What's in a smile?

 Proverbs 14:13 (GNV)
13 Even in laughing the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

Ecclesiastes 7:3 (AMP)
 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better and gains gladness.

Proverbs 17:22 (AMP)
A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

I am seeing a pertinent theme here. Healing begins on the inside. Sometimes we are obsessed with outward appearances. Laughter, and smiling is good... when the heart/soul/spirit is happy and healthy. But if your soul or spirit is down, then there is something better than laughter to begin the healing process. Sorrow in Christ will help you recover. Feeling and expressing that sadness is ok and needed before you can regain a sense of joy sometimes. So, laughter and smiles are not the "medicine" here... but the joyful heart behind it that is able to smile and laugh. Forcing a smile is not the answer when you are down.

I for one sometimes get "ribbed" or teased and told to smile more. And it is a bit annoying- I will admit that. After all, I work away, with a cheerful heart and a serious expression, completely content and absorbed in what I am doing. I get misread sometimes even by people who know me somewhat. But I am content. I smile a LOT more than some people do (see the picture below). But even if I don't there is nothing wrong with a serious expression. It is part of who I am. I am sure these fellows would agree:

Newsboys "smiling" for their promo pic.

 There is more to life than smiles. It begins on the inside. Anyone who needs to heal needs Jesus. And it's ok to feel sad and look sad during that process. The Bible says so. It is needed. People don't need to be told to "laugh it off" if they are actually hurting. They need to be allowed to be real and be encouraged to come to Jesus. And a friend might be good to have for support. Yes, emotions should not rule us. We must allow the Spirit of Truth to rule the soul (soul is our mind, will, and emotions.) But that doesn't mean we shouldn't feel or express emotions. We should. As long as we aren't trying to manipulate others with them or draw inordinate attention to ourselves.  And I don't recommend people go around looking grumpy all the time. We should be as pleasant as possible, and always kind and courteous to one another. But we should be real, not actors.

When smiles and laughter don't cut it, sorrow is good for healing. Jesus felt sorrow on earth many times, and can relate personally to you and I when we talk to Him.

I am generally a very happy person. I can see benefits to basically every circumstance I go through, even the not so pleasant ones. But I also attempt to grapple with reality, from a Christian Biblical perspective. So I attempt to be real, yet have a generally positive outlook. After all, Jesus is LORD and He paid for my sins and set me free! I have plenty to be thankful for in that, and in the details of my everyday life. But, without realizing it, I do tend to give a "serious" vibe with my expressions sometimes. That's just the way I am, and God made me this way. I am completely content and happy with how He made me.

So, I am not so quick to judge people based on their smile. Be careful when you assess people. It is not really about the outward smile or appearance.
I know that some people may be hurting, even in their laughter and smiles. And some of the most joyful people do smile and are pleasant, yet they may not have the biggest smile, because they are not trying to impress anyone but their LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Be blessed
Pastor Curtis
Thurs. Aug 28 2014 2:08AM EST

If We Suffer With Him, We Shall Reign With Him

I thank God for suffering. I could not be saved if it were not for the suffering of Christ Jesus. If He did not suffer, we would be lost forever. It is my honour to be reviled or abandonded for the sake of Christ. He suffered all loss so that I could be saved. If we suffer with Him, we shall rule with Him.
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Mark 8:31-32 KJV
31And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
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Peter could not accept the concept of suffering at first. He did not want his Rabbi to suffer. But Peter did not understand that without Jesus suffering, and dying, and rising again, there could be no salvation for Peter, or anyone else. Not to mention the fact that Peter probably realized that if Jesus suffered, then he probably would suffer also! In his flesh, he did not like that idea!

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2 Tim 2:8-13 KJV
8Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12If we SUFFER, we shall also REIGN with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

We are patterned after the pattern Son, Jesus. If we believe and follow God (Jesus), we WILL suffer one way or another at the hands of others. That is because the corrupt world-system hates Christ. It hates light, and it hates anything bearing His Light. There are also other kinds of suffering. I realize that. There is the pain of ill health due to the sinful nature of Adam. His sin caused all of us to return to dust. Our body degrades and dies But Jesus rose from death. We can and will share in this resurrection! Also, there is pain that we bring on ourselves when we do something only to regret it later. There is suffering that has no explanation. But we do not love this life or the "things" in it. We love Jesus. And we forsake all to follow Him. When circumstances are good, bad or ugly, we choose to be His disciples. (See Mark 8:34-35) Will we trust Him in the bad times? It is part of our character training, in becoming more like Him! (See Galatians 5:22-23) We grow more of His fruit/character when we are trimmed and pruned. But we must be as branches, attached to the Vine, Jesus, before we can bear any fruit!

During the pruning season, Jesus sends us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to help us when we do suffer. (See John 14:16)

And if we endure to the end, we will reign with Him. An awesome promise.

There is more to this. What we see and feel matters to God. Jesus felt the same things as us and is a faithful high priest after the order of Melchisedec. And He sees the whole picture. He knows where you are going in Him.

Indeed when I have suffered, I could not see clearly in those moments. But then Jesus comes to me in a powerful, gentle, caring and high-priestly way and reminds me of what I am taking to heaven. I am not taking possessions, money, or "worldly fame" to heaven. I take my character with me. Times of suffering are opportunities in disguise. I say that because I truly have not seen the benefit of my bad times while enduring them.

And yet, When I stand before Him in the judgement, I will be in His blood, and pronounced righteous before His throne. I am redeemed with the precious blood of the Lamb who suffered for me! (1 Peter 1:18-19). And He will also want to see the image of Himself and His character formed in me!

To follow Jesus is to follow His way. And the comfort we receive from His Spirit in those times of suffering is unparalleled. I speak from experience. Simply ask Him.

And as the book of Revelation puts it, suffering is temporary. But joy and peace and freedom is eternal, in Christ! And when we spend eternity with Jesus, we spend it in the very character we formed here on earth while learning to trust Jesus. Quite amazing when you think about it.

Revelation 21:4 Geneva Version
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, neither crying, neither shall there be anymore pain: for the first things are passed.

The suffering is part of the pattern, and Christ Himself willingly submitted to this process. The suffering is temporary. It builds fruit in us if we yield to the Holy Spirit. And if we endure the suffering in Jesus to the end, then we shall rule with Him.
Bless you! Be encouraged in Jesus.

Pastor Curtis
Wed. Aug 27, 2014 11:34PM EST

Defy The Negativity of Others with Gratefulness

In defiance of the negativity sometimes confronting me from people or situations, here is a list of the things I am blessed with! I challenge you to do as Paul tell us in 1 Thess. 5 and to give thanks in Christ, in every circumstance! Genuine thankfulness in Christ is very moving to God, and it can help you make a breakthrough in your Character development.

1 Thessalonians 5:15-23 Geneva Version

¹⁵ See that none recompense evil for evil unto any man: but ever follow that which is good, both toward yourselves, and toward all men.

¹⁶ Rejoice evermore.

¹⁷ Pray continually.

¹⁸ In all things, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

¹⁹ Quench not the Spirit.

²⁰ Despise not prophesying.

²¹ Try all things, and keep that which is good.

²² Abstain from all appearance of evil.

²³ Now the very God of peace sanctify you throughout: and I pray God that your whole spirit and soul and body, may be kept blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We see that thankfulness is possible in each situation. Even if it is a bad situation. We can still find things to be grateful for. It is God's will for us to do so!

You can make a list. Just read your Bible, look around, pray, and ask Jesus to open your eyes to all that you DO have in life. Once you have your list, thank the Lord Jesus for everything on it. He will receive your gratitude, especially in the midst of trying circumstances. Jesus loves gratitude. It moves Him.

I am grateful for so much.

- I have salvation in Christ Jesus. I believe in Him and confess He is Lord! My sins are forgiven and I am made a part of the Body!
- I am accepted and approved by God in Christ. I am before Him in Love. No threat can overcome the Overcomer. Negative people cannot remove my approval from God because I dwell in His Son, Jesus Christ.
- I have His Grace and Favour, no matter what comes against me, or makes me scratch my head in bewilderment.
- I come home to peace and quiet- I can pray and read the Bible, and relax. I have no strife at home whatsoever. This is something I will always be grateful for. Plus I have a great cat named Tess who loves me and greets me!
- I have work. I work two paying jobs for which I am so thankful for! I am actually gaining financial strength.
- I have friends and family whom I love and cherish
- I am able in Christ to teach and lead others in the Word and in worship. What an awesome privilege it is to be called "pastor". My ministry has survived personal loss and God protected me in many storms. One could say my ministry is a miracle!
- I have a great church family at Church On The GO. It is my honour to serve among. It has been nearly 14 years now.
- I am blessed with many creative abilities which I find freedom and strength in. Music, cartooning, photography, poetry to name some.
- I have known the beauty of marriage and the mystery of its union. I will always cherish the memory. Yet through tragedy, I now know the freedom of singleness and the ability and peace I am granted through this lifestyle.
- I have been granted God's love for others. Yes, this includes even those who are threatening and being negative many times. I may be quiet at times, but I harbour no fear or hatred (by His grace). I just develop love, power and a sound mind, all by God's Spirit. I could not do it without Jesus!! 
- I have been renting my wonderful apartment for a full 9 years now. Still enjoying it.
- I have relatively few bills and expenses.

My list is incomplete, and in no specific order. Some things are big, others are little. Some things are spiritual, others are natural. But all items listed are good, and God is worthy to be thanked for all of it. I will probably think of other things to be thankful for, after I post this.

So! What are you thankful for?

How will you defy the negativity coming from others?

Love them in Christ, be patient in the Holy Spirit, and count your blessings! And don't do evil to those who do evil to you. Follow always after that which is good!

Be encouraged, and be thankful! It is God's will for you in Christ!

Pastor Curtis
Aug. 11, 2014, 11:41PM EST