Sunday's Coming

Good morning again,


I pray all is well with you today. I have heard from many of you who are having trials in your life or your family. Thanks for sharing and know we are praying for each request.


We continue to seek God's direction for the summer months and we ask you to keep us in your prayers. Thanks again for your encouraging words by phone calls, emails or in person. I also want to say thanks to those of you who help us financially. Your gift, I know, is from the direction of God who knows our needs.

This morning, as I was reading, this caught my attention since the title of my blog is Count it All Joy:


Joy in Everything (by David Jeremiah)

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials." James 1:2
Recommended Reading1 Thessalonians 5:16-18


No small amount of harm has been done by well-intentioned Christians who misquote a particular Bible verse when attempting to comfort the grieving: "Don't forget that Scripture says to, ‘Give thanks for all things.'" Actually, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 doesn't say, "For everything give thanks;" it says, "In everything give thanks." And there is a world of difference between those two small words.

The Bible doesn't say we should rejoice and give thanks for the event that has caused our grief, suffering, or impatience—a lost job, the death of a loved one, or an unmet expectation. But it does say we should give thanks in (in the midst of) that situation. And why should we do that? Because giving thanks to God is an expression of our confident faith that He is aware of our situation and our need. The Bible is filled with expressions and promises that give us reason to trust God in the midst of trials and tribulations (Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 11:11-13; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:19).

Joy and thanksgiving in the midst of troubles are not normal in this world. But that is why we are exhorted to express them. Joy in the midst of trials is another sign that we are in, but not of, this world.

"Joy is the serious business of heaven." ( C. S. Lewis)

Have a great day, love you, pass it on,
Don



Permanent address:
Chaplain Don & LaVon Baker
3334 W. Main St., PMB 300
Norman, OK 73072
http://bakersblessings.blogspot.com/