This is an inspirational message from my Pastor, Paul Daugherty. By the time you read this the timely manner from when it was sent to me will have passed. I usually blog Conservative politics, Counterjihad awareness and Christian Right stands. However, in the case of this message I am awaiting a time frame in which I am harried. Yeah that might be a bit selfish, but I am believing if a harried moment occurs to me it is also occurring to another. For those whom this applies be blessed and highly favored with both God and man.
(By the way, this emailed message was sent merely as the “May Monthly Letter” in the subject line. So Pastor forgive me for probably assigning another title that you probably have in your notes.)
JRH 5/24/15
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Choose to have JOY
By Pastor Paul Daugherty
Sent: 5/18/2015 3:25 PM
Sent as May Monthly Letter
Have you ever had a terrible day? Seems like nothing is going right? Naturally during days like this we are prone to feel negative or discouraged. But the truth is, we can CHOOSE to have JOY even on bad days! When you wake up, you can choose what kind of day you’re going to have! Abraham Lincoln said “Most people are as happy as they’ve decided to be!” I once heard a story about an older gentleman who had just lost his wife and was going blind. He lived all alone, and could no longer take care of himself. He didn’t have any family to come and help him, so he called a cab to move him to a nice Assisted Living Home. He arrived early and waited for an hour before someone could take him to his room. The young aide explained to this elderly man on the way to his room about what he would have and what was in his room. He got so excited and began to exclaim “I love it, I love it!” The young aide was confused and said “You haven’t seen it… We are not there yet!” The elderly gentleman then explained “You don’t have to show it to me. Whether I like my room or not does not depend on how the furniture is arranged. It depends on how my mind is arranged. JOY is a choice!” Wow! His statement was so powerful on how we can face difficult days or situations. In Psalms 118:24 it says, “This is the day the Lord has made! We will rejoice & be glad in it!” Not tomorrow or when everything gets better. Not when your spouse changes or when your boss gets moved to another planet! Choose to be joyful TODAY!
The apostle Paul led a life of focusing on joy even in great trials. In Romans 5:3, he says “We can rejoice when we run into problems or trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance!” The Bible also says in James 1:2 to “Consider it an opportunity for great joy when you fall into various trials and tests, do not allow your mind or your spirit to become defeated, for it is producing in you steadfastness!” Ask yourself: How do you handle the difficult things that come your way or unexpected situations? How is your attitude? Do you get easily bent out of shape? Do you throw a fit when things don’t go your way? If you’ll learn to be joyful where you are, God will take you to where you want to be! God didn’t create us to live in worry and stress. He didn’t create us to live upset and easily offended either. Let’s talk about offense for a moment. When you get offended, you automatically give your power away! People can’t take your power; you have to give it to them. The same rule applies with the devil towards Christians. He can’t take anything from you, but rather you have to give it to him. The devil wants you to major on the minors so that he can majorly steal your life! When someone steals your parking space that you patiently waited for, you can say “I’ll give them my parking spot, but I will not give them my joy!” It’s liberating when you understand you don’t have to give away your joy! Instead of looking for all the offenses in life, let’s look for what’s good and celebrate it. Let’s get off the offense wagon and get on the celebration wagon. In Proverbs 4:23, it says to “Guard your heart, for out of it springs the source of life!” My question to you is what could possibly be contaminating your heart: anger, strife, offense, worry, stress, anxiety? Do you find yourself having imaginary conversations with that person you dislike? Telling them off? Then you’ve given them your joy, and it’s time to get it back!
There are 3 “Suitcases” you could be carrying around that will try to steal your joy if you let them:
1. The Suitcase of Worry- always worried about plans coming together, worried about your family, worried if people like you or not, worried about losing your job. Worry inevitably leads to getting easily angered.
2. The Suitcase of Anger- anger is usually camouflaged by the word “frustrated”, frustrated with ignorant drivers on the road, frustrated with people at work, frustrated with your current circumstance. That frustration is really just a heavy suitcase of anger. The angrier you are with circumstances, people, or yourself, the easier it is to pick up the suitcase of bitterness!
3. The Suitcase of Bitterness- When we don’t allow God to remove anger in our lives, it can turn into a poisonous grudge of bitterness. Bitterness is the result of letting all those small frustrations pile up without letting God’s forgiveness do its work. You could be bitter towards God, your boss, your spouse, a family member, friends, or even yourself.
Who can take all of these heavy suitcases- these burdens we carry? There is someone who wants all your burdens, all your cares, your frustrations, and your stresses about the future… and His name is Jesus! So what can we do to keep our joy on a daily basis?
1. Cast your cares on Jesus for He will sustain you! Psalm 55:22 says “Give your burdens to the Lord and He will take care of you.” Let go of that grudge, that frustration, or that anxiety. Just daily pray, “Lord, I give this burden to you, and I let go of it today.”
2. Each morning you wake up, choose to put on the Garment of Praise. Thank God for His goodness! Be grateful! Isaiah 61:3 says “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”
3. Trust God. Lean not on your own understanding! Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Believe that God is going to take care of whatever has you weighed down. He is worthy of your TRUST.
Change your perspective on life and consider His nature even to the birds. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus says to stop worrying and remember you are valuable to God. He will take care of you because He is faithful! I believe He’s filling your heart with joy right now. You are laying down that heavy bag of worry, anger, or bitterness and receiving that garment of praise! Remember, God is with you, for you, and in you to give you the victory!
Love in Christ,
Pastor Paul Daugherty
Check our website at victory.com for more details on these upcoming events.
If you are in the Tulsa area, we would love for you to join us for services on:
If you are in the Tulsa area, we would love for you to join us for services on:
- Sunday at 9a.m., 11a.m., and 6p.m.
- Wednesday at 7p.m.
- Saturday at 5p.m.
If you can’t be with us in person, you can join us online at VictoryTulsaChurchOnline.org.
If you would like to donate to Victory please click here
If you would like to donate to Victory please click here
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Edited by John R. Houk
The email links were edited to reflect the actual website being directed toward.
Victory Christian Center · 7700 S. Lewis Ave. · Tulsa, OK 74136 · USA
Who We Are Page
THE HISTORY
42 years ago on the football field of Southern Arkansas University, God spoke to a man named Billy Joe Daugherty that he was called to spend his life leading people to Christ. He followed that calling by enrolling at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK in 1972.
After graduation Billy Joe and Sharon Daugherty were married and began ministering in Tulsa and traveling to minister in small churches across the states. On Easter Sunday 1981, Pastors Billy Joe and Sharon started Victory Christian Center, where they were surprised to find 1,600 people at the first service. From a car dealership, to a large tent, to the Mabee Center, and now the Victory Worship Center, Pastor Billy Joe and Sharon stayed true to God’s calling to reach the lost.
“The focus has been winning the lost. We’re going after the lost. We believe this is the call of God on the church.” -Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty Billy Joe and Sharon, and Victory answered that call: the Tulsa Dream Center, Victory Bible College, Victory Christian School, Victory Fellowship of Ministries, Camp Victory, the bus ministry, apartment community outreaches, and Mobile Kids Clubs.
With honor, celebration and yet sadness, the leaders of Victory announced … READ THE REST
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