Spiritual Joy

"A spiritual joy is the greatest sign of divine grace dwelling in a soul."  (St Bonaventure)

Disappointment - His Appointment

Disappointment - His Appointment, No good thing will he withhold;
From denials oft we gather
Treasures of His love untold.  - Young (Our Daily Bread)

Is your faith being tested?

2 Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.

3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing."  (James 1: 2 -4) - Amplified Bible

Where is your faith being tested today?

Health, family, finances, job, property and tools, food, future?

Then James 1: 2 - 4 should give you at this time the consolation of the scriptures.  The consolation of the scriptures is the uplifting of our mind heart by the word of God which is true.  Without the wisdom, understanding and encouragement that comes from Sacred Scripture, it will be impossible to fight and remaining standing after the battle. 

Pursue Jesus

"Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain."  (1 Timothy 6: 6)

The profits of true religion are:
Pardon, Peace, Power, Purpose, Presence, Protection, Provision.

You can find all the promises of Jesus in the 7 P's above..

"He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him?"  (Romans 8: 32)

Jesus cancels the debt

"“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages* and the other owed fifty.
Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?”  (Luke 7: 41 - 42)

Do you have any debt?  Financial or spiritual debt?  Or perhaps an addiction?
Jesus cancels the debt.

"So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free."  (John 8: 36)

Who can please the world?

"They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, but you did not weep."  (Luke 7: 32) (NAB)

"They are like little children sitting in the marketplace, calling to one another and saying, We piped to you [playing wedding], and you did not dance; we sang dirges and wailed [playing funeral], and you did not weep."  (Luke 7: 32) - Amplified Bible

The lesson that Jesus teaches us in Luke 7: 32 is plain.  You cannot please the world.  Stop trying.  It is far easier to please God than to please the world.  Your good will and your weakness are taken into account when God looks upon you.  The world is capricious and erratic.  So, what is the conclusion?  Aim at pleasing God.  It is smarter.

Times and Seasons

Times and Seasons are divine appointments.  They are not haphazard ; they are not accidents. Winter, spring, summer and autumn are not accidents.
Rainy and dry seasons are not accidents.

All times and all seasons are in the hand of Jesus Christ.

Christ yesterday and today+
The Beginning and the End+
The Alpha and the Omega+
All times belong to Him+
And all ages+
To Him be glory and power through every age forever and ever.  Amen!!!

Do not weep

Luke 7:13
"And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”

+Do not be afraid
+Do not be anxious
+Do not doubt

Deuteronomy 31:8
"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Exodus 14:14
"The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Seekfirst.blogspot.com

God so loved the world

He calls me, He calls you

"I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry"  (1 Timothy 1:12)

God does not call us to the ministry because we are worthy.  He chooses, calls and anoints us to make us fit for the appointed work.  Is it as simple as that?  Yes!  Why then do many fail?  They answer the call keeping 99% of their meagre resources close to their chest.  They refuse to surrender everything because they do not trust God.  "Let us keep something for ourselves in case this venture fails."

When we trust God enough to let go everything and answer His call, we live, breathe, flow, walk and work in Him.  You can't believe the joy.

Rising sun at Bankside

Psalm 27:8

8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”