Day of Praise

Th, Nov 15 "Day of Praise"
[Jesus said,] "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33
When Jesus died for us on the cross, he took away something, namely the penalty for our sin that belonged to us.
But he also gave us something.
He gave us heart.
His heart.
"Take heart!" Jesus said in today's verse.
He gave us his heart because the troubles of this world eat at our heart, erode our heart, and cause us to lose heart. So Jesus died to pour out his heart, to give us his heart, so our hearts would be renewed.
Friends, God, through Christ, is offering to renew your heart, to make it whole again, so your joy can be restored.
And we all want joy, don't we?
I mean, what's the alternative? A weary, heartless, joyless existence.
My kids and I laugh together everyday. And I mean everyday. Just yesterday, my 13-year old son said that his friends like our family because we laugh together, we're fun, we have heart. My 17-year old daughter is constantly bringing her friends to our home from her school. We sit around and talk. We laugh. It is a heart-filled time. We smile. We read the Day of Praise together. We take heart...Jesus' heart...because he pours it into our family, our friendships, and our home by the power of his Holy Spirit.
My daughters, including my 19-year old at Auburn, both lead Christian fellowships at their church and in their school. They tell me about these things, like Calley did a few days ago from Auburn and Cassidy did last night about the growth of the prayer group she started 4 years ago at the Alabama School of Fine arts.
I tell you these things, not because our family is special, but because there is heart to be had.
Jesus' heart.
Where people are willing to believe that the troubles of this world are not all that there is in this world.
And where people are willing to believe that the troubles of this world are far from the greatest power in this world.
Jesus, the Son of God, has overcome the world!
That's why he says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33
Take heart, Dear Friends! Take Jesus' heart! He freely offers it to you!
Praise God!


Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson