IQ #233 Rejoice! Rejoice!

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ; Rejoice! Rejoice! God, our sovereign Lord, and Creator, is here to bring you joy and peace!

I am pumped up with excitement, and, despite my current outward appearance, feel Fantabulous!

As you may recall, I did a crash and burn on the gym floor this past Tuesday during a volleyball game. My untimely ‘faceplant’ earned a trip to the emergency room where I received 26 stitches around my right eye.

You might be wondering, “Why is Papa John in such an upbeat mood?” I will tell you. “I’ve got that joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart!...” You can sing the rest if you know it, if you don’t, learn it.

In one of the Facebook posts my wonderful wife, Connie, posted a message asking for prayers for my healing. She included a picture of me sitting on the exam table in the ER with a very bloody gauze dressing wrapped around my head and a smile on my face.

One of Connie’s friends made a comment by asking how I could be sitting there in the ER, in my condition with a smile on my face.

Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.

When I hit the floor 5 or 6 people were directly involved in taking care of my injury in preparation for my road trip to the ER. A close friend took me to the ER. I had called Connie earlier and she met us at the hospital. The number of ER staff that took part in my short stay was eight people by my count. At least 15 people were involved in my physical need.

 Philippians 2:3-4

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

With Connie’s request for healing prayers on my behalf, many of you, and many more honored that request. Dozens of people became involved in the healing process.

Because of everyone’s compassion and personal sacrifices I was never alone. But, I was smiling from the beginning. How did I know I would receive so much care? I have great faith and trust in God, and know he will provide what is needed. How could I not smile?

Each one of you go through or are going through times of pain, either physical or emotional, maybe both. If you try to go through any of it by yourself, you are missing out on God’s love and provisions for you through his chosen people.   

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

You may be asking, “Can I always be joyful in any situation?”

In the movie ‘Inside Out’ 11 year old Riley is an upbeat, happy girl, but when her life is suddenly changed her emotions go into turmoil with each emotion trying to control Riley’s reactions. Joy, the happy emotion does everything she can to keep the other emotions from taking over. With Riley’s life twirling out of control and her emotions in chaos, it isn’t until Joy sees into Riley’s past where Sadness got to be expressed and then witness how others came to Riley with compassion, that Joy realized that each emotion is there for a reason and should not be suppressed.

Romans 12:15

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

God wants us to have a wonderful and joyful life, but he knows we live in a sinful world that seeks to disconnect us from him, and lets us express those emotions needed for joyless situations.

Rest assured that God is in control and gives every believer in Jesus Christ the strength to overcome any obstacle and the promise of an everlasting joyful life.

Knowing God has never let us down and has kept Every promise how can we not be without a joyful spirit?

Philippians 4:4-5

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Papa John 7:3:15