Reasons to Rejoice!

Editorial by Marjorie Kinnee

In a world writhing in the throes of disasters and tragedies, wars and rumors of wars, rebellion and strife, sorrow and sheer human misery; it's easy to focus on the negative. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was in the midst of the American Civil War when he penned this verse...

"And in despair I bowed my head,

'There is no peace on earth,' I said,

'For hate is strong and mocks the song

of peace on earth, good will to men."

He could have been writing about 2012. (See Romans 1:29-32.)

But just as Longfellow went on with his poem once he'd lifted his focus off of the chaos all around him, and looked to the Source of all help; we too can face 2013 with reasons to rejoice. Here are a few to get us started...

1.) Begin with I Peter 1:6-9 - Read and rejoice!
2.) With the angels at God's good will toward men - Luke 2:13-14.
3.) With all of creation - Psalm 65.
4.) When the lost is found - Luke 15.
5.) With the angels over a repentant sinner - Luke 15:10.
6.) In God's great doings - Luke 2:46-49.
7.) In your salvation - Psalm 13:5; 35:9.
8.) Because your name is written in heaven - Luke 10:20.
9.) In the Holy Ghost - Romans 5:11.
10.) With the wise men's exceeding great joy - Matthew 2:10.
11.) With the shepherds - Luke 2:20.
12.) In Jesus' Name - Acts 4:12; 5:41.
13.) In God's love - Zephaniah 3:17.
14.) In God's mercy - Psalm 33:18-21.
15.) In God's faithfulness - Psalm 89:1.
16.) In the truth - I Corinthians 13:6.
17.) In knowing Jesus' voice - John 14:27.
18.) In His tender care (the Good Shepherd) - Isaiah 62:5; Luke 15:6.
19.) In hope - Colossians 1:23-29.
20.) Evermore - I Thessalonians 5:16.
21.) "In the Lord always... again I say, Rejoice!" - Philippians 4:4.

Knowing aforetime what we will be facing in the days to come, Jesus said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world!" (John 16:33b)