Ode To Joy

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.

A Slice of Joy

The Counselor

I woke up this morning thinking about the impact of our ability as Christians to live a life in the Spirit. This seal of assurance is such a wonderful gift. It is significant to me that the Holy Spirit’s presence actually allows us to perceive and know with certainty that we belong to God. The Holy Spirit enhances the way our brain works. He is our counselor, our moral compass, our guide to the truth and our light in a dark tunnel. Though the urges of our darker nature will always clamor for satisfaction, the presence of the Holy Spirit is our early warning system. When we resist God’s will for our life we feel a sense of unease. It is the Holy Spirit saying, “this path you are about to take is wrong”. That is the moment of decision for the believer. Silence the alarm and grieve or quench the Spirit or redirect? We have a choice. It is our perseverance in resisting the temptation to do what we know is wrong that pleases God. The Counselor’s presence in us is a clarion call to walk in the light and pursue love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control . Life in the Spirit provides an opportunity for peace, comfort, happiness and a close relationship with God.

Ephesians 1:13-14

13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

John 16:5-13

The Work of the Holy Spirit

5 “Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will will expose the guilt of the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

1 John 3:18-20

18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence

20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

Motivation

This blog is intended to be an outlet for my observations. It is my sincere desire to get to the heart of things in a way that stays true to God’s expectations of me as a member of the human race.

Psalm 19:14

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Proverbs 2:2-11

2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding;

3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding;

4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures;

5 Then you will discern the fear of the Lord And discover the knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones.

9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course.

10 For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul