Friday, June 13, 2014

Glorious Joy



“Though you have not seen him, you love him;
and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him
and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.”
 1 Peter 1:8(NIV)

“Though you have not seen him. . .” We might not see Jesus every day. It may be that we don’t see Him as we see one another. We don’t know when we will envision Him. But there will be times when we DO see Him.

“. . . you love him. . . ” We do love Him because he forgave us our sins. If we kept every sin we committed and let them come to mind each day, we would be very miserable people, unable to think about anything else or act on any project.

“. . . even though you do not see him now. . . ” We might not visibly see Jesus. We may feel His presence. There is an old adage-“Seeing is believing.” In the realm of God’s world, I hold to the concept that “Believing is seeing.”

“. . . you believe in him. . . ” Peter wrote this epistle to God’s chosen people who had been scattered throughout most of the known world at that time, people who were chosen according to God’s will. 

“. . . are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” When we see Jesus in the deeds and actions of others we cannot describe the way we feel. All we can do is praise the Lord for His goodness to us.

Dear Lord God:
               We praise You for who You are, our Savior, our Redeemer, Our Lord. We rejoice in what You do for us, Your children. We thank You for Your presence in our lives. In the name of Jesus, I pray. AMEN

Graphic: quotes-lover.com



Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Everlasting Joy




The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isa. 51:11

This passage speaks of those who have been redeemed by the Lord returning to their homeland.  Knowing that the prophet Isaiah speaks of near prophecies and distant ones, as well, I see both here. I see these words speaking of those in bondage returning from Babylon. The older people had fond memories of their homeland. The younger ones would be excited to return to the land of their parents and grandparents. They had heard all the stories about Jerusalem and the temple. They probably knew all the songs their ancestors sang. As they got closer to Jerusalem, then might have raised their voices in songs of God’s comfort and His love.

I also see this passage speak of those who enter heaven. They will be singing and they will hear songs as they approach the gates. They will be extremely joyful. They will have no sorrow. There will be nothing to be sad about. They have entered into their peace.
We sometimes lose a person to heaven and it is a sudden loss. Other times when we lose them, we expect it; we have to have joy when this happens. Joy because, if the person knew Christ, he or she is in heaven. Joy because he or she will no longer be in pain.


Dear Lord God; Please be with all those who loved ones and friends who have gone to heaven. Wrap Your arms around those who grieve; draw them close to You. Whisper words of comfort, love, and kindness into their ears. We will give You the praise. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen

Graphic:howard-carter.blogspot.com

Monday, June 9, 2014

Complete Joy



“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard,
so that you also may have fellowship with us.
 And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We write this to make our joy complete.” 1 John 1:3-4 (NIV)

Have you ever shared some good news with a friend so they can rejoice with you? Families of high school graduates usually have open house parties to honor the work of the teens.
We sometimes have to share news that is not especially good. But we know that when we do it, we have someone who will be there for us and mourn with us, if need be. A lady in our church has a son who is a Cancer patient in another state. Our prayer group recently prayed for him and his wife and children. Then we prayed over her. It was a holy time. I have since heard that the son is terminal.


John wanted to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and let those who heard that news share in the feeling of joy that revelation brought to them. When we share Christ with another person we have a new relationship with that person.

graphic: proclamationpicutes.blogspot.com

God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...