Tuesday, June 19, 2018

The joy of the LORD is my strength


Nehemiah 8:10     Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Word: FERN
Pronounce: maw-oze'
Strong: H4581
Orig: (also mauwz \i maw-ooz'\i0\plain\f3\fs21\cf23 ); or mahoz \i maw-oze'\i0\plain\f3\fs21\cf23 (also ma,uz \i maw-ooz'\i0\plain\f3\fs21\cf23 ; from 5810; a fortified place; figuratively, a defence:--force, fort(-ress), rock, strength(-en), (X most) strong (hold). H5810
Use: TWOT-1578a Noun Masculine
Grk Strong: G407 G2478 G4714
    1) place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold
    1a) place of safety, fastness, harbour, stronghold
    1b) refuge (of God) (fig.)
    1c) human protection (fig.)

I had always thought it was our joy in the LORD spoken of here.  In re-evaluating it however the verse is saying the LORD's Joy is our strength.  The meanings of strength in this word are listed above from Strong's Concordance.

What is Jesus' Joy?

To do the will of the Father in going to the cross   
             
            Hebrews 12:2   fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of
            faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the 
            shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God

The Joy of Jesus is given to us, beloved of Him

             John 15:11  These things I have spoken to you so that my you may be
             in you, and that your joy may be made full.

As we read the Bible, begin to notice about the Joy of Jesus.  I have just begun to notice.  It is not about me primarily  but  Christ having Joy to give.  To give us strength, protection refuge to name a few areas. Our Joy originates in Christ.  His joy originates in His Father.

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

21st Birthday letter from my Father.

In Bolivia about 17 years old.

Verses given by my father when I turned 21  This is from a letter I saved and just reread after 49 years.  


I – ABIDING IN CHRIST


John 15: 1-9
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

Galatians 5: 16-24

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Verses highlighted in yellow emphasized by my father.


II WALKING IN CHRIST

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

James 1:2-4

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

2 Peter 1:3-8

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


III     REJOICE

1 Thess 5:16

16 Rejoice always,

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Psalm 33:21

For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.



Monday, June 4, 2018

Petition in Faith by Terry Tucker Francis

A poem I found in a Guidepost book of inspirational messages.   I liked it very much.   It spoke to my heart.   I tried to find the author, Terry Tucker Francis,  on line but though I found several people with the name of the poem's author I just was not sure.  I hope if she sees this she will forgive me for publishing her work without her direct permission.



Petition in Faith
Terry Tucker Francis

I am empty, Lord: fill me;
Sick with sorrow: heal me;
Blinded by wordly ways: show me;
I rush into foolishness, Lord: slow me;

Like an earthy garden, Lord, I need
You to tend me;
Like a garment worn and torn, mend me;
Like an empty cup fill me till I overflow
With Your loving goodness, Lord,
So all the world may know;

That I was empty Lord, and You filled me;
Sick with sorrow, yet You healed me;
Blinded with worldly ways, until you came to show me
That the only way to peace, dear Lord,
Is to know thee.