From Sorrow to Joy

God is All Powerful

The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.  Acts 16: 22-25

When having a bad day, it’s unlikely we’d describe our mood as joyous. To the contrary, we are likely to be tense, short tempered, angry or distraught.  In fact, from simple problems like being stuck in traffic to the most difficult of trials, being joyful is the last emotion we would expect to experience.

The Bible tells us that Paul and Silas, two of Jesus’ disciples, sang songs of praise after being whipped, beaten and then chained in a cold and dark prison cell.  Yes, bloody, cold and imprisoned without cause, they praised God!  Doesn’t seem possible, does it?  But Paul and Silas knew Jesus personally; they trusted He was in control of all things and that there wasn’t anything that God could not handle.  Their confidence in God gave them peace, and this peace gave them joy knowing they were with God and God was with them.  A joy that was so deep and profound they were able to sing praises despite their unfair and brutal treatment, their dire circumstances.  Not long after they praised God, an earthquake shook the ground violently and they were set free.  This same sincere joy that Paul and Silas experienced is available to us all at all times – and because of it, we too are set free.

I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I, whom you have redeemed.    Psalm 71:22-23

Because God is all powerful, with Christ, we find joy in all our circumstances.

Trust Me

God is Sovereign

God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.  Job 37:5
 

Have you ever had a boss or a mentor that you followed without question? Someone you completely trusted?  If so, it is likely you did not understand every action taken or how some things would come together, but you followed along because of your fundamental belief in this person.  And while you may not have enjoyed each task handed out to you to complete, you did what was asked, believing your efforts would be worth it in the end.
 

Our relationship with God is much the same.  With faith, we don’t need to understand all things or see God’s complete story to follow Him.  With just a small amount of faith, God begins to reveal His character and His plan to us. But God intentionally leaves out some of the details – filling them in at His discretion.  And while we can struggle to find patience to endure trials on God’s appointed terms and timing, we persevere when we remember who He is -- the Creator of the Universe, the all knowing, and all powerful God, who has our best interests at heart.  For some, it may appear risky to place one’s faith blindly, but that is what makes faith, faith. Will you choose to follow Him? 

He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”  Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:44-47

 

Because God is Sovereign, through Christ we can trust Him, even if we don’t understand Him completely.

Worthless - Says Who?

God is Holy

There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.  Ecclesiastes 7:20

Most of us have someone in our life, perhaps a boss, a spouse, a parent, or relative that regardless of how hard we try, leaves us feeling unworthy or like a failure.  Sometimes this rejection can be overwhelming and we struggle to find our place because we know no matter how hard we try, it’s never enough.

God knows we aren’t perfect either, but he loves and accepts us anyway!  He created us to be exactly as we are, with unique talents and gifts, but by no means perfect.  Jesus, as God-made man, was the only being to walk the earth that was perfect.  His death and resurrection paid the price for our completion.  We aren’t perfect but that is okay, because Jesus is there to erase the wrongs and fill in all the gaps as we put our faith in Him.

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:22-24

Because God is holy, we can face man’s rejection with our confidence in Christ.

The Gardner

God is Faithful

He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.  Deuteronomy 32:4

Just about everyone loves spring.  It is an incredibly uplifting and joyous time.  The flowers are in bloom, the weather is warm, the days are getting longer --a welcomed change from the dark and cold days of winter.  But without the toil of winter, would such a glorious spring be possible?
 

So too is it with life…No one enjoys walking through a difficult season, but they serve a purpose despite not always understanding what that may be.  During such hardships, we long for the day when our circumstances will change, when life will get back to normal.  But perseverance during trials can bring forth splendor in ways that we can’t even imagine.  Trusting God as he prunes the dead branches in our lives provides an opportunity for God centered traits to flourish within us.  God’s desire is to see our character and life blossom like the most beautiful garden ever imagined when we draw closer to Him.  Getting through difficult seasons is challenging and can require more patience and effort than we planned, but when we trust God to rescue us, the results will be glorious.

There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under heaven:

  a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,
  a time to kill and a time to heal,
   a time to tear down and a time to build,

   a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
  a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
   a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
  a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,
  a time to tear and a time to mend,
   a time to be silent and a time to speak,
  a time to love and a time to hate,
   a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Because God is faithful, we trust that even during the most challenging of times, through Jesus, all our needs will be met.

Forgiveness

God is Gracious

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.  Matthew 18: 21-22
We all seek to be forgiven, but what happens when forgiveness is asked of us?  It takes courage, patience and a generous heart to forgive others when we have been wronged. At times we hold grudges, seek revenge, suppress anger and struggle with releasing hurts that can be very deep and profound.  Consequently, we end up suffering more and becoming bitter by not letting go. 

So, how does one accomplish this daunting task of forgiveness?  Jesus’ death on the cross reminds us of the extreme suffering Jesus endured to provide payment for our sins.  So if God’s grace allows us to be forgiven without any cost, we too should be able to extend the same grace and forgive others without receiving payment.  When we embrace God’s miraculous gift of grace that has been extended to us through faith and not by any works we do, we will then be able to forgive others, and in doing so experience freedom and true joy. 
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:6-8

Because God is gracious, through Christ we are able to forgive others and live joyfully.

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  Colossians 3:13

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  Galatians 5:1

April Fools

God is Just

The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.      Proverbs 12:15

We all love a good joke or prank once in a while to break up the stress of the day … maybe this is why April Fool’s Day can be so much fun.  But that one day of the year can also serve as a reminder that foolish thinking, pranks and schemes should be the exception and not the rule in our life; that while life should be enjoyed, foolishness and folly have consequences.

The Bible speaks at great length on the topic of foolishness.  Solomon, the wisest man to ever live writes in the Book of Proverbs that fools do not seek God’s wisdom and understanding.  That they do not follow God, but rather live by their own set of rules.  But, it is written that one day God will judge us all and His justice will prevail.  And, while our pride may lead us to believe we will have the last laugh, are we truly prepared for Judgment Day?  No matter the recklessness or how foolish your past, God’s mercy and grace are still available to you today -- it’s not too late. 

Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.               Proverbs 19:20

Because God is just, with Christ we will face the final judgment in confidence.

A Major Renovation

God is Gracious

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth . . ." Isaiah 65:17

A great deal of effort goes into any kind of renovation – it starts with a vision and requires hours of planning, hard work, and great expense. The restoration all done to make something more useful and hopefully of more value. 

God, the master architect is also in the process of a major renovation. He is working on rebuilding the world around us and you are part of His plan.  Ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, God has been working at restoring His vision. His love for us is too great, His vision too magnificent to allow His creation to decay in the grips of sin.  But God’s plan requires a major overhaul in our thinking, our hearts, and our actions… When we replace the focus of our life from worldly possessions to Godly desires with Jesus at the center, we become a new creation.  The grand plan is in place and Jesus has already paid the price.  Now it’s your move.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  2 Corinthians 5:17-18

Because God is gracious, through Christ we have become new.