From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "C & P Greene" <greenehouse72@juno.com>
Subject: Blessings and Joy to All
Date: Sunday, March 19, 2000 8:42 AM

Zephaniah 3:17 is a wonderfully reassuring Scripture for each child of God
to
meditate on, lay hold of and ask to God to make it real.  It is one that
can be turned to immediately in the midst of a hard situation.  The verse
(King James Version)  has been set to music and I would suggest that you
learn to sing it for it will fill your heart with gladness and cause you to
focus on God's love instead of  circumstances.

The New American Standard Version reads,
"The Lord Your God is in your midst,
 A victorious warrior (a warrior who saves).
 He will exult over you with joy,
 He will be quiet in His love, (Revised Standard says 'renew you in His
love')
 He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy"
(The margin explanations are in parentheses)

Who is this who exults over you with joy, who rejoices and shouts with joy?
It is Yahweh!  The Almighty God!  Not from afar, but in your midst!
Imagine!

This must cause the child of God to reverance Him above all things, to trust
completely, to seek to do His will, to cleave to Him in joyous fellowship
placing all of life's earthly circumstances in His hands and therefore being
"...Anxious for nothing..." Philippians 4:6

This then is a child at rest in his soul.  The rest of God that He bids us
to enter into.  For here is where fellowhip with God takes place -- where
all is peace and joy -- "...Hidden with Christ in God"  Colossians 3:3

"For [as far as this world is concerened] you have died, and your [new,
real] life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, Who is our life,
appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory."
Colossions 3:3-4  Amplified Bible

We are saved, a new creation --sanctified, separated from this world -- a
people for God's own possession.  He is in our midst, rejoicing in His love
over His own.

Therefore,
"...Let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire
continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all
questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as
[members of Christ's] one  body you were also called [to live].  And be
thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always.]  Colossions 3:15
Amplified

Yes, to Almighty God; Father, Son and Spirit, with thanksgiving, we give
honor, praise and glory; now and forever.  Amen