How to hold tight to our Joy in The Lord, In the midst of our sorrow.

[Nancy]

We (humans in general) seem to have just been settling for the fleeting "joys and pleasures" of this world. A little sip here and a little there...never truly FILLING to the fullness of His Joy! We humans seem to reach for our joy in increments of "the things of this world"

Here's an excerpt from C.S.:
“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses

So, if we fill the desires of our hearts with His desires...and obey Him BECAUSE our obedience to Him opens up His perfect will for our lives! He WANT'S us to be happy and joyful, what perfect Father wouldn't?? Is it okay to say that true joy comes from the right hand of God? And the fullness of it? The fleeting "pleasures" of this life (temporary) are like trying to fill up a sieve, but God's cup runneth over and He holds ALL treasure at His right Hand ♥ And, Jesus SHOULD be our number one treasure.
Last Sundays sermon spoke about Joy everlasting...even in the midst of sorrow and, one thing he said was pretty awesome: "What does it look like for Jesus to be your highest treasure? -embrace obedience as a pathway to pleasure and joy." His burdens are light and He means only GOOD for his children.
Psalm 16:4 <--- Why so many Christians lack true joy? My answer= Psalm 16:5
In Him,
-nancy



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

 

[Episkopos]

The world waits for things to happen before happiness sets in...but we can rejoice pre-emptively! :)

We are to rejoice ALWAYS. That is the will of God concerning us. We rejoice by faith knowing that all things...even bad things...work for good in the end. And what an end!

 

[faithfulness]

The world waits for things to happen before happiness sets in...but we can rejoice pre-emptively! :)

We are to rejoice ALWAYS. Thar is the will of God concerning us. We rejoice by faith knowing that all things...even bad things...work for good in the end. And what an end!

Amen...ALL things!

 

[Nancy]

The world waits for things to happen before happiness sets in...but we can rejoice pre-emptively! :)

We are to rejoice ALWAYS. Thar is the will of God concerning us. We rejoice by faith knowing that all things...even bad things...work for good in the end. And what an end!

Amen, yes..."ALL things work to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose!" As much as I hate the "bad", I can still look forward to what He will make of it ♥

 

[faithfulness]

The world waits for things to happen before happiness sets in...but we can rejoice pre-emptively! :)

We are to rejoice ALWAYS. Thar is the will of God concerning us. We rejoice by faith knowing that all things...even bad things...work for good in the end. And what an end!

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them who love Him. 1Cor2:9...

 

[soul man]

We (humans in general) seem to have just been settling for the fleeting "joys and pleasures" of this world. A little sip here and a little there...never truly FILLING to the fullness of His Joy! We humans seem to reach for our joy in increments of "the things of this world"

Here's an excerpt from C.S.:
“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses

So, if we fill the desires of our hearts with His desires...and obey Him BECAUSE our obedience to Him opens up His perfect will for our lives! He WANT'S us to be happy and joyful, what perfect Father wouldn't?? Is it okay to say that true joy comes from the right hand of God? And the fullness of it? The fleeting "pleasures" of this life (temporary) are like trying to fill up a sieve, but God's cup runneth over and He holds ALL treasure at His right Hand ♥ And, Jesus SHOULD be our number one treasure.
Last Sundays sermon spoke about Joy everlasting...even in the midst of sorrow and, one thing he said was pretty awesome: "What does it look like for Jesus to be your highest treasure? -embrace obedience as a pathway to pleasure and joy." His burdens are light and He means only GOOD for his children.
Psalm 16:4 <--- Why so many Christians lack true joy? My answer= Psalm 16:5
In Him,
-nancy



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

I understand the premise of expression, but doesn't it seem to put pressure on the believer to work something up?

 

[Nancy]

I understand the premise of expression, but doesn't it seem to put pressure on the believer to work something up?

Well, on the contrary, my take is that the key is obedience-and as it is always for our own good to obey, and His burdens are light-what is there to "work up"? It's like a child sticking their hand in a hot oven, the parent will tell them "no"...for their own good. So, I don't see any kind of pressure unless one chooses to do things their own way, without acknowledging God first.
God Bless,
-nancy

 

[soul man]

Well, on the contrary, my take is that the key is obedience-and as it is always for our own good to obey, and His burdens are light-what is there to "work up"? It's like a child sticking their hand in a hot oven, the parent will tell them "no"...for their own good. So, I don't see any kind of pressure unless one chooses to do things their own way, without acknowledging God first.
God Bless,
-nancy

How do we obey, and what. The 10 commandments, every word that proceeded from his mouth.
I know alot of Christians that do alot of things and still have no joy, or at least it is fleeting. Just curious because most Christians have practiced obeying what they feel is right and still have the lingering in their heart.

 

[bbyrd009]

"Is it okay to say that true joy comes from the right hand of God?"

little yellow pills, ma'am, no offense meant tho, but pls work the little yellow pills in here

 

[Nancy]

How do we obey, and what. The 10 commandments, every word that proceeded from his mouth.
I know alot of Christians that do alot of things and still have no joy, or at least it is fleeting. Just curious because most Christians have practiced obeying what they feel is right and still have the lingering in their heart.

Love God, Love neighbor...the rest will automatically be fulfilled when we practice these two commandments from Jesus.

 

[Nancy]

"Is it okay to say that true joy comes from the right hand of God?"

little yellow pills, ma'am, no offense meant tho, but pls work the little yellow pills in here

If you recall, my OP noted "joy in the midst of our sorrow..."
BTW Mark, are you also against immunizations?

 

[bbyrd009]

If you recall, my OP noted "joy in the midst of our sorrow..."
BTW Mark, are you also against immunizations?

if only they boosted anyone's immune system, huh?
so, i am for stronger immunity, and i am against calling things that destroy immunity "immunizations."
it's just more doublespeak-bs imo. Herd immunity is destroyed by these. God did not put us here lacking any "immunizations."
we have an immune system--or we are supposed to anyway--and epidemics serve to strengthen the herd.

"immunizations" are our way of saying "we have a better idea," and i would think that 100 years of fire suppression in California would serve to illustrate the point? Bc the ezack same mechanism is at work imo.

so, to answer your Q, no, i am not against immunizations at all. But i would never get one myself

don't you find it a little strange that the same ppl who are so willing to sacrifice your best and brightest guarding poppy fields in 3rd world countries, or ousting their democratically elected governments, are the same ones offering you free "immunizations?"

 

[Nancy]

if only they boosted anyone's immune system, huh?
so, i am for stronger immunity, and i am against calling things that destroy immunity "immunizations."
it's just more doublespeak-bs imo. Herd immunity is destroyed by these. God did not put us here lacking any "immunizations."
we have an immune system--or we are supposed to anyway--and epidemics serve to strengthen the herd.

"immunizations" are our way of saying "we have a better idea," and i would think that 100 years of fire suppression in California would serve to illustrate the point? Bc the ezack same mechanism is at work imo.

so, to answer your Q, no, i am not against immunizations at all. But i would never get one myself

don't you find it a little strange that the same ppl who are so willing to sacrifice your best and brightest guarding poppy fields in 3rd world countries, or ousting their democratically elected governments, are the same ones offering you free "immunizations?"

God created us lacking NOTHING. We, broke that when man chose sin and disobedience. We are living in time-temporal...the world is broken, we are promised trials, tribulations, sickness and death in these carnal bodies. God can and does heal, and, as we are imperfect beings in an imperfect world, we are subject to all these things that were not present before the fall of man. When all is said and done...yes, there will be no more tears, sadness, or sickness but, we are in the flesh still and will trust that whether God chooses to heal us physically or mentally or not, we need to trust Him. You cannot put everybody in the same box Mark. Your experiences are not mine and visa versa...

 

[bbyrd009]

We are living in time-temporal...the world is broken, we are promised trials, tribulations, sickness and death in these carnal bodies.

leave the world strikes me as the cure for that wadr

we are also promised pressed down, shaken together, running over
so pick your promise i guess

 

[Nancy]

leave the world strikes me as the cure for that wadr

we are also promised pressed down, shaken together, running over
so pick your promise i guess

"we are also promised pressed down, shaken together, running over
so pick your promise i guess" ...For with the same measure that you mete with it shall be measured to you again. <---reap what you sow...we cannot "leave the world" until God calls us home. We are in it, not OF it. He brings us THROUGH these trials...every time, one way or another.

 

[bbyrd009]

God created us lacking NOTHING.

but imo we are mostly outlining two perspectives of a cycle, on the other thing; there is a time for everything

You cannot put everybody in the same box Mark. Your experiences are not mine and visa versa...

not sure why you are saying this?

 

[FHII]

1 Corinthians 15:19 KJV
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

A very profound verse in my book, and one that can be thought upon for several hours....

We should and do have hope in Christ in this life. But its not what we ahould have our only hope in. Yet, this verse doesn't promise prosprity in this life. It says whatever this life gives us (good or bad) is miserable. That is, compared to that whthatis to come.

I want properity in this life in all aspects of it, and I don't apologize for that. I don't bekieve its wrong. But its not what the spiritual man is looking forward to.

 

[bbyrd009]

we cannot "leave the world" until God calls us home.

i beg to differ, and i'm pretty sure the diff is terminal too.

It says whatever this life gives us (good or bad) is miserable.

Stranger evinced the same pov the other day...man, and rhetoric just fails me here, as sarcasm will be misunderstood i guess, but FH i hope you will come to see that that pov does not really line up with other Scripture very well, and read dialectically what is most likely being said is an indictment of a believer with that very pov, ok.

 

[FHII]

i beg to differ, and i'm pretty sure the diff is terminal too.

Stranger evinced the same pov the other day...man, and rhetoric just fails me here, as sarcasm will be misunderstood i guess, but FH i hope you will come to see that that pov does not really line up with other Scripture very well, and read dialectically what is most likely being said is an indictment of a believer with that very pov, ok.

I have no idea what you said here at the end, but it actually does line up very well with other scripture. Matt 6:33; Col 3:2 and Romans 8:18 for example. I don't believe you read my whole quote or considered everything I said, so you may want to have another look.

 

[amadeus]

How do we obey, and what. The 10 commandments, every word that proceeded from his mouth.
I know alot of Christians that do alot of things and still have no joy, or at least it is fleeting. Just curious because most Christians have practiced obeying what they feel is right and still have the lingering in their heart.

What is a Christian? One who is working to be, wanting to be like Christ, that is as Jesus was when he lived on planet Earth as a man 2000 years ago. He did it, but how can we do it?

"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalm 30:5

With the morning comes the Light of day... Who can work in the darkness of night?

"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." John 9:4

What is this work? Nothing perhaps new in what we have heard. If we simply and continuously do it... that is seek what?

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt 6:33

Will not the joy be included in the "all of these things added"?