Joy

How is your heart?  Are you full of joy?  Nothing great is accomplished without work.  Labor is central to the purpose of life, however we cannot let our labor strangle our joy of faith and life.  In the middle of his labor of love, rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah had to be reminded that “the joy of the Lord is our strength.”  Nehemiah reminded those around him whose strength was flagging in the face of challenge, of this great secret and their strength was rekindled.  At the very outset, God set down the principle of rest and relaxation—of re-creation—by resting on the seventh day of creation.  It is a way for each of us to keep love of God and care for ourselves and our faith central.  It is also a secret to keeping the joy of our faith and lives fresh.  Give pause to rest and refocus, then give thanks for all that God has done in your life and the lives of those around you.  Trust God.  God loves you, and God will see you through.  Open your heart to God’s love and find new strength and a rekindled joy.
 
(scripture of the week)
Yet this I call to mind,
  And therefore, I have hope:
Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed,
  For his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
  Great is your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3.20-23
 
(prayer of the week)
Loving Creator, you showed us the importance of both labor and rest.  Help us to work for things that last for eternity, but also learn to lean into the rhythm of sacred rest.  Breathe anew in us your Spirit of Life.  Re-create us.  Help us to rest in your love, that we might be renewed to live more fully in all we do.  Renew our deep joy for life and love.  We ask all this through Christ our Lord, amen. 
 
(Quote of the week)
What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of it –Rick Warren
 
Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com