Rejoice!

As my family and I go through the holidays this year with an obvious hole in our home, our celebrations, and our hearts, we'd like to thank all of your for your prayers of comfort, peace and for your continued support of us in various ways.

Admittedly, I have been walking cautiously through Thanksgiving and in preparing for Christmas under the name of "good self-care"; protecting my heart, attempting to stay in a "safe" place for me, and frankly, dreading the holidays to some degree. There is a part of me that has wanted to just close my eyes and not open them again until after it is all over just to avoid going through it. The thought of Mario not being with us this year, and in the years to come, brings with it a great deal of heartache - and it is in that spirit that I have been preparing my heart and my emotions. Read that, I have been solely focused on me.

That brings me to the sermon from this morning given by our Pastor Jason Braaten. (A link to read or listen to the whole sermon is provided below if you are interested - it is well worth your time.) The focus of the message this morning was around Philippians 4:4 - 7.

"⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

As the message was unfolding, my mind began to justify my more negative mindset: "I am thankful. That is enough." It is true that somehow God has allowed me to continually be thankful for the people around me, the relationships, the provisions, the blessings, and the list goes on... But what these verses were saying was something well beyond just being thankful. They are calling me (and you) to rejoice in the Lord. Not just when the times are good. Not just when it is convenient. But always. There simply is no way to wiggle around, or misinterpret the word "always". It is an absolute. It is measurable. And it is much more than just being thankful.

Rejoice: to feel joyful, be delighted. (dictionary.search.com)

Today has been a good reminder of how often we get so focused on ourselves, and while it may seem justified to be that way circumstances-dependent, it is also a good reminder that when we drop our gaze from the One who saves, we will forget to rejoice.

I'd like to encourage you to join me in not focusing so much on the gifts, the food, the events, and all the other things we tend to stress over, including our losses. Instead, focus on rejoicing in the Lord; being joyful and delighting in Him. He clearly promises a peace that you can't get anywhere else. Join me in resting in that peace today, throughout the holidays, and moving forward through life.

Below is an excerpt from this morning's message that is meaningful. When you read through this, know that it isn't just a message for those that have lost someone. It is a message for all of us. Regardless of what the stressors are.

Thanks again for your prayers. My prayer for each of you is that you will be able to relax in the true meaning of this season. That together we will realize that it isn't about us at all, but it is all about Him. That we are able to keep our eyes on God and joy in our hearts. That we will never cease to Rejoice!

Merry Christmas to you all of you, with love.

"So rejoice, dear Christians; again I will say, Rejoice. The Lord is at hand. And despite your present suffering, despite the sorrow you have for those loved and lost, despite the fact this time, this season, this Christmas is not the same as you always remembered, or even as you always imagined it to be, there is a fitting and reasonable joy in your midst nevertheless. Because the Lord is at hand." ~ Rev. Jason Braaten


http://immanueltuscola.org/sermons/the-fourth-sunday-in-advent/