OUR DAILY BREAD : JOY IN THE MIDST OF GRIEF
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:36 pmNovember 14
Saturday
JOY IN
THE MIDST
OF GRIEF
READ:
Ezra 3:10-13
_____________________________________________________________
The people could not
discern the noise of the
shout of joy from the
noise of the weeping.
__Ezra 3:13
_____________________________________________________________
After only a few art lessons, 10-year-old Joel decided to try his hand at painting a flower. By looking at a color photograph of a Rose of Sharon, Joel was able to paint a beautiful mixture of blue, purple, red, green, and white. This made the flower, which had been photographed on the day Joel's aunt died, seem to come to life. To the family, his painting symbolized a bittersweet mixture of feelings. While it provided a lasting reminder of the loss they had suffered, it also carried a celebration of Joel's newly discovered artistic gift. The painting gave joy in the midst of grief.
When the people of Judah returned to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon, they too had a bittersweet experience. As they began rebuilding Solomon's temple, many in the crowd sang songs of praise. At the same time, some older people, who had seen the beauty of the original temple that had been destroyed by war, wept aloud. We are told that "the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping" (Ezra 3:13).
Grieving can be like that. While there is sadness in looking back, it also includes a promise of joy in trusting God for the future. Even in a devastating loss, we have this hope: The Lord provides joy in the midst of grief. __DENNIS FISHER
_____________________________________________________________
``````````````````````We sorrow not as others do,```````````````
```````````````````Whose hopes fade like the flowers;`````````````
````````````````````There is a hope that's born of God,````````````
`````````````````````and such a hope is ours. __McNeil```````````
_____________________________________________________________
Even in the bleakest times,
Christians have the brightest hope.
*****************Today's Bible Reading __ Ezra 3:10-13***********
10 When the builders laid
the foundation of the
temple of the LORD, the
priests stood in their
apparel with trumpets, and
the Levites, the sons of
Asaph, with cymbals, to
praise the LORD, according
to the ordinance of David
King of Israel. 11 And they
sang responsively, praising
and giving thanks to the
LORD: "For He is good, for
His mercy endures forever
toward Israel."
Then all the people
shouted with a great shout,
when they praised the
LORD, because the
foundation of the house of
the LORD was laid.
12 But many of the priests
and Levites and heads of
the fathers' houses, old men
who had seen the first
temple, wept with a loud
voice when the foundation
of this temple was laid
before their eyes. Yet many
shouted aloud for joy, 13 so
that the people could not
discern the noise of the
shout of joy form the noise
of the weeping of the
people, for the people
shouted with a loud shout,
and the sound was heard
afar off.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
David, the king of Israel, gave ordinances concerning music
in worship. When he brought the Ark to Jerusalem, he gave an
ordinance for the priests and Asaph to perform (1 Chron. 16:4-6).
In Ezra's day, the priests blew trumpets and the descendants of
Asaph played the cymbals (Ezra 3:10). In the praise life of Israel,
certain forms of worship were passed on to posterity. Although
music styles may vary today, our churches can likewise pass on a
worshIp legacy to the next generation. __DENNI FISHER
Saturday
JOY IN
THE MIDST
OF GRIEF
READ:
Ezra 3:10-13
_____________________________________________________________
The people could not
discern the noise of the
shout of joy from the
noise of the weeping.
__Ezra 3:13
_____________________________________________________________
After only a few art lessons, 10-year-old Joel decided to try his hand at painting a flower. By looking at a color photograph of a Rose of Sharon, Joel was able to paint a beautiful mixture of blue, purple, red, green, and white. This made the flower, which had been photographed on the day Joel's aunt died, seem to come to life. To the family, his painting symbolized a bittersweet mixture of feelings. While it provided a lasting reminder of the loss they had suffered, it also carried a celebration of Joel's newly discovered artistic gift. The painting gave joy in the midst of grief.
When the people of Judah returned to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon, they too had a bittersweet experience. As they began rebuilding Solomon's temple, many in the crowd sang songs of praise. At the same time, some older people, who had seen the beauty of the original temple that had been destroyed by war, wept aloud. We are told that "the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping" (Ezra 3:13).
Grieving can be like that. While there is sadness in looking back, it also includes a promise of joy in trusting God for the future. Even in a devastating loss, we have this hope: The Lord provides joy in the midst of grief. __DENNIS FISHER
_____________________________________________________________
``````````````````````We sorrow not as others do,```````````````
```````````````````Whose hopes fade like the flowers;`````````````
````````````````````There is a hope that's born of God,````````````
`````````````````````and such a hope is ours. __McNeil```````````
_____________________________________________________________
Even in the bleakest times,
Christians have the brightest hope.
*****************Today's Bible Reading __ Ezra 3:10-13***********
10 When the builders laid
the foundation of the
temple of the LORD, the
priests stood in their
apparel with trumpets, and
the Levites, the sons of
Asaph, with cymbals, to
praise the LORD, according
to the ordinance of David
King of Israel. 11 And they
sang responsively, praising
and giving thanks to the
LORD: "For He is good, for
His mercy endures forever
toward Israel."
Then all the people
shouted with a great shout,
when they praised the
LORD, because the
foundation of the house of
the LORD was laid.
12 But many of the priests
and Levites and heads of
the fathers' houses, old men
who had seen the first
temple, wept with a loud
voice when the foundation
of this temple was laid
before their eyes. Yet many
shouted aloud for joy, 13 so
that the people could not
discern the noise of the
shout of joy form the noise
of the weeping of the
people, for the people
shouted with a loud shout,
and the sound was heard
afar off.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
David, the king of Israel, gave ordinances concerning music
in worship. When he brought the Ark to Jerusalem, he gave an
ordinance for the priests and Asaph to perform (1 Chron. 16:4-6).
In Ezra's day, the priests blew trumpets and the descendants of
Asaph played the cymbals (Ezra 3:10). In the praise life of Israel,
certain forms of worship were passed on to posterity. Although
music styles may vary today, our churches can likewise pass on a
worshIp legacy to the next generation. __DENNI FISHER
Lani