What would it look like to have unhindered, abundant joy in the midst of all circumstances?

The beauty of the joy God longs to give us is that it's not fleeting or temporary, it's sustaining, strong, and true.

As we continue to discover what it means to live for heaven, today we look at

what it means for us to be marked by joy. Welcome to the first 15 podcast. C.S. Lewis said

all joy emphasizes the pilgrim status. Always reminds, beckons, awakens desire. Our best havings, our wantings. As pilgrim status, always reminds, beckons, awakens, desires. Our best havings are wantings.

As pilgrims on a journey to boundless communion with our Heavenly Father, we are created to be

marked by a sustaining and transcendent joy. Our God is a God of joy. He's a creator of fun and

the giver of abundant life. He longs for his children

to taste and see his goodness. He longs for us to open our hearts, cast off the cares of the world,

and receive the joy that comes from living for heaven. Romans 1417 says, for the kingdom of God

is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness

and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Psalm 1611 says, You make known to me the path of life.

In your presence there is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Proverbs 10, 28 says, The hope of the righteousness brings joy,

but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

We serve a joyful king.

There is no greater joy than living in the fullness of relationship available to us in Christ.

To live for heaven is to throw off whatever weight would entangle us to the depravity of this world

and seek sustaining joy that

comes down from heaven to fill our hearts. Our father cares deeply about the concerns of the world.

He weeps over the lost. He becomes angry over the works of the enemy. He's deeply saddened when we

choose the fleeting and unsatisfying ways of the world over his

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