| Happy Pride Y’all! 🌈 In John 16:22, Jesus promises “…and no one will take away your joy.” It is that time of year again where we put on our bright colors, fly our rainbow flags, and revel in the certainty that we are beautifully and wonderfully made by God. The world can seem a difficult and uncertain place, and yet the beauty of God’s creation is all around us, in all its rainbow of colors to keep us centered in God’s joy. Honestly sometimes I find it hard to not let the world take away my joy. I have found hope in the song “Joy” by Samuel Nwachukwu, under the label “CalledOut Music” The lyrics read as follows: My Light and salvation it’s You, yeah I’ve got a firm foundation in You, Lord You hold me daily, daily The hope for my soul I’m ever so safe here with You, yeah I got Grace everywhere I be With blessings falling on me There’s nothing too hard for the God that I serve Tell me why should I be afraid? No matter what comes my way I’ll overcome with a smile on my face I got that Joy like a river flowing down to my soul Oh yeah, ooh, yeah I feel like dancing, yeah I feel it in my bones Oh yeah, ooh, yeah I sing, I sing oh It feels like a dream ‘Cause with You on my team I’m winning (I’m winning) yeah, yeah, yeah Nothing’s gonna hold me back (oh no no) Nothing’s gonna stop my praise (oh no no) Nothing’s gonna keep me silent I’ll say it from the rooftops I got Grace everywhere I be… A beloved friend, full of wisdom, once told me that they create time and space on Sunday to make sure that no one steals their joy before Sunday service. How do we make sure that no one steals our joy from day to day? Galatians 5:22-25 reads, “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against these sorts of things, there is no law! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their ego, with its passions and desires. So since we live by the Spirit, let us follow her lead.” Paul gives us powerful words to help center our souls and remind us how to “find our joy”. Showing others gentleness, grace, kindness, having patient endurance and self-control, are all things I struggle with at times, we ALL struggle with. And yet, when we can find that space, to treat others with the grace and love we seek from them, THAT is when we find our joy. It is a matter of perspective. When I stop making it “about me” and make it “about them”, I am freed to find my joy. What a beautiful way Spirit gives us to release ourselves to feel God’s joy…. by truly loving others. Proverbs 17:22 reminds us that “Glad hearts are good medicine, but depressed spirits dry up the bones “. The song referenced above sings “I got that Joy like a river flowing down to my soul, Oh yeah, ooh, yeah”. Did you see it…. feel it …. this past Sunday? Our Beautiful Pride decorations, uplifting worship, the fun T-shirt tie-dye BBQ, shining faces, and inner beauty in all those present? What joy! What a great kick-off to our Pride month! Paul again encourages believers in Philippians 4:4 to “Rejoice in the Savior always! I say it again: Rejoice!”. Come “find your JOY” with your Resurrection family at Sunday service or one of our Pride events this month, and show your JOY, your Love for others, and shine as one who is beloved of God! I hope you will also take the time to center yourself with the Holy Spirit, through prayer, music, reading scripture, devotionals, fellowshipping with others, or spending time outside in nature. Create space for the Holy Spirit to heal those places that make it hard to find and KEEP your joy. My prayer for you is ….. “May the God of hope fill you with such peace and joy in your faith, that you may be filled with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”. [Romans 15:13] Blessings, |
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| Dr. Jackie Marshall Vice Moderator RMCC Board of Directors |