A Time To Rejoice

The angels rejoiced at the coming of the Christ-child!  Have you rejoiced today?  What does it mean “To rejoice?”

• It’s difficult to rejoice when you are in pain.
• It’s difficult to rejoice when you have been betrayed.
• It’s difficult to rejoice when life seems to be against you on every side.

Why does life seem to work for everyone else but you?

Nevertheless I will rejoice!!

Psalm 104:34  May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.

Psalm 90:14  Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Philippians 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Thayer's Definition of rejoice is:

1)      to rejoice, be glad 2) to rejoice exceedingly 3) to be well, thrive 4) in salutations, hail! 5) at the beginning of letters: to give one greeting, salute

I was taken back when I saw that to rejoice also meant to be well or to thrive.  

I must confess that right now I don’t feel very well in an earthly sense, nor am I thriving.

However, life is a matter of living with the right perspective.  One person looks out the window and sees all the ice, snow and bitter cold.  Another person looks out the window and sees all the beauty of a frosty winter day.

One person looks at the beauty of fall colors.  Another person looks at all the hard work of raking leaves and picking up all the yard rubble.

Some parents look at their child and are saddened by what they see.  Other parents look at their child and see God’s hand of love and grace.

It’s all a matter of perspective and looking through the lens of God’s gracious love and mercy.

Don’t despair on what is, but rather rejoice in God's love, care, and provision.

Psalm 31:7  I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;

He Is Taking Care Of Us

Even in the midst of difficult times, we are to live by faith trusting in His love and presence, because we know that He never leaves or forsakes us and works out all things for our good.

Romans 8:28  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Job 42:1-3  Then Job answered the LORD and said:  "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

1 Peter 1:5-7  who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

God promises that He is taking care of us.  The warmth of his presence covers us in the spiritually desolate and coldest of times.  Every detail of our life is under His control and is according to His design and purpose.

Our life is not governed by random chance, but rather, by His sovereignty.  If we could only see how close He is to us and how He works on our behalf, we would never doubt His love for us and how deeply He cares about what is on in the horizon for our tomorrows.

Pinched Nerve

All it took was a pinched nerve to put me flat on my back.  The pain is still there and the remembrance of not being able to move lingers.  I have never before experienced a pinched nerve that completely immobilized me.  There I laid flat on my back with rain hitting my face and calling for help.

Have you ever had someone pinch a spiritual nerve that put you flat on your spiritual back and left you calling for help?  An unkind word and thoughtless deed someone did to you that linger in your mind.  We may say to ourselves, "Well, that's the last time I'll reach out to them."  Forgiveness doesn't come easily.  Cry out to God, “Lord, help me!”  He promises to come to our aid and help and heal us. 

I'm so thankful that God is forgiving and I am called by God to be a forgiving individual.  The Psalmist cried out to God Psalm 25:18 consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.  We too cry out to God to be forgiving and are to remember to be forgiving to others because we have been forgiven.  

Col. 3:13 - bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.   

1John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Mat 7:24-27 - Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

There is so much hatred in the world today.  If people were more forgiving there would be fewer wars and conflicts.  Why can't we love others as God has loved and forgiven us? 

We should not be surprised that there is so much hatred in the world today resulting in so much conflict.  It has all been predicted that it would be a sign of the end times.  Matthew 24:6 - And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.  True peace can only be found through Jesus Christ. 

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ was called the "Prince of Peace"  Isaiah 9:6  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

When people reject Christ the only thing left is conflict.  That is why there is so much conflict in the Middle East - because Christ has been rejected.

Families, businesses, and communities who have rejected Christ will never experience the wonderful "fruit of the Spirit" of Love, Joy, and Peace.

How does one recover come a pinched nerve?  How does one recover from a spiritually pinched nerve?

Suffering a pinched nerve in your neck, back, arms or elsewhere in your body is painful and can prevent one from being able to or even feeling like taking part in normal, everyday activities.

Knowing how to treat a pinched nerve will help you deal with the pain, whether using home remedies or over-the-counter medications to temporarily relieve the pain, or lifestyle changes to curb recurrence of pinched nerves.

Pray and ask God to heal your hurts and pains.  He is the Great Physician.

Appreciating Your Child

Several years ago I never thought I would ever write a commentary on how much I appreciate my daughter."

Our daughter has become a spiritual mentor and encourager.  I so appreciate her commitment to our Lord.  She obtained the discipling program "Blueprint for Life," went through it and now we are going through it together.

The contents of the program include contributions by the following authors:  Andy Stanley, Tony Evans, Bruce Wilkinson, Dennis Rainey, Chip Ingram, and John Maxwell just to name a few.  We are enjoying our time growing in the Lord together.

As the author, Andy Stanley, says in the Forward, "Blueprint for Life will not only expand your understanding of God's unique purpose for you life, but it will show you how to develop goals to that end as well."

Chapter One alone explores the questions of "Who Am I, My Life's Purpose, Why Am I Here? and the Pure Desires of My Heart."  It also asks the questions of "What Am I Passionate About, What Is My Giftedness, and What Are My Resources?"  It causes one to think about opportunities, past events, environments, God's Word and seeking wise council.

It's never too late and we're never too old to consider what God wants from us.

Thank you Brenda for lighting the fire once again -- God knew what He was doing when He gave you to us -- He knew all along.

Love you very much,

Dad

Mat 28:18-20   And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

The Unexpected Happened

Wow!  What a day!  I woke up this morning with the full intention of going to Sunday School and Church.  Things were going well.  I got up early, took my bath, shaved and dressed.  My family went through their morning rituals and it looked like we were right on schedule. I went outside to start the car. Then the unexpected happened. It was raining hard so I checked the outside back stair-well drain.  It sometimes gets plugged up with leaves which results in water leaking into the basement. I noticed that a downspout had worked loose at the corner of the house and water was pooling. Not good because that also leaks into the basement.  So I went in, grabbed my umbrella, then went back outside to put the downspout back on. As I was leaning over, I suddenly felt as though I had no strength and I collapsed into the mud. The only thing I could do was roll on my back and call for my wife and daughter to help me get up. I felt helpless.

Finally my daughter and wife heard my cries and were able to help me up. But my clothes were soaked and muddy, so my family left for church without me.  What else could they do? They have their own responsibilities.  Once inside, I dried off, crawled into bed and began having my own private devotion.  

Verses that I read include the following:

Psa. 31:24  Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!  My hope and strength is in the Lord.

Rom 8:28    And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Gal 6:9        And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

1 Pet. 1:6-9 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Lord, thank you for being there for me this morning.  I know that You are watching out for me and meeting my every need.  I don’t always understand my journey, but I know that You are right here walking beside me and comforting me.  Thank you for saving me!

The only thing I didn't do was sing in the rain!