Blog Post
Posted by Dion Todd September 4th, 2025 1,232 Views 28 Comments
For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard; a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Luke 7:33–34 WEB.
A gloomy feeling settled over you when you entered the church sanctuary. Everyone was somber, with long faces like they were mourning, but it wasn't a funeral. The elders certainly looked elderly. The paintings of Jesus on the wall always made Him look sad. Either He was a baby in a manger or bleeding out on a cross. This church was cold, quiet, and highly religious. It was institutionalized religion at its finest, and the denomination was basically a franchise.
When I read my Bible, I couldn't help but think, "We seem to be missing something." Jesus lived a colorful, full, happy life. He laughed with people. He loved, He wept. Jesus had friends. He fasted often, but at other times, He ate very well. The Pharisees stood outside and watched Him feast with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:11). Yet, they felt too holy to go inside themselves. They stood outside, feeling holier than the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus gave His disciples nicknames like the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17) when James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven. He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21). The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17), and Jesus walked in that realm. The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and I am sure that Jesus was strong.
The great reformer Martin Luther became a monk. He wore himself out praying to saints, fasting, and confessing sins to his superiors. Yet, it gave him no peace. Then he found true grace, left monkery, married a nun, and changed the known world. Luther raised ten children and concluded that "Marriage is a far better school for character than any monastery."
The Lord Jesus Christ wants you to live a full and wonderful life just as He did. There will be times of laughing and times of weeping. There will be times of fasting and times of feasting. There is a time to be born and a time to die. So allow room for joy in your life, and balance the drudgery. Don't allow cold, dead religion to sap the joy from your life, for it was God who invented blue skies and sunshine.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please restore joy to my life and let me feel Your touch once again. Help me focus on what is important to You and guide my heart today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Note: Today is Thankful Thursday at the Ministry Events group! This event gives us an opportunity encourage each other by posting thoughts, moments, and prayers of gratitude for Him, His creation and all that He does in our lives. All our welcome! To join, just click on the group name and then the join link on the page that will follow. As always, if you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network.
Post from Nell Neathery
1 day ago
Pastor's Prayer: Heavenly Father, please restore joy to my life and let me feel Your touch once again. Help me focus on what is important to You and guide my heart today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
An answer to many prayers: Since I was told twice this year, after my partial colon resection in March, I don't have cancer in the rest of my body. He helped me to recover and finally restored joy to my life and let me feel His touch again. I focus on what is important to Him and He guides my heart. I am glad I am a member here at RHM as you all are a Bible-Believing, Spirit-Filled Church, and so is First Baptist in downtown Quinlan where I attend on Sundays! Sunday is coming!!!
Post from Billy Abee
1 day ago
Amen. God bless you Pastor Dion. This is exactly how I feel lately. Ive had No joy in my life with all this turmoil going on. Im stressed to the max. Father God i pray for your Holy Spirit to guide me and give me peace and joy. If you’re trying to bring my wife back then please just do it. If not Father then please give me the strength to let her go. I cant take anymore. I love my wife. Ive never understood why this happened but its in your hands. Your will please be done and guide me on your path. In Christ name i pray. Amen.
Comment from Joe Miller
1 day ago
I just can't imagine what you are going through. I will remember you in prayer rigbt now.
Comment from Sylvia Todd
1 day ago
Praying for both of you, brother, may He bring guidance, peace and His perfect will 🙏!
Post from David Krull
1 day ago
Amen Lord. This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.
Post from Brenda F
1 day ago
Amen
Post from Natalie Carey
2 days ago
Amen, recently I have not felt joy in my life. Call it the season changes, the earlier setting of the sun, call it the fact that summer is winding down. I pray each morning and evening but sometimes I don't feel as if I am connecting with God. Lord, please restore my joy in life and guide me each day to what is important to you.
Comment from Sylvia Todd
1 day ago
Praying for refreshment and renewal of spirit, Natalie, God bless 🙏!
Post from Wesley Paulus
1 day ago
Amen!
Post from Liesel aka lisa Wardle
2 days ago
Dear Heavenly Father, please restore joy to me life and let me feel Your touch once again. Help me focus on what is important to You and guide my heart today. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen!!!
Post from Debi Burton
2 days ago
Heavenly Father, please restore joy to my life and let me feel Your touch once again. Help me focus on what is important to You and guide my heart today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen! ❤️🤟🏻
Comment from Liesel aka lisa Wardle
2 days ago
Amen and Amen!!! 🙏
Post from Yvette York
2 days ago
Heavenly Father Please Restore Joy And Peace Back In My Life Amen Good Morning Everyone 😀
Post from Jackie Tipton
2 days ago
Amen ❤️ 🙏 Praise the Lord
Post from Elena Vasquez
2 days ago
Amen
Post from Theresa Bright
2 days ago
Amen 🙏🏻 I thank you Father for this blessing in Jesus Name.Amen
Post from Gina Blakey
2 days ago
A BIG AMEN!
Post from Mark Williams
2 days ago
Heavenly Father, please restore joy to my life and let me feel Your touch once again. Help me focus on what is important to You and guide my heart today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen
Post from Kevin J. Eck
2 days ago
Heavenly Father, I pray my Friends and I will live in your Love, Joy and Peace! Let us know you are there every moment, lifting the hopeless, healing the sick; caring for the old, protecting our children and much more. Sometimes I feel I am asking for to much, Father, but I stand my ground! I am hanging on to your promises! In this I pray, Jesus, Amen!
Post from Sylvia Todd
2 days ago
Good morning, fam, we love y'all 🌼! Praying you all have a wonderfully blessed day 💛!
Comment from Debi Burton
2 days ago
Good morning Sylvia! Have a blessed day!
Post from Marisa Jackson
2 days ago
Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for Jesus, as we should always follow in His footsteps. He showed us how to live our lives to the fullest and to be happy as well as to pray consistently and be joyful, loving, kind, compassionate and forgiving. Jesus set an example that we should follow everyday; it is not easy but with prayer and constant fellowship, we can be what Our Father in Heaven made us to be by praying and knowing that Jesus is with each and everyone of us ALWAYS! May Our Father in Heaven bless you and your loved ones, in Jesus most precious name I pray, Amen 🙏❤️❤️🙏!!
Post from Valeri Frank
2 days ago
Amen!
Post from Gloria Nebarez
2 days ago
Amen, thank you Jesus
Post from Laura Clark
2 days ago
Amen!!! 🙏❤️🙏
Post from Mari Kaufmann
2 days ago
Amen
Post from Kay Collinsworth
2 days ago
Amen
Post from Rose Theuret
2 days ago
Amen 🙏 😇😇
Post from Celeste Strenn
2 days ago
Amen🙏🏽thank you for Joyful ❤️ love dear Lord Jesus 🤗please help me to share your precious Joy🌟
Post from Richard A Smith
2 days ago
Amen.
Post from Dana Rozell
2 days ago
Amen!
Post from Schalk de Beer
2 days ago
Yes Abba Father I pray this in Jesus's name, amen. ✝️🛐