From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "C & P Greene" <greenehouse72@juno.com>
Subject: Joyful Blessings
Date: Sunday, February 27, 2000 9:07 AM

We are secure in the Lord because our loving, trustworthy, reliable,
constant, gracious Savior and Lord is in control of all things.  And He does
all things well!.  So when He says,
"In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world."  John 16:33b, we His trusting children, are to be just
that, 'of good cheer'!

The Amplified Bible says, "...be of good cheer [take courage; be confident,
certain, undaunted]!"  Cheerfulness is a balm for all who take the word of
Jesus to heart.  Look at what Scripture has to say about a heart that is
joyful and one that is not.  I'll bring in other translations to help open
up some of the verses.

"A joyful heart makes a cheerful face..." Proverbs 15:13a
"A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance..."  KJV
But,
"when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken."  Proverbs 15:13b
"by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken."  KJV

"A joyful heart is good medicine.."   Proverbs 17: 22a
"A merry heart does good like medicine..."  KJV
"A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing..."  Amp.

A joyful, merry, happy heart works healing.  But what of one that is not
like this?
"But a broken spirit dries up the bones."  Proverbs 17:22b

Proverb 15:15 (Amplified) starts with the negative first and is a dower
outlook,

15a "All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious
thoughts and forebodings]..."
We can see here why Scripture tells us to , "be anxious for nothing"
(Philippians 4:6) and "rejoice always"  (1 Thessalonians 5:16)  the results
then is
15b "...he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of
circumstances]."

"Anxiety in a man's heart weights it down, but an encouraging word makes it
glad."  Proverbs 12:25

Anxiety is not for us for we have been given,
"...the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of
heaviness..." Isaiah 61:3

And, "Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will
sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved
(made to slip, fall, or fail).  Psalm 55:22 Amp.

And again, "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your
worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you
affectionately and cares about you watchfully."  1 Peter 5:7  Amp.

So with great joy we heartly hold on to the promise of Philippians 4:6-7,
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God,
which surpasses all comprehension shall guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus."

Hallelujah and Amen.