How do you keep people from stealing your Joy of life, living and loving?

Answer 1

Ultimately you have to find your own answer. For me it's a matter of remembering to keep perspective and most importantly a sense of humor. Eleanor Roosevelt was very wise and her advice applies here too: No one can seal your joy without your concent.

Answer 2

People will always try this out of the depths of their own hollowness. One can isolate/retreat, which is indeed necessary on occasion, but then life is not celebrated. The way out of the dilemma is not to stop people from stealing what they so desperately need, but rather to be so tied into the main pipeline we cannot help but overflow.
Finding something to thank Jesus for in every situation can actually be fun - even though it may be thanking Him for not having you ever have a bad hair day like that/wear that color of green/or have turnip greens on your front teeth.

Answer 3

Stay focused on the Lord. He is the source of our Joy!

Answer 4

Knowing that Jesus is your Joy and noone can take it away...

Answer 5

You dont allow them to, Its called self will.

Answer 6

walk away

Answer 7

When I read this article, my faith was never the same! :
***********************************************************
Beyond the Song 2006 Testimonies

BEYOND THE SONG 2006: THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, they realized that they had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13)

This Scripture describes our experience at Beyond the Song. From July 6-9, over 600 gathered in Lima, New York and spent time with Jesus! On Sunday morning, we joined Beyond the Song with Elim Gospel Church, and nearly 1000 enjoyed the ministry. I would remind the reader that when you are with Jesus, supernatural things happen!

Here's only a few of the testimonies:

1. SIGNS AND WONDERS
Several testified of being healed during worship services. While Michael Kim led worship on Friday morning, a woman testified of being healed of a degenerative hip condition. On Friday night, Darrell Evans had a word of knowledge about someone's sinuses being healed, and a man testified the next morning that an infection that had plagued him and hindered his sleep disappeared, and he slept like a baby.

I gave a word of knowledge on Friday afternoon about someone struggling so deeply with depression that they'd asked God to take their life. From behind the piano, I told them, "The Lord says, 'I will never answer that prayer! But I will restore your joy and your life!'" A young woman later testified to me that because of a tragedy in her family, she had been so overcome with grief that that very day, she asked the Lord to take her home. She was
delivered like a bird from it's cage!

As someone who speaks decent Swahili due to my missions experience in Tanzania, twice while Darrell Evans prayed in tongues during the weekend, he spoke in Swahili. The first time (in the pre-program meeting), he was interceding for the sick. The second time (from the stage), he was glorifying Christ. We all marveled at the power of the Holy Spirit!

2. REVELATION
Mike Chorey (director of Joshua Revolution) and I taught a two-part series in the afternoons called The Revelation of the Cross. We taught that the only way to live the victorious Christian life is if the object of your faith is fixed on the finished work of Christ. We taught "The Doctrine of Sin" on Day 1 and "The Doctrine of Grace" on Day 2. A Chinese college
student named Wendy was touched deeply, and told me on Saturday night, staring at me with eyes that were swollen from weeping, "For years I have asked the Lord to send me, but I have not been able to go for Him. Tonight He spoke to me, 'Now you are ready to go because now you know the gospel."

3. LABORERS FOR THE HARVEST
Saturday night, Michael Cavanaugh preached a powerful message on not being ashamed of the gospel, and the altar with filled with believers crying out for the Holy Spirit to fill them with boldness. Over 250 believers committed to going on a short-term missions trip, and many testified of hearing a call to nations. Several specifically testified of a call to China, which was something we'd specifically prayed for often before the event. On Saturday
night, event pastor Mark Scorsone also commissioned the team we're sending to Turkey the week after BTS 2006.

4. RESOURCES FOR THE KINGDOM
World Vision came to our event and presented their orphans for sponsorship. Twelve children received sponsorship during the weekend. My daughters Grace and Joye set up their display for their business Love the Nations Jewelry, where they sell bracelets and necklaces they've made to raise money for Africa and China. They raised over $150 for the nations! Several other children were also inspired to do something similar for the nations.

5. BELIEVERS REFRESHED AND ENCOURAGED
The artists and speakers were fantastic. Darrell Evans poured himself out, and many testified of being transformed during his ministry times. Speakers Paul Johansson, Mike Cavanaugh, Robert Livingston, and Toby Cavanaugh were profoundly used of the Lord. The bands we brought in brought the presence of the Lord with them. There are so many testimonies of how believers were refreshed and encouraged, I do not have the time or space to share it all! (if you would like to order sessions of any of the speakers, please email [e-mail] )

Thank you to all who came, prayed, or gave to this event. Only the days ahead, and eternity will show the fruit! We are $20,000 short of meeting our budget needs, and perhaps some of you can make a donation so we can continue this great event in the future (we are now able to receive donations by Credit Card, MC or Visa only, online at our website www.isaiahsix.com at the bottom of the main page or by sending a check payable to "Isaiah 6" to PO BOX 10A, Lima, NY 14485). Please pray and ask the Holy Spirit if He would have you to partner with us in this way.


May God impart to you even through reading this testimony page some of the unspeakable joy that is burning now in my heart!



Derek J. Levendusky

director, Isaiah 6 Ministries, Inc.

director, Beyond the Song Worship Festival