Dear friends,
Here we are at the end of 2016. As you look back over the past year, do you have feelings of remorse, or guilt, or regret? As you look forward to 2017 do you find yourself feeling anxious, uptight, or even fearful? Reading yesterday’s news or tomorrow’s predictions may leave you with feelings ranging from Angry to Zany. Just when we think the world can’t get any crazier, it does.
You have to wonder, then, how Paul could write “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice”. (Philippians 4:4) Were things so much better way back then? Was Paul sitting on a beach someplace sipping a cool drink? Far from it. Paul wrote the book of Philippians from jail, waiting to find out if he was going to live or die!
Consider this little poem called “The ABC’s of Trials”:
Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain,
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame.
Even when the times are hard,
Fierce winds are bound to blow;
God is forever able—
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love;
Joy would cease to be.
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee.
Move out of “Camp Complaining”—
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone.
Quit looking at the future,
Redeem the time at hand.
Start every day with worship;
To “thank” is a command.
Until we see Him coming,
Victorious in the sky,
We’ll run the race with gratitude,
EXalting God most high.
Yes, there’ll be good times; and, yes, some will be bad, but…
Zion waits in glory…where none are ever sad! – Author unknown
Like Paul, most of us need to know where to find joy, regardless of the circumstances. This Sunday we start the new year with a new series on the book of Philippians. We’ll also spend some extended time in thankfulness and worship in communion as we remember the source and certainty for our joy – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus!
Rejoicing in Christ!
Kurt