In those times when we yearn
   to have more in our lives,
   we should dwell on the things
   we already have.  In doing so,
   we will often find that our lives
   are already full to overflowing.


The quote above is taken from the book entitled, The Ultimate Gift, written by Jim Stovall.  In the same book there is a chapter on gratitude in which a story is told of a man during the years of the American Depression named Josh that never seemed to have a bad day even though life was extremely difficult.  Josh’s secret is revealed this way …

“He explained to me that every morning before he got up, he would lie in bed – or wherever he had been sleeping – and visualize a golden tablet on which was written ten things in his life he was especially thankful for.  He told me that his mother had done that all the days of her life, and that he had never missed a day since she shared the Golden List with him.”

This morning’s sermon is on the subject of genuine joy that Paul not only writes about in his letter called Philippians but experiences in the depth of his soul.  The circumstances of his life were far from desirable as he was writing from a prison cell.  And yet, the joy of his life seemed not to be connected to the outward details of his individual experience.

Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, says he used to believe that life was a series of peaks and valleys, ups and downs, high moments of joy followed by low seasons of discouragement.  He now believes that life is more like the two sides of a track that run side by side concurrently.  In our lives we have at the same time things we are grateful for and things we would change if we could.  Simultaneously we experience life at it’s best and life at it’s worse.  Perhaps those extremes are not always present but I do believe it is a better picture of reality for most of us.

So how do we survive the extremes of life?  Paul writes in Philippians 4:4-7…

‘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.”

Somehow at the intersection of where life’s experiences and God’s presence and peace meet is the human choice of gratitude and rejoicing.   I want to live there always but especially during seasons of personal struggle.