Pastor Buddy’s Blog

The joy of the Lord is your strength…

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Hi Journal,

I’m off to a late start on my entry today. It’s already 5:30 p.m.

It is interesting how my devotions of late seem to center on just one Scripture. This morning it was Nehemiah 8:10. Here is the reading…

“Then he said to them, ‘Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and sent portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

What an awesome statement, ‘The joy of the Lord is our strength.‘? The Hebrew word for strength here figuratively speaks of a defence, a force, a fort, a rock, or a very strong hold.

The idea is that the joy of the Lord is our life force. Does this seem strange? It shouldn’t. The joy of the Lord has its connection with our faith.

Out of the heart of faith flows joy. And this life-force of joy provides strength for all areas of our being, from the spiritual to the physical. The joy of the Lord can minister health to our whole body.

This is not a surface truth. The Bible says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22 nasb.) The King James says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine…”

I don’t want to labor this too much. Perhaps it is enough to say that in every believer there is a fountain. Jesus talked about this ’springing up’ fountain. It is a fountain of life. And the? outflow of the fountain is the working of? the Holy Spirit.

Is there actually healing power in this fountain?? Absolutely. Jesus said of new covenant believers, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living [healing] water.’ But this He spoke of the Spirit…” (John 7:38,39 nasb.)

Nuff on my devotion.?

Wonderful Sunday morning service. Nathan continued his series on, ‘Why we believe what we believe.’ Today he covered our 4th and 5th tenents of faith.

Tina Frick sent me a special gift with Betty. It’s a book titled, ‘The Seven Pillars of Health’ by Don Colbert, MD. Looking forward to reading it.

Thanks Tina. You are always so thoughtful.

Then here comes Lane. Brought me and Betty those chicken and dumplins that his mom had prepared. What a feast. Chicken and dumplings is one of my favorite meals.

Lane also brought each of us a token gift from Hawaii.

Thanks Lane.

Thanks Bernett for the meal. (Bernett is Lane’s mom.)? ?

CJ and I went out for another walk. Walked up the hill behind the church building. It is such a pleasant place. Be nice to have a seated area there so folk could just admire the scenery. ?

Really not much else to report today. Between working on my book and relaxing a bit, things have been slow. But after all, it is Sunday.

Believe I’ll save more of my funny stories for later.

Love to all and to all a good night.

Wait, this does remind me of one funny.

When I was quite young, my sister told me that there was no Santa Claus. Course I already knew that. But I put on the ham for mom’s benefit.

Boy, did my mom ever get on to Bertie. I relished every moment of it. Guess it was my tearful shocked expression that set mama off.?

Ok, that was confession time. Sorry Bertie.

I’m really going this time.

Buddy