Friday, February 17, 2012 - Singing In the Rain

"Rejoice in the Lord always. 

I will say it again: Rejoice!"

Philippians 4:4

The reason believers can always rejoice regardless of circumstances rests in the command to rejoice in the Lord - and we can always do that, even if it means looking backwards or forwards to do it. When faith-threatening obstacles cover our spiritual windshields with grime, we can switch our view to the rear view mirrors, remembering God's past faithfulness. Rejoicing in the Lord means we plant our hope firmly in His Ability, His Vision, His Plan for our good. 

"Courage knows that for the child of God there is no such thing as disaster.

Courage keeps the destination in view and heeds not the intervening obstacles. 

Courage does not count the cost neither laments losses, 

because it reckons on unfailing supply and is content in knowing 

that one man's loss is another man's gain 

and rejoices as much in one as the other 

-- either to be the receiver or the giver. 

Thus it is fortified against the common complaints of man, 

for most complaints rise out of discontent as the roll assigned to play.  

The genius of happiness is to reverse the game from receiving to giving,

 and in so doing, competition to excel becomes joyous --

 a soul-freeing expression."

Frances J. Roberts, Make Haste My Beloved

Lord, help me reverse the game of choosing between receiving and giving, between making my life comfortable and blessing other people. I want to learn this discipline of rejoicing in You for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, rain or shine.

In the Name of Jesus Who gives us a joy the world can't give or understand