Joy in Life: Your Guide to Genuine Joy and True Happiness

By Alex Tumparov

Author Alex Tumparov has learned from a lifetime of studying, teaching, and applying the principles of Joy in Life that they will dramatically change and drastically transform your life. You can make real progress, regardless of your current state or condition. Joy in Life is designed to give you the courage to begin your journey and also encourage you every step of the way. It will give you strength for today, hope for tomorrow, and a bright promise for the future.

Despite any obstacles that come your way, you must recognize that it is not the world or your circumstances that need to change; real change must begin with you. No goal is easy, whether it is climbing to the top of a mountain, becoming chairman of the board, or achieving an ideal weight loss.

Life is a journey, and Joy in Life promises to

get you started in the right direction; keep you on the path you need to go; lead you to your destination.

You must realize that God has a perfect plan and purpose for your life; nothing He does is by accident. You too can begin looking at the big picture that can only be seen through the eyes of faith.

If you take these simple steps and follow the leadership of God to the best of your ability, He will absolutely lead and guide you. Today you can begin the journey that will take you far beyond the limits of human comprehension, for He truly is your guide to genuine joy and true happiness and much Joy in Life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 19, 2011
• ISBN: 9781449728755

Alex Tumparov

Alex Tumparov is a pastor, writer, and president and founder of Joy in Life Ministries. Their mission is simple: “To walk in the will of the Father in whatever direction He leads, dedicating each day to His service for His Glory.” He resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with his wife, Sue.  

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Contents

Introduction

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Introduction

My wife and I recently spent one of the most enjoyable weeks we have ever had. Our oldest daughter, our son-in-law, and our two grandkids blessed us with a weeklong visit. Our youngest daughter was also in our home, accompanied by her then-fiancé from college and our niece, who was visiting from California.

One day, I began to cry as I watched eight very special people that I loved dearly having a ball splashing, screaming, and playing in our pool. It was as if at one moment in time every prayer I had ever asked for had been answered, and every blessing God had for me had been poured out in one beautiful summer day.

There was a point in my life when I never thought I would see this day or any other for that matter. For years I struggled with alcoholism, and it became so bad that I lost my wife, my home, my daughter, my job, and my self-esteem. Everything I had ever wanted and worked for was gone, and I came very close to committing suicide.

God, however, had other plans for me, and through His great love and grace, He led me to a drug rehabilitation center, and with their help and a lot of AA meetings, I managed to sober up. Once sober, I jumped right back into the same old thing—the world’s system and its way of thinking. I became determined to prove myself and atone for past mistakes. I hurried through the twelve steps of AA, got a job, and got real busy working, earning money, and having fun. I was anxious to show the world just how normal I was and how far I had come. I was once again one of many.

I remember clearly landing a great job as a department manager and getting transferred to the big city. I had money, a car, friends, and a nicely furnished apartment on the very top floor. I had arrived. And I thought I had everything I could ever hope for. However, despite all I had acquired and all of the progress I thought I had made, I was still empty inside, until one Sunday morning in December 1983.

That day God gave me a new life; that day I got on my knees, asked God to forgive my sins, and asked Jesus to come into my heart and become my Lord and Savior.

That day, I found true happiness and the real meaning of success. That morning, God planted a seed in my heart that blossomed into all of the blessings I received twenty-five years later with my family. This book will encourage you to never quit or give up. If I could make progress, I know you can too. Keep your priorities straight, put God first, and everything else will fall right into place. Take one small step in the right direction, and little by little, you will be on a journey that will take you way beyond the limits of human comprehension.

Despite any obstacles that come our way, we must recognize that it is not the world or our circumstances that need to change; real change must begin with us. No goal is easy, whether it is climbing to the top of a mountain, becoming chairman of the board, or achieving your ideal weight loss. After twenty-five years of learning, teaching, and applying the principles in this book, I can assure you they will work, no matter what current state or condition you are in. Only you can make real progress, and if you apply these simple steps on a daily basis, you will be surprised where you will find yourself a year from today.

Maybe you are not feeling well; you’re tired and run-down. Maybe your finances are not what you’d like them to be, or you’re not moving ahead in your job. Are you having problems with your children? Do you feel that people don’t like you? Regardless of the situation or circumstance, you do have the power to change any setback you may be having in life.

Well, how do you do that? Begin by blessing yourself, declaring good things for yourself, and refusing to develop a negative self-image. Declare victory in your life. If you don’t feel well, thank God for healing, and you will get better. If your finances or occupation are not where they should be, be confident that God has already made plans for your success. If your relationships with your children and friends are not what they should be, believe that God is doing all He can to make them right.

It all starts with you. The world says, I’ll believe it when I see it, but God says, Call the things that are not as if they already existed. Translation: Walk and talk in faith. There is power in what you hear yourself saying. Declare good things, and don’t be afraid to stand in front of the mirror every day and proclaim victory. Never speak defeat; always tell yourself you will get healthy, you will prosper, your relationships will be restored.

You are strong in the Lord, and this is the day that He has created especially for you. Rejoice in that! In this world you have enough people trying to tear you down. Don’t be one of them.

We have all heard the question Is the glass half empty or half full? Depending on whom you ask, the answer will vary. My personal response is neither, because God says, I don’t have a glass, but a pitcher, and it’s not just full, but it’s running over with blessings.

This book was not written so much as a daily devotional as it was a road map to inner peace, sound mental health, and spiritual growth. I hope it serves as an aid to help find the true you and gives you the necessary courage to step out of and away from the crowd. I pray that it challenges you to seek what’s truly important in life: happiness, peace, joy, love, and most importantly, an eternal relationship with our Father, Almighty God.

January

STEP ONE

Always Ask The Expert First

JANUARY

The Lemon Tree

My wife and I just celebrated our wedding anniversary. My wife loves lemons, so on our anniversary last year, I went to the nursery and bought her a lemon tree. After planting and fertilizing it, I hooked up the automatic sprinkler and set it to be watered twice a day, every day.

For the first six months, it seemed to be doing fine, but then, all of a sudden, the leaves started to turn yellow and slowly began falling off. I tried to remedy the problem by mixing in a stronger fertilizer and watering it even more.

Needless to say, the problem got worse instead of better. By the time my green thumb got through with it, there were only two leaves left on the tree. I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. I had tried my very best to keep my gift alive and get it to blossom.

Finally, I did what no man wants to do: admit he is lost, humble himself, and ask for help. I went back to the nursery and explained all that I was doing to it: watering, fertilizing, and even praying over that stupid tree.

Without a pause, the florist looked at me and simply said, You’re overwatering it. He gave me a water chart and told me to water it once a day, every other day.

I said, That’s it?

Yep, that’s it.

I went home and did exactly what he told me, and within weeks (actually on my twentieth anniversary), there were leaves all over it.

You might say, What’s your point? The point is we are not a lot different than that lemon tree. Our lives are falling apart. We’re empty and unable to bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control.

Yet, because of pride, we refuse to go to God or to His Word, the Bible, to get the answers that we need to grow and flourish. Our intentions are probably very good; we think we are doing all we can to get the best results in life, but life doesn’t seem to be growing right for us.

Maybe it’s time to go to the expert. All you have to do is ask, and He will give you all the answers you need to make your life abundant and fruitful.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. Nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. (Ps. 1:1-3)

STEP ONE: ALWAYS ASK THE EXPERT FIRST.

JANUARY 1

• WORD FOR TODAY •

YOU CAN LIVE IN PERFECT HARMONY

There is no greater feeling on earth than that of your soul merging with God’s Spirit. When your heart and mind mix with the heart and mind of God, something special happens of which there’s no logical explanation. You just know something is different and life has changed forever. You feel as if you are one with the universe; it suddenly makes sense. It seems you have come to the realization that for all of this time, you have been singing out of key but now you sing in perfect harmony. When your purpose in life collides with God’s purpose for you, every key of your life will be in perfect harmony with Him.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praise to Your name, O most High; To declare Your loving-kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night, on an instrument of ten strings, on the lute, and on the harp, with harmonious sound. For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands. (Ps. 92:1-4)

• PRAYER FOR TODAY •

Lord, I pray that I may be in harmony with the music of Your kingdom, by being in tune with Your will for my life.

• THOUGHT FOR TODAY •

What kind of beautiful music can I make if I cooperate with those around me?

• JOURNAL FOR TODAY •

JANUARY 2

• WORD FOR TODAY •

PREPARE FOR THE HARVEST

God is always ready to pour out His blessings in generous measure. But, as in seed sowing, the ground must be prepared before the seed is dropped in. Your job is to prepare the soil. It’s God’s job to drop the seed, His Word. As you prepare the soil and apply God’s Word (the seed), you will begin the process of growth. This may mean many days of choosing the right and avoiding the wrong, days of doing well, of being kind, of being loving, and of being patient. As you go along each day, you prepare more and more for God’s planting, until you reach the time of harvest. Then you will share the harvest with God—the harvest of a useful and abundant life. God’s promises can never be broken; you always reap what you sow! If you want to be loved… love. If you want understanding… be understanding. If you want mercy… be merciful. If you want… give.

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night, shall not cease." (Gen. 8:22)

• PRAYER FOR TODAY •

I pray that I may properly prepare my soil by choosing to do right today. I know if I prepare my soil, cultivate it, and patiently wait, I will reap the harvest God has planted in my heart.

• THOUGHT FOR TODAY •

Am I willing to share my harvest with others?

• JOURNAL FOR TODAY •

JANUARY 3

• WORD FOR TODAY •

SHOW, THEN TELL

Sometimes your plans must be put aside and gladly given up to allow you to perform a good service or say a kind word. Each moment of your day that is devoted to helping others is a gift to God. When you see things from God’s point of view, it is easy to give many precious moments of your day in order to be a blessing to someone. Every situation you encounter has two interpretations: your own and God’s. Try to handle each situation in the way you believe the Lord would have handled it. Whatever you do for others, you do for Jesus.

Then the king will say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. (Matt. 25:34-40)

• PRAYER FOR TODAY •

Lord, allow me to show by my actions that I am willing to make my day count for good. I pray I may not spend it on selfishness, but by reaching out to others in need. Lord, let me not just talk about You; let me be a reflection of You.

• THOUGHT FOR TODAY •

Am I willing to make my day count for someone other than me?

• JOURNAL FOR TODAY •

JANUARY 4

• WORD FOR TODAY •

CONSCIOUS CONTACT LEADS TO GOOD MENTAL HEALTH

The eternal life that God promises begins the moment you come into the awareness of God’s presence. His presence will flow through your spirit, your mind, and your body. It cleanses, heals, restores, renews, and refreshes. It’s a good idea to consider seeking God’s presence more and more each day because all that is done without God’s spirit will pass away but all that is done with God’s spirit will continue to grow and prosper into eternal life. "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3).

• PRAYER FOR TODAY •

Dear Lord, I pray that I may renew my mind by making conscious contact with You. Impress on my heart that the eternal life can only come by knowing and being connected to the Source of all life, God. May I flow in the stream of eternal life and be cleansed and healed by God’s eternal spirit.

• THOUGHT FOR TODAY •

What can I do to give someone else good mental help?

• JOURNAL FOR TODAY •

JANUARY 5

• WORD FOR TODAY •

GOD NEVER SEES ME AS INADEQUATE!

When will we learn to stop trying to run our own lives and seek to let God run them for us? God is our healer and our strength. We don’t even have to ask Him to come near us; He is always with us in spirit. When we need Him, He is there to help us. If we only knew how much God loves and desires to help us, we would know He needs no pleading for our help. Our need is God’s opportunity. When we feel inadequate in any situation, we should realize that feeling inadequate is a slap in God’s face. Just repeat to yourself: I know God is with me and will help me to think and to say and to do the right thing. "But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me . . ." (2 Tim. 4:17)

• PRAYER FOR TODAY •

Lord, if all else abandons me, I know You stand solidly at my side. When I feel absolutely spent, You give me strength. When failure appears inevitable, You step in and help me finish what You gave me to do. Lord, I know you never see me as inadequate; You always see me as growing.

• THOUGHT FOR TODAY •

Do I look at others as being inadequate, or do I help them grow closer to God?

• JOURNAL FOR TODAY •

JANUARY 6

• WORD FOR TODAY •

FILL ‘ER UP!

We all need to be refilled on a daily basis. God has given us enough grace just for today, and it is up to us to spend quiet time in communion with Him away and alone, without noise and without activity. We need to get alone and shut ourselves up in the secret place that is designed only for you and God, not you, God, and the TV, telephone, Internet, or anything else. There is no room except for you and God. It’s from these times of communion that you will burst forth with new power. This refueling is your best preparation for effective work. When you are spiritually filled, there is no work too hard for you to do. "For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock" (Ps. 27:5).

• PRAYER FOR TODAY •

Lord, I pray that I may be refueled daily by my quiet times with You. That I may be refreshed in that secret place that was created for the two of us. May I be spiritually filled by Your power and presence and be filled with the joy of true living.

• THOUGHT FOR TODAY •

Am I willing to spend enough time refueling so I have enough fuel left to give away?

• JOURNAL FOR TODAY •

JANUARY 7

• WORD FOR TODAY •

ARE YOU OKAY?

One thing you must always remember: God’s spirit is always with you, wherever you are, to keep you on the right path. God’s power is never at issue, only your realization of that power. You must learn to believe God is near and His grace is always available. It is not a question of whether God can protect us and shelter us from any storm, but whether or not we choose to seek the security of that shelter. Every fear, every worry or doubt we have, limits God. We must learn to trust God wholly and build our faith on the firm foundation of God’s truth. Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock (Matt. 7:24-25).

• PRAYER FOR TODAY •

I pray that I know deeply that all is well. I will build my foundation on the rock, that no matter what storms may come, I will stand. I will start building by saying, God loves me and all is well. I will continue to say it until I feel it deeply.

• THOUGHT FOR TODAY •

Do I really trust God to deliver me from the storms of life?

• JOURNAL FOR TODAY •

JANUARY 8

• WORD FOR TODAY •

DELIBERATELY PREPARED TO REST

There are days that require a whole bunch of effort and times when all overwhelms us. The solution to this problem is often pretty simple: rest. It is never a good idea to carry on too long without rest. Life usually fluctuates between balance and rest, and the successful life has learned how to properly balance the two. If you are honest, you must admit that your efforts are not really effective unless you have first spent time preparing for them through meditation and prayer. When you do not prepare properly by resting, you become like a man in a rocking chair: lots of movement back and forth but very little progress. "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him . . ." (Ps. 37:7).

• PRAYER FOR TODAY •

Lord, in those times when I feel overwhelmed and life is requiring too much effort, may I come to You for rest. When hard times come and I feel listless, powerless, weak, and worried, may I find my strength in You. Lord, give me proper balance and prepare me for effective effort. Remind me that worthwhile effort always comes by preparing first through proper rest.

• THOUGHT FOR TODAY •

Am I willing to spend some quiet time with God in order to be effective?

• JOURNAL FOR TODAY •

JANUARY 9

• WORD FOR TODAY •

WILL YOU TEACH ME TO DANCE?

God is so good, and He always wants the very best for us. It is not He, but we, who struggle and stress. We try to change ourselves and learn on our own, rather than ask God in daily prayer to give us the strength to change. We fail to fully trust Him, and sometimes our prayers go unanswered. Sometimes we struggle so much that God has to render us helpless in order to be wholly at His mercy. If we ask God to teach us to dance, He will, but He must lead, and we must learn to follow.

"I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (John 8:12)

• PRAYER FOR TODAY •

Dear Lord, may I learn not to struggle. Teach me to dance so when You lead I will gladly follow.

• THOUGHT FOR TODAY •

What can be more beautiful than dancing with the Father?

• JOURNAL FOR TODAY •

JANUARY 10

• WORD FOR TODAY •

DO I HAVE THE ANSWER?

God has promised peace if you stay close to Him. He has promised your heart rest and comfort. You know peace and comfort bring real inward happiness. Knowing the way, nothing can prevent you from seriously straying from it. You know the right way is to stay so close to God that nothing, no other interest, can seriously come between you and His will for your life. You still have to carry on in the world, but if you keep your feet pointed in God’s direction, He will lead you every step of the way. How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring good tidings of good things! (Rom. 10:15).

• PRAYER FOR TODAY •

Lord, I have the answer the world needs today. May I share it with others, not by mere words but by the direction my feet are going. May they always point in Your direction.

• THOUGHT FOR TODAY •

Beautiful feet always bring good news!

• JOURNAL FOR TODAY •

JANUARY 11

• WORD FOR TODAY •

BRINGING ORDER OUT OF CHAOS

The same God who ordered and created the world out of chaos, who set the stars in the heavens and the planets in motion, can bring peace and order out of your private chaos if you let Him. God watches over you, to bless and care for you. It was out of darkness that He led you into the light. Out of unrest, into rest; out of disorder to order; out of failure to success.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. (Rev. 21:4-5)

• PRAYER FOR TODAY •

I trust God to deliver me from disorder to order, from failure to success.

• THOUGHT FOR TODAY •

You belong to God. Have you made your affairs His affairs?

• JOURNAL FOR TODAY •

JANUARY 12

• WORD FOR TODAY •

A WHOLE NEW ATTITUDE

We are people of action, and the moment something seems wrong or a person’s actions destructive to himself or herself or others in any way, our obligation must begin. What is our responsibility? It is to pray for wrongs to be righted and destructive actions to be changed. It is not our responsibility to become busybodies and interfere, but to pray so that change may come through our influence. We all have a responsibility to be a source for good and an influence for change. We have all been given a job to do.

Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his labor. For we are fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the Grace of God, which was given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. (1 Cor. 3:8-10)

• PRAYER FOR TODAY •

Lord, it’s a privilege to be a part of the master plan. May I help people by my example and be a force for good.

• THOUGHT FOR TODAY •

Whose life can I help build through my example?

• JOURNAL FOR TODAY •

JANUARY 13

• WORD FOR TODAY •

FAITH SAYS I CAN

Faith says I Can. Fear says, I Can’t. What do you say? God is your helper! He can take you from weakness to power, from danger to security, from anxiety and doubt, to peace and faith. Make it a practice in your daily life to develop your character. Make it a point to think right thoughts and develop positive habits, and then take those thoughts and habits and share them with your family, your friends, your acquaintances, and your work. Each day, see where God wants you to change. Make every effort to eradicate anything that obstructs you from achieving that goal. Never be satisfied with the status quo; always strive toward a better life as your ultimate goal.

And be renewed by the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph. 4:23-24)

• PRAYER FOR TODAY •

Lord, I pray that I make real progress toward the better life. Help me to make those moment-by-moment choices and walk by faith and not by sight. May my goal always be in front of me so I may bless all who come into contact with me today.

• THOUGHT FOR TODAY •

Can I really do anything God calls me to do? I sure can!

• JOURNAL FOR TODAY •

JANUARY 14

• WORD FOR TODAY •

IS GOD THE GOD OF BARELY ENOUGH, OR MORE THAN ENOUGH?

Jesus came to give us the abundant life. I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Abundant life is more than material wealth; abundant life is a whole and complete life. It is like a whole pie, not one slice missing. It is a life that is mentally sound, spiritually growing, physically healthy, and joyously and powerfully complete. We can have it all if we follow the right way, but not all are willing to accept the gift of God for an abundant life, a gift held out free for all. Some just don’t care to stretch out their hand and take it. The richest gift God has to offer is abundant life, but most people turn away from it and reject it. They will have none of such foolishness. "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (Eph. 3:20).

• PRAYER FOR TODAY •

I pray that I would run to receive the gift of the abundant life, spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. God, surprise me with answers to prayer that will far exceed anything I could have ever imagined. Lord, You have already given Your very best first, Your Son, and it is only through His name that we may receive the abundant life.

• THOUGHT FOR TODAY •

Am I too proud to reach out my hand and ask God to fill it?

• JOURNAL FOR TODAY •

JANUARY 15

• WORD FOR TODAY •

SOMETIMES YOU MUST BACK UP, TO MOVE FORWARD!

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control . . . (Gal. 5:22-23)

If these are the fruits that come by the Spirit of God, then if you back up, you will see these must be the qualities of God as well. Then, if these are God’s qualities and you are created in His image, you should see those qualities in yourself. You are to be light in a dark world, and as a Christian, what do you have to reflect other than these qualities? If you are to make a difference in the world, you must be different. If a small few of us come into union together looking for God’s will to be done, with a desire to serve Him, this becomes a miracle. The grace of God can come to people who are in one accord and use us to change the world. Only good can come from those who are consecrated to Him, unified, with a single purpose: to show others what God can do if they let Him. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them (Matt. 18:20).

• PRAYER FOR TODAY •

Dear Lord, we know Your spirit lives inside each individual Christian, but You promise to be with us in a unique and special way when we gather in Your name for service and encouragement. Let my light shine so brightly that every great fruit of Your spirit is reflected in my life today and directed back to You.

• THOUGHT FOR TODAY •

God is all that He says He is and more than we will ever know!

• JOURNAL FOR TODAY •

JANUARY 16

• WORD FOR TODAY •

THE CURE FOR WHATEVER AILS YOU

God is our physician and healer, and we can go to Him whenever we are tired, run-down, or just not feeling quite right. God’s strength is always available to us, but our rest can only come by spending quiet time with Him. These quiet times are the answer to rising up refreshed and rejuvenated, knowing that you now have the strength to meet any problems. When you are tired, whatever you are trying to do will be affected, and all of the fun that accompanies any project just becomes a tedious task. Spend time with God; He has a wonderful way of letting you know everything is going to be all right. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint (Isa. 40:29-31).

• PRAYER FOR TODAY •

I pray the peace I have found in times of quiet communion and prayer will make me effective in all I do. May Your peace relieve me of any strain during this day.

• THOUGHT FOR TODAY •

Only spiritual principles will solve my problems. I become truly strong only when I depend on His strength.

• JOURNAL