Who Has the Right to Steal Joy - Cathy Vinson

Much that lies in shining out as lights is in the guarding of Holy Spirit joy. Without it "the radius of our perspective is too tight, and the tunnel of our hope is too long." None of us need that.

"Do all things without grumbling and disputing" (Phil 2:14). Charles Swindoll has put it well: "Ever been around a sourpuss? We all have. And even when we try to resist being influenced by such negativism, we find some of it rubbing off. HOW UNFAIR to pass around the poison of pessimism! It creates an atmosphere of wholesale negativism where nothing but the bad side of everything is emphasized....

"Those who hope to laugh again...must learn to 'do all things without grumbling and disputing.'...Verbal pollution takes a heavy toll on everyone. Furthermore, WHO GAVE ANYONE THE RIGHT to pollute the air with such pessimism? I agree with the person who said: "We have no more right to put our discordant states of mind into the lives of those around us and rob them of their sunshine and brightness than we have to enter their houses and steal their silverware.'

Who has given us or anyone else the right? We have foolishly allowed this type of robbery. God is here. Let the "talk (that) comes out of your mouths...(be) only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Eph 4:29).

Cathy Vinson