{"id":16663,"date":"2014-01-02T03:55:53","date_gmt":"2014-01-02T08:55:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=16663"},"modified":"2014-01-04T14:41:53","modified_gmt":"2014-01-04T19:41:53","slug":"rejoice-lord","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2014\/01\/02\/rejoice-lord\/","title":{"rendered":"REjoice In The Lord"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv\"<\/a><\/p>\n

So, I\u2019ll just say it now…re<\/strong><\/em>joicing is all about being joyful<\/strong><\/span> in the midst of trying circumstances and troubles. It\u2019s about bringing it back to joy<\/span><\/strong>. It\u2019s about not losing our joy<\/strong><\/span>. It\u2019s about joy<\/strong><\/span>\u2014no matter what<\/span>. \u00a0(Otherwise, it wouldn\u2019t be called re<\/strong><\/em>joicing!)<\/p>\n

Joy<\/strong> <\/span>is a beautiful, righteous, God-given thing! Little children sing, “I have the joy…joy…joy…joy<\/span> down in my heart! Where? Down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart to stay!” \u00a0And that is the TRUTH! \u00a0Joy<\/strong> <\/span>needs to remain down in our heart! \u00a0However, we live in a broken, confused, evil-influenced world. \u00a0And much determines to take our joy<\/strong> <\/span>away.<\/p>\n

In the Book of James, we read in chapter 1 verse 2:
\nConsider it all joy<\/span><\/strong>, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
\nknowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.<\/p>\n

Other versions interpret the word \u2018endurance<\/em>\u2019 as steadfastness, patience, or perseverance. \u00a0And this\u2014the patience, the persevering, the remaining steadfast, the enduring\u2014this is what we can do to \u00a0keep our joy<\/strong> <\/span>when trials come along.<\/p>\n

When times are hard and tough…when we seem to be continually struggling….when the light at the end of the tunnel seems SO far away\u2014that is when we are to \u2018consider it all joy<\/span><\/strong>!\u2019 Please know (be assured!) that you are not the only one to say, \u201cWhat?!? Not possible!\u201d<\/p>\n

If someone suggested it as a \u2018positive confession\u2019 or if I read it in a self-help book…then I would be able to totally disregard it. \u00a0Agreed? \u00a0BUT, this is not just a mantra to help me train my mind. Nor is it a positive little ditty to sing to myself. \u00a0N.O….this is TRUTH from the Bible. \u00a0And so\u2014no matter what\u2014I need to find a way no matter what<\/strong><\/span> to rejoice.<\/p>\n

And did you notice that little word attached to joy in verse 2 (\u2018all<\/strong><\/em>\u2019)? It \u00a0means great joy, full joy, pure joy, wholly joyful. Again, if I read this anywhere else, I would wholeheartedly refute the possibility! \u00a0However, I read it in God\u2019s Holy Word, the Bible. So it must be possible! It must be available with the help of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to hold onto joy<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

I do believe that one very important way to \u2018consider it all (pure, full, great) joy’ is through the encouragement of singing! \u00a0Remember the Scripture which has inspired this blog?<\/p>\n

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you,
\nwith all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another
\nwith psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
\nsinging with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
\nColossians 3:16<\/p>\n

Listen to this incredible song, would you? This song is part of the bedrock of my soul…it encourages me so greatly! I learned this song from a group of Mennonite teenagers over 18 years ago…. And I have never forgotten it! \u00a0It was written by a man, Ron Hamilton, who had struggled with cancer…in fact, he lost his eye to this disease…for a number of years. But he and his wife placed their trust in the faithfulness of God Almighty. And they considered these trials and struggles to be \u2018all joy<\/span><\/strong>!\u2019 \u00a0I pray that the words of this song will truly teach and admonish your heart…encouraging you to always find your way back to joy<\/span><\/strong>\u2014no matter what<\/span><\/strong>! \u00a0If I can pray with you, please contact me; I would consider it my \u00a0joy<\/strong> <\/span>and privilege!<\/p>\n