Tag Archives: Rejoice IN The Lord

Smiles Help! Are You Smiling? A Word from THE WORD!!! #162

06 Wednesday Dec 2023

Posted by in A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A heart of faith, Abundant Life In Jesus, Changed Lives, Check Your Knees???, Joy, Joy Is Contagious!, Joy of The Lord!, Joy To The World?, Smile if you love Jesus!, SMILE!!! Jesus loves YOU!!, Smiling is contagious, Spread a smile, Spread the GOOD news!

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Smiles Help!!  Are You Smiling? A Word from THE WORD!!! #162

Just a few words this morning to hopefully brighten your day.  Joy and laughter are good for the soul, and many are weary and tired, rushed and stressed with work, home, shopping, spending money—or trying to come up with the money to spend!  These are perilous times and scripture told us they would come, but don’t lose heart—our God reigns and Jesus is coming soon!

“And a voice came out of the throne, saying,

Praise our God,

all ye his servants,

and ye that fear him,

both small and great.

6 And I heard

as it were the voice of a great multitude,

and as the voice of many waters,

and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying,

Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”   Revelation 19:5-6

Oh, Hallelujah sings my soul—as I sit here listening to Handel’s Messiah singing the Hallelujah Chorus, one of my favorite pieces of music—and I am smiling.  How about you.

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:

but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”  Proverbs 17:22

I pray that you will find the “joy of the Lord” and smile, through your tears if necessary.  I was trying to encourage a friend recently who is carrying a heavy load of caring for an aging parent in the throes of dementia and heart problems; now not to give away any personal secrets but part of our conversation may help you see that sometimes, lightening the spirit with laughter and light-hearted banter can help.  Our texting conversation was something like this:

       “me:  take one step at a time….

         My friend: can I crawl?

        Me:  not unless you’re wearing knee pads…

My friend:  sending a meme of a woman on the floor rolling up into a carpet…

Me: rolling is fine, but you better watch those corners, they’ll get you….”

No great words of wisdom, or spiritual depth, just a friend trying to make another friend smile in the midst of her tears.  Smiling is ok!  Smiling is good for the soul, the spirit, and the face—especially for those looking at it, and it’s often contagious!

“A merry heart

maketh a cheerful countenance:

but by sorrow of the heart

the spirit is broken.”  Proverbs 15:13

“All the days of the afflicted

are evil:

but he that is of a merry heart

hath a continual feast.

16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD

than great treasure

and trouble therewith.”  Proverbs 15:15-16

Money is nice to have, and friends (real friends) are a delight to the soul, and an encouragement to the downhearted, but I’ve learned that you can’t buy love or friendship, but you can nurture and cultivate both, or you can give up and go without—but that is a most dreary way to live.  I’ve known people like that, and I just smile and say, “Have a blessed day!”—and while it sometimes evokes a smile—and sometimes not so much—but either way, I know I’ve spread a little love, cheer, and kindness.  You never know what that little clerk may be facing, or that teller, or that service person on the phone may be worried about; so spread a little cheer with a smile on your face, in your voice and everywhere you go.  It costs little and can do so much good.

Nehemiah was one who stepped up to help his people rebuild out of chaos, and that under circumstances of great stress and fear, but as they gathered to hear The Word of The Lord, their hearts were sad, yet Nehemiah encouraged them to rejoice in what they had heard from God; rather than sorrow, he called them to rejoice, share what they had with those who had none and to, in my paraphrase, “put on a smile, rejoice in the Lord and spread it around”!  Won’t you do the same, especially as we celebrate the gift of our Redeemer’s birth—HE who came to die in our place, so that we could live!

“The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd

giveth his life for the sheep.”  John 10:10-11

And that my friends, is something to smile about.  Spread the love of Jesus, smile at the world and don’t be ashamed to wish others a “Merry CHRISTmas”!  Blessings on your day!

With a great big smile!

Amen and Amen!!!

Whose Day Is It??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #128

06 Wednesday Sep 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, Broken Hearts, Comfort, Encouragement, Eternal Consequences, Eternity is Long, The Crucified Life, The Gospel, This IS The Day, This is the Way

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Whose Day Is It??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #128

“I will praise thee:

for thou hast heard me,

and art become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders refused

is become the head stone of the corner.

23 This is the LORD’S doing;

it is marvellous in our eyes.

24 This is the day

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:21-243

Most are familiar with verse 24 of this Psalm, for this IS the DAY that God has made, and HE has given it to us to use to praise HIM, to use to HIS glory, but also to remember all that HE has done for us IN JESUS!   I don’t know that I’ve ever read these verses with this particular context in mind, but it is amazing how God speaks to us in unique ways, and at unexpected times and places, and I am so glad that HE does!  For as I sit here writing this article, I just praise HIM so much for this day–for HIS sweet presence, and HIS love, grace and mercy showered down on me/us!

We’ve been traveling and had some time with friends and family but had to come home a bit earlier than we had planned, but you see, God’s plans are always the ones that we want–even the seemingly ‘untimely’ things!  We had a safe trip but a longer than expected drive, and yet Jesus led our way, and we praise HIM for each day; for you see, it’s all about the love of Jesus which leads and directs our steps, and as we pursue HIM in all of our ways, ever remembering the “Lamb of God who takesth away the sin of the world”!  Yet, we also want to remember and tie together the references to Jesus, who was not only “The Lamb of God”, but HE is also the “stone which the builders refused”!  This precious Lamb came to be the “cornerstone” of our salvation–HE came to die for you and me!

But we don’t want to miss the reference to this being GOD’S PLAN!  I have often had people ask me about the New Testament and how it is the picture of God’s plan “B” since plan “A”, the law, had failed; to which I almost cry out loud…”no, no, no”!  God has never had a plan “B”, HIS plan has always been Jesus–Calvary–and praise HIS name, the Resurrection of JESUS Christ my Lord!!  Oh, glory, glory, glory!  Ain’t God good?  Yes, HE is! This is what the Psalmist is proclaiming–don’t miss it:

“This is the LORD’S doing;

it is marvellous in our eyes”!

The Apostles confirmed this truth as they proclaimed the Gospel on the Day of Pentecost.  Please don’t miss the beauty that the Psalmist was proclaiming all those hundreds of years before it took place.  Not an accident, or coincidence, or even ‘fate’–no, my friends, it was the “determinate counsel…of God” that planned the amazing work of salvation for you and me!!!  The plan that cost God His Son pouring out HIS precious blood on a cruel Roman cross!  Love ran red down through time for you and me–to TODAY!!!

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God among you

by miracles

and wonders

and signs,

which God did by him

in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him,

being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge

of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands have crucified

and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible

that he should be holden of it.”  Acts 2:22-24                         (And it will bless your heart to read through this entire chapter!)

I pray that you will heed the call of God on your heart!  Don’t miss the “cornerstone” by disregard or neglect, HE came to save “whosoever believeth on HIM”; not with just lip service but true repentance from my sin/your sin, and faith/trust in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for that sin!  So, in closing, just a few scriptures that paint a wonderful picture of what our Redeemer did for us through HIS precious blood!

“And from Jesus Christ,

who is the faithful witness,

and the first begotten of the dead,

and the prince of the kings of the earth.

Unto him that loved us,

and washed us from our sins

in his own blood,” Revelation 1:5

“Elect according to the foreknowledge

of God the Father,

through sanctification of the Spirit,

unto obedience

and sprinkling of the blood

of Jesus Christ:

Grace unto you,

and peace, be multiplied.

3 Blessed be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

which according to his abundant mercy

hath begotten us again

unto a lively hope

by the resurrection of Jesus Christ

from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible,

and undefiled,

and that fadeth not away,

reserved in heaven

for you,” 1 Peter 1:2-4

“But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

May we rejoice in each “today” that God grants you and me; may we bring joy to others, glory to God, and sing His praises for “THIS DAY” that HE has made for us!  I pray that you find HIS joy and peace sufficient for your every need.  He has NEVER let me down, even though I have failed HIM again and again….  I thank HIM for His faithfulness no matter the circumstances.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness;

and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”  Hebrews 13:5-6

Trust HIM–HE made the day–and HE MADE YOU!!!  And as a preacher friend of mine says, “God never says, “OOOPS”!

Amen and Amen!!!!

Resurrected And Returning??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #82

03 Monday Apr 2023

Posted by in JESUS, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus is our peace, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus' Sacrifice, Rejoice IN The Lord, Resurrection

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Resurrected And Returning???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #82

“Let not your heart be troubled:

ye believe in God,

believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house

are many mansions:

if it were not so,

I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place

for you.

3 And if I go

and prepare a place

for you,

I will come again,

and receive you

unto myself;

that where I am,

there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go

ye know,

and the way

ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him,

Lord, we know not whither thou goest;

and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:1-6

As we approach the season of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection from the dead, even as Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 15, “for our sin”, I pray that we remember it wasn’t an accident, it wasn’t happenstance, it wasn’t just another political statement–it was the plan of God from before the beginning!  Who said?  God does, past, present and in the promise of HIS return for God’s own!  At Pentecost Peter, anointed by the power of the Holy Spirit proclaimed:

“And it shall come to pass,

that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord

shall be saved.

22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God among you

by miracles

and wonders

and signs,

which God did by him

in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him, being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge

of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands

have crucified

and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible

that he should be holden of it.” Acts 2:21-24

Other scriptures verify this one, eternal purpose of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for SIN!  And yes, my friends, SIN IS the issue.

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21. (The angel to Joseph)

“The next day John seeth Jesus

coming unto him, and saith,

Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away

the sin of the world.”  John 1:29                          (John the Baptizer about Jesus)

“Forasmuch as ye know

that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition

from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained

before the foundation of the world,

but was manifest in these last times

for you,

21 Who by him

do believe in God,

that raised him up from the dead,

and gave him glory;

that your faith and hope

might be in God.”  1 Peter 1:18-21                      (Peter near the end of his earthly life)

Paul also referred to this eternal nature of God’s amazing plan of saving grace through the blood of HIS “only begotten son”!

“Blessed be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who hath blessed us

with all spiritual blessings

in heavenly places

in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us

in him

before the foundation of the world,

that we should be holy

and without blame

before him in love:” Ephesians 1:3-4

John records Jesus’ own words in much of The Book of the Revelation, and I’d like us to consider a few of these statements in closing, and I pray that your week will include time with Jesus, remembering the price that HE paid for our salvation.  If you belong to Jesus, I pray that you will find peace, hope, and encouragement this week, for we surely live in the “evil day” that scripture talks about, and our Lord Jesus’ return is most imminent in my opinion.  If you don’t know Jesus, I pray that you will hear His voice speaking to your heart and His knock at your heart’s door.

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

Some thoughts for your consideration:

“Behold, he cometh with clouds;

and every eye shall see him,

and they also which pierced him:

and all kindreds of the earth shall wail

because of him.

Even so, Amen.

8 I am Alpha and Omega,

the beginning

and the ending,

saith the Lord,

which is,

and which was,

and which is to come,

the Almighty.”  Revelation 1:7-8

“Behold, I come quickly:

blessed is he that keepeth the sayings

of the prophecy of this book…

…..12 And, behold, I come quickly;

and my reward is with me,

to give every man

according as his work shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega,

the beginning and the end,

the first and the last…

…20 He which testifieth these things saith,

Surely I come quickly.

Amen.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ

be with you all.

Amen.”  Portions of Revelation 22:7-21

I pray that you will see the need to be prepared for JESUS’ return–and you can only do that through repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for YOU at Calvary!!!

“Rejoice in the Lord

alway:

and again I say,

Rejoice.”  Philippians 4:4

Amen and Amen!!!

Rejoice IN THE LORD??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #69

24 Friday Feb 2023

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Peace Of The Rock, Peace that passeth ALL understanding, Rejoice IN The Lord, Remember

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Rejoice IN THE LORD???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #69

Just a brief word of encouragement for this Friday, and I pray that you have a blessed day IN Jesus today!

“Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work

in you

will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6

And another passage from Paul that always lifts, reminds, and encourages my heart in the truth, power, and grace of God’s Word, I pray that it may it speak to you today!

“Rejoice in the Lord

alway:

and again I say,

Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men.

The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing

by prayer

and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known

unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.

9 Those things,

which ye have both learned,

and received,

and heard,

and seen in me,

do:

and the God of peace

shall be with you.”  Philippians 4:4-9

“Think on these things” …and may the glorious “peace of God, which passeth all understanding…keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Amen and Amen!!!

What Day Is It??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #30

19 Friday Aug 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Don't let fear of tomorrow ruin your today, Don't let regrets rule your today, Don't worry about tomorrow, Fret NOT!, Today IS Today!

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What Day Is It???  A Word from THE WORD!!!  #30

Just a brief post today, for I feel impressed to remind us all that “today” IS just that, “Today”!  We must not let yesterday ruin our today, not make choices today that will be regretted tomorrow!  So often that is one of the slyest tools of the enemy, to either keep us drowning in the past, or fearful of the future.  God gives us some good advice in that regard, and I’d just like to spend just a few moments considering HIS WORD for “Today”!

“This is the day

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24

“Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day

our daily bread.”  Matthew 6:10-11

And more advise from our Lord and Master!

“Therefore take no thought, saying,

What shall we eat?

or, What shall we drink?

or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:)

for your heavenly Father knoweth

that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first

the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things

shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought

for the morrow:

for the morrow

shall take thought for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day

is the evil thereof.”  Matthew 6:31-34

And a final word from Paul and the author of Hebrews:

“But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding

in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour

is not in vain in the Lord.”   1 Corinthians 15:57-58

“For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:15-16

So, don’t fret over yesterday’s regret, or worry about tomorrow, but live today in light of the perfect provision of our precious Lord Jesus—and when you need to, run—yes run—to that “throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”!

Remember, we win!

Amen and Amen!!!