Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice. Let your bigheartedness be known to everyone. (Philippians 4:4-5)

Our rejoicing is in Christ. It’s one of the things that he works into us (“God works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure”). Since we are in union with Christ and we have hope in him, we have constant cause for happy hearts. And as we are happy inside because of Christ, we will be bighearted on the outside towards others (and again, because of Christ).

This word “bighearted” is often translated “reasonableness.” But here’s a little perspective from a definitions guy: “For bigheartedness one may substitute any of the following: forbearance, yieldedness, geniality, kindness, gentleness, sweet reasonableness, considerateness, charitableness, mildness, magnanimity, generosity. All of these qualities are combined in the adjective-noun that is used in the original” (that’s from Bible scholar William Hendrickson).

So there you have it. Celebrate in your heart all day long, because you are in Christ! your citizenship is in heaven. You eagerly await a Savior.

And celebrate outwards towards others. Be bighearted. Let your happy heart spill over into someone’s dismal day. Remember, the Lord is at hand.

Best of all, read all of Philippians 4 and consider the Savior who brings hope and happiness.

Christ may act the part of an enemy a little while, as Joseph did, but it is to make way for acting his own part of mercy in a more seasonable time. He cannot restrain his bowels of mercy long. He seems to wrestle with us, as with Jacob, but he supplies us with hidden strength to prevail at length. Faith pulls off the mask from his face and sees a loving heart under contrary appearances.

Fides Christo larvam detrahit (Faith pulls away the mask from Christ).

-Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed, page 64

David Brooks

The world economy is a complex, unknowable organism. Most of us try to diversify our investments and balance risk and security to protect against the unexpected.

But a few years ago a group of bankers thought they had the magic tool to help them master financial trends and predict the future. Sophisticated risk assessment models would enable them to rewrite the rules and make more money.

Their arrogance was soon exposed. Along came the financial crisis.

Keep reading here.

…that I may know him and the power of his resurrection… (Phil 3:10)

For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me (Col 1:29)

The Christian’s union with Christ is accompanied by such power as that of his resurrection. This divine fuel energizes the saints for the work of building up the church in order to present everyone mature in Christ.

Mountains and Why We Love Them is an excellent little meditation from the hand of J. Gresham Machen. Well worth at least 30 minutes of reflection.

You Alone Can Rescue from the album We Shall Not Be Shaken

I love what this guy is up to….

The Junky Car Club

But with an 11 year old AWD Volvo station wagon, I’m not sure that I have many changes I can make right now (Full disclosure: due to excessive clanging noises I had to have the drive shaft removed, so it is not actually a four wheeler any more; now the front two are pulling all the weight).

At any rate, I look forward to the day the Volvo dies so that I can buy another clunker and feel even more a part of the junky car club!

Post Script: I also have an 11 year old Jetta that’s sitting in my mechanic friend’s driveway. It won’t start, but after about $2,000 worth of repairs it might be resurrected. Again, not sure that I can go much lower…

AWD converted to front wheels only (similar to circumcision)

Looks alright, but won't budge an inch

Matthew 6:25 Therefore I tell you, do no be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, not about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

D.A. Carson comments:

“Because transient earthly pleasures do not satisfy and do not last; because moral and spiritual vision is easily distorted and darkened, because a choice must be made between God and money, because the kingdom of God demands unswerving allegiance to its values, therefore do not worry, and in particular do not worry about mere things.

But let us consider a more subtle connection…. Jesus has been minimizing the ultimate significance of material possessions; and no doubt not a few among his hearers find themselves wondering “but what about necessities?”… Jesus answers that just as earthly possessions can become an idol which deposes God by becoming disproportionately important, so also can earthly needs become a source of worry which deposes God by fostering distrust.”

Some excellent thoughts from Doug Wilson. You can find the whole post here.

1. The point is fruitfulness, not efficiency.
2. Build a fence around your life, and keep that fence tended.
3. Perfectionism paralyzes.
4. Fill in the corners.
5. Plod. Keep at it. Slow and steady wins the race.
6. Take in more than you give out.
7. Use and reuse. State and restate. Learn and relearn. Develop what you know. Cultivate what you have.