Unexpectedly Better

Weddings are one of the joyous occasions we have to celebrate someone else. One of my favorite weddings, of course, was my son’s. I love his wife; I did then and I do even more now. My husband performed the ceremony outside in July in Baton Rouge – so you can imagine the heat! But, that didn’t matter to me – I was so tremendously happy. The reception was indoors, though, with plenty of air conditioning, food, drink, and dancing. It was in an old plantation house that rents out for weddings and such.

The first dance with my son, that I wasn’t warned about, was to the song “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder. He picked that, which shows his love and respect for me, not only because of the lyrics but because he knows I’m a big Stevie Wonder fan.

I am reminded of the wedding of Cana, where Jesus turned the water into wine at the request of Mary. Many say this was not really wine, but some sort of grape juice. I beg to differ.

From John chapter 2:

⁹ When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

¹⁰ And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

¹¹ This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

There is a difference in drinking wine and being drunk:  “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit..” Ephesians 5:18.

Woodrow Kroll puts it this way: “Jesus…transformed a wedding …. Jesus will make the joyous times unexpectedly better. “

When You Do Not Yet See the Way

Andrew Murray wrote a book titled Abiding in Christ, originally published in 1895 but still relevant today. The following posts in this series are a combination of his thoughts and mine.

Cultivate the habit of rejoicing in the assurance that the God of divine wisdom is guiding you, even where you do not yet see the way.

This really hits home, because right now I do not see the way at all. My heart knows God is guiding my steps but so often my head can’t get wrapped around it. In times like these, the best advice is to pray and read the Word.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:4-7

I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, for You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, – Psalm 31:7

Thoughts on the Words of C.S. Lewis – Rejoice

photo credit – kongsky

C.S. Lewis was a novelist, poet, academic, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian, and Christian apologist. He is probably best known as the author of The Chronicles of Narnia, but he wrote numerous other works, including “The Problem of Pain” from where the quotes in this series were taken.

“I think we all sin by needlessly disobeying the apostolic injunction to ‘rejoice’ as much as by anything else.”

Why rejoice?

We are told to rejoice in our work that the Lord has blessed us with.

And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you have put your hand, you and your households, in which the Lord your God has blessed you. – Deuteronomy 12:7

Rejoice in those God sends to care for us.

 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Philippians 4:10

We are to rejoice in the salvation he has given us in Christ.

 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. – Matthew 2:10

We are to rejoice in His Word.

I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure. – Psalm 119:162

We rejoice in HIM.

The humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice In the Holy One of Israel. – Isaiah 29:19

Rejoice with others.

When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her – Luke1:58

How can we rejoice?

Praise God: And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long. –Praise 35:28

Sing: I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. – Psalm 9:2

Tell others: That I may tell of all Your praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation. – Psalm 9:14

When do we rejoice?

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. – Philippians 4:4