This Rejoice & Praise God Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.
It’s also a place to read, post, and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.
In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.
We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.
Please show respect and consideration for our fellow QTreepers. Before hitting the “post” button, please proofread your post and make sure your opinion addresses the issue only, and does not confront or denigrate the poster. Keep to the topic – avoid “you” and “your”. Here in The Q Tree, personal attacks, name-calling, ridicule, insults, baiting, and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.
In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores, and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain a home for those who seek respectful conversations.
Please also consider the Guidelines for posting and discussion printed here:
https://www.theqtree.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/
On this day and every day –
God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up
Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.
“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Our Comforter
God is the God of all comfort: Paul considers the Father a comforter, a Paraclete (paraklesis) (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). We also know that the Holy Spirit is our Paraclete (John 14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7) and that God the Son is our Paraclete (1 John 2:1, Hebrews 2:18, Luke 2:25). God, in every aspect of His being, is full of comfort, strength, and help for us.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort (paraklēseōs), who comforts (parakalōn) us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort (parakalein) those who are in any affliction, with the comfort (paraklēseōs) with which we ourselves are comforted (parakaloumetha) by God.
Life is fraught with many difficulties. Sometimes they are sudden; sometimes they are gradual. Maybe we have suffered the death of a loved one. Maybe our health is poor or our finances are uncertain. Whatever the difficulties, they affect all of us at some point in our lives, and the Bible states that this is inevitable (Job 5:7; Genesis 3:17; Proverbs 22:8).
Perhaps the most important aspect of God’s Word is the promises that are contained within, promises that the Lord makes to those who are prepared to trust Him. It is these promises that bring comfort, promises that feed off the weakest spark of saving faith to provide the reward of comfort, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. There are many promises in the Bible that have to be combined with faith to be realized, for without faith it is impossible to please God, the provider of comfort in times of trouble (Hebrews 11:6; 2 Corinthians 1:5; Psalm 46:1).
It’s because of God’s grace, that these promises are realized and become the very fuel that builds up His people. We trust God’s promises, and He has promised to reward us accordingly with joy, peace, and comfort . . . intangible things that the world can never supply. One of the greatest ways the Bible comforts is Isaiah 26:3 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
God delights in comforting the afflicted and healing the heartbroken (Jeremiah 17:14; 2 Corinthians 1:3–4; 7:6). When we are grieved by the loss of our loved ones, God is quick to offer us His peace. In the midst of our mourning, we can know the presence of God with us; even in our sorrow, we can draw near to Him in prayer and worship. As believers, we also do not have to grieve alone. We have others in the Body of Christ who will help bear the burden, share the pain, and “mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).
The loss of family members or close friends can be deeply painful, particularly since they play such a key role in shaping our lives. Indeed, those are often the ones who comfort us when we are hurting, and to lose them can feel like we are losing our emotional support. But Christians can take heart in that we find comfort in more than our families and friends; the very God of Creation, who knows us better than we know ourselves, understands our pain and is eager to grow us and heal us and give us His peace.
Embrace God in faith, asking for His help, and there will be no disappointment.