| |
| |
|
Just Between Us - FREE Spiritual Information for anyone interested. |
|
|
|
I Count It All Joy
A new chapter in my life begins today, the anniversary of my birth. It is therefore necessary that I pause to reflect upon this past year. For me, the intervening year between the last and this one has been a buffet of different experiences. It has consisted of both blessings and burdens, delight and depression, ecstasy and agony, healing and hurt, plenty and poverty, success and failure, triumphs and temptations. But, through it all God has been good to me. After looking back and cataloging my cares, enumerating my difficulties, adding up my victories, listing my heavy loads, summing up my successes and tallying up my trials, it all equaled great joy. Somehow, God took my troubles and transformed them into testimonies. He took my pains and replaced it with perseverance. He took my fears and strengthened my faith. He took my tears of hurt and turned them into tears of joy. Yes, when I calculated all the good, the bad and the ugly, it still equaled great joy. James, the brother of Jesus begins his book with a stunning command. He says: Brothers and sisters count it all joy whenever you face trials of many kinds. This is interesting because inherent in the advice in the need for us to be able to count. All Christians has to be able to count because God has incorporated counting as an integral part of His plan for the development of discipline and discipleship. So He tells us that we need to count and not only count but count it all. It is in the all that we find deliverance. It is not counting only the blessings and victories, but we must also count the bad and the ugly; counting it all totals up to joy. Now, here is the catch. Counting, in the context of our faith, does not start until troubles come. Actually, it can be likened to boxing. The referee does not start counting until the boxer falls. It is the fall that begins the count. This is important to understand because God's joy cannot be experienced any other way. We may not want to acknowledge it or even desire it, but every Christian needs a trial or two. Every child of God needs sprinklings of tribulations. Every believer needs to experience the fiery furnace and the lion's den because that is when you begin to understand how God operates. That is when you begin to perceive how evil and good work together for your joy. Paul declared: "All things work together for the good to them that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose"? You will note that he also included that significant word, all. It is not just the good or the bad; it is the good AND the bad. When combined the result is joy, joy, joy. Now, it must be understood that joy is a process and not a destination. We are constantly growing, changing, evolving, developing joy every day. It cannot be made, created, bought or sold because it comes from God. Joy is not parading around pretending to be happy when you know you are not, thinking that is the way Christians should present. Joy is not instantaneous or immediate. It is not feeling giddy, silly or happy, as it were. Joy is much more profound. Joy is the product of pain and troubles. It is the result of suffering and distress. Joy is intrinsically connected with what you have been through or what you are going through. Joy is the outcome of faith and patience. It is a supernatural portion of God's peace and strength. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy does come in the morning. I have learned that if you can pray it through, God will see you through. But do not start counting too soon. Remember, the count really starts when you fall into difficult circumstances. Then start counting: 1?The crises come. 2?What do you do? 3?You want to flee. 4?No escape door. 5?Will you survive? 6?You pray, "God please fix." 7?You hear from heaven. 8?God said, "Wait." 9?Here comes True Vine. 10?JOY WITHIN! 11? Thank God in heaven. Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon. You are welcome to visit AMEN Ministries: Your Soul's Service Station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification, browse our newly expanded mini shopping mall or review our recommended books you may want to add to your personal library. Blessings to all!
MORE RESOURCES:
Spirituality - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Trust We Must Have to Manifest What We Truly Desire Some of my greatest teachers have taught me that faith and trust are two of our most powerful allies. True belief in your ability to create results in your life is based upon this trust. How Useful is a Dream Dictionary Really? At the start of your dream journey, one of the most frustrating things is to figure out what the symbolism in your dreams means! Most often people start their dream conversation with me by saying: "I had this weird dream ?" What makes it "weird" is the strange collection of people, objects, places and events that take place in the dream.How do you make sense of it? I guess you'd be thinking that a dream dictionary is a good place to start. No Star-Studded Career What is success? It probably means different things to different people. One person said, "Success is the ability to fulfill your desires with effortless ease. Understanding the Gospel of Matthew and Why it Matters - Part 10 Matthew 3:7-10John Rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children of Abraham. Are You Hooked to the Power Source? As Christian's we are often very independent. We try to do everything and often feel we do everything. The Importance of Honoring Mothers and Fathers With another year full of family events coming upon us, those of us that are lucky enough to have parents to honor will celebrate Mother's and Father's Day. We set aside one day a year for this, but it should be something we do everyday of the year, as commanded by God. How I Met My Angel Today I was in rather a whimsical mood, and so instead of my usual "how to" article, I thought I'd create a fairy tale for the child within you to enjoy.When I was just a young soul, on my first incarnation to be a human being, I wasn't sure that I wanted to go to Earth School. When Bad Things Happen to Good People Why do bad things happen to good people? Surely this is a question all of us ask from time to time. Some of Jesus' listeners asked Him the same question. The Reality of Fairies No, I have never seen a fairy, an angel, nor any other type of a spirit guide. But I swear there are times I think that if I spun around fast enough they'd be sitting there snickering at me. Anam Cara - Discovering Your Being The more that "little me" allows surrender the more is done. What is done is "good. Your Gift and Talent is Not for YOU! Although your creative ability and talent is something that God has given TO you, it's primary purpose is not meant FOR YOU only. God's purpose for your gift is to be a benefit or solution for someone else who needs it. Humanity Needs Islam The human nature means the soul and the body. A man without a spiritual life is no longer a man. Is Your Soul Breathing? God made humans in his image but these days very few of them lead a God fearing life. Environment is the main cause of changes in a human being. Finding Freedom! "You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place. " Psalm 31:8, NIVDuring this weekend we're reminded of all of those who've gone before to fight for our country so that we can remain America the Free. Sing Psalms, Let Joy Resound: A Case For Exclusive Psalmody Ephesians 4:4-6 indicates that Christians ought to practice one single faith. It reads: "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Good News from Mars (Part 2) Paul is led up a 512 ft. hill, Mars Hill, also known as Areopagus, and there he faces the Epicureans and the Stoics (and others). What Part of Thou Shalt Not Dont You Understand? Back in the days of the old law of Moses, God gave him a set of 10 Commandments all of which began with "Thou Shalt Not".. Living Your Noble Purpose "A common jar of clay can never become a noble masterpiece, unless it is broken by its master, refined in fire, and renewed." - Sharif KhanThere is a passage in scriptures that I have always found troubling. The Garden of Agony (Part 1) Eden, the garden of ecstasy is no longer available to us. We left it in sin and shame and it cannot be regained. Esoteric Sexual Secrets AN ARISTOCRATIC UPBRINGING:There are many people who write about sex slaves on the plantation and it surely did exist but it was also the norm in Europe for many centuries. The Polos were not the first who went off to get the prized Tartar women who fetched a large multiple over ordinary men slaves.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
