We are told to “weep with those who weep” but we can’t forget Paul also told us to “rejoice with those who rejoice.” Part of our life is pain indeed, but also part of our life is joy! I’m so glad God included joy in our lives. Without joy life would be one long procession of the mundane. We would trudge through life without knowing what it means to smile.

When Jesus told the story of the three servants (Matthew 25:14-21) He told the faithful servants to “enter into the joy of your master.” One lesson I take away from this is that at the end of my journey joy awaits if I am faithful now. Can you imagine uninterrupted joy? This is a joy that we cannot adequately grasp now because we live in a world that is so full of pain and sorrow.

I’ll tell you from my heart that I love to laugh. Even a day without laughter is miserable for me. I can hardly take a day going by that doesn’t hold some sort of fun in it. Now, I’m not a narcissist, I’m just a guy who enjoys laughter and I believe we are to share that with others around us.

You know the old adage: “Nobody likes a killjoy.” Generally people don’t like hanging around people who are negative all the time. Being negative kills the spirit of fellowship and friendship.

I also realize that we don’t have these wonderful days filled with fun everyday. Sometimes we just have a bad day. That’s why I love the church so much; we are here to lift each other up and put a smile on an otherwise glum face. We get to share the joy we have with others and help them through a tough time.

God created us to enjoy life. He never meant for us to face every day with fear and dread. The greatest joy we will ever experience is the joy of the Lord. Today let’s practice that joy.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

WELCOME EMMA ROSE THOMAS!!! CONGRATULATIONS ZACH AND AMBER!!! What did I say last week, we come into this world kicking and screaming, and what do you know…here comes a baby proving the point. Now let me tell you, she is precious and cuddly and pink and small and quiet. Let me also dispel your fears, no she doesn’t look like Preacher Crocker. She has hair, doesn’t wear glasses, and at this point is not bow-legged.

We all love the birth of children (with the exception of the labor pains Amber). They represent a fresh start; they are a promise that life is good and filled with wonder; they are a reminder of an awesome Creator. The Bible tells us,

“Children are a heritage from the LORD,
The fruit of the womb a reward.” (Psalm 127:3)

This verse declares that immediately children are two things: a heritage and a reward. These are both positive pictures of kids. It presents to us that our children are valuable and desirable. They are not to be seen primarily as a burden but a joy. Children are a gift from God. I think in the truest sense for every believer there are no “unwanted” pregnancies. Every child is here by design.

After having said that let me say that the real work for parents like Amber and Zach now begins. But they cannot and should not go through this alone. They have parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles who I know are supportive. But I believe it takes more than that; I believe it takes an entire church to raise kids who love God with a passion beyond our wildest dreams.

This is a day we have been looking forward to at Calvary…a baby! So the work begins for us all. What we all need to do for this little one is begin praying for her today. As soon as you read this STOP and PRAY for Emma Rose. She has an entire lifetime ahead of her. It will be a life of joy, but also of pain. Pray that God would save her early in life; pray that she would always be obedient to her parents; pray that she will follow Jesus wherever He would lead her. Make it personal and specific. Pray for her parents to have wisdom, patience, firmness and love. And thank our heavenly Father for this wonderful gift!

Grace & Peace,
Scott

We entered this world kicking and screaming! Why? It is because of the loss of intimacy. We were securely and intimately connected with the one person we trusted and loved; we were in a safe place, away from harm. When birth came it forced us away from that intimacy and security. We lost the “presence”; now that we are out we quickly discover that tears will be a part of our life until the very end.

Birth parallels the Fall of humanity and the resulting expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Tears were shed by Adam and Eve. Why? Because of the loss of the Presence. With the realization of good and evil came the realization of separation from the intimacy and security of God. The result was lament, crying, sorrow, and searching. The first couple is the pattern for the rest of us. Sorrow over the loss of God’s Presence and the search for that Presence is what makes us restless. St. Augustine said “Our souls are restless until they rest in You.”

Our restlessness will continue until we fully realize the Presence of God. In some sense we can enjoy His Presence today. Through the radical rescue of salvation we come into a relationship with our Creator. In another sense we don’t fully know His Presence. We are in the overlapping of the ages; we are caught between this age and the age to come. While we wait for the full realization of His Presence we mourn, longing for that full Presence.

We are like babies fresh out of the womb and in an unfamiliar and hostile environment. This is why we shed tears of loneliness, loss, frustration and failure. This is a completely normal part of our human existence. It is also an experience we share with others, so we are in good company. Job, Jeremiah, David, Paul and even Jesus mourned. The wisest man in all of history wrote,

[There is] a time to weep. (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

The danger I see today is when we try to hush people who are mourning. We must not try to quench the sorrow people feel. Yes, we should be there for them to lean on. Do you remember what Paul wrote?

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15)

When will we stop crying? We will stop our mourning when we finally enter into the unveiled glory of His Presence. This is where God wants us to be and where He meant for us to be all along.

Grace & Peace,
Scott