Rookie of the Year

Scripture:
"But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You." (Psalm5:11)

A number of years ago I joined a barbershop singing group. I had never sung barbershop before and I learned a lot. Particularly because a new friend took me under wings and encouraged me. To this day I thank Stan for loving me and being my friend.

This morning my grandson Seth handed me a trophy I had gotten when I was in barbershop He had gotten it from a shelf in my room and he told me that he was going to clean it because it was all dusty. When I looked at it I noticed it was an award I got my first year with the group. The award read, "Rookie of the Year". It reminded me how much fun I had singing in that group but I also thought how time and the "dust" of life had caused that joy convert into only a memory.

This makes me think about how the joy of the Lord also converts into only a memory if we are not careful. When we first came to know Jesus, we were very much alive in Christ and filled with joy. As the years and scars of life take their toll on us, it seems that the joy fades, but it does not have to be that way.

Paul tells us to return to our first love (Rev. 2:4) and that the greatest gift is love (1 Cor. 13:13). We are able to love because He first loved us (1 John 4:9) and this love manifests itself into joy as "joy of the Lord becomes our strength." (Neh. 8:10)

Request:
That we continue to seek the heart of God remembering how much he loved us and that this love fill us with great joy.

Prayer:
Dear Father. You loved us so much that you sent you son to die on the Cross for us. Thank you Lord this sacrifice of love. In Jesus Name. Amen