There is such a joy. It is a sacred de-

light, a holy gladness. It comes from

God and it is within your reach.

You can t open your Bible without

reading about it.

-- It s on Mary s face as she watches

God sleep in a feed trough.

-- It s in Andrew s eyes as he stares at

the hmchpail that never goes empty.

-- It s in the leper s smile as he sees a

finger where there had been only a nub.

-- And it is in Lazarus heart as he

comes alive in his own tomb.

It is God doing what gods would be

doing only in your wildest dreams--

wearing diapers, riding donkeys, wash-

ing feet, dozing in storms--dying for

your mistakes.

It s what you always dreamed but

never expected. It s having God as your

pinch-hitter, your lawyer, your dad,

your biggest fan and your best friend. It

is having the King of Kings in your

cheering section. It is hearing the ap-

plause of heaven.

It is a joy that only God can give. It is

a joy that no person can take.

Could you use some genuine joy in

your life?

Max Lucado believes that the Beati-

tudes provide what we need to discover

the joy of God.

"This joy is not cheap," he cautions.

"What Jesus promises is not a gimmick

to give you goose bumps nor a mental

attitude that has to be pumped up

at pep rallies. It is, instead, a radical

reconstruction of the heart."