rejoice in the Lord always!

i've decided that this will be my last post on catching some z's.  since i've started my job i just don't have time any more to keep it up......april fools!!! JK!! did i get ya???

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handsome husband preached a richly blessed and inspired sermon on sunday about glorifying God and enjoying Him forever, the answer to the first catechism question "what is the chief end of man?" from the westminster confession of faith (1647). the scripture he used was from philippians 4:4 - rejoice in the Lord always, again i say rejoice!

now there's no way i could pretend to even come close to summarizing what he said in such an excellent brought-me-to-weeping-and-awe sermon here in just a few words. yet i know there is a principle of learning that goes something like this: learning is increased when heard, written down and then taught to others, so i'm going to try!!!

the bottom line is that of all the ways we relate to Him, enjoying God glorifies Him the most. although He wants us to enjoy His many benefits to us, the relationships He's given us, His magnificent creation, His provision for us from His salvation to many other spiritual blessings and gifts, the preacher was encouraging us to rejoice in and enjoy HIM. His Presence. Him alone. that Almighty God is with us wherever we go, there's no where we can flee from His Presence. the preacher admitted he doesn't know or understand what this means exactly and that it's easier to focus on enjoying the things He provides for us but He was challenging us to consider enjoying Him for who He is. period. Him in us and us in Him.

if we're only enjoying God for the things He gives us, then what happens to our enjoyment of Him when we suffer, when we go through the loss of those things? do we still love Him and enjoy Him? the preacher asked: don't we get angry and disillusioned? he wasn't blaming or shaming us for these things. he said sorrow and suffering are part and parcel of this life and God understands and makes provision for these times. but he was just trying to point us toward a deeper joy in HIM ALONE apart from the blessings and losses of this life.

that's about as nut-shelled as i can get it. he referenced but didn't give the title of a small pocketbook (89 pgs) by john piper who calls us to what he terms christian hedonism.  i'll give it here: "the dangerous duty of delight" (2001).  the longer version of this book was written 15 years earlier and is entitled "desiring God."

i'll close with one of many quotes shared in the sermon: c.s. lewis said God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself  because it is not there. there is no such thing.