February 25, 2017

Greetings My Friend, I am struggling with words and how God sees them. As I read "Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!Let your graciousness be know to to everyone. The Lord is near." I have always focused on the word rejoice, which is a joyful feeling and I have learned I can be joyful in most circumstances even though I am struggling. I learned in the previous passages Paul and Silas had been beaten and were in prison in chains. They were singing and praising God even in such dire circumstances. I have felt this joy and carry it with me in the major struggles I have faced in my life. I am grateful to know that I am not alone and on the other side I will marvel even though in the midst I may wonder at times. Being gracious though was a new thought. The first definition I looked up "characterized by good taste, comfort, ease or luxury" that did not help me understand graciousness at all. So I read further down the page on the internet until my eyes rested on "marked by kindness and courtesy." This one helped me to see that I can be kind and respectful to others even when they are rude or obnoxious. My devotional helped me even more so when it defined gracious as "being grateful for all I have in Christ." I am very grateful for my life since I have taken my faith seriously and started following Jesus' example of right living. Later my devotional teaches me that I need to have this attitude with other believers before the watching world. As the body of Christ begins to live out love and respect towards each other we in a small way are teaching the world how to love as Jesus loved us. This convicts people more so than all the finger pointing and shaming we often get into. Some people seem to need a harsh in the face way of understanding deep truths but most people seem to need the gentle and kind ways. I know by Jesus' example that there are times we need to be much bolder and abrasive like when He talked with the religious leaders or when He threw the money lenders out of the Temple. In general though Jesus was gracious to the sinners He met like the woman caught in adultery or the woman at the well. After this lesson I read my Bible and came across Moses asking God to show Himself to Moses, "Now therefore, if I have found favor in Your sight, please show me now Your ways that I may know You in order to find favor in Your sight." I found it interesting that Moses asked God to show him His ways. Moses desired to walk close to God, to know God and to grow in God. I find that as a believer we need to seek God and ask Him to show us His ways. I know I have asked God something very similar to this. As I study God's Word I find the Holy Spirit drawing me near to God, teaching me how to walk in God's ways. The Holy Spirit started my faith journey by pointing me to look at the cross and as I looked at my Savior dying for me I was able to look into His pain and suffering and see a deep love a gracious love. We begin to desire to "know" God on a deep and personal level and then we desire to go into our world and love others. For me that is all I had ever wanted to do is love and be loved. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet