Some of you have been on your faithful journey with Christ for some time, and some for only a short while, or perhaps you've turned away from Him or have yet to know Him. Whatever your story of faith is, I welcome you!
Lately, I have found myself drowning in my day to day sorrows, yet I've been pushing my Bible time aside-- you may know this story:
Feed the kids, do the laundry, get the kids moving and ready, do some schooling, moderate quarrels, run kids to three different activities, run some errands, "what's for dinner," clean up the days' mess, look over school work, prepare for tomorrow. That's just our own normal activities (and a fairly abridged list)--often we help with the needs of our extended family, church family, or others in our community as well.
Even though we've been a busy, disorganized mess that really doesn't need one more thing, something has been missing. Do you know WHAT I've missed? I've missed the Lord! And boy, can I tell you the last few months have been horrible, since pushing Bible time out of our routine. My busy days are no worse than anyone else's and they are a lot better than most people's. My tribulations (big and small) should be exulted, but I really have just been selfishly wallowing.
I love that word--exult--it means to be extremely joyful, To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant, to show or feel a lively or triumphant joy; rejoice exceedingly; be highly elated or jubilant
Doesn't it make you smile?
Lately, I haven't felt like smiling much. I've been grumpy and intolerant. You know the fruits of the spirit:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Well, I haven't been bearing much fruit lately. I've been so focused on what I don't like about my circumstances, that I've pretty much shut down. It is called selfishness. I'm so focused on myself that I'm not doing a very good job of being a __________.
Fill in the blank with anything that I'm supposed to be: wife, mother, friend, servant, Christian, daughter, etc. Whatever you fill it in with, I haven't been the best that God created me to be. I know this and I'm not happy living like this. Yes, it has been many years of depressing selfishness, just waiting for my circumstances to improve. Well, the Lord's plans are not my own, yet somehow I'd forgotten that and just prayed that my plan would become His plan. Again...a bit self-centered, eh?
So today I'm choosing to persevere. Persevere exultingly in the Lord. Won't you join me?
No, I won't do it well all the time...but I will do it, and some of the time, I will do it well. You can too. We both can-- [We] can do all things through Him who strengthens [us]. Philippians 4:13
Today, I'm encouraged by Romans 5. If you haven't read it lately, you should. If you've never read it, here it is:
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. 17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. 20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I'm hoping that this blog will be an encouragement to others struggling through this one mortal life we've been granted, but also an encouragement to myself, as I visibly record God's hand in my life through the ups and downs.
Blessings,
Jennifer
