Rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 ESV

My, oh my, how we struggle in this world when we take our eyes off the Lord. Worry, anxiety, grief, suffering and a mind filled with questions overwhelm us when we do not trust in the Lord Jesus and His Word. Though I do not fully understand all that goes on, I trust in Him ultimately. Though my finite mind is even puzzled by His Word at times I am assured of His infinite wisdom. We truly can REJOICE in the Lord!

Let your "reasonableness" - "gentle spirit" - "moderation" (different translations) be made known to everyone. When our focus is not on the Lord, we tend to exhibit the extremes rather than the "gentle spirit" -- anxiety is such an unnecessary burden. The Lord is "at hand" -- He is not a distant, far-away being, but a relational, ever-present help. Be so thankful that our God hears the requests of His children. His peace is the only thing that can provide such understanding that goes beyond anything in this world.

Don't worry... rejoice!

Good Samaritan and more...

It's a classical music kind of day...

not for any other particular reason than I found this CD when rearranging some stuff.

Classical music always makes me feel more cultured. 

(and more often reminds me of how uncultured I really am)

Those guys in the classical music portraits always look so serious - maybe because they're having to stand still so long for the portrait artist. I suppose that classical music reinforces the concept that music is a language of the heart. Even music that does not include lyrics can influence your emotions and psyche. I can't even pronounce most of the names of these composers much less spell them correctly. None-the-less the notes, rhythm, etc. bring about a response of the heart.

Do you recognize what these are?

Do you realize that when you do a PowerPoint or Keynote "slide show" that these are the predecessors of those slide shows? Wow, what a reminder of how far technology has come in the past few decades! But in this digital age, I wonder how many images will actually survive like the slides and photographic prints of years gone by. For that matter, how much of what we do is of any lasting value through the coming years? Are we doing anything that is of eternal good?

Read Luke 10:30-36:

Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"

 

Be a good neighbor to everyone you encounter. Go out of your way to encounter those who need your help. Be reminded that Jesus came to this earth to do good and to die for sinners exceeding any other by rising from the grave in victory over sin and death. 
 
The answer to the question: "Which of these... proved to be a neighbor...?"

 

He said, "The one who showed him mercy."
And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise." 

Luke 10:37 ESV