Full Of Joy

Posted on 15/01/2020 by Mirjam Fels

Are you content with life? Does joy come easy and naturally to you? How about when things do not go according to plan? What if hardship strikes? When we are facing trials, it’s hard, nearly impossible, to remain full of joy, isn’t it?

1 Peter 1

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Verse eight in the KJV reads as follows:

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 

(emphasis mine)

It reminds me of the refrain of a hymn written by Barney Elliott Warren. You can find the lyrics at: I have found His grace is all complete (Joy Unspeakable)

When things are great, going according to our wishful thinking, we feel joy and sometimes like singing, too. It’s a lot harder while facing trials. Should we be happy for the hardship? No, of course, not. We certainly can have Joy, though, while going through hardships!

Joy unspeakable. It’s not that pleasant kind of feeling of happiness. If it depends on earthly things and circumstances it is not a true and unshakeable joy. The Joy that will not leave us in the midst of life’s storms is found in the Fountain Himself. Our faith in the risen Christ is the true joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Whenever I reach the end of my rope and desperate for answers; when I have absolutely no energy left to go on in life; if my patience fails and I feel I cannot endure this situation another day… Then I need more than a fast and easy solution to the problem. No time for a quick fix, because it won’t be long until the same, a similar, or even a situation that is worse is coming into my life. 

“How do I find that Joy?” you ask. Believe that the LORD, He is God. Seek Him with all our heart, mind, and soul. More on finding joy in a future post. 

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Guard Your Home

Posted on 13/01/2020 by Mirjam Fels

God’s Word calls older women to admonish the young women to be homemakers. What does the Bible mean by that? Let’s read Titus 2:3-5 (NKJV)

the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—

that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Oikouros is the Greek word here that has been translated as homemakers (NKJV). The KJV translates it as keepers at home. If we look up the word in Strong’s Concordance (G3626) we will find out that it’s only used once (in Titus 2:5). Strong defines it as: a stayer at home. Let’s explore the meaning of Oikourus a little further. The word consists of: 

oykos (G3624 in Strong’s) is translated as home or house/-hold (and temple in some cases)

and

ouros which means a guard, be “ware.” (beware, be on your guard)

There is no place like home! Our family should feel safe and secure there. Ouros is so important! The devil likes to see us “off guard” and wandering around while we should guard our homes. Matthew Henry puts it this way in his commentary:

[The women’s] business is to guide the house, and they should give no occasion to the enemy to speak reproachfully.

I understand that in today’s world the word homemaker has lost its true meaning. Why should a young wife choose to stay at home and make it her business to guide and guard her house while her friends go off to college to study other things? We will explore that further in future posts. Today I would like you to take away three words: Guard your home and think about why this is/could be so important for your family.

Read more about oikouros (at Studylight.org)

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Today — Procrastination and Time

Posted on 08/01/2020 by Mirjam Fels

Have you made a list of your new year’s resolutions for 2020? We are eight days into the new year, and it’s time for a reality check! Can you keep up with the things you planned to do this year? So far only a few days have passed; however, as the proverb goes: Procrastination is the thief of time. 

Was du heute kannst besorgen, das verschiebe nicht auf morgen (Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today). I’ve heard these words over and over again, at home, in school, and later on at work. My dad used to express it a little different: Mach’s gleich, dann ist es weg (Do it right away and it will be dealt with). 

I try my very best not to delay my early devotions. It’s because I know that I usually “forget” about them as the hours of the day pass by. Did you read God’s Word today? Or did you postpone it to a later time? Don’t delay, precious one. Make it a daily habit to meet with the LORD as soon as possible. Even if it’s only for a quick prayer, the reading of a Psalm (or another short passage), and the singing or humming of a hymn. 

It’s so important, dear sister, that we are seeking Him, for it is only in His Strength that we can face the days. If we are going through hardships there is none like the LORD Jesus to guide and protect us. 

And, if you have not yet met Him, please:

Seek the LORD while He may be found. Call on Him while He is near. (Isaiah 55:6 NKJV)

Today! Don’t procrastinate any further. The proverb which says There is no time like the present is so true. Beloved, God’s Word urges you that Today, if you will hear His voice do not harden your heart. Have you heard His voice? He is calling you. Believe in Him and seek Him! Seek Him with all your heart and you will find Him!  

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