REJOICE ALWAYS

Rejoice in the Lord always,

again I say, rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

The book of Philippians became such a favorite for me many years ago. I don't think it was because of a sermon or Bible study presented by any one. It's one of those books that the Holy Spirit seemed to hand me as a special gift. This is a book I consider to be one I flee to when going through tough times.

The hard part of the love I have for this book is that sprinkled through the book is the encouragement to rejoice. Interesting in all of this is that in Philippians, Paul addresses a variety of situations that can be disturbing for any person. The idea of problems AND rejoicing don't seem to go together.

Paul addresses the subjects of suffering, personal behaviors, consistency in ones walk of faith, endurance, worry, lack of peace, thought issues and various insecurities. In it all, comes a sprinkling of REJOICE through this book. It seems impossible to bring the two opposites together. Despite that, through this precious book, we are as much as commanded to be people of rejoicing. No matter the issues, I can think on all the ways God has blessed and led in my life. Concentrating on those things encourages a spirit of rejoicing.

In Paul's day, many people used the word REJOICE as a greeting. Rejoicing doesn't mean happiness or that all is well in one's world. The rejoicing Paul is referring to is the result of a strong relationship with the Lord. Rejoicing is an encouragement to be a person of joy. True joy, as with love in their pure state can only come from a loving God.

No matter our circumstances, we can be people of joy. As believers we live and have our very beings in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. He never goes off duty when we are troubled. His peace, love and joy are always in abundance from Him, thus we can bask in those things with spirits of joy. It means we can be rejoicing people anytime, no matter the negatives that come our way. So..... REJOICE!

Father God, I rejoice in You today. Despite my concerns, You still bless, love and encourage me without end. Forgive my lack of gratitude and help me to stay focused on You and Your goodness in my life. Help me to be a rejoicing person. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

 

HOW REFRESHING

Repent therefore and be converted,

that your sins may be blotted out, so

that times of refreshing may come

from the presence of the Lord.

Acts 3:19

It must have been an exciting time in those beginning days of the church as we see the book of Acts. It's a special time seeing Peter who for the time was doing most of the preaching. The Holy Spirit had come into his life and he was a different guy. In a sermon, Peter gave the people the above words as to how to stay on good terms with God, and thus know spiritual refreshment like they had never known.

Folks were observing Peter and John at that time and despite their lack of education, those with questions couldn't deny there was something very different about both men. In fact, the people credited these two men's spiritual enthusiasm in the fact that they had been with Jesus.

There is a need in this culture of ours to see in us something that is very different from the norm. The answer those noticed in Peter and John is really the same for us in our day. Folks should see in you and me that we have been with Jesus. We've not been with Jesus in person like the disciples but we still have access to Jesus..

On a hot day, there's nothing like a glass of cold water. That is good for our physical selves, but spiritually, we have the water of the Word of God that refreshes us beyond expectation. In the Hebrew language, refresh means to breathe freely. Refreshment can give us new strength in every way. Spiritually speaking, the Bible I hold is even better than a glass of water. We need consistent hydrating of God's Word. With no pretense, folks hopefully will sense we've been with Jesus.

Thank You Father for Your Word and for You Holy Spirit as You so willingly teach us from it. May we come to know refreshment from the Word like never before, all for Your glory. In Jesus' name....Amen

 

JUST THINKIN'

Finally, brethren, whatever things

are true, whatever things are noble,

whatever things are pure, whatever things

are lovely, whatever things are of good

report, if there is any virtue, and if there

is anything praiseworthy....meditate (think)

on these things.

Phillipians 4:8

Sometimes we don't consider what we spend our time thinking about. There can be personal things that are affecting us that can lead to thoughts of gloom. At times, we don't feel we have control over what we think but in the above verse, there are several things we should set out minds on

God never puts any command in His Word we can't accomplish. At the end of this verse, Paul simply tells us to think on those things listed. Just about every good thing I can think of that might occupy my mind could fall under one of those categories listed.  No matter the cares we deal with in every day living can be overcome by Bible principles and comfort it offers to all of us

.

There is such comfort, however, no matter our own thinking, that our God is always thinking about us:

For I know the thoughts that I think

toward you, says the LORD, thoughts

of peace and not of evil, to give you'a future 

and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

Thank You Father, for keeping us in Your thoughts and for loving us like You do. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

 

FINISHING WELL

Now also when I am old

and grayheaded,

O God, do not forsake me,

until I declare Your strength

to this generation.

Psalm 71:18

With years, come a lot of history. I don't mean going into space, or the discovery of an unknown country. My history is as practical and American as most folks my age. I grew up in a time when it was almost a shock if an adult lived much beyond 65 years of age. In that area, we've come a long way with improved medical/medicine findings. There are, however, older folks who have lived to be 90, but they quit living around age 65. Thus, years of just existing seem to be for nothing no matter how much medicine one takes.

Brian and I have been members of several churches, many because of work transfers. We came to know godly men who were wonderful preachers. I have come to know outstanding women in those years who were deacon's wives, choir members, Sunday school teachers, etc. There were so many of them I watched as I sought to grow in my faith and service for the Lord.

Sadly, it came to be known that some of those folks who had faithfully served God for so many years, fell into deep sin when they had many more years to serve. They usually fell to the top three situations....money, sex or pride. Pastors who had wonderful ministries for 40 or more years, fell into sin and their testimonies ruined. The sad part of that is that no matter how wonderfully their ministries had been, in their latter years, people will usually recall only their fall into sin. This isn't just a problem for folks in leadership in a church. Lay people often go through the same process.

In the aging process, not a single one of us can afford to let up, become vulnerable to the wiles of Satan. Our older years are not a time to give up or ease up but to get up for the Lord. Many times a senior person will let up on Bible study and even church attendance, using age as an excuse for not being faithful to the things of God. We of age should be even more of an influence in the lives of others. Hopefully, when we pass from this life, folks will lovingly remember our faithfulness to God down to the the very minute we stepped into Heaven. May we finish well, leaving sweet memories of our love and faithfulness. May each of us no matter our age, finish well.

Father, keep us faithfully serving You as Your Holy Spirit empowers and teaches us. May we see each day as an opportunity to be an influence for You in the lives of others. In Jesus' name..Amen

OH HUSH!

Be still, and know that I am

God; I will be exalted among

the nations, I will be exalted

in the earth.

Psalm 46:10

The verse I have chosen for this blog has so often been a mystery to me. It can be a discouraging verse for those of us who really want to know God. We know a lot ABOUT God but He desires that we really know Him in more of a personal and intimate way, but being still to accomplish this is hard to accept.

We probably grew up being told to shut up (by the way, two very good words for the cause, nothing demeaning), be quiet, or to just be still. When very young, when I got antsy in school or church, being still was often an impossibility for me. Thus, I ended up being still and not concentrating on what was going on around me that was important.

I have rationalized the BE STILL in that verse and can't even begin when there could ever be perfect silence in my life no matter where I happen to be located. At home alone, I may hear dog-walker's pets barking, the furnace may kick in with it's low rumble, cars passing, phones ringing...all everyday sounds that ask no permission to make their sounds heard . I'm sure there would be places one could go where there would be absolute silence but not sure how long any of us could maintain our sanity if we found such a place.

Much to my relief, I found that the translation in the old transcripts didn't have so much to do with sound or noise as it did and still does have to do with the yielding of our spirits to God..surrender. Quietness isn't just being quiet in sound but quiet in spirit.

You and I will rarely if ever be able to totally get away from all noise or sounds. However, wherever we are, we can have a humble spirit of submission to God. The verse speaks of where God will be exalted. We are there. God desires that we know Him but that we exalt Him above anything or anyone else. Exalting Him means our lifting Him in personal adoration as high as we can raise Him above anything going on or above any person we can name. May it be so.

We do adore You Father even though we fall short so many times. Help us to give in to You with all our lives that we may know You like we never have before. In Jesus' precious and exalted name....Amen 

A BLESSED NATION

Blessed is the nation whose

God is the LORD, the people

He has chosen as His own

inheritance.

Psalm 33:12

In these days, I would imagine I am among the few who have very clear memories of World War II. Although not even in kindergarten, my impressions of those days run very deep because of family and friends interactions sometimes over the back fence, sharing what war information any had heard.

I was much smaller when I saw neighbor ladies crying as they spoke of PEARLS. In those days, almost every woman had a pearl necklace. I just figured someone had lost theirs and was sad. Little did I understand that more than a necklace had been lost in one swoop of an enemy over a place called Pearl Harbor.

Our nation was different then. It wasn't a perfect place but it was a people with a love of our country, who had moral and spiritual standards in their lives. We were known as a Christian nation because of our historical heritage and ongoing maintaining of standards lived out in folks lives. We are a different nation now. Immigration has changed things a lot. There was a day when legal immigrants were welcomed to America and perhaps had even more of a love and appreciation for our country than many native citizens.

Everyday life changed then. Women went to work in factories, we saved things like newspapers and empty food cans, victory gardens were grown in most back yards and every family had ration books because certain food items were scarce. There were no complaints. Citizens felt it was their way of helping our country toward victory in the fox holes across Europe and the Pacific Ocean.

God still loves our country and wants it back in His caring arms. Our country will be a blessed country anytime God is honored in every way. We aren't perfect and God knows that but His love is consistent and He'll never give up on us. The war effort is different now but overall, it's still not so all that different. We still have a dreaded enemy Satan who will use anything and anyone to defeat us. The spiritual war isn't over. The ammo is different but the Commander is still in charge.

Bring us back, dear Father, bring us back....In Jesus' precious name...Amen! 

MY DAD CAN BEAT UP YOURS

Your MERCY, O Lord is in the heavens;

Your FAITHFULNESS reaches

to the clouds.

Your RIGHTEOUSNESS is like the

great mountains;

Your JUDGMENTS are a great deep;

O Lord, YOU PRESERVE man and beast

How precious is Your LOVINGKINDNESS, O God!

Psalm 36:6-7a

In my childhood days, it wasn't unusual for neighborhood kids to get into their arguments. It also wasn't unusual at times for a parent to be brought verbally into any resulting fray that might take place. I think dad's all across our country hated when their children referred to them as being the dad who could beat up any other dad on the block. It was unusual to hear from a very angry boy or girl, “My dad can beat up your dad any old day.” I also believe that just about every dad across the country took such a statement with a grain of salt.

In my reading, I came across the above Scripture. I put those attributes of God in bold print for a reason. They stood out to me almost immediately as I thought of our Heavenly Father who makes those things a reality in our lives because of who He is, our Father. In our world today, many folks establish their own gods. Such gods can offer nothing but temporary satisfaction and usually a lot of disappointment.

Our God freely and lovingly offers to us all of those things that will enrich our lives because of who He is. It may seem for some that the things of this world are worth temporary fixes. God's gifts of love are never temporary. My Father can beat up the father of this world any old day.

Father, I'm so grateful for Your personal love and care for me. Keep me trusting You above all others. In Jesus' precious name...Amen 

 

BLESSED HANDS

Whatever your hands find to do

do it with your might....

Ecclesiastes 9:10a

A precious friend of mine put something touching on my computer regarding a lady of some age who sat looking at and evaluating her hands. God has created us in such special ways that our body part function in every way to our benefit. We rarely consider anything about our bodies or parts until something goes wrong with them.

Hands are of necessity and are rarely thought of. This isn't a time for listing what mine have meant in my life but in the present moment, there are indicators. My hands hurt most of the time because of arthritis. They really aren't beautiful hands like some ladies my age have. However, I'm grateful that they are still usable for my own benefit and to be of help where others are concerned.

There are indicators on my fingers in the form of jewelry that speaks of my life. There are rings...engagement and wedding ones picked out solely by Brian. One Mother's Day, he purchased a simple mom ring and then on our 50^th anniversary a special anniversary ring with some diamonds on it. It seemed rather unusual to have one so lovely. Then on my right hand is one ring...Brian's wedding ring that I'm not sure he ever took off. I've had it since he passed away. All rings on my hands say so much of me.

My hands have scars from the past but there are no nail scars. Only One did that for you and me. We claim and cling to those scars that make everything else irrelevant. Jesus' scars outdo any jewelry or small scars I may have. He consistently works and touches my life with those hands. Jesus' scars outdo all else and aren't we glad.

Thank You Jesus for dying for me that I might have an eternal and loving relationship with You. I look forward to seeing Your precious hands in person some day. With all the gratitude I can muster, thank You and Amen.

A SPIRITUAL JOB DESCRIPTION

...that you may walk worthy of the Lord,

fully pleasing Him,

being fruitful in every good work, and

increasing in the knowledge of God.

Colossians 1:10

With most professions, when one is called in for an interview, there is usually conversation relating to the job where there are expected duties. This conversation may be just in pointing out responsibilities, but many will give those duties written out, often to be signed by the interviewer and future employee. I don't know how much attention is paid through time to such a document but it is still important for one to know what is expected in the workplace.

When ladies have asked me how much of the Bible I read in a day that isn't prep study but for personal enrichment, I've told them there is no amount. I often read until the Holy Spirit stops me on a verse. I stay with that verse until I've taken in as much as I can in that moment.

Such is the above verse. I was reminded of what a spiritual job description might look like. There are still expectations in the next two verses following. They would be worth your reviewing. With the opening verse, in my typing of it, I deliberately divided it line by line as to expectations. There are four of them listed there. I see no unreasonable expectations there because God is never unreasonable when it comes to His Word. They seem to me to be very reasonable in our loving association with the human resource Person of our lives.

Our life is to be one of a lifestyle, our walk, that pleases the Lord. We are to be fruitful for Him in every way possible; and then, we are always to be learning more and more about our Heavenly Father. Too many Christians could be ranked as primary Sunday school students when it comes to really knowing God and things about Him. It doesn't mean just knowing facts, but really wanting to know Him beyond the facts. Am I living up to God's expectations of me in this verse as well as in this same chapter in verses 13-18? Paul is quick to show us the benefits of being God's child....benefits no company on earth can match.

Dear Father, thank You for Your patience with me in my not taking time to know You better. I thank You for Your Word and it's being so clear in every way of Your loving direction in my life. I love You and praise You in Jesus' name....Amen 

CONTENT YOURSELF

Not that I speak in regard

to need, for I have learned

in whatever state I am,

to be content.

Philippians 4:11

Perhaps you haven't noticed, but we are living in a country and it's culture full of people who know nothing about contentment. One meaning I found for contentment is: the state of happiness and satisfaction. If we go by that definition, I'm afraid there are few people who will know contentment in their lives.

Paul not only spoke of contentment to the Philippians but also in writing to Timothy. Timothy was young and it's often difficult for young folks to sense real contentment in their lives. All people struggle with this thing of contentment. Our society tells us that we never have enough, to always be scratching to get ahead. Such thinking robs us of a gratitude we should be feeling for God's goodness in our lives.

It's hard to understand how Paul could be so at ease in the state of contentment. Looking at his life, we see a man constantly under scrutiny and also often under arrest. He had given up a good life to follow Jesus, but he never viewed his life in that frame of mind.

Even more amazing is how he could find such contentment under the torment, abuse and often living on the edge of death. The thing I see is a man with great contentment determined to carry out God's will in his life while enduring those things that should have caused such discontent.

His secret was a very deep relationship with God. God was His focus in life. God was all He wanted and all He needed. In both, we too can find the contentment Paul spoke of.

Father, through Your Holy Spirit, keep me focused on the things in life that are important. Trials and needs will come but I want to maintain a joy and peace in my life in it all. In Jesus' precious name...Amen