We had a really good sermon by a visiting, retired pastor yesterday, that I wanted to pass on!
It was on the verse found in 1 Thess. 5:16 :
"Rejoice always" He made several really great points about this verse! 1. It's a command. It's not a suggestion that we should rejoice in everything, but a command to do so! 2. It's a possibility. God doesn't give us commands that isn't impossible to accomplish. 3. It's a fruit. Gal. 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" Ever thought why this verse is worded "the fruit of the Spirit is" and then lists 9 fruits and not "the fruits of the Spirit are"? Because each one is a 'slice' of the fruit or part of the 'bunch'. They are all connected and one! 4. It's a testimony. Our joy is what makes us different from the world. An example of Christ and a testimony to the world that no mater what happens in our lives that He is in control and we can praise Him in our trials! 5. It's a by-product. John 15:11 - "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you , and that your joy may be made full."
John 17:13 - "But now I come to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy made full in themselves." Another great point that he made is that until we quit negotiating with God for our blessings and how we want to live and serve Him, we will never have complete joy. Only when we surrender to His will and calling for OUR lives that we will experience His perfect/complete joy!
I just got back from a weekend Bible Study Retreat where we studied the parallels of Joseph & Christ! We had 3 great speakers, and it was an excellent weekend of learning more about my Lord, who He is and spending time alone with him away from all my daily activities!
I'm so glad that I went, as I've been floundering in my relationship with Christ, and allowing my activities to crowd Him out and push Him aside. So it was good to get away from it all and be surrounded by some great teachers, fellowship of other believers, and spend some quiet time alone with my Saviour unhindered by my daily activities (goats, email, Internet, business, etc...).
It had been nearly 3 years since I'd been away from my twice, daily milking schedule, and was ready for a mini vacation! ;-)
Here are just a few of the illustrations of Christ that we saw while studying the life of Joseph:
Joseph's coat of many colors was a sign of a Unique Son, of Distinction, of Nobility, and Declared the Glory of his Father.
Joseph's brothers hated him because of 'who he was' & 'what he said'.
Joseph knew the heart of his father, and continued searching for his brothers when they weren't in Shechem (a place of Sin, Shame & Sorrow for his family) until he found them.
He was a willing servant.
He was stripped of his coat and humiliated.
He was a man of integrity, with ultimate loyalty to God.
Though his brothers mistreated him, he chose to bless them.
Their only access to Pharaoh was through Joseph.
He called his brother to 'Come closer' when he told them who he was.
 Go check out this BIG Fundraiser/Raffle I just heard about to benefit baby Seth who is deaf, and in need of Cochlear Implants. Click on the icon above, to check it out! The proceeds will also be going toward the following charities! Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep and Rhyan's Hope.
"Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep is a national 501(c)(3) not for profit voluntary organization dedicated to providing parents and families, that are suffering an early infant loss, with the gift of portraiture and DVD recordings.
Funding from individuals and corporations has enabled NILMDTS to provide parents and families with heirlook memories of their baby. When birth and death do coincide, this is the only opportunity to substantiate the importance of this baby's life. We also strive to bring awareness and public education to the healing effects of bereavement photography."
"The mission of Rhyan's Hope is to glorify God while providing funds for cochlear implants. We believe that every child deserves the chance to hear regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, religion, or financial status. Our mission is to use our lives and story for the will and purpose of Jesus Christ. Rhyan's Hope is a 501(c)3 private, not-for-profit corporation.
I've had two does kid this week with a set of TRIPLETS each! 5 boys and a girl.
I just moved them out to the calf hutch this morning, as I have a third doe that needed the 'kidding pen' in the barn and there were too many kids in there anyways!
You can see more kid pics on my Dairy Blog.
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