Brown's Daily Word 7-1-09

Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this new day. It has been raining almost every day. It is very much like Monsoon of India. Somebody has stated that the summer will skip the North East USA this year. Our youngest daughter Jessica was born very early in the morning on this day in 1984. She was born at Robert Packer Hospital, in Pennsylvania. Jessica has been a great source of Joy from the Lord to us. We praise the Lord for her life.
I love to read the letter of Paul to the Philippians, which is Paul’s ode to joy. He has used the term “joy” or “rejoice” several times before, but now he shouts out the essence of all that he has said, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (4:4). Some people equate joy with happiness, but it is much deeper than happiness and more enduring. Happiness depends on what is happening around you; joy is constant and sure. Joy is always possible, which is why Paul says we should rejoice “always.” To rejoice requires an action, not merely a feeling, and we choose how we are going to react to our situations.
When Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians, he was sitting in a Roman prison, his back sore and tender, his wrists chafing from the chains, perhaps a little bloody with a soldier connected to the other end of that chain. Despite his circumstances, he’s telling the Philippians to rejoice. He himself was rejoicing in his circumstances, as we have seen throughout this letter.
This sounds like a foreign concept. Our brains are not wired to think like this. How do you get to a place of joy like this?
About ten years ago CNN’s Larry King interviewed Billy Graham. For some time Graham already had several health issues including his struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. When Larry King asked him how he felt about having Parkinson’s Disease, Dr. Graham replied, “I feel great about it. It’s been a wonderful experience. I believe the Lord has many lessons to teach me through this disease.” Dr. Graham was rejoicing in the Lord.
One would wonder how a person could be able to do this. The answer is twofold. First, it is supernatural. It must be from God. Second, in cooperation with the Spirit of God, Dr. Graham must have made it a habit to daily rejoice in the Lord. Even a disease like that, which would bring anyone’s spirits down, was a cause for Billy Graham to praise God. The Lord gives the gift of joy but it is up to us to put it into practice. This response goes completely against our natural mind-set. When we face tragedy we are more likely to blame God and ask “why?”. Joy does the opposite. When we practice rejoicing in all circumstances, our minds are better prepared for any circumstance. If we can learn to rejoice even when things go wrong a change of attitude is going to be evident.
Paul followed the challenge to rejoice with a natural result of rejoicing, “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near” (4:5). This word is translated variously as “forbearance,” “mildness,” “moderation,” “large-heartedness,” and “inner calmness.” Charles Swindoll described it this way, “In our rough-and-rugged individualism, we think of gentleness as weakness, being soft, and virtually spineless. Not so! ... Gentleness includes such enviable qualities as having strength under control, being calm and peaceful when surrounded by a heated atmosphere, emitting a soothing effect on those who may be angry or otherwise beside themselves, and possessing tact and gracious courtesy that causes others to retain their self-esteem and dignity.... Instead of losing, the gentle gain. Instead of being ripped off and taken advantage of, they come out ahead!”
Paul could have been frustrated with the Corinthians, who thought they had it all as Christians but the Apostle could see glaring immorality in their midst. He could have been really angry with them. Instead he wrote, “By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you…” (2 Cor 10:1). He took a sensitive, parental approach to their stubbornness.
Paul always remembered that “the Lord is near.” There are two meanings we could take from this phrase; both give us reason to rejoice and remain calm. One is that Jesus is literally near. “The LORD is near to all who call on him” (Ps 145:18). The second is that Jesus is coming back soon. “…be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!” (Js 5:8-9).
Either way we have reason to be calm. If we are facing trouble or frustration we can be calm because the Lord is near. Our attitude is based on the faith that God is in control.
The attitudes of joy and gentleness will help lay a foundation for growing a beautiful mind and allaying our fears and anxiety. Paul wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God” (4:6). The KJV says it even better, “Be anxious for nothing.” The word “anxious” means “to be divided” or “to de drawn in different directions.” If that sounds bad consider that the word “anxiety” comes from an old English word that means “to strangle.” It was used to refer to the practices of wolves killing sheep by biting them around the neck, strangling their prey to death. That’s anxiety.
R. H. Mounce once said, “Worry is practical atheism and an affront to God.” We can worry or we can worship. It’s impossible to do both. Let us worship. Also,
rather than worry, Paul calls us to prayer. To pray is to worship God, to focus on his character and adore his attributes and his names. It continues to amaze me that we pray as a last resort when the peace that comes from prayer is so profound.
When we pray we also put before God those problems and needs, no matter how small, and we can get real specific about the troubles we are facing. Always pray with thanksgiving. This is the practice of a beautiful mind.
The result is this very real truth, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (4:7). When God’s peace floods our souls it protects our hearts from wrong feelings and thoughts. The word “guard” means “to garrison” and it is a picture of soldiers protecting a camp or castle. The enemy is unable to get in when God’s peace protects us.
A beautiful mind is a mind that has learned to cast our worries onto Jesus our Lord,and receive his peace. This is a mind that views life differently than the pattern of this world.
In Christ,
Brown


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA4narr2wyEGive
Him A Strong Warning
On a street, where the speed is limited to 30 mph the police stop a driver.

"Not only have you been driving too fast, you've been passing cars where it is not allowed. Your lights don't work, your tires all completely worn out. This is surely going to cost you a lot. What's your name?"

"Schtrathewisizeski Vocgefastilongchinic."

"Well, I'll let you go this time but don't do it again."