“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18


It is God's will that we would be joyful always!!!!

Crazy I know that God would want us to be happy all the time...but it is true.

It doesn't depend on our circumstances.

If we pray continually and give thanks in the good and the bad we will be joyful always in Christ Jesus!

What a promise, what a will.

What's the will of God for your life? 

Joyful always in Christ Jesus.

+jk

Gen 28:¹¹ When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. ¹² He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.


I was back at CHANGE last night, it was such a blessing to be there.

I was only away for one week but it felt like a month.

It is such a beautiful thing when we gather together in a certain place.

Jacob found a certain place, found rest and discovered a dream.

The rest and the dreams that God has for us as body called the church are found as we gather together
in a certain place.

What could we do together if we united for one cause?

What is possible if we dropped our agenda's and picked up God's?

If we can believe anything is possible.

See you at the certain place.

+jk

If you can read this scripture and Matthew Henry's commentary please do!
I couldn't really say it better so this is a blog by others that help me.   

Habakkuk 2

 ¹ I will stand at my watch
       and station myself on the ramparts;
       I will look to see what he will say to me,
       and what answer I am to give to this complaint. ^[a]

The LORD's Answer

 ² Then the LORD replied:
       "Write down the revelation
       and make it plain on tablets
       so that a herald ^[b] may run with it.

 ³ For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
       it speaks of the end
       and will not prove false.
       Though it linger, wait for it;
       it ^[c] will certainly come and will not delay.

"When tossed and perplexed with doubts about the methods of Providence, we must watch against temptations to be impatient. When we have poured out complaints and requests before God, we must observe the answers God gives by his word, his Spirit, and providences; what the Lord will say to our case. God will not disappoint the believing expectations of those who wait to hear what he will say unto them. All are concerned in the truths of God's word. Though the promised favour be deferred long, it will come at last, and abundantly recompense us for waiting. The humble, broken-hearted, repenting sinner, alone seeks to obtain an interest in this salvation. He will rest his soul on the promise, and on Christ, in and through whom it is given. Thus he walks and works, as well as lives by faith, perseveres to the end, and is exalted to glory; while those who distrust or despise God's all-sufficiency will not walk uprightly with him. The just shall live by faith in these precious promises, while the performance of them is deferred. Only those made just by faith, shall live, shall be happy here and for ever." - Matthew Henry

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”- Philippians 4:6-7

There are a couple things I get anxious about, okay a lot, CHANGE, my family, church, money, people's opinion's of me, future, past, mistakes, more mistakes, leaders, friends, preaching and the list goes on...

SO to be asked to not be anxious about anything seems a little crazy to me.

I am really passionate about the peace of God, I need it so so so much.

Paul gives us the answer in verse 4, ⁴Rejoice in the Lord always I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
 
Because the Lord is near there really isn't anything we need to worry about.

It then comes down to us believing this and then our actions responding to this faith.

For example, you don't have enough money to pay your University fees and you could be kicked out of Uni...If you believe the Lord is near then respond in Faith by letting Him know your request with a heart of thanksgiving. 

Then whatever happens you know God is in control.  Peace comes as we know God is in control and He is near.

Don't be unwise by not showing up for work or perhaps getting a second job, you have to do what you have to do.  God is not a genie in a bottle.

Paul finishes this verse with he 'will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.'

The answer is, in Christ Jesus...

In Christ we find that peace, where he can put to rest the battle that occurs between our mind and our heart over the things of this world that worry us.

So today what are you worrying about???

Present it to God.

Go to faith because the Lord is near.

The answer is in Christ Jesus.

It all hangs on this

+jk

 Ecc 7:¹³ Take a good look at God's work.
   Who could simplify and reduce Creation's curves and angles
   To a plain straight line?

 ¹⁴ On a good day, enjoy yourself;
   On a bad day, examine your conscience.
   God arranges for both kinds of days
   So that we won't take anything for granted.

God to us is complicated.

But to Him everything is simple.

All of the commandments are fulfilled by one.

Love God and Love people as you love yourself.

Regardless of whether you have a good day or a bad day God is involved in all of it.

The bad could seem complicated but it really isn't, just examine yourself. It will become clear.

Really, I know exactly where I am at if I acknowledge it.

He is using it all to point us to Himself, our true destination, Christ.

The good could seem like a good time to take our eyes off God.

Yet let us enjoy life and simplify life by trusting God in the good and the bad.

Simplify life by not taking it for granted.

God arranged it, now lets make the most of what He has arranged.


+jk