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Rejoice

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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