Sing For Joy!

JOY

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14

God is the giver of all good gifts. Actually-- he is simply a giver. He gave us the ultimate gift of love, but that’s not nearly the end of his gift giving. He also gives us joy! Joy is a by product of receiving God's love. 

Joy, what is it really? To Christians, joy has a deep meaning rooted in the knowledge of God’s love. Joy is not an emotion like happiness or feeling giddy. It is not fleeting. Joy is a state of steadfastness. It is a form of contentment and confident hope. Joy is a mindset and a matter of the heart.

Yesterday’s blog discussed the gift of love. Love had to be discussed first because it is the source of all other gifts. As Christians we continually grow in our knowledge and understanding of God’s love for us. As we begin to internalize the fact that we are His children and he will never abandon us, we gain a sense of confidence and trust. That is joy!

Joy is not based on circumstance. The world can fall apart around us, yet we will not lose hope. Oh, we will have emotions, but deep within us is where we will find joy. We have joy in knowing that irregardless of the situation, our salvation is being worked out through this trial. 

Paul is the greatest author of joy in the Bible. We must know that his situations did not make him happy. In 2 Corinthians 11:24-26 he tells us his ministry story... he was put in jail, whipped, and faced death. He was give thirty-nine lashes on 5 different accounts. He was beaten with rods, stoned, and shipwrecked. He faced natural disasters, faced robbers, hungered, and then told us to “consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds.” (James 1:2) Paul’s joy came from the fact that he was walking in relationship with Jesus and other believers. It came from knowing whose he was and where he was headed.

The joy of the Lord is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) As we come to know whose we are, our confidence rises. We begin to act boldly in the name of the Lord. The knowledge of our salvation and the security in which we live produce our state of joy. 

Choose JOY!

(First Published December 14, 2013)

The 12 Gifts Of Christmas: Love

The Twelve Days of Christmas is a very popular song dating back to 1780.  Since we are approaching Christmas Mary and I would like to share with you a different perspective on this timeless tradition.  Some research on Wikipedia revealed that there are several variations of this timeless Christmas carol, of the 10 listed, 9 start out like this: “On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me”......Our remix of this classic Christmas carol is based on the gifts we received when Jesus was born.  We believe that our true love is God and He indeed sent us an amazing gift Who brought with Him many other gifts to share.  Although the twelve days in this song are referring to the twelve days after Christmas, we are way too excited to share these gifts so waiting until after Christmas......well it’s just not happening. 

The first gift of Christmas our True Love sent to us:

LOVE

   Love started when the world began.  Genesis 1 describes the beginning of time like this: in 6 days God created light; sky and water; land, seas and vegetation; sun moon and stars; fish and birds; animals, man and woman.  After every day He thought His creation was good.  I  envision Him getting giddy at the sight of His beautiful creation that was made just for His children as an expression of His deep love for us.  God chose to create us and he chose to create the earth for us to enjoy.  In the beginning we were loved. 

The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world (John 1:9).

Jesus played a part in the earths creation.  He was present when the world began (Colossians 1:15-17), but it wasn’t until later that He would be given to us in the flesh.  As if creating the beautiful world wasn't enough, God would eventually send us Jesus who would be the ultimate sign of God’s affection for us.  

        

So the Word became human and made His home among us.  He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.  And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only son. (John 1:14).

A little over 2000 years ago God gave us His Son!  Jesus was born in a dirty stable and placed in a manger.  He was the most unlikely King, but a beautiful story unfolds as we learn about the love that God shared with us on that dark night.  Jesus was given to us from God to save us from our sins.  He was the final sacrifice in a world full of religious sacrifices and laws.  He would come to take away our sins and give us hope for eternal life in heaven.    

Because of His amazing love for us, God gave us perfect love, in the flesh, when He gave us Jesus. Yes, God loves us and through Jesus, He gives us the most meaningful and lasting gift.  Usually one would save the best for last, but in this case we simply cannot. In order to be able to share with you the remaining eleven gifts, we must first share the best gift, love.   

God showed how much He loved us by sending His only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.  This is real love.  It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins (1 John 4:9-10).   

Jesus was born for us!  Jesus is our gift, He is love!  Jesus is God’s love in human form.  Jesus was the perfect, sinless, spotless lamb who could be sacrificed to save us from hell.  Laying down His life He loved us with all He had.  This love cannot be earned, it is truly a gift.  But, not the kind of gift that is placed on a shelf or hung on the wall to look at.  No, God’s gift of love was one to be used.  We are to take that love and share it with the world.  Jesus is our model of love.  Jesus is our source of love.  Jesus is love!     

 [Jesus] is patient and kind.  [Jesus] is not jealous or boastful or proud, or rude.  [Jesus] does not demand His own way.  [Jesus] is not irritable, and He keeps no record of when He has been wronged.  [He] is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  [Jesus] never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

The love described above is unconditional.  It is the love that we have been given by our Father in heaven and it is the same love that we are to share with others (John 13:34).  When we were given Jesus we were given the ability to love like Jesus.  With willing hearts we are capable of portraying every one of the characteristics listed above.  When we accept Jesus as our savior we are allowing Him to love through us.  We are inviting Him into our hearts and we are given the ability to love just like God loves us.    

Thank you God for the ultimate gift!  When Christ came into this world You showered us with perfect love.  Yes, your perfect love existed, for us, since the day of creation but you unselfishly offered it up when you gave us your only son as a sacrifice for our sins.  We celebrate Jesus’ birth, but more importantly, we celebrate the love He represents.  We would be nothing without Your gift of Love!  God help us to re-gift your love this Christmas.  Over the next few weeks, when we see baby Jesus in a picture or displayed on our table remind us what Christmas is all about.  Help us to give gifts for the sole purpose of sharing your love with another.  Remind us of Your love that lives within our hearts and help us to portray that love to the world.  

(First Published December 13, 2013)

Fill Up Your Stable!

Without oxen a stable stays clean,

but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.

Proverbs 14:4

We can take the easy way by avoiding people and we can keep our barns clean by living for ourselves. By avoiding hard work and messy relationships we can keep our lives clean but in the end we will be empty.  The meaningful parts of life involve helping others, sitting with them in the middle of their messes, getting out of our comfort zones and being open to a stable full of muck .  We can't serve God wholeheartedly and work to bring glory to His kingdom if we aren't willing to get dirty.  We can't bring in a huge harvest without a life that proves our love for God and our faith in Him through action.    

  

The Will Of God

For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

John 6:38

We are all made in Christ's image and because of that we, too, should be living on this earth with the purpose of doing God's will.  We aren't here to fulfill our personal goals but to follow God and fulfill His.  It's not a hard concept to understand but it is a difficult one to stick to.  Sometimes God asks us to do hard things and sometimes we may feel like He isn't clear on what we should be doing.  Think on your life today and the things God has layed on your heart.  Are you following His will or your own?  Ask God to help you see His will clearly and be sure to spend time with Him, reading His Word and listening to His still, small voice.  Do your plans match up with His or are you forcing your way?  Are you taking the easy way when His will is asking you to do the hard thing?  

I know I have messed this up a million times.  I have let my goals and fears and plans get in the way of God's will for me, but today I am trying to fix that.  This life is a process!  We will mess up a million times but we are invited to keep trying.  I pray for you and me to draw closer to God and His will for our lives, taking things one day at a time.  Asking God to show us where to go each moment and to give us the courage to obey.  May we all enjoy our reflection time with God and allow it to change us and our perspective.  Amen!       

The First Snow

I love the first snowfall embodied with the crisp air and the flurry of flakes that fall to the ground creating a carpet of white. It is a carpet of beauty covering all that is dead and barren due to the cold of winter. I am filled with joy as the evergreens bear the weight of the snow upon their boughs and the feeling of Christmas rushes through my heart. And every year, I am reminded of the scripture from Psalm 51:7 which says,

 "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; 

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."

Hyssop is a plant that was used in Biblical times for medicinal and cleaning purposes. When hyssop is referenced in the Old Testament, it often bears the meaning of cleanliness or purity. In this passage, David is asking God for his cleansing through the removal of sin. David is repentant and seeking the forgiveness of the Lord. 

When I view the snow, sparkling and pure on the ground, I am reminded of the grace which we are given every single day. We sin, we ask for forgiveness, God responds with an exuberant "Yes!" and we are, in His eyes, washed whiter than snow. Glistening, untainted, beautifully white. Pure before our God! What an amazing gift we have been given! 

Sunday Scripture

“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Because of God's Tender Mercy

Because of God's tender mercy;

the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

and to guide us to the path of peace.

Luke 1:78-79

Get ready!  Jesus is coming!  I love this picture as I think on the fast approaching Christmas season.  Jesus is our bright morning star (Revelations 22:16).  His morning light is about to break upon us!  He is the perfect gift for us.  God did not hold anything back when he sent His only son to earth to give light to those who sit in darkness, and to guide us to the path of peace.  Because of God's tender mercy He loved us when we were sinners.  He didn't withold His son because we were mean or disobeying Him.  No, God gave us all He had that first Christmas morning when Jesus was born of  the virgin Mary, to bring peace to the world.  Our gift was a good one and with Jesus comes so many other gifts freely given to us.  Every day we are offered this bright morning light!  Christmas serves as a reminder of our gifts in Jesus Christ.  It is a day to celebrate our peace and the light that shines brightly to lead our way.  Take away all the other man made symbols of Christmas and first remember the real reason for the season.  

Father God thank you for loving me before I knew you.  Thank you for sending Jesus as my perfect Christmas gift to save me from darkness and to bring peace to my world.  You are an awesome God with a love I can never fully grasp.  Help me to prepare for this Christmas in a way that honors you and glorifies Jesus.  Thank you for the beautiful words found in the bible!  They bring me hope and peace and paint an amazing picture of your perfect love.  Thank you for Christmas      Amen