Held By Grace: The Power of Joy...In Christ

21 October 2009

The Power of Joy...In Christ

~The Power of Joy...In Christ~
October 20, 2009

Another good day of work has come to an end, and now I am off work. God has been teaching me so many things the past several days while I have been here in Seattle. Perhaps the biggest thing He has impressed upon my heart is the power of joy. My days are transformed when I thank God instead of complain, rejoice in Christ instead of finding things to be critical about, and wear a smile on my face instead of a frown. Joy turns an UGLY cloudy day into a BEAUTIFUL cloudy day…it turns a boring day of painting yellow cement posts into a fun project to be accomplished…and perhaps the best part is that joy is contagious! You can’t help but pass it on.

So my challenge from today is to be joyful in all I do and not allow a complaining, critical, and discontented spirit control me. Joy overflows from our hearts as we pour them out in thanksgiving to God. So pour out your heart to God, thanking Him for everything…and be prepared because you may be swept away by the joy that will overflow from your heart once you begin!

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THE MISSION

Written for my family as they move to Cameroon, Africa to share Jesus love with the people there.

Rejoicing in all God has done.
In your lives, I see Him displayed
As your greatest treasure of all;
Your mission: to proclaim His name.

Fix Your eyes on Christ…Run hard to the goal.
Consider the work He has done, He has saved your souls!

Press on, HOPE IN GOD…IN HIS HANDS you are safe. UNDER HIS WINGS…you are held---
you are HELD BY GRACE.
Take up your cross, follow Christ, let His praises resound.
Be BROKEN AND SPILLED OUT
as you journey HOMEWARD BOUND.

Cheering you on as you go
As you make much of Jesus today,
Considering all else as loss
Compared to the Savior’s name.

Fight the battle of faith…stand firm in Christ.
Trust Him with all of your heart, give Him your life.

Press on, HOPE IN GOD…IN HIS HANDS you are safe. UNDER HIS WINGS…you are held---
you are HELD BY GRACE.
Take up your cross, follow Christ, let His praises resound.
Be BROKEN AND SPILLED OUT
as you journey HOMEWARD BOUND.

Praying for you in my heart.
May God’s sustaining grace push you on
To follow Christ outside of the camp,
Calling the nations to join the song!

Jesus is mighty to save
For while yet sinners He died in our place.
Shout---shout His praise For He has given us grace!

Press on, HOPE IN GOD…IN HIS HANDS you are safe. UNDER HIS WINGS…you are held---
you are HELD IN HIS GRIP OF GRACE.
Take up your cross, follow Christ, let His praises resound.
Be BROKEN AND SPILLED OUT
as you journey HOMEWARD BOUND.

Jesus, Lover of my Soul

Pressing on in Faith

Amidst the raging seas of life,
And swirling tides of time
Stands one who walks upon the storms, And calms this heart of mine.
He holds my heart in nail pierced hands; And sustains my soul by grace.
And though my eyes fail to see His work, I will trust Him and press on in faith.

The clouds block Him from my view;
My precious Savior I can't see,
But I know without a shadow of doubt, His eyes are upon me.
So I will press on toward the goal---this pain is apart of His perfect plan.
And though my soul may hurt with pain, I will ever sing praises to His name.

Affliction

Do not even such things as are most bitter to the flesh, tend to awaken Christians to faith and prayer, to a sight of the emptiness of this world, and the fadingness of the best it yield? Doth not God by these things (ofttimes) call our sins to remembrance, and provoke us to amendment of life? How then can we be offended at things by which we reap so much good?.... Therefore if mine enemy hunger, let me feed him; if he thirst, let me give him drink. Now in order to do this, (1) We must see good in that, in which other men can see none. (2) We must pass by those injuries that other men would revenge. (2) We must show we have grace, and that we are made to bear what other men are not acquainted with. (4) Many of our graces are kept alive, by those very things that are the death of other men's souls.... The devil, (they say) is good when he is pleased; but Christ and His saints, when displeased. —John Bunyan

Thoughts for Tomorrow

Tomorrow is another work day…another day I can demonstrate Christ’s love. I start dreading the thought of facing another day and then Christ reminds me of my mission…to make much of Him. So tomorrow my plan is to be the most joyful person on base because I have all the reason in the world to be joyful---Jesus has saved me! I don’t want to be critical and complaining about work; I want to be excited and happy about everything I am doing because I am not working unto men but unto God. May Christ be praised as I paint tomorrow!

God's Perspective

The overview of a mountain peak is beautiful. The steep cliffs, thick brush, and jagged rocks all blend into the picture, adding depth and a quiet, peaceful strength to the scenery that points to its Creator.

However, climbing to the mountain peak is hard, difficult labor. The thorn bushes cut into our flesh, the steep cliffs cause our muscles to burn, and the jagged rocks bruise us as we stumble along.

But we can be certain that every step of the way to the peak is a part of what makes it so beautiful when you see it from God's perspective.

Held By Grace

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21 October 2009

The Power of Joy...In Christ

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