runs over with blessings. Jesus is with you when you rejoice. He is with you when you mourn!
 
God’s power and might is incomprehensible!
 
We cannot comprehend the creative energy of our God. He has no equal. The Lord wields the power of life and death. Jesus saves people who seek Him. Jesus is blessed by people who choose to receive His love and mercy. Jesus will rule and reign forever!
 
Jesus can quiet you with His love today!
 
Sometimes when a child is injured, frightened, or overwhelmed all it takes is a loving parent to scoop the child up and hold him or her for the beloved to be comforted.
 
God is our loving Heavenly Father!
 
The Lord will comfort you when you needed it. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will rejoice over you with singing. Jesus will never ever stop loving you!
 
What would cause the God of heaven and earth to rejoice over you? Our Heavenly Father rejoices over you because He is moved by His immeasurable love for you!
 
God’s love for you is not a statement of fact to be recited and repeated like the weather. It is not antiseptic and emotionless. God’s great love for you is something He is passionate about! God’s mercy and grace flow out of His loving heart!
 
God gave His one and only Son whom He loves perfectly for you! God chooses to Love you today! Will you choose to Love Him?
 
Set your heart on Jesus before you rise out of bed in the morning. Give your heart to Jesus before you lay your head down at night. Don’t ever forget the Lord is in your midst all day every day!
 
Set your heart on the Father’s loves. Show Jesus how much you love Him. Your God will rejoice over you with singing to celebrate His love for you and your love for Him!
 
Do not be frightened by current events. Do not be overwhelmed by what you see or hear. Our bodies may suffer injury and illness. Our God’s love will safeguard our souls!
 
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Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger. Zephaniah 2:3 NKJV
 
The prophet Zephaniah called Israel back to the Lord. They had turned relationship with God into a rigid legalistic religion. They turned away from God in their hearts.
 
The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV
 
Jesus is here today. Jesus is the Mighty One. Jesus will save His people. Jesus rejoices over us with gladness because He loves us!
 
When we are in distress, fearful, furious, and overwhelmed Jesus can quiet us with His perfect love. Jesus rejoices over us with singing because our love and devotion moves Him. The song Jesus sings over us is a love song. It is a song only Jesus can sing!
 
Before the prophet Zephaniah spoke these words of God’s love and compassion he called the people to repentance. What were the sins committed by Israel?
 
Israel worshiped false gods. They gave their hearts to idols. They turned away from God’s call on their lives. They replaced relationship with ritual. Their love for God turned Cold!
 
The Lord wanted to use Israel to reveal Himself to the nations of the world. God wanted to bless Israel with His love and be blessed by their love for Him!
 
After God called Israel to repent a book of the law was found. Many still did not repent. God judged them for arrogance. He judged them for not to seeking righteousness. He judged them for refusing to turn from the ways of the nations that surrounded them.    
 
God is calling us to turn back to Him. Some of us to Jesus for the first time. Some of us to repent of legalism and religious tradition. Some of us to our first love. We must humble ourselves. God wants us to uphold justice and seek the righteousness of Christ!
 
The day of the Lord’s anger is coming. It will come upon the unrepentant and arrogant. It will come upon people who refuse to humble themselves. God’s judgment will come upon people who pervert justice and see themselves as righteous in their own eyes.
 
If we repent and turn back to Jesus we will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger!
 
Jesus will save us. He will rejoice over us with gladness. He will quiet us with His love. Jesus will rejoice over us with singing when we stand before Him in eternity!
 
Seek Jesus. Humble yourself before His Mighty Hand. Give Jesus a reason to rejoice over you with singing today!
 
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And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NKJV
 
Paul praises the Philippians for their generosity.
 
My wife and I like so many others are in a season of financial need. We are so encouraged by this verse. Jesus encourages His people when encouragement is needed the most! 
 
In verse twelve Paul says, “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”
 
Paul was not always in a state of financial need. He suffered times of financial need and at other times was blessed with more than he needed. My wife and I can say the same. I am sure many of you can as well! 
 
If you are in a state of financial need today you are not alone. These are difficult times. Your current financial status will change!
 
Did God give us this verse of scripture only to encourage us during times of financial need? No He did not. God is speaking about so much more than just finances. The Lord will meet all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!
 
The Philippians were not just generous in giving to God to meet Paul’s financial needs. They gave of themselves generously to the Lord. God met their needs because they willingly gave their hearts to Jesus!
 
God did not need the Philippians to provide for Paul’s needs. God owns the heavens and the earth and all they contain. God used the Philippians generosity to meet Paul’s needs to bring His people together in a spirit of brotherly love and unity!
 
Jesus cares about all our needs. Jesus will meet all our needs if we trust Him with them!
 
God knows all things. He knows we have even greater needs than money. We have needs only God knows. We have needs only God can supply. Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our needs better than we do!   
 
Jesus knows your every need even before you make your request known to Him. Jesus wants you to come before Him in prayer as an act of faith! What do you need today?
 
Do you need peace? Call out to Jesus. He will give you peace that calms the stormy seas in our hearts. Do you need wisdom? Jesus will give you wisdom that surpasses the information age. Do you lack financial resources? Give yourself to Jesus, be generous to others and the Lord will supply all your needs! 
 
Jesus is waiting for you to turn to Him in prayer today!
 
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I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 NKJV
 
I commuted forty-five minutes to work. The drive became a time of rich communion with Jesus. The Spirit of God was with me. God spoke to me through His Word.
 
I wanted to share the things Jesus showed me. God gave me the idea of sending out e-mails. The first e-mail was sent to fifteen people anonymously in June of 2007. Today Joyfor2day Daily Devotional is read by thousands around the world. 
 
The ministry of JFT is to encourage people. The internet can be used for good or evil. I want you to be reminded of the goodness, mercy and grace of God. My desire is for you to be reminded of God’s great love for you!
 
You will receive e-mails designed to draw you away from Jesus. God owns cyberspace. He will be glorified in it and through it!
 
JFT wants to reach people who have not received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior with the message of Salvation. God will redeem the lost. He will use cyberspace to do it!
 
God called me His servant. He said I would be His witness. I knew I would serve Jesus in ministry. I began to grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord. Each time I attempted to step out in faith I allowed my weakness to get in the way.
 
God can use us despite our weakness. God can and will do great and mighty things in us and through us. When we are tripped up by the little foxes that spoil the vine Jesus wants us to get back up and continue seeking Him. Jesus wants us to follow Him. If we think it is us doing the work we have missed the point!
 
God calls each of us who have surrendered our hearts and lives to Jesus His servants. We are all His witnesses. We are all called to serve Jesus!
 
Jesus lives in us and through us by His Spirit. Jesus is not calling us to be spiritual superstars. He is not calling us to do anything in our own strength or wisdom. Jesus is calling us to step out in faith and trust Him to accomplish good works through us! 
 
Serving Jesus could mean sharing the Word of God through modern forms of media. You could stand before large crowds and call people to repentance. It could be as simple as sharing resources with others and encouraging people in a season of uncertainty!
 
What can you and I do for Jesus?
 
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. You can do all things through Jesus Christ because He strengthens you! 
 
Jesus wants you to experience His great love today. He wants to encourage you today. Jesus wants you to draw strength from Him every day. Jesus also wants you to help others do the same!
 
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Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8 NKJV
 
In a relationship both parties have responsibility. Each must do his or her part for the relationship to succeed. Any healthy relationship requires an investment of time and energy. Our relationship with Jesus is no different. Jesus leads the way, we must follow.
 
God is sovereign. All things are subject to His control and authority. There is no power in all of creation, neither on the earth below or in heaven above that can prosper in opposition to Jesus!
 
God is faithful. He is just. He is longsuffering and merciful. Every act of God passes through the filter of His great love for us.
 
God gave us the freedom to make our own decisions. We can choose to receive His love or reject it. We can follow Jesus or defy Him.
 
God brings correction. He judges sin. He punishes the wicked. God has in the past and will pour out His wrath in the future. It is always for God’s glory and our good!
 
Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship with the God who created us to be loved by Him. How can we be faithful to Jesus? By faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is like a muscle. It is built up when used and it grows weak with inactivity!
 
Jesus has given each of us a measure of faith. As we step out in the faith Jesus has entrusted to us He adds to it. If we live like God does not exist He hardens our hearts!
 
The enemy of our souls and the world system attack us through our thought life. We must be very careful what we feed our hearts and minds. 
 
Our brains have greater capacity than any super-computer. If we put garbage into our hearts and minds garbage will pour out of them. We must remember what God has in store for us is far better than anything sin, Satan or the world system can offer! 
 
If we are faithful to Jesus He will reward us with unspeakable joy that will last forever!
 
Jesus knows we will make mistakes. He knows we will stumble. The Lord wants us to stay faithful to Him in our hearts and minds!
 
Stay faithful to Jesus by giving your heart to Him alone. Stay faithful to the Lord by focusing on the truth of God!
 
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