¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18New International Version (NIV)

 

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 NIV

And don’t forget the rewards from turning over things is praying.  The payback when we leave our anxieties with the Christ is tremendous.

 ^6-7Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6-7 The Message (MSG)

I think today may be a good day to reap some of those, don’t you?

Hey, hey, we’re the monkees
And people say we monkey around,
But we’re too busy singing
To put anybody down.

We’re just trying to be friendly
So come and…

Yeah, good ol’ Davy Jones passed on yesterday, but those lyrics he spun around still live.  And the little hidden message in that playful theme song is a pretty great thought to think about today.

Let’s be friendly and too busy to put anybody down!  That’s sage advice actually!

¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 New International Version (NIV)

First, you may or may not have read the ESPN story last week that referenced some of Tebow’s extra curricular activities around the games.  This I think it worth considering.  It’s seems that Tim Tebow will invite one family that has had some issue in their life ( injury, disability, etc) to the Broncos game. He provides travel to and accommodations at the game.  He gets them on to the field before the game, and gives them great low-level tickets.  He also spends time with them before the game and sometimes up to an hour afterward.

And then during his post game presser Sunday he referenced how much spending time with his guest for that week meant to him.

That’s pretty sincere, and a great example.

Your gifts may not be as extravagant as his gifts, but I think you will be able to be just as impactful.  I think it would be interesting to see from the recipient’s perspective which “gift” held the most meaning.  I am going to guess that the time he spends with them, and the genuine concern he shares with them is probably the best.

So today, lets take another lesson from the young man Tim Tebow, as we watch him live his faith.  I am betting that there are people around you today that you can lift up and impact as well.

 ^9-11God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it. 1 Thessalonians 5:11The Message (MSG)

So today, if you are enjoying peace – and of course I am now talking about on the inside – reach out to someone who is living in chaos and offer them encouragement.  Find someone who needs it, it really shouldn’t be that hard, and encourage them.

And if you are in some chaos yourself you still may want to find someone else to encourage.  It will probably help you as well.

¹¹Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 New International Version (NIV)

1. Warn those who are idle and disruptive
2. Encourage the disheartened
3. Help the weak
4. Be patient with everyone
5. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong
6. Strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else
7. Rejoice always
8. Pray continually
9. Give thanks in all circumstances
10. Do not quench the Spirit.
11. Test everything; hold on to what is good
12. reject every kind of evil.

 What is really interesting about this is that it comes from 1 Thessalonians.  Yeah, really. Anyway, maybe you already live this way, if not.. consider this a pretty good set of guidelines to consider and to reconsider as you look at your days.

In this day and age it seems we celebrate 7 years of marriage as a remarkable thing,  there sit my grandparents, married for 70 years as a beacon of the greatness and promises that a committed marriage can bring.

Its a really remarkable thing since they were married for almost twice as long as I have been married when I was born!

I often think about their lives – in the same house, on the same hill, in the same little town for all of those years.  My grandfather’s memory is fading now, but sometimes I wish I could ask him what drove him everyday and what purpose did he find as he headed down to take care of the books at the local glass factory.  I am not sure, but I wonder if he would point to the verse that I think of alot when I think of my grandparents

¹¹ and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, ¹² so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.  1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

They have lived a quiet life together, and but they gained great respect.  I hope you join me in celebrating their 70 years together, and that maybe you find some encouragement from their example as well!  And since I have you thinking, maybe consider for a moment, what your ambitions are?

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

You know it must be close to Christmas.

But really this is how our lives should be lived all year long.  We are free, because of the baby, because of his birth, and his resurrection.  What then can take away that joy?

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 (New International Version, ©2010)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4-5 (New International Version, ©2010)

So isn’t it good to know that as followers of the Christ, there is no due date.  Well, there will be a judgement day, and for those not follower the Christ, that will be quite a problem.  But for those who have put on the grace and mercy of Christ, your sins will have been paid in full, and on the due date, your balance due will be a big fat zero!

²³May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (New International Version)

So, doesn’t knowing that you owe nothing and that its been paid for you provide some relief from the anxiety of the day and create a desire to repay that through your actions?  Get out there and impact those around you today.

Its freeeeeeeeeeeee!

But slow down, its really not that bad, its National High Five Day!

(you really need to watch that video)

Yes National High Five Day (NH5D).  Let’s do that!  What an excellent way to move out of the doldrums that could happen on April 15 and move forward with power!

¹⁰He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. ¹¹Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 (New International Version)

Get out there today and encourage others.  Use each encounter with a person to build them up. Make the other person better.  Show the love you have been given.  Strive to end each interaction with a high five.  I would love to hear of the joy this brings to you and to the people you meet.

Its National High Five Day, Sucka!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (New International Version)

¹⁶Be joyful always; ¹⁷pray continually; ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.