So imagine my surprise to find that the blog name was available. I was ecstatic last February as I penned my first words on the internet using this name. Full Measure of Joy.
After
much thought, discussion and prayer, I felt the next step for me would be to
create a website. So imagine my surprise yet again to find that
fullmeasureofjoy.com was available! I felt very confident that God was leading,
guiding and was beside me during this journey.
I really
tried to get the website going on my own, but my lack of knowledge about such
things became evident pretty quickly. Because of my frustration, I eventually
gave up on trying to make it work.
And
then, one of my dear friends, Maria, joined me and believed in me to the point of
taking on this project. We discussed my ideas and vision for the site and she
began working.
I was
amazed at how someone with the right knowledge and skill was able to do so much
in such a short amount of time. I love my website…even though it isn’t
finished, I love it!
Why?
Because it is fulfilling all of my dreams and thoughts and vision. It will be a
place where I can write and write and praise God and share His good news and let
others know just what Jesus means to me.
What
I’d like to share from Scripture with you today is where the name Full Measure
of Joy comes from. John 17 is a chapter of Jesus’ prayers. He prays for
Himself, His disciples, and for all believers.
In
this chapter, Jesus prayed these words for the disciples. “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the
world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” (John
17:13 – NIV) There it is…full measure of [my] joy.
Jesus
spoke similar words to the disciples earlier in John. In His discourse on the
Vine and the Branches, Jesus gives the purpose for sharing His instruction with
the disciples. “I have told you this so
that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11 –
NIV)
Complete
joy! Isn’t that a goal for each of us? I’d say yes. As we continue to grow and
remain in Jesus (the Vine), our joy grows to completion.
Reading
through the book of Philippians, we find multiple references to the concept of
joy. Take a look at these references. Philippians 1:4; Philippians 1:25;
Philippians 2:2; Philippians 2:29; and Philippians 4:1.
Paul
also shares the concept of rejoicing in Philippians. Take a look at these
references. Philippians 1:18; Philippians 2:17; Philippians 2:18; Philippians
3:1; Philippians 4:4; and Philippians 4:10.
It’s
no wonder the book of Philippians is also referred to as the book of Joy.
As
we read through this short book, we clearly see how our joy can be made
complete through Jesus. We are to pray with joy, have joy in our faith, bring
joy through like-mindedness, welcome with joy, love with joy, rejoice that the
Gospel is being shared, rejoice in suffering, rejoice in the Lord, and again,
rejoice in the Lord. Rejoice!
When
we look at joy in this way, we can see how big this small word can truly be.
So
I ask you today, have you received your full measure of Jesus’ joy? If not, why
not? What is lacking? What are you missing? What steps do you need to take to
be filled with His joy?
If
you have received this full measure, how are you sharing this joy with others? I
pray that your joy will be complete by sharing Jesus with those who need to find
this same joy in their lives.
“I thank my God every time I remember
you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…” (Philippians 1:3-4 – NIV)
Grace
and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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