where is your joy?

As i prepare for school Monday morning, i wonder what joy will greet me at the doorway.  CHRISTmas came and we celebrated.  But along with it, hardships and heartaches rode in with some of the wise men/women seeking the manger. How will it feel walking through the doors of routine?  

And then the deeper questions surface... Why?? How could this happen? Where were you, God?

Questions, no earthly person can answer to our complete satisfaction. Answers, no reasonable human can fathom.  At such a time, where can we turn for sanity and peace? I can think of only one place -- the only peaceful consolation possible comes from our Father. Just listen to His Words...

"Jesus wept." John 11:35
The Lord says..."at the time it happens, I am there." Isaiah  48:16
"Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:6

In other words, Jesus cries with us.  He knows and understands all our sufferings.  We are never alone... not for a day, not for an hour, not for a second.  And one day, in the blink of an eye, we will see and be with Him.

Jesus said... "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
"There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be... boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, without love,without self-control..." 2 Timothy 3:1-4 
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4

In other words, Satan is active in our world. He knows his days are numbered and is furiously working to snuff out God; but God's victory is guaranteed. 

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
Jesus said... "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creations. " Mark 16:14
"God our Savior, wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3

In other words, God can and will use everything, good and bad, to fulfill His purpose - growing His Kingdom.  He desires for all of us to spend eternity with Him and not in the darkness of hell. Death is a fact, the only question is the destination.

"The Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." Romans 8:26
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

In other words, God who comforts us, helps us comfort others.

"And the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

In other words, the JOY of CHRISTmas' real gift can not be erased for any reason.  Because of Jesus' birth, death and resurrection, we have the hope and gift of eternal life.  And in the face of tragedy and pain, this grace and mercy of our God never becomes more evident than through the restoration of hope and peace to broken lives -- that, my friends, is the eternal power CHRISTmas delivers. 

Thank You, Father, for the only gift i truly want... the hope that comes in having Jesus as my Savior.  He has the power to mend the heart, while we join the angels singing, " Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill to men."

EnJOY your weekend, we still have much to celebrate Monday morning and every morning.

we are loved and chosen by God,
may we live like we believe, 
veneal