Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jan 21, 2007 4:24:56 GMT -5
Be Strong In The Grace That Is In Christ Jesus
How may we enjoy this day? This enjoyment will never come
by trying to be happy, and yet there are conditions which,
if met, will produce real joy.
1. Be right with God, for gladness
[is sown] for the upright in heart (Psalm 97:11).
It is His joy that remains in us that makes our joy full.
2. Forget yourself and live for others, for
It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).
3. When you cannot rejoice in feelings,
circumstances or conditions,
rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4),
and count it all joy when ye fall into
divers temptations (James 1:2).
4. Finally, obey the Lord and be faithful
to your trust, and again and again
His blessed Spirit will whisper to your heart,
Well done, thou good and faithful servant,
. . . enter thou into the joy of thy lord (Matthew 25:21).
Not enjoyment and not sorrow
Is our destined end or way,
But to act that each tomorrow
Finds us farther than today.
Let us then be up and doing
With a heart for any fate,
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
From "A Psalm of Life"
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A. B. SIMPSON
www.sermonindex.net
How may we enjoy this day? This enjoyment will never come
by trying to be happy, and yet there are conditions which,
if met, will produce real joy.
1. Be right with God, for gladness
[is sown] for the upright in heart (Psalm 97:11).
It is His joy that remains in us that makes our joy full.
2. Forget yourself and live for others, for
It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).
3. When you cannot rejoice in feelings,
circumstances or conditions,
rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4),
and count it all joy when ye fall into
divers temptations (James 1:2).
4. Finally, obey the Lord and be faithful
to your trust, and again and again
His blessed Spirit will whisper to your heart,
Well done, thou good and faithful servant,
. . . enter thou into the joy of thy lord (Matthew 25:21).
Not enjoyment and not sorrow
Is our destined end or way,
But to act that each tomorrow
Finds us farther than today.
Let us then be up and doing
With a heart for any fate,
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
From "A Psalm of Life"
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A. B. SIMPSON
www.sermonindex.net