We celebrated Jesus' resurrection last Sunday. We praised God for having the last word and conquering sin and death. We serve a living, risen Lord! He is risen, indeed! But how do we hold onto that resurrection joy, in the midst of life's ups and downs? I posed the question to my team at rehearsal the other night. Here is a three-point summary, with alliteration to boot (any pastor would be so proud of me! ;):
- perspective - our keyboard player said that no matter how hard his day is, all of it is erased from his memory when he walks in the door to find his little girl calling "Daddy!"
- pursuit - we can't passively sit back and expect joy to find us. We need to seek out and remember what is good.
- praise - even when circumstances are not good, God is. If we focus on the Lord, no matter what is going on around us, joy will be part of the fruit.
I had to hold onto these truths last night, as my daughter is making her college choice today. She received a letter from one of the schools saying that it needed more information before it could tell her what her financial aid package would look like. This was distressing because this particular school is her top choice and we can't make an informed decision if we don't know what the financial bottom line is going to be. And college deposits and decisions must be made in the next 24 hours! We are frustrated, not joyful, at this juncture.
This is a temporary setback, I know. Many others face far more serious trials. But this is what we are dealing with right now. So, our family is working to keep our focus on God----praising the Lord, and asking for perspective and the perseverence to pursue Him, that His resurrection joy may continue to be a hallmark of our lives.
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