Spring has finally arrived and we are fast approaching the 2013 Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 11th. Last year the Lord brought in over $61,000 which absolutely stunned us. We would like to invite you to be a part of what God does this year through the walk. If you can join us that day, call today to register and start getting sponsors (732.350.1187). If you can’t walk with us, please consider being a sponsor. All the net proceeds go to support the Addiction Recovery Ministries to help restore lives, marriages and families from the devastation of addiction.
This year our staff is having a friendly competition between the men and the women so it would be great if all our Victory Call readers would sponsor the women’s team for $25.00 but even $5 or $10 will make a difference. This link will take you directly to our webpage if you would give on-line. Family Freedom Walk Support or if you prefer you may mail a check to America’s Keswick 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759 in either case please designate your gift to FFW: Women’s team.
Thank you so much for your support. We appreciate you.
Blessings,
The Victory Call writers
… for the joy that was set before Him [He] endured the cross… (Hebrews 12:2)
There is a significant connection between love and joy. The Scripture tells us that God so loved those who would come to believe that He sent His Son to die in our place. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23 KJV).
Christ explained the connection between this love of the Father and our joy as believers. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you… These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full (John 15:9, 11 KJV). Apparently, it is only when we grasp how loved we are, totally and unconditionally, that we can then walk in joy.
Christ says He wants His joy to remain in us. What is Christ’s joy? We find that answer in Hebrews 12:2. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…. You and I and all believers are Christ’s joy. He loved us and therefore He experienced joy in saving us to an eternal love relationship with Him!
In His prayer to the Father, Christ reiterates this connection of love and joy. Now I am coming to you. I have told them [the disciples] many things while I was with them … so they would be filled with my joy (John 17:13 NLT). Jesus had clearly told the disciples that He loved them as much as the Father loved Him, the Son! Again, it is in the anointed truth of Christ’s unconditional love for us that we can experience joy.
The Holy Spirit’s work in us also reveals the connection between love and joy. The Apostle Paul tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith… (Galatians 5:22 KJV). Notice that the word fruit is singular. There are not fruits of the Spirit. Rather, the Spirit produces a singular fruit, the Fruit of the Vine! Christ is being formed in us. The manifestation of the character of God is being produced in us. And love is first in the identification of Christ’s presence. And we know that God is love (1 John 4:8 KJV).
The very next identifying factor of the Lord’s character manifested by the Spirit is joy. And joy flows out of love!
And, finally, the Lord is the Initiator of Love and the Sole Source of Authentic Love. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us… (1 John 4:10a KJV).
Open our eyes, Lord, to see that Your love is unconditional and nothing can separate us from Your love. Thus, we can walk in joy (Romans 8:39).
Glenna Salsbury
Writer for “Real Victory for Real Life”
365 Devotional Thoughts in the Spirit of America’s Keswick
VOLUME 2
To order a copy of “REAL VICTORY For REAL LIFE” 365 Devotional Thoughts in the Spirit of America’s Keswick, forwarded by Dr. Joseph Stowell visit www.americaskeswick.org and click on store.
Victory Call 