Finding The Secret

More Than Conquerors
December 2003 Part 2

Joy

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” —Nehemiah 8:10

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
—James 1:2-4

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:4-7

So often we liken joy to happiness. But unlike happiness, a word to describe an emotion, joy is so much more than just a feeling. Joy is hope, thanksgiving, and inexpressible delight all put together.

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Joy, founded on hope, comes exclusively from the Spirit, because it is only when we know that God really does work all things for the good of those who love Him can we be filled with delight when trials come our way! People of this world may have happiness, which quickly blows away when trouble comes, but joy, true joy, so much more than happiness, is not fickle, but shines in sunny and dreary days. This joy is our strength, because we know that the dark days in our life mature us, and we can give thanks and rejoice, because God is in control!

So I will echo what Paul said: Rejoice in the Lord! And I will say it again: Rejoice! For we know that our delight is not founded on sinking sand, but on the solid Rock!

Even on the Cross

Stripped naked—hung to the sky—
Torn and scourged and left to die—
What suffering this!

But through the blood and humiliation,
He knew a true and pure elation—
A servant’s bliss!

Joy—a foreign word round here—
What clouds this hill is pain and fear—
And death and dross—

But no eternal sadness dims
The glory of the joy in Him—
Even on the cross—

—Joanna Spencer
© Joanna J. Spencer. Used with permission.

Deeper Than the Smile

Look at life and you’ll find
It’s short and bittersweet.
Here a smile, there a grind;
It’s an unsteady beat.
Every moment you’ve shared
Was different all around:
Some, you loved and you cared;
Some you faced the hard ground.

P’rhaps you’ve hurt, offended
Someone whom you have loved,
Or your conscience tainted
By hatred you think of.
But a moment, it’s gone!
Like a wisp of pale cloud.
There’s little to smile on
Seeing life’s bleak empty shroud.

But that’s just the surface;
Smiles are untrustworthy
Let heart, not face confess
It’s joyful, not happy.
Mind may be deceived by
A laughing and bright face.
When hard times the mind try,
This expression’s erased.

‘Tis the heart that smiles on
Tho’ our surrounding’s gray;
Useless grieving is gone
When we rejoice alway.
‘Tis not out, but inside
That the sun ever shines
And this joy will not hide:
It has obvious signs.

It strives to comfort
It keeps the soul moving.
Of the delicious sort,
This sweet joy is loving.
So we finished our days
And could not help but laugh,
For God blessed all our ways
When His joy lit our path.

—Samuel Popiel

Ecstasy

A flash painted in time—
A whisper clasped in sound—
Your heart lifts up its tail
And makes a mighty bound,
With nothing giving chase
But joy that it has found,
A simple truth so small,
With great results profound:
Since God is in control,
All blessings will abound!

—Benjamin Graber

The Father’s Worshippers

’Tis we, not in Thy arms, who weep and pray;
The children in Thy bosom laugh and play.

—George MacDonald

Joy

The world is all aglow
With temporary pleasures,
Which it would have you think
Are really priceless treasures.

But all too soon the gloss
Has disappeared or faded;
For hopes once high have sunk,
And left you feeling jaded.

The world will tell you how
To gain the joy you’re after
Through mind control escapes,
Or ego boosts and laughter.

But if you seek true joy
You’ll find in Sacred Pages,
It springs from Christ alone,
And lasts through endless ages.

With the joy I have received
Let me learn to sing a song
For the sky finally cleared
And God was here all along!

But when clouds cover the sky
Shall I stop lifting my voice?
No, let me sing—God is here—
And continue to rejoice!

Or shall I hesitate
When a tear comes to my eye?
No, let me sing—I won’t stop!—
Even when I have to cry.

I am learning more each day
That our God is in control
Why should I be worrying?
I know He will save my soul!

So I will sing a ballad—
My life shall be a song
Sung to the tune God composed;
For this is where I belong!

—Benjamin Graber

Joy Comes In the Morning

When in need of hope, God gives a song
And holds our hand (all the night long) ...
‘till light overshadows, changing the view,
And morning comes - strengthened anew.

© by Joyce C. Lock
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeavenlyInspirations
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SmileSharing
Used with permission.

You’re Not Happy

“You’re not happy,” she says,
And my eyes burn with tears—
“Oh, if only she knew,” I think.
Through the rivers of hardships
And the oceans of burdens
I know that I’m starting to sink—

But none of that matters—
My sadness is nothing—
I’ve so much more laughter than some—
Situations are short-lived;
The world’s like a dream,
Granted, a long, aching one—

“You’re not happy,” she says,
And sometimes she’s right,
But that’s not the point, well I know—
Happiness is fleeting;
But joy is forever—
And joy’s what I hold to me close—

—Joanna Spencer
© Joanna J. Spencer. Used with permission.

The Little Children
Dedicated to Rachel, Chris, and Maggie

Sweet smiles, worth more than jewels,
Shine from the innocent,
With laughter from their lips,
A gift of joy is sent!

They take your hand to show
You where they want to go,
But unaware that you
Have hold of their heart, too…

They were not made full grown,
But given time to learn,
Is it so we could see—
To simple trust return?

So as I help them on
I thank you, Lord, for them,
And pray You’ll bring me to
The joy of childhood again!

—Benjamin Graber

It’s Christmastime! (Oh, Joy Divine!!)

’Tis that special time of year again-
Time for the wondrous Christmas season!

Christmas is a joyous time of year.
A time for happiness, love, and our family’s dear.

Paul tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord always!”
And at times I feel amazed.

Christmas is a time for us to celebrate Jesus’ awesome birth-
A day for us to praise His majestic worth.

But people often tell me, “There’s too much to do-”
“Gifts to wrap, cards to write, tree to adorn - oh, if only you knew!”

But Christmas isn’t a time to be stressed-
Christmas is the time to be blessed!

Spend time with your precious loved ones-
Don’t rush through this holiday season!

Take the time to care-
Joy, love, pleasure, contentment share.

Make the chores a family event-
Wash the clothes together-don’t forget to clean the dryer vent!

Christmas is a time for laughter-
Recall your favorite memories, now and hereafter!

So I plead with you-
Make this Christmas season a happy one in all you do.

Make it a time of joyous giving-
And to God bring your thanksgiving!

Bring your thanksgiving for what your Savior did-
For without Him you wouldn’t be able to live.

When that glorious day of Christmas comes-
Make sure you get the turkey drums!

Ha Ha, Well I’m just kidding.
But my point is- don’t through your Christmas be skidding.

Make it a happy day-
Don’t to Him be a dismay!

God wants us to have quiet thought-
And don’t you think we ought?

For without our risen Lord we wouldn’t have this time of year-
This day is for Him, our Savior so dear!

I think (and this is only my conviction)-
That Christ as the joy of Christmas should be our tradition!

So forget the hustle and bustle of this year renew-
Make it a season of joy, love and contentment, for me and for you!

Dynamic Reactions

Nuclear fusion
Causing dynamic reactions,
Creating massive waves
Of energy;
At the surface
Taking the form
Of light,
Spreading color
And warmth
Throughout the galaxy—
A smile.

—Benjamin Graber

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or
nakedness or danger or sword?… No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
—Romans 8:35, 37

If you have any comments or questions, or if you have a poem to share, please send an e-mail to bgraber@neo.rr.com

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