Tag:

Rejoice

Finally – Part One

by TerryLema

Paul second letter to the Corinthians is an interesting letter in that it is the least doctrinal of Paul’s epistles. The letter almost seems like Paul’s personal biography.

The letter explores the relationship between suffering and the power of the Spirit demonstrated in Paul life, ministry, and message. Some of Paul opposition argued that his sufferings meant he really wasn’t a Spirit-filled apostle of the Risen Christ.

Paul argued the exact opposite – that his suffering is the means God uses to reveal His glory to all. It is this letter in which we learned of the all-sufficiency of grace. “[God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.” [2Corinthians 12:9 HCSB]

As you get to the end of the letter, one word stands out … “Finally.” Chapter 13, verse 11 begins “Finally, brothers, rejoice!”  [HCSB]

Finally, after everything Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, he urged them to rejoice. Rejoice! After everything Paul endured (read Chapter 11:24-33), he urged others to “Rejoice!”

Paul writes consistently about rejoicing. (Nine times in the Book of Philippians alone!) It seems unusual that someone who suffered so much for the Gospel could possibly be known simply as “The Rejoicing Apostle!” But Paul saw beyond his sufferings to the glory that awaited him when he would see his Risen LORD in eternity.

No wonder he wants us to “Finally, rejoice” right along with him.

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Whirling and Rejoicing!

by TerryLema

There is a delightful passage at the end of the book of Philippians, two paragraphs (4:4-7).  One begins this way … “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”  

That passage begins with rejoicing and ends with the peace of God guarding our hearts and minds.

Rejoicing! The Greek word in the New Testament is CHAIRO, which means to be glad, calmly happy, and joyful. The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for rejoice is ‘ALATS and it means to spin or jump for joy.

In 2 Samuel 6, David was bringing the Ark of the Covenant down from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David.  It says he DANCED before the Lord, and it uses a Hebrew word, KARAR, which means to whirl.  David was leaping, spinning, and whirling in dance.  He was rejoicing.  The Old Testament way.  I like that.

We are to rejoice always in the Lord.  Paul tells us that twice.  We can be New Testament rejoicers — glad, calmly happy, and full of joy.  That will please God abundantly.  That will result in the peace of God abiding in our hearts and minds.

We can be Old Testament rejoicers – spinning, dancing, and whirling!  That will please God abundantly and bear the same results.

Personally, I want to be like David before the ark.  Unfortunately, my body is no longer conducive to leaping, dancing, and whirling, but while I cannot leap, dance or whirl with my body, I can certainly do it with my heart!

Let us Rejoice in the Lord always!

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We Had to Celebrate

by TerryLema

“But we had to celebrate and rejoice [be glad], because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” [Luke 15:32 HCSB]

This is the ending of the Parable of the Prodigal Son.  The father was speaking to his eldest son, who did not want to see or attend a celebration given for his younger brother – the one who had squandered his inheritance and now had returned home destitute and needy.

The father, however, had never lost hope that his son would return.  He had never stopped loving him.  Now that the boy had returned to the father’s embrace it did not matter what he had done or where he had gone or how much he had lost.  It only mattered that he was home.

We had to celebrate and be glad ….   The return of the lost demands a celebration.  It commands us to be glad.  Even the angels in heaven rejoice over the return of the lost, and God, Himself, rejoices over us with singing.  [Zephaniah 3:17]

How can we not join in the celebration and be glad, especially when we realize we were the lost and now we are the found.  We are saved!  I love the quote below from A. W. Tozer.  I paraphrase it often—if God never answers another prayer or does another thing for me, it doesn’t matter because He has saved me.  I will be glad!

“Sometimes I go to God and say, ‘God, if Thou dost never answer another prayer while I live on this earth, I will still worship Thee as long as I live and in the ages to come for what Thou hast done already.’ God’s already put me so far in debt that if I were to live one million millenniums, I couldn’t pay Him for what He’s done for me.”   ― A.W. Tozer

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Attention: Leapers, Dancers and Whitlers!

by TerryLema

There is a delightful passage at the end of the book of Philippians, two paragraphs.  One begins this way … “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” [Phil 4:4-5]

If you have a chance today, read verses Chapter 4:4-7. That passage begins with rejoicing and ends with the peace of God guarding our hearts and minds.

Rejoicing!  The Greek word in the New Testament is chairo, which means to be glad, calmly happy, and joyful. The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for rejoice is ‘alats and it means to spin or jump for joy.

In 2 Samuel 6, David was bringing the Ark of the Covenant down from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David.  It says he danced before the Lord, and it uses a Hebrew word, karar, which means to whirl.  David was leaping, spinning, and whirling in dance.  He was rejoicing.  The Old Testament way.  I like that.

We are to rejoice always in the Lord.  Paul tells us that twice.  We can be New Testament rejoicers — glad, calmly happy, and full of joy.  That will please God abundantly.  That will result in the peace of God abiding in our hearts and minds.   We can be Old Testament rejoicers – spinning, dancing, and whirling!  That will please God abundantly and bear the same results.

Personally, I want to be like David before the ark.  Unfortunately, my body is no longer conducive to leaping, dancing, and whirling, but while I cannot leap, dance or whirl with my body, I can certainly do it with my heart!

Come on, all you who are leapers, dancers, and whirlers … let us Rejoice in the Lord always!

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Rejoice With … Week With

by TerryLema

One of my daily verses recently was the well-known one from Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” [HCSB]

It is drawn from a paragraph about Christian ethics.  I think it may have been chosen because of the images and news coming out of Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman took the lives of nineteen children and two teachers. That was Tuesday, May 24.

Thursday, May 26, I talked to and prayed with a friend who recently got a stage 3 cancer diagnosis.

Saturday, May 28, I messaged a friend on Facebook who struggles with constant pain.

Sunday, May 29, I learned that the daughter of a friend had died unexpectedly.

Monday, May 30, is Memorial Day where we remember those servicemen and servicewomen who gave all.

Paul tells us that we are to rejoice with those who are rejoicing. That is pretty easy to do. Everyone like a party to celebrate something wonderful and good.  But we are also to weep with those who weep. That does not mean we are to weep with them just one time, or two times, or three, and then abandon them. It means that however long they weep, we are to be by their side weeping with them.

Jesus stood outside the tomb of Lazarus, and He wept – even though He knew He was going to raise Lazarus from that tomb. There were two reactions to His weeping … “So the Jews said, ‘See how He loved him!’ But some of them said, ‘Couldn’t He who opened the blind man’s eyes also have kept this man from dying?’” [John 11:36 HCSB]

Some blamed Him for not keeping Lazarus from dying (but then He raised him from the dead so I guess that was just as good). Others saw His compassion and love in His tears. And didn’t Jesus say the world would know us by our love? 

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Grumble, Grumble, Grumble

by TerryLema

Philippians 2:6-11 contains what theologians call, the Kenosis passage. We looked at it yesterday.

Kenosis in its simplest form means emptying. Jesus laid aside the privileges that were His in glory. Rather than stay on His throne, He made “Himself nothing” and came to earth choosing the position of slave. He chose death on a cross so that we might have life eternal as children of God. He gave up glory so that we might enjoy eternal glory in the presence of our Father God.

Reading a little past that Kenosis passage, I came to this admonition.  It is one that is so relevant for our life in this present age.

“Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.” [Philippians 2:14-15 HCSB]

Notice that word “everything?” We are to do everything, all things, without complaining and grumbling or arguing. Most of us are able to do somethings without complaint, but Paul does not provide any stipulations … we are exhorted to do it all with a joyful spirit, one that makes us shine like stars.

I like what Matthew Henry commented about this verse, “God’s commands were given to be obeyed, not to be disputed.”

I guess we should once again listen to ourselves and what flows out from the abundance of our hearts. Are we hearing grumble, grumble, grumble? Or are we hearing Rejoice, Rejoice, Rejoice! Jesus is LORD!

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Rejoicing

by TerryLema

Last December a friend sent me a quilt square with the words of Romans 12:12 embroidered on it. “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.” [HCSB]

I do not remember if I thanked her, but I have read those words every day since receiving her gift. (I put the square next to my hearing device case so that I see it every morning and every night.) Those words have ministered to my soul over and over. As I repeated them once again this morning, I realized that they are the roadmap to take me [us] through those difficult times of life.

Over the course of the last two years, I have been hopeful that my two auto-immune diseases will one day go into remission. While waiting, I am trying to be patient in the midst of the debilitating symptoms. I am also persistent in praying for God’s most perfect plan for my life … whether that brings healing or simply His grace that is sufficient for my every need. [2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”)

This morning I am “tentatively” rejoicing in hope. The past two weeks I have been relatively free of the PMR pain and GCA scalp and face discomfort. I have developed side effects from the medication that apparently has shut down my adrenal glands (weakness, lack of stamina, sweating and hot flashes), but the daily battle with pain has not been an issue.

That is amazing! And I am praising God for this, and cautiously hopeful that the PMR and GCA is in remission. I am also hopeful that I can deal with the new issues. To have two-weeks pain free after two years of constant pain is truly a blessing.

Rejoicing in Hope: “I put my hope in You, Lord; You will answer, Lord my God.” [Psalm 38:15 HCSB]

Patient in Affliction: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose”. [Romans 8:28 HCSB]

Persistent in Prayer: “[Jesus] then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged.” [Luke 18:1 HCSB]

Bless the LORD O my soul! Amen

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Disappointments Abound …

by TerryLema

Last Wednesday we received disappointing news. We have not seen our California son and his family in almost a year, since last Christmas season. We planned to have them here for Thanksgiving, but because of COVID-19 in their state and in our ours, that expectation was crushed. We are hoping to see them for Christmas, but with all that is going on in our world, that too might not happen.

Disappointments abound this year. “Disappointment” just might be the word to describe all of 2020. Everyone in some way has struggled with disappointment, whether in families, employment, school, politics, sports, or health. Nothing seems to be the way we like it; everything seems to be fraught with frustrations, griefs, loss, and hopelessness.

Still, from the Christian, rejoicing and praise should abound. David prayed in the morning in Psalm 5. He began his day by lifting his voice to the LORD. He noted his enemies, but he then took great comfort in God’s care.

“But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them shout for joy forever. May You shelter them, and may those who love Your name boast about You. For You, Lord, bless the righteous one; You surround him with favor like a shield.” [Psalm 5:11-12 HCSB]

We have a refuge and a shelter in our LORD. He surrounds us with favor amid disappointments and challenges. Because of God’s care for us, we are to shout for joy forever.

I anticipate that Thanksgiving this year will be a mixture of sadness (at not seeing our son and his family) and joy (because of the family we have here) … and because the LORD is our shelter and shield, I will rejoice! Even if it be with tears. Amen.

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Well How About That …!

by TerryLema

After I wrote about one of my favorite verses found in Proverbs 17:22 yesterday (“A merry heart does good, like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.”), I opened my daily verse in my email inbox and found this one: “Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” [Philippians 4:4 HCSB]

I think God is trying to make a point with me. I have not been rejoicing much lately. I may even have been complaining just a bit more … well, maybe more than just a bit?

My fatigue has limited my worship walking, most days it has simply eliminated it. I have been sitting around and reading, watching some TV, putting together jigsaw puzzles, none of which have encouraged my worship. My MP3 player with my worship music has been sitting on my desk unused.

My bodily fatigue has caused my heart and soul to dry out. That in turn has probably accentuated my inability to cope with the fatigue. I am on one of those vicious cycles where one ill is encouraging another ill … and back and forth it goes.

So, breaking free is my goal. I may be fatigued in body, but I do not have to be fatigued in heart or soul. I am going to do what God commanded … I am going to Rejoice in the LORD today!  And tomorrow. And the next day! 

Father God, thank you for the wisdom and chastisement, thank you for reminding me that my rejoicing in You has waned. Today, Father, I will REJOICE! Amen & Amen

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It’s Time To …

by TerryLema

We are surrounded now by so much hurt. There are so many who have been wounded by this virus-and-fear pandemic. Some have been sickened, some have died, some have lost loved ones. Medical personnel and first responders have seen too much, and some have even come down with the virus themselves.

Then there are those who may have avoided the virus but are also victims of the consequences of it. They have lost businesses or incomes. They are anxious about how to feed their families during the economic shut-down. Even large businesses are closing for good, and employees are left to find work elsewhere.

Add to that the disappointments of schools shutting down, graduations changed or canceled, uncertainty over school or school sports or activities in the coming fall and we have many people who are struggling and damaged.

Paul reminds us in Romans 12:15 that we are to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

I find that an interesting verse. It speaks of compassion, understanding, and identification. One of the things that I learned working in hospice was that it is not my view of the loss which matters, it is the view of the one who experienced the loss. What I may not grieve over, someone else might. It is their grief that must be considered, not my evaluation of it.

Paul does not tell us to appraise what causes someone else to grieve. He tells us to simply weep with them. Someone who has lost a loved one might not regard another who has lost a business as deserving of the same depth of grief, but it is not ours to judge. It is our privilege to walk alongside and weep with them.

Then again, it is also ours to rejoice with those who rejoice! We can rejoice with those who have recovered from illness, as well as those who are able to go back to work to support their families. It is not an either/or.

Let us put aside our own prejudices and walk with others in their weeping and in their rejoicing. Amen & Amen

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