Brown's Daily Word

Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this new day. Today we celebrate the birth and life of our first daughter, Janice. Thirty-four years ago tonight she was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. She has been a blessing in our lives throughout all of these years. Last week Janice, Jeremy, Micah, and Simeon headed out on vacation, camping at Tully Lake in Massachusetts. I have selected from her vacation photos to share with you this morning.
I trust that you had a blessed weekend of renewal, and refreshing of the heart and mind. The Gospel reading for yesterday was taken from Luke 15. The Lord shared three parables of the lost and the found. He shared about the extraordinary joy that is in heaven when one sinner repents and comes home. When we look at the Scriptures we see our Lord coming down to earth as the Lord of Joy. He is the Joyful Jesus. In John 15:11,“These things have I spoken to you that MY JOY may remain in you, and that YOUR JOY may be full!” Proverbs 17:22, MY LIFE VERSE, states “A CHEERFUL HEART is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones!”
It is said that a child laughs 400 times a day on the average, while an adult laughs only 15 times each day. This is puzzling since laughter feels so good and is so good for us! NORMAN COUSINS used to say that laughter is so beneficial for your body that it is like "inner jogging." The Mayo Clinic has reported that laughter aids breathing by disrupting your normal respiration pattern and increasing your breathing rate.
2000 years ago, Jesus appeared on this planet and brought astonishing change in the quality of human life. He was unique! It set Him apart! He was fascinating! Remarkable actions were attributed to Him! He had universal appeal! He was very special, to say the least!
Luke 10, Jesus sent out the 72, two-by-two, and when they returned, they “returned with JOY…(v.17)” and “At that time Jesus, full of JOY through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…”
Bruce Marchiano wrote in his book, In the Footsteps of Jesus, "Yes, Jesus smiled; yes, Jesus laughed. Jesus smiled wider and laughed heartier than any human being who has ever walked the planet. He was young. He radiated good cheer. Jesus was a man of such merriment, such gladness of heart, such freedom and openness, that He proved irresistible. He became known throughout Galilee for His genuine strength, the sparkle in His eyes, the spring in His gait, the heartiness in His laugh, the geniuneness of His touch; His passion, playfulness, excitement, and vitality: His JOY! He made a dazzling display of love. He set hearts afire. He was an elated triumphant young man with an incredible quality of life….…so different from the solemn religious types He constantly encountered."
We, too, express the JOY OF THE LORD in smiles, laughter, shouts, and good cheer, and we experience His JOY through WORSHIP, PRAISE, PRAYER AND SONG, in WITNESSING, in HELPING OTHERS, in FELLOWSHIP and DISCIPLESHIP…ALL THE PURPOSES OF THE LOCAL CHURCH. GOD CREATED SMILES AND HE CREATED LAUGHTER!
Scripture is very clear that God is infinite, eternal, immutable, illimitable, immortal, all-wise, all-knowing, all-goodness, spiritual, holy, sovereign, righteous, gracious, merciful, loving, true and HE IS JOY! When Jesus came to dwell on earth, He drew upon that JOY in becoming our Redeemer, our Savior, and our friend! JESUS, was and is truly the MAN OF JOY! "Jesu, joy of man's desiring"...
Dr. Michael MacIntosh, who wrote, The Tender Touch of God, stated that "The JOY OF THE LORD was at the tomb of the resurrected Lazarus, overshadowing the sadness and disappointment of the dead man’s sisters. JOY was there when the leper returned to thank Jesus. JOY was there when a woman caught in the very act of adultery was forgiven and released from her sin. JOY was there when the deaf heard, the blind saw, and the lame walked. JOY was there on the mountainside as the multitudes listened to the profound teachings of Jesus.
JOY was there when the little children flocked to Jesus! JOY was there when the boy gave Jesus his lunch so that HE could work a miracle and feed the thousands.
JOY was there when Jesus forgave Zacchaeus for abusing his authority. JOY was there when Jesus stood up in the boat and stopped the storm. JOY was there when dawn broke and the women knew that Jesus was resurrected from the dead.
EVERYWHERE JESUS WENT, THERE WAS JOY!"
“Be of good cheer!” He told his disciples. “There are tribulations in this life, but I have overcome the world (John 16:33) .” “Shout for joy!” “Praise Him with the clash of cymbals” “Praise Him with tambourine and dancing” “Make music to Him” “Praise Him, sun and moon” “Extol the Lord” “My heart leaps for JOY” “In Your name I will lift up my hands” “The hills are clothed with gladness” “The valleys…shout for JOY and sing.” Proverb 15:13: “A MERRY heart makes a cheerful countenance.” Proverbs 17:22: “A CHEERFUL HEART is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones!” Hebrews 12:1-3 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…who for the JOY set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”
JOY is not an isolated or occasional consequence of our faith. It is an integral part of our whole relationship to Jesus our Lord. The JOY OF THE LORD rises above circumstances and focuses on God! THE JOY OF THE LORD isn’t momentary! It is constant! It stays and weathers the shocks of life because Jesus also stays!
In Christ
Brown

Saturday Evening Worship Services.

Every Saturday at 6:30 PM
Beginning Saturday, September 18, 2010
Location: First United Methodist Church,
53 McKinley Avenue
Endicott, New York.
Sponsored by the Union Center United Methodist Church.
Pastor: Rev. Brown Naik

The first of our Saturday evening worship services will be held on Saturday September 18, 2010 at 6:30 PM, with Rev. Earle Cowden will preaching. The Worship and Praise Band from Davis College will be leading in worship. Ministry for the youth and the children will be provided. The public is invited to join us. For information call: 607-748-6329. 607-427-9098
Saturday , September 25, 2010
6 PM Gathering for Coffee and Refreshments
6.30 PM Worship Service
Special Music by " A Touch of Christ"
Message by Brown Naik

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIRFE_1huMc