I am one of three siblings in our family of 8 children that is writing a blog. Both of my siblings blogs are listed here on my blog site. My brother writes very philosophical and very Christian material. He is definitely a "still waters run deep" type of person. My sister writes more light-sided material and delves into serious material now and then. Me, I write semi-serious and not-light-enough stuff. I'm stuck in the middle, I think. I wonder if anyone who does not know the three of us would guess that we're siblings?
There's another spot I feel stuck in the middle... my spirituality. I have gone the gamut of being a charismatic Christian to a died-in-wool agnostic and back again. I have expressed my discontent with committing to anything, except marriage (for almost 20 years). And there are still days that I wonder if can commit for one-more-day? Don't worry hubby, it's just me! Yes, just me, with a phobia about committing to marriage, Christ, a job, a place to live, a food plan, a walking program....... I'm sure you get the idea of what I mean, I hope. Stuck in the middle.
Straddling the fence. Wishy-washy. There are all types of descriptions for people like me.
Anyway, next week I have committed to going to a Christian retreat, Walk to Emmaus. Only God could have led me on the path to the retreat, as I was invited by a casual acquaintance at work. She knew I needed this walk, because God led her to me. God does not work by coincidence, but we humans like to think that, don't we? Hubby asked me tonight what I hoped to gain from this retreat? I responded, "To get back to where I left (God). A willingness to allow Him back in my life." Pretty tough order, I would think. But God knows better than I and we'll see! I'm allowing myself to be open to all possibilities.
Showing posts with label Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christ. Show all posts
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Joy
Rejoice! Rejoice: To feel or be joyful. To fill with joy, gladden.
Rejoice is a word we associate with Christmas, probably because of time-honored Christian hymns. The word joy is not a common word in today's vocabulary. It means A condition or feeling of high pleasure or delight. Do I experience joy? Do I ever want to say "Rejoice!" Sometimes, but truthfully, seldom do I say or feel it.
Think of the faces of children around this country as they open their gifts from Santa Claus, the surprise at getting something they asked for or maybe something they wanted and didn't expect Santa to bring. The joy is evident on their faces, the huge smiles and hollering whoops of excitement. It can not help but to bring a smile to our faces as we witness or have memories of the rejoicing.
The above verses are on my calender for today. It's not verses from Luke as we usually read in correlation with the Christmas story. It is the prediction of the what the Saviour, Jesus Christ would bring to the world. Wonderful counseling, mightiness, everlasting and peace. In those days as now, there was strife and wars in the world and the Prince of Peace was expected, and hoped for, to bring peace to the world. Peace: An absence of war and other hostilities; a freedom from quarrels and disagreement.
Did it happen? Did peace occur, before or after his death? No. Not if we consider peace as being an absence of war and strife. However, if we consider another meaning of peace - Inner contentment; calm; serenity - then Jesus Christ has brought peace to the world of believers! Some would say that the only way to peace is believing and having faith in Jesus Christ.
Another word similar to rejoice is Hallelujah! A word used to express praise or joy. A word that is often associated with Easter and the rising of Christ from death. Words of joy associated with Christ's birth and His arising from death, a re-birth in a sense. A birth of a child brings joyful moments. a culmination of months waiting and preparing for a long-anticipated event. The birth of Christ was a culmination of waiting and preparing for the saviour of the world.
As we age, we sometimes lose the wonder of opening up gifts on Christmas morning. We leave hints and lists for spouses to find and we don't always have that many presents under the tree as we realize that we have so many things already. I knew about all of the gifts for me under the tree except for one. I knew where hubby bought it, but could not think of what it would be other than an article of clothing. So I was surprised to open up the present to reveal a lovely cashmere cardigan sweater. Cashmere has a softness and richness beyond compare. I have been longing to buy a cashmere sweater for quite a while, but could never quite justify spending the extra money. Hubby said, "You deserve a cashmere sweater at this time in your life."
How many of us have the feeling of the softness and richness of Jesus Christ's love and the promise of peace that he makes to us in celebrating His birth and re-birth? What do I deserve at this time of my life?
Rejoice is a word we associate with Christmas, probably because of time-honored Christian hymns. The word joy is not a common word in today's vocabulary. It means A condition or feeling of high pleasure or delight. Do I experience joy? Do I ever want to say "Rejoice!" Sometimes, but truthfully, seldom do I say or feel it.
Think of the faces of children around this country as they open their gifts from Santa Claus, the surprise at getting something they asked for or maybe something they wanted and didn't expect Santa to bring. The joy is evident on their faces, the huge smiles and hollering whoops of excitement. It can not help but to bring a smile to our faces as we witness or have memories of the rejoicing.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on
his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6
The above verses are on my calender for today. It's not verses from Luke as we usually read in correlation with the Christmas story. It is the prediction of the what the Saviour, Jesus Christ would bring to the world. Wonderful counseling, mightiness, everlasting and peace. In those days as now, there was strife and wars in the world and the Prince of Peace was expected, and hoped for, to bring peace to the world. Peace: An absence of war and other hostilities; a freedom from quarrels and disagreement.
Did it happen? Did peace occur, before or after his death? No. Not if we consider peace as being an absence of war and strife. However, if we consider another meaning of peace - Inner contentment; calm; serenity - then Jesus Christ has brought peace to the world of believers! Some would say that the only way to peace is believing and having faith in Jesus Christ.
Another word similar to rejoice is Hallelujah! A word used to express praise or joy. A word that is often associated with Easter and the rising of Christ from death. Words of joy associated with Christ's birth and His arising from death, a re-birth in a sense. A birth of a child brings joyful moments. a culmination of months waiting and preparing for a long-anticipated event. The birth of Christ was a culmination of waiting and preparing for the saviour of the world.
As we age, we sometimes lose the wonder of opening up gifts on Christmas morning. We leave hints and lists for spouses to find and we don't always have that many presents under the tree as we realize that we have so many things already. I knew about all of the gifts for me under the tree except for one. I knew where hubby bought it, but could not think of what it would be other than an article of clothing. So I was surprised to open up the present to reveal a lovely cashmere cardigan sweater. Cashmere has a softness and richness beyond compare. I have been longing to buy a cashmere sweater for quite a while, but could never quite justify spending the extra money. Hubby said, "You deserve a cashmere sweater at this time in your life."
How many of us have the feeling of the softness and richness of Jesus Christ's love and the promise of peace that he makes to us in celebrating His birth and re-birth? What do I deserve at this time of my life?
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