Rejoice In The Lord Always!

Philippians 4:4-9; Rejoice in the Lord always especially when you're feeling down.

Live In Peace And Rejoice

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

                                                                               (Phil 4:4-9 NIV)

When it gets really hard at times to rejoice and to gentle in my interaction with others, I find that it is best if I just find a place to be alone with God. It helps me to read or listen to his word. My attitude gets an adjustment when I speak with him and listen to him. 

Any anxieties or frustrations I may have been harboring slip away when I purposefully enter into God's presence and I can then reenter the world and interact with others in a much more gentle and pleasant manner. Yes, I can be pretty ugly when I find myself in a place where there is a lot of inappropriate language or activities going on. When I find myself getting frustrated it is time to step back before I react inappropriately. 

Sometimes, we need to step back and think on all that God has done for us and all that he is for us so that we can serve him and others with joyful spirits. Remembering that Jesus died for us helps set the matter in a better perspective. Rejoice in the Lord always for he has done marvelous things!

May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Trust and Rejoice!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

There are many times in this world that we become anxious or disheartened. Depression may even get the best of us for a time. Life does not always dish out pleasantness. St. Paul reminds us today, as he did the Philippians, not to worry; but, to present our requests to the Lord. In bringing our needs before Him in prayer, we find the confidence to trust that all things are in His hands and He has a good plan for those who love Him. (Rom 8:28)

The trials that St. Paul endured were many and hard. If he could stand, trusting in and rejoicing in the Lord until the day of his execution, surely so can we. 

Think for just a moment about the problems you have encountered throughout your life. Did God not see you through them all? Was He not with you? Those problems are now nothing more than a memory. Rejoice then that any trials and tribulations you may be encountering today will also pass. Continue on in the way of the Lord. Trusting and rejoicing in Him!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

The Sixth Petition.

And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean?--Answer.
God, indeed, tempts no one; but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us, nor seduce us into misbelief, despair, and other great shame and vice; and though we be assailed by them, that still we may finally overcome and gain the victory.

http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php

 

Every day we face temptations. To some of these we succumb. To others we do not. Often we fail to even recognize that we are being tempted to do or say or think something that we ought not. The world around us tells us that what is wrong is right and what is right is wrong. It can be very confusing.



It can be especially confusing for young people who grow up with just a little knowledge of God; but, with way more knowledge of the progressive and materialistic world that we live in. They have been taught (by adults and the world around them) to follow in the ways that they think will provide them with happiness in the moment and not to consider too much the long term consequences of their choices. 

 

God's way is not our way. His way is not the way of the world. We have to be careful that what we say and do is not because this is the way of the world; but, that this is the way in which God would have us go. I know how very difficult it is to discern what is right and what is wrong in many circumstances and so we pray that God would guard and keep us from temptation and when we are tempted that He would help us to be able to stand and say no to them.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Forgive Us!

THE LORD'S PRAYER

The Fifth Petition.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What does this mean?--Answer.
We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor deny such petitions on account of them; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them; but that He would grant them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much, and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. So will we verily, on our part, also heartily forgive and also readily do good to those who sin against us.

The Book of Concord

Forgive us our trespasses. We begin this petition by asking that our sins be forgiven. We begin by acknowledging that we have sinned against God and others. We begin with repentance. We understand that we are sinful beings and that without the grace and mercy of God we would be lost for all eternity. It is only by faith in the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that we can be saved. 

In John's first epistle we are reminded: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8 NKJV) It is very difficult to receive forgiveness if we cannot acknowledge that we have sinned and in need of forgiveness. It is like a pitcher filled with sour milk. There is no way you can add fresh milk to the pitcher. There is no room and even if there were the fresh milk would also become rancid. The pitcher must be emptied and cleansed first.  

Having worked as a cognitive behavior treatment specialist at a correctional facility as well as having served in pastoral ministry for over twenty years, I have witnessed and addressed the various ways that human beings deny the truth of their sinful nature. One of the most common ways to deny the truth of our own sinful nature is to attempt to justify one's actions by pointing out someone else's sins. In other words, we direct the focus onto others in the hopes that our owns sins will not be quite so visible to the people around us. During confessions like this, I usually remind them that we are not called to confess the sins of others; but, to confess our own sins.

We are called to repentance; to turn around and follow in the footsteps of Jesus in and to the Kingdom of God. Jesus, the only one without sin, was willing to take the sins of the world upon himself and to be crucified for our sins that we might be reconciled to God and to one another. He was willing to die that we might receive forgiveness and live life in him. It behooves us then, if we are to truly follow in his footsteps, to forgive others even as we would desire to be forgiven.

It is not now or ever helpful for one to confess the perceived sins of others, day after day, year after year. This is not will not aid us in any way to continue on the path that Jesus would lead us on. It is a major distraction and will only lead us on the path to destruction. It is definitely not a way to witness to God's great mercy and love for us and for all people.

Repent and receive the forgiveness of sins that cost Jesus his life. Turn around and follow him on the path to eternal life. Forgive others even as you are forgiven.

According to the Gospel of Luke (17:3-4), Jesus tells us: “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.  Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

May God help us to repent of our own sins and to forgive one another even as He forgives us.

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

THE LORD's PRAYER

The Fourth Petition.

Give us this day our daily bread.

What does this mean?--Answer.
God gives daily bread, even without our prayer, to all wicked men; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to know it, and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread?--Answer.
Everything that belongs to the support and wants of the body, such as meat, drink, clothing, shoes, house, homestead, field, cattle, money, goods, a pious spouse, pious children, pious servants, pious and faithful magistrates, good government, good weather, peace, health, discipline, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

(http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php)

 

There was no bread in the desert.  There was no meat to eat in the wilderness.  The Israelites were hungry and complained saying it would be better to be slaves in Egypt rather than following the Lord through the wilderness to the promised land.  The Lord heard them complaining.  He provided daily bread. But, he provided no more than they needed except for on the day before the Sabbath so that they would have enough to sustain them on the Sabbath.  He proved bread in the morning and quail for meat each evening.  But, some people tried to hoard it.  They did not understand that the Lord was trying to teach them to trust him and not the rulers of this world for their daily bread.  The extra bread that they tried to collect and save up for themselves spoiled so that worms lived in it.   For forty years the Lord provided this daily bread to his children.

Give us this day our daily bread. We pray it all the time. I remember Howard and my first few years of marriage. Wow! Talk about broke! He was a young Marine and I will tell you that at that time; even though I worked as well, there was not much of an income.  I had a budget of $20.00 for groceries for the month. Before I went shopping, I would do a whole month's menu just so not a penny would be wasted. Sometimes we ended up short. For some reason, I didn't think about applying for food stamps. I think I may have felt that they were for those who had less than we had. I actually felt quite blessed at the time. After all, there was always something to eat on the table. Suppers on those last days of the month sometimes were pretty sparse. They consisted of things like pancakes without eggs, basically flour and water with a  little margarine and sugar sprinkled on top or homemade bean soup. We ate a lot of homemade bean soup. But, we ate. We were provided for. Even though at times there was no meat for the table, there was always bread - sometimes homemade. God provided for our daily needs.

God provides for all that we need; not just the food which sustains our bodies. Do we really trust Him to take care of all of our needs or are we busy striving for more for ourselves? Are we willing to sell ourselves back into the bondage of people, places, things?  In whom do we trust to care of us:  God or the world? 

 

May God teach us to depend on Him above all others and then to use the gifts that He gives to us that others may also not be in need of life sustaining daily bread.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Thy Will Be Done

The Lord's Prayer

The Third Petition.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean?--Answer.

The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is this done?--Answer.

When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.

http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php

Do we really want His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven? I know we pray this often; but, do we really mean it? Are we really willing to help and support the church on earth beginning with our own congregations more than we desire for our own wills and desired to be pursued? Are we really willing to let our own selfish wills die in order that His will be done for the greater good; for the good of others; for the growth of the church? God's will is that the church on earth be edified and grow. Scripture tells us that we are to work together that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. It is Jesus' command to us to go forth and proclaim the Good New of the Kingdom; to teach all nations, all people, what he has taught us so that all people might hear, believe and be saved. If this were not God's will, why would He be willing to send His only begotten Son to suffer and die for us? Jesus died for others. He was willing to suffer all hardship and die for us. Our will is usually only for our own personal good. God's will is for the good of all. May God help us to focus on His will rather than allow the evil one to distract us from the mission to which we are called.

The devil can use all sorts of people (Christians and non-Christians) to throw all kinds of obstacles in the way of God's will being done. Nevertheless; ultimately, His will will be done. He is; after all, God so I am not sure why we are always fighting His will and so busy trying to inflict our own wills on the people and the world around us. 

May God keep us all steadfast in His Word and in faith, according to His good and gracious will.

God's Peace - Pr. J