Find Joy, Talk to God, Give Thanks

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

• Rejoice always - The Christian who remains in sadness and depression really breaks a commandment: in some direction or other he mistrusts God--His power, providence, forgiveness. That is not to say there isn't a time for sadness and or grief. But it does mean that a Christian understands joy, knows that it isn't a feeling because of a current situation, but a state of being because we are children of God. We rejoice always because Jesus is with us and forgives us unconditionally. 

• Pray continually - We are not expected to spend 24/7 assuming a prayer posture, but to experience prayer as a state of mind, a constant consideration as we go through our day. Prayer is a path to a relationship with Jesus that grows and is nurtured each day. When I dedicate my day to God and what He wants for me and from me each day - it is as if I am praying continually.

• Give thanks in all circumstances - Now this is a tall order. How do we give thanks in all circumstances? How do we praise and offer thanksgiving when all around us is in shambles? I know that God grows me and my faith when I face challenges and even catastrophes. I also know that when I am feeling low and am in the midst of a pity party, I only need to acknowledge my many blessings and my eyes and heart are open to new possibilities.

I would love to hear how you practice/apply these verses in your life. How do you rejoice always; Pray continually; Give thanks in all circumstances? Feel free to comment below, and for those of you who are not inclined to do this, please send me an email and I can read your thoughts and communicate further if you like.

Waiting … Anticipating … Rejoicing

“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”

Zechariah 2:10-13

Zechariah penned these words inspired by the Holy Spirit an estimated 470-480 years before the coming of the Messiah. If I were Zechariah, I think I would’ve asked a few follow-up questions, maybe tried to pin God down on a date for the fulfillment of all these promises.

Wouldn’t you?

“Will you marry me?” A high-pitched squeal. “Oh, of course, you hunky stud! This is the happiest day of my life!” Six months go by. “When are we getting married?” “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in Heaven …” (O the trials of the bride of Christ!)

And so we wait. And wait. And wait. For the fulfillment of promises. For the return of Christ. For the marriage supper of the Lamb. For the perfection of Heaven. 

But here’s the interesting thing about this text: It tells us to shout and be glad (present tense - now!) because he is coming and will live among us (future tense). The wait God gives us is not one of drudgery, but one of anticipation and excitement.  

So shout for joy, my friend! For you are loved by the God who created the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them! You are the bride of Christ, and he is coming for you! Every tear shall be wiped from your eye, every provision shall be made for you, and you will dwell in the presence of God forever!

Rejoice today in your tomorrow!

Come to Me

Read Matthew 11:28-30

Who needs a nap today? The day after Christmas. The work of making Christmas “happen” is over for many. And it may be the perfect day to breathe and to rest. Whether you have minutes or hours today to surrender, let this rejoicing in the Christ child’s birthday sink down deeper than the surface celebrations. Look past the presents and the food. The shiny new whatever. Christmas, thank goodness, is so much more than any of that. God has come to us. The wait has ended. The silence ceased. Could our hearts bear it a minute longer? The whole world took a collective breath of hope at this Baby’s first cries on planet earth. Jesus whispers to you today, "Stop your striving, dear ones, even the Christmas merriment striving."

Let’s rejoice, by resting. Rest in love. Rest in forgiveness. Let’s rest in knowing that Jesus is calling each of us back to Himself and to each other. He’s come to set us free. Jesus says, "Come. Come to me and I will give you rest. Throw all those burdens you are carrying on me." So yeah, maybe a nap is just what you need today.

QUESTIONS:

1. How is Jesus calling you to come to Himself today?

2. What would resting in Jesus look like in your life today?

PRAYER:

Jesus, thank You for coming to us. You are forever moving towards us in gentleness and love. Help me to rest in You today. Amen.

Andrea Taphorn

What If?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%205%3A16-18&version=NIV;ESV

 

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.              ESV

 

What if your baby’s diaper pail is full and as you begin pulling the plastic bag out, it rips and… well you get the picture. Would you be rejoicing or giving thanks?

 

What if your husband, who is a farmer, is out on the tractor when a nearby driver is texting and runs off the road killing him making you a young widow and leaving your three young children without a father?

 

What if you are pregnant with your first child when the doctor tells you that your baby is still born?

 

What if, at age fifty-five, after you’ve given your heart and soul to your career, your employer informs you that you’re being let go?

 

What if your best friend from high school dies from cancer at age 66?

 

What if… life happens? Are you able to rejoice; to give thanks; to pray?

 

We’re not robots are we? We have feelings when things like this happen. We get angry. We feel defeated, depressed. We feel worthless. We want to lash out at someone, but who? God is pretty convenient sometimes.

 

How can we obey these verses? Paul wrote that this is God’s will for us, but how do we do it? In fact, it can be just as difficult to obey these verses when everything is going well as it is when life sucks.

 

Yes, life can be very painful at times. But just as Paul reminded the Thessalonian believers that God loved them; that the power of the Holy Spirit was working in them; that death is not the end, but the ultimate victory is ours through Christ - he is reminding us of these same truths as well.

 

What if when life happens you not only feel the pain or the joy of the moment, but you put yourself in the hands of God? What if you pray?

 

 

 

 

Rejoice! Rejoice!

December 10                                                Second Sunday of Advent                                      

Scripture Reading
Read Jeremiah 33:10-16 and reflect on the passage.

"The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah." In the middle of a terrible time, God reveals a future hope and new covenant to His people. Jeremiah encounters the good news of Christ 600 years before it becomes reality. They are under attack and yet there is hope? 

Yes, hope is like that – it comes in the midst of pain, or uncertainty. Hope in this passage is rooted in the action of God. Jesus will be perfectly faithful, where Israel had failed. Here we see the essence of the Gospel – God doing for us what we can't do for ourselves.

The birth of Christ is an incredible picture of God's faithfulness to us. Because God has been faithful to his promises over and over again, we can have real hope. Not a birthday wish or "Good luck with that!" empty feeling, but a solid, historically rooted hope. The prophet Jeremiah shows us that we can be real about the problems in life when we are rooted in the promises of God. We have hope because God keeps His promises!

What is your definition of hope? Is it a deeply rooted thing that assures you or a flimsy wish? When have you experienced God's faithfulness? How does that encourage you to follow God today and into the future? Give yourself some space this week to be reminded of God’s faithfulness. 

Prayer

Dear God, we echo the words of Jeremiah 33:11. We give thanks to You, Lord. You are good and Your love endures forever!

Aaron Thompson and David White

FOR THE SAKE OF ONE

Acts 16:22-34

To what lengths will God go to bring a sinner to Himself?  In today’s reading He used the unjust beating and imprisonment of Paul and Silas and an earthquake for the sake of a jailor.    And not just any earthquake, but a “great” earthquake (vs 26).   In other words, the Creator was willing to move heaven and earth to get the attention of one man.

The jailor was going about his business of guarding prisoners.  It seems he was extra careful to secure these two men, as the chief magistrates of Philippi had commanded.  He threw them into the inner prison, fastened their feet in stocks, and thought, “These prisoners will not escape – not on my watch.”  How could he know all his efforts would be for naught in the wake of a quake? 

God had prepared the jailor for this moment.  Had he not heard Paul and Silas praying and singing?  Would he not wonder at what kind of men they were?  What did they have that he didn’t?  Then, when the earthquake hit, his life was all but over, as his punishment for allowing prisoners to escape surely would be death.  

Imagine the scene: As the hopeless jailor contemplated taking his life, he was suddenly astounded by Paul’s voice.  Filled with awe, he fell at Paul’s feet and asked, “What must I do to be saved?” As he received (by faith) the answer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved,” joyousness replaced hopelessness.  He now belonged to God.  Wondrous, extravagant joy!  He threw a party.  He rejoiced, his whole family rejoiced, Paul and Silas rejoiced. 

But they were not the only ones rejoicing.  In the parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus quoted the shepherd who went out seeking the one lost sheep, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” “…in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents… (Luke 15:6b-7a).”  For the sake of one lost sheep.

Thank You, Father, for your willingness to do whatever it takes to bring us to You – and for the party that You throw when one of us comes.  Amen.

What “Joy Stories” have you heard in modern times?  What in your own story can you share that would be reason for joy in heaven?

Pray and Party

Nehemiah 12:43 (NIV)
And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.

The trumpet, which once called the people to action, to be alert and on guard against attack, was now used as an instrument to celebrate. It was used to praise God as they rejoiced in the fact their job was finished. Although Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed the temple, he couldn't destroy worship or the music.

Music is part of the sound of rejoicing. When life is tough and things around us begin to disintegrate turn on the music and sing. The sounds and the words will lift the gloom and brighten the spirit. How often has belting out a favorite song turned our sadness joy? 

The Israelites were ready to party, to celebrate all that God had done for them once more. We can do the same when a particularly difficult season has passed, when we have become obedient once again and accomplished a challenging task God set before us.  If it is rebuilding the walls to fortify our city or if it is rebuilding a broken relationship, praise God for bring you to this point.

Dear Lord,
Your faithfulness to us is an amazing thing to experience.  Your forgiveness and mercy are indeed undeserved yet so welcome.  We lift up our hearts to you this day and praise you for your unending love.  We pray for our brothers and sisters in Israel this day.  Protect them, guard the children, and destroy the enemy as you did in days of old. Remind us today to remember to pray for your people. Amen.

Nehemiah 12:27-43