Friday 19 May 2023

Today is Friday the 19th of May in the sixth week of Easter.

CalledOut Music sings, ‘Joy’.

My light and salvation is You
I've got a firm foundation in You, Lord
You hold me daily, daily
The hope for my soul
I'm ever so safe here with You, Lord
I've got grace everywhere I be
With blessings falling on me
There's nothing too hard for the God that I serve
Tell me, why should I be afraid?
No matter what comes my way
I'll overcome with a smile on my face
I've got that joy like a river flowing down to my soul, oh, yeah
Oh-oh-oh
I feel like dancing, yeah, I feel it in my bones, oh, yeah
Oh-oh-oh, yeah
Mm
I sing, I sing oh
It feels like a dream
'Cause with You on my team, I'm winning (Mm)
Nothing's gonna hold me back, no
Nothing's gonna stop my praise
Nothing's gonna keep me silent
I'll say it from the rooftops
I've got grace everywhere I be
Blessings falling on me
There's nothing too hard for the God that I serve
Tell me, why should I be afraid?
No matter what comes my way
I'll overcome with a smile on my face
I've got that joy like a river flowing down to my soul, oh, yeah
Oh-oh-oh
I feel like dancing, yeah, I feel it in my bones, oh, yeah
Oh-oh-oh, yeah
So give me joy in my heart, keep me praising
Give me joy in my heart, I pray
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising
Keep me praising 'til the break of day
Oh, I've got that joy like a river flowing down to my soul, oh, yeah
Oh-oh
I choose that joy like a river flowing down to my soul, oh, yeah
Oh-oh-oh

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.


John 16.20-23a

Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a woman is in labour, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.

Jesus reminds me today that pain and joy are linked.

I lift to Jesus any pain I’m currently experiencing.

I ask him to journey with me through it.

I think now of pain turning to joy.

I remember such times in my life and give thanks for them.

As I listen again, I think about the prayers that God has answered, and all that God has given me.

As I rest in silence, I allow myself to rejoice, recognizing that Jesus is with me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.