Count it All Joy

 

Greetings from beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico! I pray that you all are having a blessed day in the Lord. If you are having a good week, remember to lift up those who are not. If you are having a bad week remember to sing praises to the Lord. I want to share with you some of my favorite scriptures and how I see them on good days and not so good days. So lets get into the Word.

Let's look at these scriptures in two different ways.  When we are in a good mood and everything seems to be flowing like milk and honey and we read a certain scripture, we feel a warm wonderful feeling and it is clear that God has just blessed our spirit and we just want to shout to the world how wonderful it is to be a Christian! But read that same scripture when the world seems to be crashing in on us and that scripture just doesn't feel the same.

Consider it Pure Joy

Consider is pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete,  not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 NIV)

On a good day this scripture is not hard to swallow. It brings a joy that you know God will bring us through rough times. On a good day this passage causes us to reflect on those days that have passed and we have no desire for them to return. We reflect on the lesson we were taught and give thanks to God for seeing us through. We can truly consider it pure joy when we see the finished product of what test we persevered through.

On a not so good day, this scripture is like a piercing sword. It's like a magnifying glass focused on whatever problem we are facing. It doesn't make our situation go away. On a not so good day, this Scripture causes us to look at our fears and face them. This passage during this time of gloom brings us to a leaning position on Christ. It raises our arms to our Lord like a child wanting to be picked up by their mom or dad. Either way, this scripture brings us to a place where God keeps us safe and secure in His love.

Submission!

Oh Yes, Here's a fun one for us!

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.  (1 Peter 3:1-6 NIV)

When our husbands are the sweethearts we desire them to be - all the time, this scripture is just so beautiful. And to be honest with you, I love this scripture when things are smooth in the Evans home. When my husband has come to church with us and especially when he expresses how he enjoyed the preaching. Woo hoo! Serving him dinner and making his favorite desert is no problem at all. I want to be beautiful for him inside and out.

 BUT...

Reading this scripture under different circumstances can be difficult. I say "can be" because it is not God's intention for this passage to bring us sadness. If we believe that, then we can see what God is showing us. This scripture passage brings us to the realization that God uses us to reach our lost husbands. God is showing us how to love in a Godly way. God is letting us know through His Word that He cares about what we are faced with when our husband aren't saved.

Be Wise

And lastly I will leave you with a scripture that speaks to my heart in the same way on either good or bad day: "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is" (Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV).

Ladies, know what the Lord's will is for you. Ask Him and believe me when I say, He will show you. He has a plan for you. He has a plan for your husband. Consider it pure joy my friends and may the joy of the Lord be your strength!