Cowboy and Country Church Ministry
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” John 14:27
Today’s Prayer
Give us today dear Jesus Your peace: Peace of heart, peace of mind, peace of soul. Not a temporary, conditional peace such as the world offers, but peace that comes from your personal indwelling and abiding presence, whereby we may know that whatever befalls us we may say, “It is well with my soul.” Amen
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” John 1:1–3
Today’s Prayer Lord God, You are from everlasting to everlasting. There was never a time nor ever ever will be when you are not. You are the creator and sustainer of all things. In You resides all power, wisdom, and knowledge. And yet, in your infinite grace You chose to make us, to form us in Your own image. Such knowledge is too wonderful, too incomprehensible to grasp in our finite human minds. Today, I pray that I may be mindful of Your precious gift of life and that being formed in Your image I may have fellowship with you. Guide my steps Lord, that in all events and circumstances of today that I may honor and give glory to You. Amen
“In the morning O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.” Psalm 5:3
Today’s Prayer
Thank You dear Father for a new Day. Each day is a blessing from You. We do not know what this new day holds, but we know that you will hold us in the strength and power of your loving arms of grace. Direct, strengthen and protect us in the renewed mercies of your continual presence so that in whatever circumstances we may find ourselves, we may know that You will never leave or forsake us. In You loving and precious Name we pray! Amen
“I keep sayin’ these things to ya so y’all can know My blessin’ deep down inside and be mighty pleased to overflowin’.” John 15:11 (The Gospel of John Cowboy Style)
“The New American Standard Version” says it like this . . .
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
An informal survey was taken among a group of participants (a group of about 50) aged 25-65 and had all the basics covered, in terms of shelter, food and clothing. A single question was asked: What do you want “more of” in your life? The number one answer: “to be happy!”
We might let that go, with such a small group being surveyed. But in other similar surveys with essentially the same question, the exact number one answer kept popping up: “I want to be happy.” One survey listed the top ten, with happiness, again at the top of the list. Curiously at number 6 on the list was the wish for more “joy” in their life.
I find it interesting that on the night of His betrayal, when Jesus spoke these words (John 15:11) to His disciples, He didn’t talk to them about being happy, the number one greatest wish by most folks. Instead, Jesus desired for His followers that they would be “joyful.”
Why not happiness? Why didn’t Jesus say to His disciples as He was saying
goodbye to them, “My wish for you is that you might be happy?” Well, it is likely because happiness is temporary; it is passing. You can be happy one moment and sad the next. Happiness is also dependent upon circumstances, situations, feelings, physical and emotional needs.
Whereas, joy comes from an entirely different source, at least the joy Jesus was speaking about to His disciples; a joy that is dependent not upon human resources and needs but upon the unwavering provisions and resources of God through the person of the Holy Spirit.
In fact, joy is one of those spiritual qualities listed in the “Fruit of the Spirit” that Paul says is inherited by those who “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16, 22). Here is a good Biblical definition of joy . . .
“Joy is a feeling of good pleasure and happiness that is dependent on who Jesus is rather than on who we are or what is happening around us. Joy comes from the Holy Spirit, abiding in God’s presence and from hope in His word.” – Avery Rimiller
You see, Jesus in the Upper Room that night knew what was coming. He knew what great tribulation and trouble the disciples would be facing. So, His prayer for them was that they would be filled up with the powerful presence of God’s joy so they would not lose hope in the following days.
Same is true for us. Just as the disciples, in this world we will go through troubling times. And in those times we may be tempted to give up hope. But
Jesus’ promise, even and especially in trials and tribulations, says to us, “be of good cheer” (don’t give up hope) “I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
And with parting words as they left the Upper Room that fateful night, Jesus said to His disciples . . .
“Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” (John 16:22)
“It is His joy that remains in us that makes our joy full.” – A. B. Simpson
“Ya see, God loves this world so much, that he gave His one and only Son to die, so that every man, woman, boy and girl who believes in Him will not die, but will be a-livin’ forever” John 3:16 (The Gospel of John Cowboy Style).
One of our most familiar hymns and perhaps with the simplest message is a song usually regarded as a children’s song . . .
Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so
These enduring words first appeared in a novel written by Susan Warner in the 1800’s called “Say and Seal.” They were penned by her younger sister, Anna Bartlett Warner who wrote them as a comforting poem to a dying child.
But the one to whom we owe thanks for arranging it as a song is William Bradbury. When he discovered the poem, he added a refrain and put it to music as one of the most beloved hymns of all time.
Maybe you remember singing this song as a youngster. Perhaps it brings 
back memories of standing with other children in a musty church classroom and singing the words to this tune; words that have forever become etched in your mind, your heart and your memory.
Perhaps the reason that this song is so meaningful and so lovingly speaks to our heart is that the words and the message of the song comes from God’s heart. Yes, He loves us: children, adults, sinners and all. In fact, we don’t have to do anything to make Him love us. He loves us already; just like we are. John was later to write . . .
“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)
It is reputed that Karl Barth, a well-known twentieth-century theologian, was asked to summarize the most profound truths from the thousands of pages of Christian theology books he’d written, he said simply this . . .
“Jesus loves me! this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
That’s it: the Gospel message in one sentence. Even the most renowned theologian of all time acknowledged it to be so and so can you . . .
Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so
