Mailing List Service Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- UNITY WAY September 29, 2001 ------------------------------------------------------ FULL JOY by Andrei Yashurin These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full (John 15:11), - said Jesus before His crucifixion and death on the cross. He knew there is something to be joyful for, even in the darkest hour of His life. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full (1 John 1:4), says John, one of the closest disciples of Jesus right before his death. It is evident that he realized, just like his Master, the significance of this message of joy. Have you ever thought why this joy is called full, or complete in other translation? What is the difference from other kinds of joy we may experience? Jesus gives us a clue when He says: These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain IN YOU. Full joy is the one that comes from the Living Christ, the one that is born within us. Christ in us, the hope of our glory, is the source of our full joy. For this reason, it cannot be taken away by any circumstances. If we really want to be happy and to become persons God wants us to be, we need to see ourselves not as victims of circumstances, but as their masters. When we live from within, trusting in Christs presence within us, our circumstances have no power to shape us. We shape them and use them for our benefit. And even if we experience pain, we can still rejoice, because we know that it a labor pain, and something beautiful is about to be born. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon she has given birth to the child, she no longer remember the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. John 16:21-22 I do not imply that pain is always necessary, because Jesus never taught that. However, if a pain comes, we know that it comes from an outside. What comes from an outside, will eventually be dissolved. What comes from within, will stay with us forever. I rejoice in Christ, as I allow His pure and perfect joy flow through all of my being. I allow my joy to come from within. Being grateful for all good things that happen in my life, I do realize that they cannot be a sure and unshakable foundation for my joy. I am determined to look for joy that is full, for one that will satisfy me forever. As I look for joy, I know it is neither far away from me, nor is it difficult to find. It is within me, and as soon as I open myself to it, its living streams will flow and nourish my body and my soul, and make me a radiant expression of Christ within me. ------------------------------------------------------ Unity, or Unity School of Christianity, is a positive philosophy of life, based on teachings of Jesus Christ. E-mail: admin@unityway.net http://www.unityway.net Please feel free to share this E-zine with your friends and loved ones. We grow best by word of mouth and appreciate your sharing this newsletter with others. THANKS FOR READING! "God is more willing to give than you are to receive, and you demonstrate what you are willing to receive by what you willingly give." Brad Jensen All messages (c) 2001 by Andrei Yashurin The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New King James Version Bible, copyright, 1980, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. This E-zine is being sended through Felist.com list server only to those who subscribed to it, either at Felist.com or at our site. In order to manage your subscription, you need to go to the list page. I cannot subscribe or unsubscribe you. Please, follow this link: http://felist.com/catalog/lit.unityway/ -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: http://felist.com/member/unsub?grp=lit.unityway http://felist.com/ mailto:ask@felist.com