The Joy of the Lord

WATCHWORD:

¹ When Jehovah brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! ² How we laughed and sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.” ³ Yes, glorious things! What wonder! What joy!  Psalm 126:1-3

“It is a time to celebrate with a hearty meal and to send presents to those in need,  for the joy of the Lord is your strength. You must not be dejected and sad!” Nehemiah 8:10

Meditation:

The Joy of the Lord

Did you find a day of joy in the midst of all the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations? A day of joy, a day for the joy of the Lord to be your strength? I am sure you found some joy, maybe an abundance.

When the psalmist refers to joy, it doesn’t mean the tendency some people have, because of their temperament, to be happier than other people. For one reason or another there appear to be people who are more naturally wired to smile, who can wake up in the morning singing a cheery song, and who look at their breakfast cereal and simply clap their hands with delight.

When I was a freshman in college, one of my classmates was an attractive young lady who walked the campus, always smiling, greeting everyone with a ‘”Hello, there”, and the impression was either an overly happy person or someone simply putting on a happy face. It was not long before I realized that she was not what she seemed. Whenever I saw her, we was always alone. Later, I learned from her dormitory roommate that she was in college as an escape from a difficult home life that had scarred her. Her smile? A mask to hide behind.

At the start of the second quarter, I looked for her, but she didn’t return. I don’t know her whole story, but I suspect beneath her smile was sadness. What I wanted for her was not just happiness. I wanted her to feel valued. Every now and then, over the years, she pops into my mind and on my prayer list!

I think we wish and pray for happiness for everyone, especially for those close to us. How about those that cross our path, and touch us briefly? Those, too, we can lift up.

Remember the Snoopy T-Shirt that was popular when Charlie Brown was all the rage: “I hate people who sing in the morning”.  I would take offense at that because I am an early riser, and believe me when I say, I often break into song! John Denver, Andrea Bocelli, Alan Jackson, Beethoven, Jars of Clay, doesn’t matter, whatever strikes me and even if I don’t know the words, I’ll hum along or belt out something close! Not every morning, mind you, but often, just after ‘Good morning, Lord, thank you for this day.’ I think singing, especially in the morning hours, is a sign of my happiness. How about you?

Happiness is not an offense! Some people are morning people, some people are evening people, and some people seem to feel happier than others. We are all wired differently. However, and let me make this point clear, the joy I refer to here is not a matter of temperament, genetics, personality or good acting. Instead, this joy is a result of being adopted by God, and knowing it, down deep. A contagious sense of happiness because of what God has done for you, the assurance of His love. This joy is based upon an objective, real, God-given restoration. This joy is so good that when you experience it, you think, “I am livin’ the dream.” More than that, joy, like love, grows as it is shared.

So, throw away all ideas that joy is found in things apart from God, or that God is the serious, gloomy force that somehow doesn’t want the best for you and me. The God of the Universe, our Creator God is the God that loves us, that gave up His life as a sacrifice for our sins. This very God is our God, the One that loves us and cares for us and the joy we feel is His gift to us.  Re-read the opening psalm, and note that, first, it describes the dream and then, second, tells you how that dream comes true. Know that these are Words from God. Such is the joy of the Lord being our strength. Amen.

Bulletin Board:

Thought for the day and every day: This is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.

Grace before your meal: Bless the food before us, the family around us, here and beyond, and the love between us all.

Sign at a pond: Frog parking only. All others will be toad!

Closing Prayer:

Awesome God, I come before you today, with one thing to say: Thank you Abba Father, for all you’ve given to me. For my beautiful life, my family and my friends.

Thank you for the blessings you gave that I never deserved.

For the protection, your hand provides. For the forgiveness, you offer day after day.

Lord, you took my sin and my shame You took sickness and healed my pain You took my darkness and gave me your light. Father, thank you for all you’ve done in my life And for all the blessings that I cannot see,

With gratitude, I come to thee. Amen!