January 12, 2009 Philippians 4:4-13

"Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy. Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. Do what you learned and received from me, what I told you, and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you. I am very happy in the Lord that you have shown your care for me again. You continued to care about me, but there was no way for you to show it. I am not telling you this because I need anything. I have learned to be satisfied with the thigns I have and with everythign that happens. I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens, when I have enought to eat and when I go hungry, when I have more than I need and when I do not have enough. I can do all thigns through Christ, because he gives me strength. ~Philippians 4:4-13~

This verse correlates with one of my favorite verses: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18--"Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens." It's weird that all these verses I tend to read or hear sermons about are all about being happy, having a happy heart, rejoicing in the Lord, being joyful always. Is God trying to tell me something? Am I not rejoicing? I look back onto my life, the things going on...everyone has hard times, sufferings, burdens, those of which are given by God to test our faith, to see us grow...through all this, we should be able to rejoice, just as Jesus Christ rejoices in the Lord.

On New Year's Eve evening, I went up in front of my home church and sort of gave a testimony...something I really felt deep within my heart. I see the people within the church always fighting over little issues, always having grudges or bad feelings toward each other...I also see my parents and other families, financially burdened, living life full of more worries than happiness. It depressed me to see that happen within my family and friends, within my church. So when I went up to the front, I started out with thanking everyone for always showing me love, for always praying for me, then I read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. I shared with them that I was really convicted to share about love, about joy, about thanks. Instead of looking at the glass half empty, we should always look at the glass half full. There might be hard times, sufferings, burdens, hardships, etc. but there are also many things to be thankful. We are so much more priveleged/blessed than many other people within this world, we are still alive, we have family, we have received salvation, we have been taught the gospel. We have an everlasting God and an everlasting kingdom awaiting us.

Just the other day, Sharon and I were coming back from OIL retreat in Pennsylvania. There was a snow storm of over 9 inches heading towards Pennsylvania and it had already started snowing by the time we were heading home. I started out driving, and I was so worried that the road conditions would be bad, especially around the retreat center because there were so many curvy, hilly roads, but thanks be to God that we were able to make it to the highway safely. Then while on the highway, we were all going really, really slow, but I was trying to pass up a car, so I switched lanes and our car slipped...it kept going towards the car in the other lane, so in order to not hit the other car, I turned to wheel in the other directions, which spun the car...we spun and spun and finally landed in the median in the grass...thanks be to God that we were both fine and the car was also fine...just a lil ditch, so we needed to call 911 to call the state police to call the tow truck which pulled us out. Meanwhile, so many people stopped to see if we were alright, thanks to all of them. Anyways, my point is, just right after a retreat, right after getting so blessed, we got into that really dangerous, where not only we were in danger, but the other cars could also have been in danger. Still, God protected us, allowing us to be safe. Although the tow truck cost some money, we are still really, really thankful and joyful that God protected us, that he cared for us, just like it says in verse 10.

Along with being thankful in that matter, we should also be thankful for what we already have. As human beings, we have wants and desires, but first, we should really consider if we need it. God has already given us those that we really need. My home church is going on missions this summer and I believe God is really telling me to be thankful, to really be considerate of my less privileged brothers and sisters around the world. On top of that I think He is telling me to not worry and to just be joyful as I wait for God to give me what I need. Another one of my favorite verses: "I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength." Just reading these words encourages me and motivates me.

2009 has already come around and a third of January has already passed. Coming upon another passage of being joyful and thankful, I really feel convicted to share with you all that it really helps to be joyful. Ask God for that happy heart...always be thankful!!! He will continue to care for us as we await His kingdom come!