"JOY COMES IN THE MORNING", A Christian Contemplation"

JOY COMES IN THE MORNING
Jesus Wipes Our Tears

A Commentary by Constance Vanides

"Praise the Lord!" I am scarcely awake when I utter the first words out of my mouth in the morning to my husband. He likewise, responds with, "Praise the Lord!"

This morning ritual began just about 32 years ago, when we finally made our whole-hearted commitments to follow Jesus. He filled each of us with His Holy Spirit and we began a new life in Christ!

We continue to start each day with this short praise despite the fact we mourn the passing less than a month ago of our beautiful 59-year-old daughter. No longer with us, we believe the Lord in His mercy took her soul and spirit to be with Him.

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

"We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8)

How can we in our sorrow, continue to Praise the Lord with joy? We can do this because we choose to trust the words He speaks in Scripture to lift us up and remind us of His truths.

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory..."

I reach into the mailbox. Instead of the usual "junk mail," I've been picking up colorful envelopes, with beautifully-designed cards inside, each one with words to remind me of God's faithfulness, with the personal words of caring friends, expressing their love for us.

It's as if the Lord Himself wanted us to know that this outpouring of love flows first from Him, through believers, and then to us!

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

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

The words of the Lord came through loud and clear with this message which I call, "SHOWERS OF LOVE"

See all the showers of love
I have poured upon you!
Your heart has reached out
to Me in your sadness and
I have filled that void with
an overflowing of My love
through the saints whose
hearts have wept with yours.
I have not forgotten you
in your distress, but
have joined with you
and brought you friends,
now to mourn, and will
rejoice later with you as
My love becomes your
strength to carry on.
Let others know of the
Good News which has come
to your loved one, now with Me
and for evermore.

The best part is that every believer together is the Body of Christ, the Church, created to be the bride of Christ on earth. All are preparing for His coming, working together to comfort, edify and exhort one another! God is building each and every one of us to be that Spiritual house, through the power of the Holy Spirit!

Praise the Lord!

In Memoriam: Alexia Vanides Gentry
March 11, 1951-January 13, 2011