November 23 2014 Thanksgiving for Ability

November 23 2014 Thanksgiving for Ability, *Matthew 25.14-30 Jacqueline Hines

A certain business man chose to invest in three servants. He gave each of them some talents – which is one Greek word for money - [ # 1 Matthew 25.15  to one he gave…..] 15to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. We can’t be 100% sure about the value of a talent. One source suggests that a talent was about 75 pounds. Today, 75 pounds of silver or gold could be worth as much as $250,000.  No doubt there are some here who have been responsible for thousands of dollars at home or at work – whether it be a business budget, a school loan, or a mortgage.

Money is no small matter. God is serious about money. God makes very large investments in us and expects us to produce profit as well as character.

Money is funny. A mother told me that she bought her teenaged son a very nice designer jacket. She could well afford it. She had a good job and her husband was a state trooper. Unbeknownst to her, her son would walk to school, and hide that jacket in the bushes because it was so uncool to wear a jacket – even if it was an expensive designer jacket.  When he returned home from school, he would retrieve the jacket from the bushes and go home. One day, this mother got a call from the school, saying we are sending your son home with a jacket because he comes to school every day wearing no jacket. It is cold and he needs a jacket. She was so embarrassed to be considered too broke to get her own son a car.

Another mother sent her daughter to school with a shirt that was too short because she had grown so fast and they were on a strict budget. So she put a sweater on her daughter and told her that soon they would go shopping and get new clothes, but in the meantime keep the sweater on so everyone won’t see that the shirt was a bit too small. Well, wouldn’t you know that when she got to school – it was a Catholic School – she was told she had to take off her sweater. The little girl immediately, told the teacher that her mother said she had to keep the sweater on because they were too poor to get new clothes. She was not at all embarrassed about this truth. The mother on the other hand…As humans we have strong opinions about each other and what we do with our money.

Each of the three servants in Jesus’ parable was given a talent – perhaps up to $250,000 according to their ability – that is their ability to care, to be filled with the Spirit of God, their ability to obey God, their ability to complete 100% of their servanthood training without dropping out, their ability to finish spiritual bootcamp without being booted out. Two of the servants had very impressive results. [  #2 Matthew 25. 16-17 - The first one received 5 talents,…] 16The one who had received the five talents – over a million dollars - went off at once and traded with them, and earned five more talents.  17In the same way, the one who had the two talents – about a half million dollars – earned two more talents.

[ # 3  money ]

These two were good financial managers. They were excellent stewards. The money they had was just like a mirror, reflecting the prosperity that was inside their hearts and minds, [# 4 cat in mirror ] reflecting who they were as good people . [ #5  Nelson Mandela in mirror] They were wise investors. This was especially noble because the money they were managing was not their own money.  All money belongs to God and we do well to act accordingly because God is watching like that eye on the dollar bill watches [ #6 eye on dollar bill ]. God knows and God cares.

The servant who received ONE talent about a quarter million dollars buried it in a hole in the back yard or put it under the mattress or stuffed it in a cookie jar. [ # 7 Matthew 25.24-25  Master I knew….] saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground.

His master WAS tough, no nonsense, rock solid, and not to be played with, and the servant WAS afraid. Perhaps he was afraid of losing his master’s money because making an investment is definitely risky.  Perhaps he was afraid of the fees that go with investing. Have you ever watched your money go down the drain with the stock market or something. It makes you sick. Investing can be a terrifying experience.

This servant – according to the Greek – was afraid. He was  fob-eh’ – o.

 [  #8  fob-eh'-o   ]   or   phobeo  - it looks like the word “phobia” from which our English word  is derived.  He was phobic, and if you have ever suffered from a phobia, you understand how distressing and debilitating it can be. You understand the feeling of terror. You understand the havoc, the headaches, and the disorientation that fear generates. Nevertheless, the parable focuses on the results of this servant’s  phobia. The phobia started to control his life. The phobia made him wicked and lazy. We know that God is not a God of fear. The servant’s fear was off the charts. It was so intense as to be the work of the enemy, the devil.

This parable is an invitation for God’s servants to eliminate fear’s control and tap into God’ spirit of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1.7.  [ #9   2 Timothy 1.7]

If you have issues around money, you are not alone. I felt guided to read a book called Money Matters. [ #10 Money Matters book cover]  I read a few pages and by the time the second edition came out, I still had not finished reading the book. When I finally did what I was led to do, I received power to make a giant spiritual step in a good direction.

A pastor told me recently that when he served a certain church he had no idea what his members gave. He said his finance secretary asked him every year if he wanted to see the list of members who were tithers, and whether church leaders, were demonstrating faithful financial commitment. The pastor said “no” every year because he thought did not want to know because he did not want to show any bias to anyone. When he left that church, he was handed a sealed envelope with all the member’s names and the amount they gave. A few months later, he did look at it, and he was shocked and surprised that the giving was not at all what he imagined. It is true, we cannot begin to figure or assume what God’s big picture in the church looks like. We just need to do OUR part.

In God’s graciousness, we all have an opportunity to invest the little or great amount of whatever God has given us.

The master said to the servant,  [ #11 Matthew 25.27  you knew…]  “You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.”

What he had been given was taken away. His penalty was to be thrown, not simply into darkness, but outer darkness. When the electricity goes out at night, we are uncomfortable with utter darkness in our homes. When the electricity goes out at night and we are outside in the pitch black darkness, we are not only uncomfortable, but we are exposed to predators and savage beasts.

We have all traveled on a rough road, and it was not always for lack of better models and purer options. Whether we make less than helpful choices intentionally or unintentionally, whether we find ourselves in inner darkness or outer darkness,  if we remember to cry out to God for help, help will come.

The prophets saw it with their own eyes. [ #12 People walking in darkness….] The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; … Isaiah 9.2 [ #13 Isaiah 9.2….]

At a Massachusetts’s revival meeting, a young man stood up to testify about whether God had saved him from his sins.  He said, "I am not quite sure, but I'm going to trust, and I'm going to obey."   The song leader that day was so blessed by his simple and honest testimony that he shared it with his friend John Sammis a Presbyterian minister born in Brooklyn died in California who wrote a song in 1877:

When we walk with the Lord

            in the light of his word,

            what a glory he sheds on our way!

            While we do his good will,

            he abides with us still,

            and with all who will trust and obey.

2.        Not a burden we bear,

            not a sorrow we share,

            but our toil he doth richly repay;

            not a grief or a loss,

            not a frown or a cross,

            but is blest if we trust and obey.

3.        But we never can prove

            the delights of his love

            until all on the altar we lay;

            for the favor he shows,

            for the joy he bestows,

            are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

            Trust and obey, for there's no other way

            to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 

 As we trust God’s Spirit to work in our hearts and in our Church, the good we produce will be 100%  appreciated and acceptable. When we give our all, all the world will see the greatness that God has put inside of us. [ #14 cat  in mirror] We have done it before. We can do it again. Amen.

November 9 2014 Thanksgiving for a Lift Matthew 23.1-12

November 9   Thanksgiving for a Lift, Psalter 830, *Matthew 23.1-12 Jacqueline Hines

One of the most precious gifts we as the church have to offer one another is to honor one another. Honor is like the sweet fragrance of a beautiful rose. If we spend enough time in an atmosphere where WE are honored, we learn to honor like God honors. We learn that every human being is worthy of our honor and respect at all times. Even when the prophets rebuked and chastised God’s people it was always filtered through respect and honor for God and God’s precious people.

If no one in the world honors us today, God honors and delights in us. Nevertheless, like the scribes and Pharisees there may be times when we long to be recognized and honored by others. We feel a need for attention and we seek it. There are preachers who always want to sit up front, who want to be the next Charles Stanley. There are teachers who are waiting for that Teacher of the Year ribbon. Sales persons compete for that gold star on their lapel, and we have seen actors who cannot stand it when the curtain closes.

Jesus knew the heart of the Pharisees, so in the 23^rd chapter of the gospel of Matthew, we read [ #1 Matthew 23.1,2] Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; [ #2 Moses’ seat  ]

When you walk into a school class room, you automatically know which seat is the teacher’s seat. When Jesus referred to Moses’ seat, the Pharisees who were very fine teachers, understood that Jesus was pointing to Moses’ authority and Moses’ teachings. Everyone understood that Moses was great enough to receive the Ten Commandments; that was great.   2‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; [ #3 another Moses’ seat ]

The Pharisees wanted to imitate Moses. They knew the rules, they knew the teachings, [ #4 Matthew 23.3] 3therefore, Jesus says, do whatever they teach you and follow it;  [ #5 Matthew 23.3…continued] BUT DO NOT DO AS THEY DO, for they do not practice what they teach. [ #6 Matthew 23.5 ] 5They do all their deeds to be seen by others;

[ # 7  Matthew 23.5 continued ]  for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.

You have probably seen pictures of Jewish men with fringes and phylacteries. They represent devotion to God.  Each fringe on the prayer shawl [ #8 prayer shawl with fringes ] has five knots representing the first five books of the bible. Phylacteries are boxes with portions of scriptures inside, worn on the bicep and the head. [#9 black box on head]. They were worn by ancient worshippers [# 10 boy and man wrapping phylacteries ] and they are still worn today. [ #11 modern scene of boy and man with phylacteries]. The leather binding, [  #12 leather around the hand ] wrapped around from hand, to heart, to head symbolize a very intentional and intimate connection to God and a reminder to keep the law. [ #13 young boy with phylacteries]

Jesus noted that the Pharisees and Scribes had a habit of wearing these very dramatic displays, not for devotion, but for attention, in order to be thought of highly. Instead all were instructed by Jesus to be lowly servants who positioned themselves to look up to others, for looking up to others also gives the best view of God’s will and blessings.

[#14 Matthew 23.11,12]  11The greatest among you will be your servant. 12All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. (or lifted up)

The humble will be lifted. Thank God for a lift. When Jesus lifts us up, we can lift up those who need it most. Last week I had the opportunity to meet the President of Lincoln University, Robert Jennings who serves over 2000  students [ #15 picture of Dr. Jennings ]. He talked about the future of the Church. He talked about the need to seek the lost, to lift up the lowly among us, to invite the unchurched to church, to have a relationship with those who are hungry for a gospel that works, hungry to hear our stories of faith, like the one Rocky shared this morning.  Dr. Jennings urges us to reach out to this new generation. He calls those born in the 80’s the NET generation for their constant exposure to technology and the internet. They are also called Millennials because they are the first generation of the new millennium.

The new generation has their own language, their own dress, their own lifestyle as every generation does. You do not have to think back too far to remember some of the confusing speech and controversial lifestyles you had that made some seasoned citizen wonder about your generation. Dr. Jennings talked about today’s generation’s prolific use of tattoos. He made mention of a bright young medical school student who was attracted to a wonderfully ambitious young man who had tattoos all up and down his arm. He had all expectations of going into the Navy, but was disappointed when told that he could not be promoted until he got rid of the tattoos, and removing the tattoos would take 7 long years. Every generation has their own way. This new generation is said to be more culturally diverse than any generation in world history. There is no doubt that in order to lift them up as worthy of our love and attention, we must continue to keep a healthy conversation going with them. If we keep our eyes on what the church has been in the past, we will be turning our backs on the future.

This is a new day, and we need a new church. It is an important time to be the church that God’s dreams are made of. That is why the Holy Spirit led us to not only develop a preschool but a Christian Preschool. One Philadelphia pastor talks about seeing rows and rows of taxi cabs lined up on the street where his church is. They are Muslims stopping to offer noonday prayers. The pastor mourns the fact that if he were to ask the Christians in his church to gather for noon day prayer, he doubts anyone would come. This is a new day, a day to be devoted to God as never before.

Are we doing whatever God asks us to do to be the church we are called to be? Only by surrendering to the work of the Holy Spirit can we possibly know what to do and what to say. The Spirit of God can teach us how to act in ways that unite us so we can live in harmony with those who think differently from us. The church is a business, Dr. Jennings  warns the church, and if we are going to be in business in the next generation, we need to invite people to Christ and the Church, connect with those who show up so they return, disciple those who stay, and send them back out into the world to be neighborhood missionaries. The face of evangelism is relational. We grow the church one healthy, positive, loving conversation at a time, one act of obedience at a time. Giving in to temptations to uphold isms and schisms and to build between us what Ephesians 2 calls “walls of hostility.” Unless we forgive others, our sins will not be forgiven. Others may not notice, but God sees all. Why start a war with God when we know we cannot win.

The Holy Spirit always gives us dreams and visions, insights and guidance, strength and wisdom so we can be a strong body of Christ. It is not easy. This world can be dark and scary. There may be battlefields in every corner. The only way to survive as a good soldier of the Lord is to follow God’s commands, to humble ourselves and pray, to bind ourselves to God’s word, [#  16 boxes with leather]mind body, heart and soul [ #17 young man wearing phylacteries and fringes]

On this Veteran’s Sunday, we remind ourselves what every Christian soldier understands, [#18 soldier] the battle belongs to God. We fight with weapons of divine power that demolish strongholds that separate us from God’s diverse people [#19 demolishing strongholds]

We need divine power to heal, help, and save those who are spiritually drowning. We need divine power to drive out demons, petty attitudes, sneaky one-way conversations known as gossip, and nasty ways our human egos have deceived us into believing will make others think more highly of us. Instead, we are called to humble ourselves, to give somebody a lift, to look up to others in order to get a good view of God’s holy will and abundant blessings. Then when we see somebody who needs a lift, we can speak with confidence of a God who has given us a lift and who can lift them up, too. [ #20 God lifting another up] Amen.

November 16 2014 Thanksgiving for Light Matthew 25.1-13

November 16 2014 Thanksgiving for Light, Matthew 25.1-13 Jacqueline Hines

Have you ever been ready, really ready -  ready for a meeting or a vacation, ready for winter? What did it take to be ready? What about the future? Do you need to get ready for a rainy day and save some money? Winter’s coming. Do you need to winterize your car or check the amount of oil in the furnace? Maybe you need to stock up on can goods or pull blankets out of storage. Meteorologists tell us there may be a lot snow this year. The Compassionate Care Team will be alerted, so each of us can be reminded to look out for our neighbors. We need to get ready.

What do you have to do to get ready for the next move of God?  We don’t know whether God’s work will entail a much desired blessing or an unwelcome trial. We don’t know, so we wisely prepare for the worst and pray for the best.

You have prepared yourself spiritually for great things. You have said your prayers of petition on behalf of others. You have given thanks and praise to God for all the blessings received. You have decided which committee you will serve on. Is there anything else to be done to get ready for whatever is coming your way?

The gospel of Matthew tells us ready or not the Lord is moving by the Spirit in a way that you cannot imagine. God is moving toward your life with a blessing. God is moving toward your life in order to be present in every trial you have. Ready or not, God is moving in your lives through the Holy Spirit. That movement creates an atmosphere and stirs up the best in us so we can keep the covenant and so that the Kingdom comes to us and to our children and our children’s children.

We know that God’s kingdom is in every holy place. God’s kingdom has a holy atmosphere, where good and right are the order of the day, where justice and mercy are plentiful, where unity and harmony prevail as the will of God is being fulfilled. That is why we pray [ #1 Thy kingdom come…] “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.”

The Apostle Paul, speaking in the Spirit, taught the Church of Rome [ #2 kingdom of God is righteousness, peace…] that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

And, Jesus tells us disciples that [ #3 The kingdom of God is… within you.] “The kingdom of God is within you.”

In Matthew’s gospel today, Jesus tells us what we need to get ready for God’s moving in our lives and building the kingdom. [  #4  Matthew 25“Then the kingdom of heaven…]. 25“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this.” The metaphor begins:

[ #5 Ten Bridesmaids….]  Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

These bridesmaids were ladies-in-waiting. They were there to serve and wait on the bride. Even though the story never mentions the bride – the bride throughout the bible is a symbol of the church.  So it begs the question, “Where is the Church?” Of course, the church is surrounded by bridesmaids. When you see God’s servants, you know the bride is close by.

Part of a first-century Palestinian marriage celebration included the bridegroom going to the home of his new wife, making the dowry arrangements and taking her to her new home. The bridesmaids were waiting for the bridegroom to appear. That was their cue to help the bride get ready and to get their lamps shining so that they could light the path and celebrate the new covenant.

Those listening to Jesus that day had to wonder if they were ready for the next move of God. Since the bible often uses female voices to represent submission to God, males who see themselves in covenant with God will also ask the question, “Am I ready. Am I ready to celebrate and am I willing to participate with those who have made a covenant with God, who love the Church for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part?”

As they waited [ #6 bridegroom delayed…]  5…the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.     [ # 7 but at midnight…..]    6But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

The bride’s groom is the first to be up front and center in the wedding.  A Russian rabbi preached that the bridegroom was a symbol of a man who built a home – a home constructed with quality elements using gold and silver and copper – a home where there was a sanctuary for worshipping our God. [ # 8 rabbi…]  

When the bridegroom came for the bride, she knew she would be going to something solid that had been prepared especially for her. [ # 9 Exodus 25.8….]

The bridesmaids who were servants were waiting, preparing to light the way for the bride who is the Church to meet the love of her life. As Christians, we carry a light so we can see and celebrate, so others can see and celebrate.

After we turned the clocks back a few weeks ago, we noticed that it gets dark early. The darkness dramatically reminds us that light is so important and so appreciated.

The wise bridesmaids had enough oil to keep their lamps lit for as long as it took. They were prepared, and it is a good thing because the bridegroom was delayed. Perhaps he was helping the poor. He could have been at the bank handling unexpected financial blessings. Whatever the reason, he was delayed, and the ladies in waiting fell asleep – sleep is a biblical metaphor for prayerlessness.

Five of them did not have enough oil to bring light. Oil is the biblical metaphor for the Spirit of God. It flows, shimmers, shines, it is comforting, functional, and often fragrant. When they ran out of oil, they had no light.

Jesus knew that it would be impossible to celebrate this wedding, or any covenant in the dark. The bridesmaids who were ready were prayed up, organized, and diligent.

When we are prayed up we can maneuver in the dark. We can see what others cannot see. We can see what can only be seen from a high place, a holy place. 

[ # 10 Artistic face - sketch]* Artist Jorge Rodriquez Gerada took 7 years to create this 11- acre image for the Belfast Festival in Ireland. He used Topcon GPS technology and 30,000 manually placed wooden stakes in the ground, and with volunteers for four weeks moved nearly 8 million pounds of natural materials including soil, sand, and rock, producing this image of an anonymous Belfast girl. It can only be seen from the highest points in Belfast or from an airplane. Some things can only be seen from a high plane. [ #11 artistic face - real view]

A handsome young man in the armed services had a group of friends who encouraged him to date a beautiful woman. There was only one problem. He was not attracted to her enough to date her, but he did anyway.  With time, he saw the error of his ways. He saw the light and found his way to speaking the truth in love, avoiding breaking a young girl’s heart.

It is not easy to see the truth that sets us free. It is not easy to get a clear picture of what God wants us to see. We need to be right and we need the light.

A few years ago there was a report about two teachers in the Poconos. One teacher was vibrant, spectacular, and popular. The other was very traditional but just as effective. The popular one started getting threatening letters and other bizarre incidents occurred. The assumption of investigators was that the traditional teacher was crazy with jealousy and did hateful things. The case was even more confusing when they both passed a lie detector test. In the end, through the eyes of the law, they both were allowed to remain in the school system.

We need always be ready – always prayed up, always listening for God’s next move, so we can at least see where God is leading us in the midst of darkness and confusion.

When the foolish bridesmaids ran out of oil, they asked the wise ones to share. Those who had prepared answered with an emphatic  “no.” There was no way the bridesmaids could give up their oil. Some things are definitely NOT to be shared. They are to be guarded, protected, and watched over carefully.

The founder of Methodism, John Wesley [# 12 John Wesley in a crowd] was a man who spent hours in prayer. He did not compromise that time. He did not share it with other tasks nor did he cut it up, divide it, and give it away to more pressing needs of the day.  He is quoted as saying the busier he was, the more time he spent in prayer. He knew what was needed and he prepared with no excuses.

Verse 10 tells us that while the bridesmaids were out buying oil, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’  - in other words – keeping enough oil in our lamps - praying, praising, serving, celebrating  – opening our hearts to enough of God’s Spirit that we shine, is the way to get close enough to God to enjoy and to have doors open to us.

13Keep awake therefore, Jesus tells us. Keep that oil lamp [ #13 burning light] burning bright- for you know neither the day nor the hour that the bridegroom will return. We don’t know how God will move next, but we do want to be ready, because ready or not something great is coming our way! Amen.

 

  http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/10/wish-jorge-rodriguez-gerada-belfast/

Thanksgiving For Happy People - All Saint's Day November 2 2014

All Saint’s Day, November 2 2014 Thanksgiving for Happy People, Psalter 769, *Matthew 5.1-12 Jacqueline Hines

On this All Saints’ Day, we remember and rejoice in loved ones with whom we have shared our very lives. [#1Hands joining in cross] We have lived and served side by side and elbow to elbow with these most precious people.  [#2 Team to Target] Today, Jesus tells all of us that we are blessed, that we are happy when we are poor in spirit. We are happy when we know we are poor compared to God’s riches, when we know our dire need and God’s abundant ability to provide for us.  Blessed, meaning “happy” are the poor in spirit. [#3 Jumping for Joy]

Do you know how poor you are today? Do you know how badly you need what you can only receive from God’s hands? Do you need wisdom for some important decision ahead? Are you a bit barren when it comes to one of the fruit of the Spirit? Do you need a little more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness (generosity), faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control? Do you need to receive or to share? What exactly do you desperately need this morning? [ #4 on knees ] Whatever it is, God has it and only God can give it to you, so go to God. [#5 God’s hands]

Today we are reminded that many of God’s blessings come to us through people. Many people shower[ #6 showers on man] us with God’s blessings and the flow goes on and on and never seems to stop. On the other hand, some people bless us by giving us plenty of hard times, but those hard times teach us valuable lessons that strengthen us. [#7 Lion] Hard times are the time to fervently seek more of God’s love. ‘For the less we love, the more we judge.’ (Steve Arterburn)

It is true, in our lives we have blessing upon blessing upon blessing. No matter what kind of life we have, when the sun rises in the morning, we are blessed. It is also true that we do not have total control over all our blessings. Job’s words rarely comfort us, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

When our blessings come, we rejoice. [#8 rejoicing ] When our blessings are taken away, we mourn, and well we should. [#9 angel mourning] For as one poet says, when someone we love leaves us, it seems as if the music stops. The music stops just when it was getting sweet, just when we were learning the tune, the music stops.

When the saints die, they take a part of us with them. Every pore of our being screams that something is not quite right. It is just as C. S. Lewis said after his wife died too soon of cancer, "Joy's absence is like the sky, spread over everything. There is spread over everything a vague sense of wrongness, of something amiss." Our own tears and bated breath bear witness to the fact that things are all of kilter and will never, ever be the same.

God knows, we need to mourn for four reasons as Pastor Bill Kincaid teaches. We need to mourn because mourning lets loving, faithful people into our heart to share our pain. Afterall, the wise understand that a burden shared becomes a half of a burden.  Secondly, mourning  brings instant healing by creating a circle of loving space. It is a space to walk safely through our grief rather than walk recklessly around the edges. Thirdly, mourning helps us to release our anger, to get our strong emotions off our chest, to tell God just how mad we are about our loss. Finally, mourning gives us a chance to remember, reflect, celebrate, and give thanks. We are then comforted, not by having the memory erased, but by having our pain soothed to the point that we can remember all the ways we loved so deeply, which is why we hurt so deeply.

So what Jesus says is true, “Blessed or happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.“  [#10  Jesus hug man] Through mourning, our comfort becomes just as strong as our love has been. [#11 Jesus hug woman]

In good times and tough times, we have a source of happiness that comes from Heaven. It is a blessing that we may not always appreciate. In spite of it all, blessed are the poor in spirit. They have God’s abundance to make them happy. Blessed are the meek, the humble, the teachable because the have a world of blessings at their fingertips when they are willing to give their all up for the kingdom. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who are merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, or persecuted. They can be happy in spite of the pain.

In our losses we are promised comfort. “Comfort is not the erasing of a memory, but having our pain soothed to the point that we can remember. Comfort is not a drying of the tears, but a peace that allows us to remember and give thanks even while we cry.” ( Bill Kincaid).

In the past several weeks, besides mourning the loss of loved ones, we are mourning the invasion of Ebola, beheadings, terrorism, children killing children, not to mention the day to day disappointments. Still, we are promised that in a certain corner of our heart we will find a peace [#12 waterfall ] that goes beyond any explanation and puts a smile in our heart. That’s what makes us happy people. The whole world can give thanks for God fills it with happy people. Bobby McFerrin put it this way:

Here's a little song I wrote

You might want to sing it note for note

Don't worry be happy   [#13 Don’t worry, bee happy]

In every life we have some trouble

When you worry you make it double

Don't worry, be happy

Ain't got no place to lay your head

Somebody came and took your bed

Don't worry, be happy

The land lord say your rent is late

He may have to litigate

Don't worry, be happy

AMEN!  [#14 to do – be happy]

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU (Bobby Mcferrin Don’t Worry)