with friends. As I was listening to the conversation at the table, all of a sudden some scary thoughts popped into my head, "I can't do anymore JoyShops. It's the same message...over and over...how long can I keep this up?" Even though I knew these thoughts would pass, fear seized my heart. The next morning as I met with Jesus I was grateful that he knew all my thoughts and so I asked him to minister to my heart. I just needed some extra encouragement. As I read through my daily assignment and wrote down the verses I was re-energized and filled with His joy! He knew just the words I would need for that day. I'd like to share these verses with you from the NKJV.Isaiah 46:9 "For I am God and there is no other...there is none like me."
Psalm 105:19 (reference to Joseph) "Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him."
This passage particularly encouraged me in that like, Joseph who had a dream about his family bowing down to him, I had a "vision" about this ministry and how far reaching it would become. Even though I know that God will bring it to pass, I have to wait out his timing and planning. Sometimes I feel "tested" as I wait and I wonder if I just imagined the whole thing, yet in my heart I know that God is unfolding the vision even as I type this. Could it be that we will never see all the lives this ministry touches until we get to heaven?
Psalm 37:5 "Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."
As the JoyShop team keeps plugging away, one JoyShop at a time, we will continue to commit our way to the Lord, trusting Him to bring to pass our desire for the message of SEEKING GOD FIRST to go globally, for the benefit of the body of Christ. Psalm 37:24 "You will guide me with your counsel and afterward receive me in glory." Yes, He will guide us with His counsel. I would have never stepped out in faith and started this ministry two years ago if I hadn't had this assurance and I am grateful for the many people who pray for this ministry.
- This last passage from Revelations 3:7-8 really made my heart sing as I applied it to JoyShop Ministries: Summed up it says--
I know your works
See I have set before you as an open door
No one can shut it
For you have a little strength
You have kept my word
You have not denied my name
God sees our work and I believe he has opened a door that no one can shut. He is right when he says we have a little strength, yet we strive to keep his work. We exalt his name!
God's Word is a constant source of encouragement to me as I face the daily work of ministry. Not only His Word, but the many words I receive from youth and adults who have attended a JoyShop.
Last Friday night nearly 100 people attended the JoyShop held at LMH. 90% of the audience was youth! I was thrilled with the families that showed up as well with their teen children. Comments that I recieved over the weekend from the teens:
"Thank you so much for doing the joyshop! I loved it so much and I have to say I was quite excited when I got up this morning to get in the Word. Your ministry is awesome..."
"Just wanted to say thank you so much for doing the JoyShop at LMH! It really challenged me and made me think about spending more time with Jesus. I started this morning, getting up at 6:45 to have devotions before I went to work, and my day was a whole lot better because of it! Thank you so much!
"Yeah, JoyShop was wicked challenging and if you do it again, I am definitely inviting people. Thank you for doing it. I started the 21 Day Challenge this morning and plan to keep it up, so pray for me if you think of me. I trust that things are gonna change if I keep walkin' with God. It's kind of crazy, but I'm ready for a change. Thanks again. God bless. Jesus loves you."
"Thank you so much for you time and passion. It really made a difference. I'm sure you get this a lot, I just wanted you to know that it really motivated me to get closer to God and answered a lot of questions. I always tried to do devotions but never really set a time and it always stopped after about a week. I’m really excited to get up in the morning now. Thanks again!"
The following message I recieved this morning from someone who had attended an event I spoke at near the end of last year.
"Just wanted to send you a note to thank you again for your ministry. Just today, I finished reading the Bible through for the 1st time in my life! I'm thrilled about it but also ashamed because I'm 41; I've been a Christian since I was 12. I was never discipled well; always struggled w/ my devotions. When you gave your testimony about your struggles; told us how you weren't a morning person, I could relate so much. I so look forward to my time in God's Word each day. I am not so easily influenced by Satan or my flesh when it comes to carving out time for it. Thank you again so, so much! May our Lord Jesus bless you immensely for your faithfulness to Him."
What a JOY to recieve these emails and have the blessing of seeing the fruit from this ministry!
I am grateful that I have off the next two weeks, at least from any speaking engagements. The operational team and board would appreciate your prayers as we continue to make decisions for the future, including professionally taping JoyShop in 2008. Continue to pray for opened doors in churches, colleges, high schools, and youth events. I am not closing the doors to women's retreats, just limiting the amount I do so that I am freer to minister to the youth.
HAVE A BLESSED EASTER as we celebrate the RISEN LORD!
Anita
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