Tag: joy

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Overtaken With Joy

March Madness continues tonight is full force, even though my bracket is kaput. Speaking of basketball, have you seen this video from this Spanish basketball game that has been circulating the Internet?

Although the end of this game is quit speculator, its the audio commentary that makes this clip – so make sure you have your speakers on. Even though you probably can’t understand a thing he is saying, unless like American Idol star Laura “you speak one language and that language is Spanish”. Anyway, despite the fact that you can’t probably are not sure exactly what he is saying, the emotion, raw and uncut at the end of this game comes through loud and clear. He is clearly overwhelmed, awe struck and full of joy.

I have to wonder when was the last time that I was presented with anything that produced so much joy that I was overwhelmed like this guy?

This was just at a basketball game, consider how others reacted when then encountered the Savior of the world

26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” (Luke 5:26, New International Version, ©2011)

8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man. (Matthew 9:8, New International Version, ©2011)

Maybe today is a day to stop and consider the awe inspiring gifts you have received.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29, New International Version, ©2011)

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As You Once Were

Yesterday one of my liberal minded, utopia seeking college student friends, whom I dearly love,  posted on Facebook about some political things going on in Nashville.  Without going into all the gory details, I have to say that I spend a better part of the day thinking about how to tactfully post a response to his somewhat condemning post.

My thoughts quickly traveled to Ephesians however, for it is here that the writer of this letter lays out some very profound and yet simple ideas for those who wish to follow the Christ.

You see, my friend was calling out the way sin has been categorized to a point that some is acceptable and some is not. However, the letter the the Ephesians clearly calls out all sorts of dark behaviors and groups them in the same pot.  Then there’s the real kicker.  It’s not a condemnation for having had these sins in your life, but an impetus to move past them:

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)

All of us have sinned. All of us continue to make mistakes.  All of us are so dependent on the grace the oozes from our Lord.  However, we are still admonished to move toward the light and to leave the other things in darkness.  The Message version of this brings home the point in a very contemporary way:

8-10You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it. Ephesians 5:8-10  The Message (MSG)

So, we need to leave the darkness behind, and move towards the light – transformed by the grace and love of Christ. As you battle the darkness in your life remember this admonishment. And as you deal with others steeped in the battle with darkness please remember that “you were once darkness” but now “you are the light”.  Approach them with the grace and love bestowed upon you.

Oh, and isn’t this just another reason to live a life of joy?

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Joy To The World

The presents are bought (mostly), the house is clean(mostly) and bowl season is well underway.  Amy and I are in the middle of a string of nights with great friends and family coming over to our home to help us celebrate and remember this great time of year.

It seems like an appropriate time to look past the decoration and remember the great gift we are given, with a look back at what the prophets said about him a long time before he arrived on this round sphere we call Earth.

6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.  Isaiah 9:6-7 (New International Version, ©2010)

It’s such a blessing that this child was born, and he died and God rose him from death, and with that – we are free from the worries of death, and therefore free from the worries of our mistakes. The gift that was giving was more then just a baby – it was a gift of a new birth – a gift of freedom, a gift of eternal life.  And the great thing is, the offer always stands!

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 1 Peter 1:3-4 (New International Version, ©2010)

That’s why the angels shout “Joy to the World!”

Merry Christmas!

Oh by the way, today is the 300th post, isn’t that awesome!

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Magic in the Air Today

Well, don’t I feel like an historian, I forgot ( or I didn’t notice it again), that December 8, yesterday had a very remembrance event take place – the assassination of John Lennon.  Oh well, I still hope that you made a December 8th memory for yourself.  On with the show…

I have found myself singing some good old Muppet’s Christmas Carol songs this morning.  But these mostly lines from “One More Sleep”:

Tis the season to be jolly and joyous
With a burst of pleasure we feel it all right
It’s a season when the Saints can employ us
To spread the news about peace and to keep love alive

However, I usually sing it like this

Tis the season to be jolly and joyous
Tis the season to keep love alive
It’s a season when the Saints can employ us
To spread the news about peace and to keep love alive

Anyway, it is the season to be jolly and joyous because:

11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:11-14 (New International Version, ©2010)

Man, that’s enough to make you joyous any day! So, I hope you are spending some time being jolly and joyous….

After all there’s only one sixteen more sleeps till Christmas

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Disconnected

Well, I set myself up to write this morning, and boom, Comcast decided that it was time to rest a router or something and my most important internet connection was unavailable. So, now I am multitasking writing and meeting and trying to focus on mutliple things at once – wishing I could be disconnected.

After yesterday mind freeze, one would think that I would bust out a super entry today, but the cold weather in the deep south has continued to freeze my brain. So I asked myself, if I could do one thing today, what would it be. What would be my one goal. I decided it was at the end of the day to find joy in the day.

Joy – not the I spending the day at Disney joy, but the Jesus Other You type of joy. The joy that comes from spending the day with your proirities in order, so that at the end of the day you are able to say ‘Yes, that was a day where things are in place.’ (That’s not to say its a day thats is perfect or without trouble, its just a day when you handle all that stuff in a way that screams – Jesus Others then You).

That seems like something to attempt to do today. Let’s see if we can make this a joyfilled day!

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:3-11 (New International Version, ©2010)