Preaching to Myself on a Tuesday Morning...

"When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul." Psalm 94:19

I love this picture that my friend and gifted photographer, Traci, took of us a few weeks ago. It is currently on my desktop. The picture, I think, captures a glimpse of the 'activity' in our life these days... ha ha... here, there and everywhere... as are my thoughts! However, the word that comes to mind is "joy". Joy is defined in one place as "a deep feeling or condition of happiness and contentment". How does one experience joy in the midst of life's craziness? The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father full of grace and truth... And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." John 1:1-3, 14, 16

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ... For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..." Romans 3:23-24

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:1-2

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 5:18

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 5:38-39

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11

Whatever your circumstances, may you know His joy! It runs deep to the heart of man, untouchable by any of the challenges life brings... it is peace with God... it is hope in a hopeless world... it is redeeming love... it is grace upon grace!