'joy' Tagged Posts (Page 4)
Daily Devotions
Psalm 126 “Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.” vs. 6 It’s hard to know sometimes just what it is that triggers the growth of the spiritual fruits that have been sown in our hearts by our Creator. The psalmist has a suggestion that may bear some consideration. He links weeping to the whole cycle of planting and harvesting, and the connection is intriguing. We learn from…
Daily Devotions
Matthew 16:24-26 … “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” vs. 24 Jesus did not consult a marketing expert when he began his historic mission in the towns and villages of Galilee. If he had, he would have been told that self-denial is not the way to attract followers. It just doesn’t work! Which is why contemporary Christian leaders have largely abandoned any…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 126:4-6 … “Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.” vs. 6 The psalmist had amazing insights about the journey of life, and he didn’t even have access to Dr. Laura or self-help books. There weren’t theologians or psychologists available for consultation–he had only the stories of his people and assorted wisdom sayings gleaned from various Hebrew sages. But those sources and his own observations inspired his…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 67:1-3 … “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.” vss. 1-2 The psalmist makes reference to the Aaronic benediction in his hymn of praise. That brief blessing has been a favorite of God’s people from the beginning, and it continues to bring joy as we hear it in worship now. It comes at the end…
Daily Devotions: December 1, 2019
December 1, 2019 For full passage click: Matthew 24:42-44 … “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” vs. 44 Today we start the season of Advent. Some will be lighting the first candle on their wreath; children are perhaps opening the first surprise on an Advent calendar. Our text is from a section of Matthew’s Gospel dealing with the last days. We are being warned, it seems, to be ready,…
Daily Devotions: November 12, 2019
November 12, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 98:1-5 … “O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.” vs. 1 The people of Israel regularly offered praise and thanksgiving to the Lord as they traveled to worship in the temple. Special songs were composed by the Levites and if the country had been enjoying success on the battlefield, the rituals were particularly festive.…
Daily Devotions: September 11, 2019
September 11, 2019 For full passage click: Psalm 51:6-10 … “Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.” vs. 8 Because we have been created in the image of God for goodness sake, we cannot help but feel terrible when we miss the mark and become conscious of sin’s ugly presence. The experience of sinning leaves us with a heavy weight on our hearts and sometimes the guilt comes close to crushing our spirits.…
Daily Devotions: May 7, 2019
May 7, 2019 For full passage click: Acts 9:40-43 …“Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.” vs. 40 The book of Acts tells the story of the exciting spread of Christianity from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. The ministry of Jesus was continuing–apostles and disciples were caring for the poor, healing…
Daily Devotions: April 8, 2019
April 8, 2019 For full passage click: Luke 19:28-40 …“As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen…” vs. 37 The crowd of disciples that had accompanied Jesus from Galilee could not contain itself as they crested the Mount of Olives and the Holy City came into view. As they…
Daily Devotions: April 5, 2019
April 5, 2019 For full passage click: Philippians 3:10-14 …“Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” vs. 12 Suffering and death were not obstacles for Paul. In fact, he saw them as the means by which he might identify totally with Christ Jesus, and then experience the power of resurrection. While those things lay in the…
Daily Devotions: December 13, 2018
December 13, 2018 To read full passage click: Philippians 4:4-5 …“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” vs. 4 Most of us believe that rejoicing is something we do when wonderful things happen in our lives. Our team wins the big game, a long awaited child is born, we get the raise we’ve been waiting for–the list could go on. There are many occasions for pure joy in the course of a lifetime. But Paul told the…
Daily Devotions: December 10, 2018
December 10, 2018 To read full passage click: Zephaniah 3:14-20 …“Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!” vs. 14 For once, something had gone well in Israel and the prophet encourages the people to sing for joy with all of their heart. Because they had acted against corruption and injustice they could be confident of the Lord’s presence among them. Zephaniah even says that the Lord will join their…