Laughter

I sit right now in my office and down the hall from me a group of our ladies are sitting together for a Bible study. The sounds though are sounds of comfort, refreshing, and joy. The sounds are of laughter.

The thing that makes this sound so great is that I know that many of these ladies are dealing with life's tough side. Some are struggling with health issues, some are struggling with unsaved spouses, some are struggling with relationships and family obligations. But for this moment, they can laugh.

Scripture is right:
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. Proverbs 15:13,15

So many times we become enamored with our lack, our frustration, and our dread of situations and life; but God's Word is filled with the optimism of hope, strength, and that source of wisdom when appropriately applying the knowledge that God grants us that ask it of Him.

Trials bring focus and that focus should be upon the One that brings joy and thus the ability to still find ways to laugh and not be overwrought and even overwhelmed with circumstances. Keep your attention on the Divine and less on the details that want to cloud our vision of what God is accomplishing in our lives.

Chronic.....Joy?

I just recently sat at the side of a hospital bed with an individual who has all of their life experienced one physical complication after another. Serious surgeries where organs have been removed, and procedures that left this person with drastic limitations. One thing after another has hit this one and they are "sick and tired of being sick and tired."

I have never experienced that. The chronic pain, the chronic suffering, the chronic bouts of physical limitations that lead to the battle of depression, discouragement, and a longing for release!

Chronic....On going, never finding a full release, no end in sight, or just when you think it is finally over....Chronic!

Where is there any joy in that? How can I, in reasonably good health, never much for hospitals, not aware of any physical abnormalities and find getting a head cold a point of absolute misery...How can I extend a hope of joy?

How can I offer to this dear soul the words of comfort and hope that they need in order to "feel good" when life is filled with the chronic "bad" that has plagued them for all these years?

The reality is that JOY is not mine to give. Joy is not mine to create. Joy is not within me to begin with. Joy is outside of me and comes from a source beyond me.

"If you want Joy, real joy, wonderful joy, Let Jesus come into your heart," as the old chorus goes. "Your sins He'll wash away, your night He'll turn to day, your life He'll make it over a new."

But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You. Psalms 5:11

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalms 16:11

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. Psalms 30:5

The angelic herald at Christ's birth shouted this statement: But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; Luke 2:10 Joy came with the coming of Christ. The ability to find contentment, rest, peace.

"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:9-13

Love and joy, being loved, finding joy. This is our God we are speaking of. The One that knows that this dear one is in a hospital bed for the "umpteenth" time and is discouraged with life and the body they find themselves encased in.

This is the same God however, that endured our death so that even though our "sin-afflicted" existence should leave us trapped in a physical body that just won't respond as we would hope, we have this joy! HE is coming to redeem us, to deliver us, to free us and that existence will bring about freedom from pain, suffering, trials, and depression of mind and spirit.

But what about while we wait? What do I do now? How do I endure until that day? By finding Christ to be that daily source of joy. He is my contentment, He is my daily bread, He is my peace, my lover, my provider of grace. As I live with Him in mind my pain has a purpose. My suffering has a reason. My life is not about me, but about using the daily reminder that God has given me that I need Him! He is my joy and He is my grace. He is my confidence and He is my heart's physician.

I am nothing without Him and through Him I can do all that He asks of me. He is my cause, my reason, my hope and all my tomorrows!

"My Joy...in you," Jesus says just hours, minutes, before the cross. Real joy, wonderful joy. A life changing joy that is not based upon circumstances, but a joy that brings contentment in the midst of "real life."

Joy when life is...well, "Chronic."

In that day!

In our Wednesday evening Bible studies we are just starting a series on the Names of God. A study of this type is not meant to become a series of etymological digressions or a broad excuse of rabbit trails, but it is a powerful study into the character and the vast attributes of our God.

As I was studying for tonight's thought one of the key verses is found in Isaiah 12. The whole chapter is only six verses long and is such a wonderful declaration of God's remembrance and restoration. Of course it is following fast upon the thoughts found in Isaiah 11 where we read.....

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. (Isaiah 11:1-5)

The chapter then goes on to describe a regathering of the people of Israel. Then chapter 12 comes in with a certain optimism. In that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee. (Isaiah 12:1b)

Then again in verse four,

And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

Now I do understand a distinction must be made between Israel of the Old Testament and the church of the New Testament. But there is the matter of Isaiah's prophecy of this "rod" and "Branch" in 11:1. This is Christ. In many ways we see a prophetic glimpse into the coming Savior who would not only offer redemption to Israel, but also to me, a Gentile!

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:2-3)

For us as New Testament believers, that day has already come. I will praise Him! I now say, "Praise the Lord!" For today I can call upon His name and can declare to the world His doings among His people. I am ready and willing to make mention that His name is exalted.

As Peter tells us in his first epistle,

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: (1 Peter 2:9)

As Paul declares in Ephesians,

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both [Jew and Gentile] have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:16-18)

We as believers in the promised One of God, the Messiah, the anointed and holy One sent down from the Father should respond with enthusiasm as Isaiah put it in verse five:

Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

Let it be in this day we praise our great God for such a great plan that demonstrated His awesome power and delivered unto us His very presence all granted in the Person of Jesus Christ, the rod, the Branch, the Savior. In this day!

Merry Christmas!

It is with great joy that I come to say to you and yours, Merry Christmas! This is a time of celebration as we think and ponder upon the greatness of our God's design and plan. A child, a son, an innocent participant in an eternal plan was granted to us as God's demonstration of love, compassion, and desired restoration. He, Who did not sin, was willing to send One, His Son, the spotless and perfect One, to become sin for us.

Christmas is such a beautiful time of the year. We behold the ornaments, the lights, the sounds, and the smells of this season. For those of us in the north country (and for some even in our southern states) snow falls and conditions become cold, but the beauty of the pristine brightness and the even the crispness of the cold air stimulates us to look up and behold the grand design of our God.

As carols play, cantatas are sung, and the nativity scenes come alive all around us, let us not forget the beauty of God's perfect plan to redeem us and make us His prized possession. May our hearts be warmed and our lives be stirred to reflect the beauty of the Christ that came in such humility. May our lives be challenged to grow into His image even as He grew to become a sacrifice of willing obedience, even to face the death that we deserved.

God bless each and every one of you! Merry Christmas and may the year to come be one of hope and joy as we anticipate the next major event on our God's calendar, the coming or our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ!