Joy in hope

In my Bible, at the top of the page beginning I Peter, it is noted that the key word in the book is suffering. And yet I turned to I Peter this morning to read the several uplifting verses about joy!

Why am I looking for verses about joy?

Because of suffering!

 God knows me so much better than I know myself.

In some strange way, the two go hand-in-hand. Opposite sides of the same coin.

Peter points this out with striking contrast:

In this you greatly rejoiced, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials . . . (1:6)

that the genuineness of your faith . . .though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus . . .though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible  . . .receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. (1:7-9)

Joy, then, does not spring from our current circumstances, but from our HOPE.

 

 

Keep hoping my friends. Never, never, never, never give up hope.

Exceeding Joy

"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear,

 pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,

 And to present you faultless

before the presence of His

 glory with exceeding joy,

 To God our Savior,

Who alone is wise,

Be glory and majesty,

 Dominion and power,

 Both now and forever. 

 Amen."

Jude 20-25

 I ran across this verse this morning.    I read it.   Reread it.   Then read it again.

The walk of the Christian life, crystalized.

 All of the sweetness, power, hopefulness, fellowship,  responsibility, purity,

and love squeezed into one wonderfully encouraging, sobering bite.

"TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO PRESENT YOU FAULTLESS BEFORE THE PRESENCE OF HIS GLORY WITH EXCEEDING JOY"

 

I can't even describle how that makes me feel to read those words, except to say that it might be like tasting medicine that goes down so sweetly and immediately takes effect. Like an antidote to all of the diseases in this world.

 

With God our Savior on our side,

what else could we feel but

  EXCEEDING JOY ?!

Best Offer

I want to apologize for the whining in my last post.

Since then I was told I DON"T have to have surgery (contrary to the first report),
son qualified for another student loan, and I am trying to take advantage of my "free time" to get cards written and other misc. things.
 I watched "Annie" (among the many other movies my sweet friends brought me to help pass the time) and, of course, she sang "Tomorrow," which made me laugh at myself, and yes, count my blessings!
Anyway, our sermon Sunday was on one of my favorite psalms--no, "favorite" is too light a word, like ice cream flavors. Psalm 46 has been a lifeline for me. In the "Matched" trilogy, the totalitarian govt. has determined that only 100 poems would to be preserved and viewed by the populous, the rest were (presumably) destroyed.

 Psalm 46 would definitely be among my 100.

 

"God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear."

 

Later in the psalm the writer says

 

"Be still and know that I am God"

 

 God shows me (AGAIN!) that

HE

is in control of the situation, and that HE is, indeed, very present.

I need to be still, acknowledge HIM

and remember that HE

"will be exalted among the nations."

 

With or without their consent.

That is the kind of power God invites me to take refuge in.

 

 

Wouldn't it be crazy NOT TO take advantage of such an offer?

 

 

 

 

Growing Weary

 I have to admit, I'm a a bit weary.

The "reality" of my life is this: Finances are at a breaking point, college wants more money than last year and is threatening our son's expulsion if  we don't come up with it soon, we badly need a new roof, a new car . . .  and  I just broke my leg. And won't be working.

This morning, however, the Lord nudged me back to HIS reality:

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all . . ."   Galatians 6:9

After reading it three times, I got it:

while doing good

 

Sometimes God is so subtle (or not) that I miss the real point.

 

As long as I am doing good I will not grow weary and lose heart!

I don't think it's even possible to do so!

 

As long as I am helping others, seeking their good, encouraging, edifying, praying for others, my problems are not at the forefront of my mind. Plus, while doing good to others everything falls into the proper perspective. Now, my problems are not nearly as bad as those around me, my prayers change from whining to praising and

rather than losing heart,

 

my heart is strengthened.

 

For such a loving, caring and wise God I am eternally thankful.

 

 

 

 

 



Duped

"The Bible calls Satan 'the accuser of our brothers.'
It's the Devil's job to blame, complain, and criticize members of God's family. Anytime we do the same, we're being duped into doing Satan's work for him. Remember, other Christians, no matter how much you disagree wtih them, are not the real enemy. Any time we spend comparing or criticizing other believers is time that should have been spent building the unity of our fellowship."
 
                         ~Rick Warren from The Purpose Driven Life

Good point, huh?

Being "duped" into doing Satan's work is not something I want to fall prey to! But, I must confess, I have.

LORD, help me remember the great commandment,

to LOVE as you have loved me.

 

 

And to spend my time building the unity of our fellowship.

 

 

(That even sounds kind of fun, doesn't it?!)

 

 



The Law of Kindness

It has always been my goal to emulate the proverbial woman described in Proverbs 31. I had hoped I would get better and better at it, but as time goes by, I'm afraid I see myself farther away instead.
Maybe it's perspective, maybe it's the wisdom of age that says, you're don't know nearly as much as you THINK you know.

When I was young and idealistic I knew exactly how I did and didn't want to parent my own children.
Now, in retrospect, I see things I WISH I had done differently. I didn't have all the answers after all, and some of the answers I thought I had were wrong.

 Talking with other empty-nesters seems to confirm this truth:

 This is all part of the HUMAN CONDITION.

 

 

Anyway, I digress.

 

 I still turn to Proverbs 31 now and then, and on a recent occasion I noticed the word LAW in verse 26 and it intrigued me.

 

"She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is

 

the LAW OF KINDNESS.

 

 

 

 A bit of study showed me that here, she has BOUND her tongue to a LAW. No outside power could force this binding, it was her doing.

 

 This was not a casual, Well, I'll try to be nice if I can thing!  To be bound by a law implies several things:

• it is compulsory, not optional
• under obligation
• not an option to operate outside the terms

So, I am, of course, forced to ask myself :

 

Have I bound my tongue to the law of kindness?

 

Like most things, I don't think it's a one-time decision. It's a daily, hourly, moment-to-moment decision I must make.

 

Could it be part of our LORD'S admonition to take up our cross daily and follow HIM?

 

Thank you, my proverbial friend, for continuing to show me who Jesus wants me to be!

 





 

Artistic

The more I think about it,

 

the more I realize there is

 

nothing

 

more artistic than

 

to love others.

~Vincent Van Gogh