Hi family!
Welcome to Café Tayo with Elisa Camara!
It is another Sunday morning to start my Café Tayo! journey while having coffee. I hope you are here with me having coffee at the same time!
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| Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ih6WfJjbBPoaDtjDbC6Of |
This episode is about when you are in a season of having difficulty in life and do not want to carry your burdens in life because you are no longer happy and you want to go back to your old life. May God fill you with the truth-revealing moment so that you can find happiness, courage, and strength to continue the journey for the rest of your life, despite all the problems it brings.
The title of this episode, How to be Joyful No Matter What (Part 1 of the Enjoying the Rest of Your Life series)
I want to share with you two of my most joyful moments.
One is, on 29 September 1991, I, as the bride, walked down the aisle with my father and joined Rainier standing as the bridegroom in front of the altar at Cafe Adriatico in Makati. We made our vows before God and united in marriage. We left the place as Mr. and Mrs. Camara. It was a joyful moment that had huge implications for our lives. It was rooted in our mutual love and promise to love each other until the end of our lives. It's true. I am grateful to God for orchestrating this marriage. But to keep this joyful moment as we respond to life depends on us.
Almost three years before that, on 16 October 1988, I met Jesus Christ for the first time. A love relationship began, which completely transformed my life. I experienced God's love for me and committed to loving Him forever. It is another joyful moment, but the implications and effects are ongoing and all-encompassing.
I thought these joyful moments never end. I just have to learn to be joyful in the middle of grief, stress, pressure, and all kinds of problems. But everything is not easy. It’s not easy when my children get sick or hurt. It's not easy when my spouse is having a hard time. No, Not everything is easy. I just have to see the purpose of God behind all these. God can bring us to His Words and be joyful even if there is no particular reason.
Philippians 4:4-7…
4 "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
This passage comes in the context of Paul's letter to the Philippians while in prison, in the latter part of his missionary career. He was actively involved in establishing the church in Philippi, which endured mistreatment by the civil authorities. Paul encouraged them to adapt while journeying and struggling together for the proclamation of the gospel. Perhaps some of them are having second thoughts. Some may be counting the cost of following Jesus and hesitating, even considering turning back.
Paul did not write Philippians from a resort taking a vacation. He wrote it in prison. What was Paul’s secret? I created this HTTPS acronym to define the principles behind Paul's examples on how to be joyful no matter what.
- If I am going to be joyful no matter what, hold on to the joy to be found in God. Philippians 4:4 "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!"
Sometimes when we are struggling, we tend to look at what we see and we don't see God in heaven. If we think about it, here, Paul had all the reason to be tired and bitter, but he responded to life with joy. So, hold on to the joy that is found in God. We are only challenged by situations, problems, events, and people around us. No matter how hard we see, we can turn to God and rejoice.
- If I am going to be joyful no matter what, take up the character of Christ. v5a "Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do."
One of the challenges of following the Lord Jesus is to give up all the rights and accept the commitment to use the character of Christ in our daily lives. Paul urges the Philippians and specifically those who are having second thoughts about their commitment, to continue to live in the spirit of kindness.
Very challenging. It wasn't just marriage that transformed my life, I had to deal with the change in my character as a follower of Christ. Jesus wants me to change for my good. Jesus' sacrifice was his death on the cross for my sins. He paid the penalty I deserved. If this life is living by joy, we respond to life by being merciful.
- If I am going to be joyful no matter what, take hold of the nearness of God. v5b Remember, the Lord is coming soon."
The vital part of the good news of Jesus Christ is the proclamation that the Lord is coming soon. God is so close to us through Jesus Christ that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can come to Him with no requirement of sacrifice. If we experience pain in our lives, relationships, and workplace, “the Lord is coming soon.” Whatever struggles we are facing, in following Jesus, “the Lord is coming soon.”
This declaration is intended to encourage and strengthen the commitment of all who have participated in the journey of following Jesus. We can be sure that they will be good followers/disciples, not perfect but will be role models of Paul's example of standing firm in the Lord.
In our quiet time with the Lord, we can see the light of being intimate with Him, He will deeply reveal Himself and we feel He is reaching out to us. Take hold of the nearness of God.
- If I am going to be joyful no matter what, pray with thankfulness. v6 "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."
The encouragement to pray is what we all need. Prayer leads us to trust God so we can enjoy life. That's what the passage meant when we rejoice, we get rid of every pessimistic thinking or feeling. Even when we don't know what will happen to the future or we don't know what to do.
- If I am going to be joyful no matter what, stay in the peace of God. v7 "Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
When life seems dark and lonely, we easily feel as if we are not protected. We become susceptible to making a wrong move and lose our commitment to being calm, loving, and good. But, it is clear to Paul that if we stay and pray, God's perfect peace will guard our hearts and minds.
Perhaps, you started well in the relationships or workplace you had, journeyed well with your loved ones, and somewhere along the way, your roads became crooked or bumpy. Where did I go wrong? You asked. The way to get back to where you started is very hard to achieve. Happiness does not depend on our situations or circumstances. We can still go back to where we want to be, even, more than we imagine. Though we feel our faith is lacking somewhere, God understands us. He will surely show you how good and how happy your life is with Him.
What are the secrets of How to be joyful no matter what? The HTTPS principles. H, holding on to the joy to be found in God, T, taking up to the character of Christ, T, taking hold of the nearness of God, P, praying with thankfulness, and S, staying in the peace of God no matter what. So that our lives will be full of rejoicing and prayers.
I am going to ask for your response, those who need prayer today, this is the opportunity to come before the Lord and receive the gift of repentance and forgiveness. Let God's kindness lead you to repentance today.
And for those who want to write their prayer request privately, you can send a DM or email me at elisa.camara07@gmail.com. Let's pray...
Our heavenly Father, thank you for the life that is in You. Thank you for the gift of repentance and forgiveness of our sins. Thank You for Your grace and mercy. Lord, as I pray for the person listening to this episode, Lead them to a safe place where they can find happiness, courage, and strength. Help them not easily sway from the temptations of this world. Lord, we come before You with humble hearts, with clean hands and pure hearts that you will bring us into a place of holiness and transformation. Set us free, Lord, if we have any bondage of fear, worries, anger, and bitterness. Help us to be wholeheartedly obedient to you so we will know Your purpose as being an expression of your goodness to the world. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for this joyful life with you no matter what. In Jesus' name, amen.
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| Screenshot photo from K-Drama series, "It's Beautiful now". |
I hope you come away from this episode feeling encouraged and purposefully living out your life with Jesus. Be sure to follow me on Instagram, @love_elisacamara, and if this episode was helpful to you, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or any of my social media platforms, or If you think someone else would benefit and it could change their life, please share it with them! And if you share on social media, the hashtag #CafeTayowithElisaCamara would be greatly appreciated!
Do you ever feel like you need a little help in your relationship with God? Let's chat. Just feel free to comment down below.
Until the next issue every first Sunday at eight in the morning.
In my thoughts,
Elisa
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