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You want everyone you meet to know that you love Jesus... so make it obvious!  Have a good attitude, wear a bright smile - how else is anyone going to know you are full of JOY and that you have something REALLY great that they don't?  Make them want to have what you have!
umm... right?

For some reason that doesn't settle well with me.  I'm guilty of saying the same thing many time before (especially to the younger ones when going out), but it just doesn't seem right thinking over it lately.  Should we pretend to have joy when we don't feel it just so that everyone thinks we have something great?  I'm not trying to be contradictory, but it does seem a little odd to tell a grumpy kid to cheer up and plaster a smile on their face when they are being the opposite... grumpy.  Or, to put it another way - NOT full of Jesus' joy. =P  Of COURSE our joy should be full and great because of the love the Lord has for us and the new life we have because of Him - but shouldn't our joy come from that, and not be a "fake" outward way of trying to let people know that we're a Christian?  Isn't that God's job when we're just loving Him, obeying Him, and living for Him every day?  

If we're finding ourselves telling our faces to wear a different expression to show the world something that we're not - maybe it's time to tell our hearts to re-focus and spend time in the presence of The One who tied it's very veins together.  Maybe we need to truly find joy in Jesus, and not just fake up a smile.  I think that if we are truly and completely absorbed with loving Him and pleasing Him, that a smile isn't necessary... it will come without our noticing, because we can't help but... well, at least smile.

We have reason... I have reason to sing and dance because of all that He has done for me, and for His continues faithfulness to love and guide me.  Let's go find true joy.  Let's go remind ourselves of a reason to smile!

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