Joy....Now More Than Ever!

Recently, I have become even more aware of a growing trend within me. It seems that I am encountering an unusual amount of disappointment that has been "challenging my joy!" I am not saying that I am purposely trying to be a pessimist or “looking” for every situation to be where “the glass is half empty instead of half full.” I am talking about things that are more than just a misunderstanding when things turn out differently than I expected. It is missing the mark or out-right failure of meeting the standards that catches my attention.

For instance, I pay extra for 3-day shipping for an on-line order only for it to arrive a week later with no apologies or refund. I come into work on my day off in order to meet with a friend only for them to call at the last minute to say they can’t make it. I order and pay for a gift on-line and choose for it to be “picked up at the store” (because it is in stock and I want to surprise someone) only to get an email stating “we’re sorry, but this item is unavailable!”

We live in a fallen world. People are human. Things happen that I have no control over. The only thing I can control is my response towards these things that drive me crazy. Nothing can take my happiness unless I allow it to. Nothing “makes me” angry, cynical or upset. I choose to let it make me this way. And then, THAT is when it hit me. I caught myself….mostly from the Holy Spirit’s conviction to stop focusing on these irritations and the disappointments of life.

Immediately, the beloved hymn “Joy Unspeakable” welled up inside me. It is verse four that I like most: “I have found the joy no tongue can tell, how its waves of glory roll; It is like a great o’erflowing well, springing up within my soul. And the refrain: It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, full of glory, full of glory; It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, oh the half has never yet been told.”

It is becoming far too easy to dwell on the negative side of things. Things in life will disappoint us, yet God never will. People will fail me, but God never will. His eternal and internal joy He gives us as Christians should always be within us….ready to spring forth like a geyser with gratefulness, praise and thanksgiving no matter the situation.

Even when “life happens” and things don’t go according to plan…and even those times I feel cheated and lose time, money and resources…I can let that go, and find joy in the situation and at the very least, one or two things I can be thankful for.

So, no matter what life throws at you, “in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Overcome the negative with the positives of thankfulness and gratitude that only a heart filled with joy can do. After all, we need joy, now, more than ever!

Tetelestai!

Just before Jesus gives up His spirit on the cross, He utters a very powerful word. The word that He cries out is “ tetelestai” (tih-tellis-tie). When literally translated, this word means, “It is finished.” It can also refer to something completed or accomplished. The word occurs in John 19:28 and 19:30 and these are the only two places in all of the New Testament where it is found. In the John19:28 passage, it is translated, “After this, when Jesus knew that all things were now completed , in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, he said, ‘I thirst.’” Two verses later, he utters the word himself: “Then when he received the sour wine Jesus said, ‘ It is finished ,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Did you know that the word tetelestai was also written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times to show indicating that a bill had been paid in full? The Greek-English lexicon (by Moulton and Milligan) sa...

The 50-Days of Easter

Jesus rose from the dead. Period! He is alive. We are “easter people” and live daily as proof that He is risen from the dead. He did walk out of the grave. He conquered death. Jesus not only came back to life, but He stayed on earth to be seen by many witness. 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 , “ He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.” After the resurrection, Jesus spent forty days on earth before He ascended back to His rightful place (1 Peter 3:22), and then there were ten more days after that before the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47). Jesus accomplished many things in this time between His resurrection and return to Heaven. One of the most important was actually a command to us. We refer to this impor...

Not Rejected

I think we could spend hours, if not days, in just the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel. If there is one thing that is made clear in this writing is that God is passionately pursuing us and bidding us to have a relationship with Him that is restored by His Son, Jesus. There is one verse, in particular, that stands out to me. John 6:37 , “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.” Those that come to Jesus will never be rejected. If you come to Jesus, just as you are now, he will not turn you away. He gladly welcomes you to come to him. It is not God’s design or plan that we live separated from Him. He makes the way for that relationship to happen. He initiated the plan. He paid the price. He gives freely. He gives us free-will to choose or reject that offer of reconciliation through Jesus, His Son. God makes His intent clear: Ezekiel 33:11 , “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the ...

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