CommunionFire Thought "The Joy of the Lord" Endures Forever

What is The Joy of the Lord?

Does our spirit rejoice in God our Savior?

Just Baptized - True Joy Sometimes Has Tears

Sometimes we see more with our eyes closed!

Following Jesus just like his older brother and sister... "Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation." Therefore you will joyously draw water From the well springs of salvation. And in that day you will say, "Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted." Isaiah 12:2-4

Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction. Yesterday when I reported on what my encounter was in CommunionFire I said that I saw the Olive branch and the two turtle doves and that the message was "Peace". That is true. But there is more to the story. 

What I first encountered bothered me. I saw these two images (exactly) as you see them to the top left. "Cool thumbs up, winking Jesus" in the bread and the Blue robed Mother Mary statue in the wine. Somehow these images bothered me somehow. I chalked it off to the flurry of disturbing news I had received over the past 24 hours both on a personal and on grander scales. Sometimes the enemy tries to 'distract' us when we approach the Table of the Lord. It wasn't the images so much as my attitude in the presence of the Lord. I was wrestling with something. But the Holy Spirit was at work in a way I did not understand right away.

I told Camille, "Something's not right." (as if 'I sensed a disturbance' of some kind.) Camille said, Close your eyes and look to the Lord again. I did. Instantly I saw the Olive branch and the two turtledoves. Then I heard the words, "Peace". I thought, "Wow Lord, thank you." (I needed that.) Then I told Camille what happened. I wrote both encounters in the journal because something was tugging on me for not being receptive to the first encounter.

This morning we woke up to the disturbing news about that great entertainer that kept my generation in stitches, Robin Williams. Camille said, "Now I wonder if the Lord was bringing your attention to something specific, like the death of Robin Williams?" (For some reason the Lord gave me peace "Olive Branch" and "Turtle Doves" but He prompted me hold onto the previous encounter.) 

She was right and I knew it right away. (I promise the Lord... again, that whatever gift He shares with me in Communion I would receive it.) What He showed me first yesterday was disturbing. I was tempted to dismiss it. But He knew that!

Now I think He was bringing to mind the reality of His Joy versus all other types of joy. There is only one kind of joy that remains and lasts forever. It is the joy of the Lord. That kind of joy gives you strength. It brings real healing and deliverance.

Robin Williams was a doctor of laughter. He healed lots of us at times when we probably needed it. "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:2 became my point of reference. Two sides to the same coin. Bringing his gift of laughter to others outwardly, in this world, but may have just been a superficial covering for being crushed inwardly. Proverbs 14:17 gives us another view. "Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains." 

The Lord is gracious. We need a baptism of His Eternal Joy! His joy lasts forever, all other joy is temorary. 

Psalm 30:10-12  "Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me; O LORD, be my helper. You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever."

For in Communion we taste, see and hear, "Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do." Ecclesiastes 9:7

Give thanks to the Lord for His mercy endures forever!

                         >Robin Williams R.I.P.<