"This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus." 1 Thess 5: 18b (Good News Translation). This is "Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances." 1 Thess 5:16-18a.
As you reflected on these verses over the last seven days I hope that God has revealed many wonderful things to you about his deep and unending love for you. This is what he wants for each of us: That we are Joyful always, that we are close to him in prayer, and that we have much to be grateful for. Assuredly you can not always muster up a Joyful heart on your own, so God gave us Hope. God gave us the priviledge of contacting him 24/7 through prayer. Because of his great love for us God gives us something to be thankful in all circumstances. Why? Because this is what God wants from us and for us: Joy, Relationship, and Thankfulness.
He gives us Joy, Relationship, and Thankfulness in our life through our union with Christ Jesus. Jesus is the Hope of the world for which we can rejoice ALWAYS. Prayer is our personal direct cell phone link to God. Because our life is in union with Jesus Christ, we can look around in every circumstance and see God working together all things for the good of those who love him. We love him because he loved us first and gave us all these good things.
"Be Joyful Always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in uion with Christ Jesus." 1 Thess 5:16-18
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Day six: Be Joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances
To Do Today
- Be Joyful Always
- Pray at All Times
- Be Thankful in All Circumstances
Friday, December 2, 2011
Day five: In your life in union with Christ Jesus
Yesterday we reflected on the bit of scripture, "This is what God wants from you in your life..." The second half of that sentence clarifies the life God desires for you. "... in your life in union with Christ Jesus." In union with Christ. So God desires a life for you in union with Christ Jesus.
A union is a joining together with. What changes in your life when you begin to think of your life joined together with Christ?
A union is a joining together with. What changes in your life when you begin to think of your life joined together with Christ?
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Day four: This is what God wants from you in your life
How many times have you asked yourself, "What is the purpose that God has for my life?" I absolutely love this bit of scripture. "This is what God wants from you in your life..." Doesn't that just perk your ears to hear what comes next? What is this that God wants from you in your life? However, in this case I think we just read what he wants from us; to be joyful always, to pray at all times, and to be thankful in all circumstances.
I think sometimes we make this so much harder than it is. God gave us the desires in our hearts to lead us back to him. the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (Psalm 19:1)" God's purpose for our life is simple: rejoice in what he has done, make a relationship with him through prayer your priority, and be grateful.
I think sometimes we make this so much harder than it is. God gave us the desires in our hearts to lead us back to him. the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (Psalm 19:1)" God's purpose for our life is simple: rejoice in what he has done, make a relationship with him through prayer your priority, and be grateful.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Day Three: Be Thankful in All Circumstances
Similar to being joyful always, is being thankful in all circumstances. It is more clear as we meditate on this bit of scripture, "Be Thankful in All Circumstances," that being joyful always is in reference to our Hope. We rejoice in our Hope not necessarily in our circumstance and therefore we can rejoice always for our Hope is with us at all times. Similarly, being thankful in all circumstances is not the same as being thankful for all circumstances.
Day Three: Be Thankful in all circumstances
A good example of this is when my husband died. I don't think God expected me to be thankful for that circumstance, even Jesus grieved when people died. I believe that Jesus was grieving with me but there was so much to be thankful in that circumstance. I was flooded with the love of family and friends like I had never felt in all of my life. I was hugged more, fed more, and check in on more than at any other time I can remember. A lot of that love came from a church that Mike and I had only been a part of for three years. Many of the people who shared in my grief could not believe they had only known Mike for that short of time because we had become so close. In that, I was truly thankful, God prepared a loving family for us to help endure this loss.
In all of our circumstances, good and bad if we take the time to notice- God is there. That is something worth being thankful for. In all of our circumstances, good and bad, it is finding what God is working out for good in that situation that causes our spirit to give thanks. God grows us in difficult situations, at times he makes us step out boldly into unknown territories. I know I went into single parenthood kicking and screaming but every time I cried out to God he answered. I acknowledged his presence, whether it was a gift of people he put in my life at the time or things he had me go through in the past to prepare me for this time, I was thankful. God knew I was not happy about being called in single parenthood, he graciously listened to my protests, but he also knew my heart of gratitude for all the help he gave me to stand up to the challenge. That is being Thankful in a situation you are not thankful to be in.
Day Three: Be Thankful in all circumstances
A good example of this is when my husband died. I don't think God expected me to be thankful for that circumstance, even Jesus grieved when people died. I believe that Jesus was grieving with me but there was so much to be thankful in that circumstance. I was flooded with the love of family and friends like I had never felt in all of my life. I was hugged more, fed more, and check in on more than at any other time I can remember. A lot of that love came from a church that Mike and I had only been a part of for three years. Many of the people who shared in my grief could not believe they had only known Mike for that short of time because we had become so close. In that, I was truly thankful, God prepared a loving family for us to help endure this loss.
In all of our circumstances, good and bad if we take the time to notice- God is there. That is something worth being thankful for. In all of our circumstances, good and bad, it is finding what God is working out for good in that situation that causes our spirit to give thanks. God grows us in difficult situations, at times he makes us step out boldly into unknown territories. I know I went into single parenthood kicking and screaming but every time I cried out to God he answered. I acknowledged his presence, whether it was a gift of people he put in my life at the time or things he had me go through in the past to prepare me for this time, I was thankful. God knew I was not happy about being called in single parenthood, he graciously listened to my protests, but he also knew my heart of gratitude for all the help he gave me to stand up to the challenge. That is being Thankful in a situation you are not thankful to be in.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Day Two: Pray At All Times
Even in a large crowd of people, you can feel all alone. Ever been at a gathering of friends or family and felt like no one would notice if you were not there. Maybe you spoke but no one acknowledged.
Prayer is a spiritual conversation between you and God. The good news is that God notices you all the time. If you talk to him, he will hear you. He says to pray at all times so that you will never have to feel alone. When you speak to him, he hears you. When you approach him, he notices. Even in a large crowd, God knows you individually, personally, and intimately.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Day One: Be Joyful Always
This time of year is always a great time to reconnect with the spiritual nature of mankind. I guess that is what holidays, especially Christmas, are really about. They are about taking a time out from the hum drum of daily living and reflecting in a more spiritual way about our lives and our place in time and space. Many of you will be contemplating your place in your families, who will you spend this time with, who will you visit or remember with cards and gifts, and who will you miss. Amidst the heightened spirituality of the season, I thought I would share some thoughts around the seven days of meditation I shared in my last post. Feel free share anything that inspires you as you meditate on each days' bit of scripture by posting a comment to the appropriate post.
What is mankind that we make such connections, such relationships in families and in close friendships?
What is mankind that we make such connections, such relationships in families and in close friendships?