I'm a glass-half-full type, always looking for the bright side of things. After all, God's Word says to rejoice always.
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice."
Philippians 4:4 (ESV)
The NLT version says it this way:
"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice!"
Philippians 4:4 (NLT)
Philippians 4:4 (NLT)
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 adds:
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Give thanks in ALL circumstances. This is hard to do when times get rough. But with God all things are possible, so as Christians, this is a goal we strive for. Rejoice always. This is God's will for us, though sometimes feelings of joy aren't overflowing naturally. Sometimes we're feeling rather sad, discouraged, anxious, annoyed. What are we to do? How are we supposed to get to the goal? God says it is His will that we would be joyful always and thankful in all circumstances and I want to walk in His will. How?
I think the sandwiched portion of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 gives us direction:
"Pray without ceasing."
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing. Never stop praying. Continually be yoked to the Vine, relishing communion with the Joy-Giver. God is faithful to provide. His Word is reliable to lighten heavy hearts. Jesus loves us when we're down and He inspires in us ways to be joyful,
to look on the bright side of things, to fill an empty cup with Living Water for the weary and burdened soul.
"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'"
Matthew 11:29
He is a humble and gentle Teacher, this Jesus, Lover of my soul. He teaches joy and love. He leads us into His will when we follow Him. We are like sheep, gone astray, continually. Therefore, we must look for our Shepherd and follow Him, stay close to Him continually.
This is an ongoing process. In other words, we are doing it without ceasing.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
Psalm 23:1-3
Yes, Jesus is a trustworthy source of love and joy and He is who He is (read always the same) regardless of my shifting circumstances. That's an Anchor I can count on. That's a Rock with sure foundation and what I find is that when I'm focusing on Jesus and reading plus obeying what He says to DO...I find joy. Consistently. Even when my circumstances can feel legitimately discouraging.
So...these things said, as we read our marriage devotional yesterday which noted January 24th as being considered "the most depressing day of the year" for various reasons including the aftermath of Christmas, cold weather growing dreary, New Year's resolutions waning, last month's bills rolling in, among other things, our conversations led toward practical solutions for the Christian who wants to trump the enemy's schemes to depress people amid late January circumstances. Obviously, I'm looking to prayer and the reading of the Word. This is the only true source of real joy. And, in addition to this yoking to the Vine, I realize that we also battle against gloomy feelings with tangible things at times too. There are also practical ways that we can redirect our focus and encourage our hearts toward the bright, glass-half-full side of things. I realized through the course of my conversation with Brodie yesterday, that this is something we've been up to every January for more years than I can count now and I can see the blessing in our choice.
Enter The LOVE Month.
With Christmas merry in our wake, New Year's inspiration softening, and somewhere around mid January, in our family we begin a ramp up for February...one of the most special times of the year for us around here. In the same way that Thanksgiving prepares our hearts for Christmas and December 1st somehow twinkles in the season of celebrating the birth of Christ, we look forward to February 1st with great anticipation and joy. This marks a month long celebration for us where we focus on the LOVE of God, seen most poignantly in the sending of His Son, the season we've just celebrated all throughout December. We figure His LOVE deserves a month too.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16
This LOVE Month is a time for us to look to the Scriptures and learn anew the treasures of love in the verses, the commands we want to obey, the ways we want to live and love others, the way we ought to love Jesus with wholehearted devotion. This LOVE Month we look forward to in January allows our hearts to anticipate a revamping in our hearts and minds that lasts all year and then beyond to teach us more about the fruit of the Spirit, LOVE.
LOVE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
God's LOVE is worth our celebration and the gear up invokes in all of us...JOY.
So, around this time of year, when dust has settled upon things that may bring people down, we'd like to suggest a new reason to look forward to late January...the anticipation of a month of growing in the love of God, both His love for us as well as the love He wants us to give away. This love is joyful. It's contagious. It's worth our efforts to know more of this LOVE in February.
And so we go...I've collected a few more heart shaped goodies to commemorate our special time.
I do this every year in the same ways I do for Christmas, this cookie stamp from World Market being my current favorite addition:
There will be heart shaped pizzas and crafts. There will be pink M&Ms and cookies. We won't go overboard in the same spirit as how we celebrate the sacredness of Christmas. But there will be celebration! There will be festive fun. We'll keep the focus where it should be, yet we will embrace the season of LOVE and all the merrymaking and yummy treats that come along with that. February 14th is almost like the "Christmas Day of February" and the days surrounding like the season. I can't wait. My heart is full as I think through ways to bless my family and others with God's LOVE next month. It's what we're all about, this LOVE! I get excited when I anticipate our family devotion times and schooling revolving around this most noble virtue...LOVE. Just think of how we'll grow and learn!
So, goodbye January blues for good and welcome February from afar.
You're the 2nd most wonderful time of the year!
"But the greatest of these is love."
1 Corinthians 13:13
