From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "C & P Greene" <greenehouse72@juno.com>
Subject: Joy and Gladness to All
Date: Sunday, August 06, 2000 6:59 AM

What a wonderous week the past week has been!  It was very hard on many
fronts and from the natural view it was not such a good week at all.  BUT we
do not look at things from the natural view.  We who are the Lord's must
view things from a heavenly vantage point.  How can we not?  We belong to
the Lord and it is the indwelling Holy Spirit who leads and guides as we
yield to Him.  The question then is, 'are we yielding to the Holy Spirit?'

We all know of a certainty that that is the Lord's plan for us, otherwise He
would not have written, along with other such Scriptures, Proverbs 3:5-6.  I
know that you all know the words by mind, BUT do you know the truth of
them by heart?

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart"
    Trust: commit to, lean on, be confident in the Lord.
    All your heart: your whole heart and soul (mind, will and emotions).
"And do not lean on your own understanding."
    Do not rely on your own insight, perceptions and understanding.

"In all your ways acknowledge Him,"
    Acknowledge: know, recognize, have mind of Him, give ear to Him.
"And He shall direct your paths."
    Direct/path: make straight and plain, clear the road.

As we have sought the Lord this past week in prayer, He has faithfully
directed and guided and we have seen the glory of Lord in answered prayer.
There are so many Scriptures that it is good to lay hold of and turn to when
you are in a hard spot.  These are reminders that our God is in control and
it
gets our focus where it should be, on the Lord and not on the circumstance.
As the song goes, "And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the
light of His glory and grace."

Let me share a few of the Scriptures that I remind myself of when the
circumstances are hard.
"Do not fear, for I am with you..."  Isaiah 43:5
"I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you..." Hebrews 13:5
"...In quietness and confidence is your strength..."  Isaiah 30:15
"And we know that God causes ALL things to work together for good to those
who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
Psalm 46:1
"Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we
may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.  Hebrews 4:15

Of course, with each circumstance, actually in all things, we thank the Lord
because he is the one who gives nothing but the best to His own.  Therefore,
we not only give thanks, but we rejoice.

"Rejoice in the Lord always...be anxious for nothing..."
Philippians 4:4 &6
"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks, for this
is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Hallelujah!  Our God is so good!  Praise His holy name now and forever!
Amen.