“Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say: Rejoice!”
“Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say: Rejoice!” | Punjab, Pakistan
by Pastor Romaish
March 18, 2025
Paul writes these words from captivity, and yet he gives a powerful invitation to joy. It is deeply moving, because joy is not dependent on external circumstances, but is an inner state that we can achieve in the Lord. The joy of the Lord is a source of strength that can carry us through the most difficult times in life. I have experienced this myself in the past year with illness. Perhaps the worst year of my life physically, but the joy of the Lord has never been greater.
When we allow ourselves to be embraced by God’s love and grace, we remind ourselves of how grateful we really are. No matter what we face, we can find comfort in God’s presence, for He is always there for us. I read about a Chinese man who was persecuted for his faith in Jesus and was now imprisoned,
And he said: “Before I was in prison, I believed in God’s presence, but now that I am in prison, I feel it.”
When Paul repeats the call to rejoice, he encourages us to create this joy in our lives. By trusting in God’s salvation and promises, we can experience inner peace, even in the midst of storms.
So let us try to look at life with hopeful eyes because in Christ we find a joy that cannot be exhausted. When we trust in Him, we can face any challenge with a smile, knowing that our future is secure in Him. May we always be inspired by His joy and share it with the world around us. Amen.
Luke 6:32-33 | “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?” Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. »
Here, Jesus asks us a question that encourages us to reflect on the depth of our love and our actions: “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?” Even sinners love those who love them. » This challenges us to think about what kind of love we practice. Does our love involve more than just a mutual agreement?
Pictured above are children that are provided food aid by our partnership in Punjab, Pakistan. In addition to receiving meals, the children are able to hear about the Gospel too.
The real test of our faith is not just how we treat those closest to us, but also how we meet the most vulnerable and marginalized in society.
In Matthew 25:40, Jesus says, “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
It is a sobering thought that our relationship with Jesus is directly linked to our ability to love and help those who need it most. Our faith is confirmed not only by great deeds or amazing testimonies but also by small, daily gestures of compassion and empathy. When we give of ourselves, when we reach out to the weak, we show that we truly understand the love that God has for us.
One day we will all stand before Jesus and give an account of our lives. Saying that we love our friends and family will not be enough. It will be necessary to show what we have done for the little ones. At the final judgment, our care for these people will be what defines our relationship with Christ. It is a reminder to us that when we serve those in need, we are serving Christ himself.
So, let us take Jesus’ words seriously. Let us love not only those who love us but also those who may be distinguished. Let us be willing to give both our resources and our time to those who need it most. When we do so, we are reflecting the heart of God and bringing his call to life in our lives. Let us always remember that in the least we do, we also do it with Jesus.
Please note that Pastoral care is provided to these children and communities as our partners demonstrate the Gospel through your kind support.
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27
We thank our partners Kids Kingdom Under Grace for their efforts to provide for the needs of orphaned children in their community as we together feed 100 children through this outreach mission project. To grow this effort we will need additional monthly support which will allow us to feed more children need. There are many more children who are in need of aid. With your support, we can reach additional orphan children who will be blessed physically and spiritually. We can quickly increase the number of children served if resources are available.
Global Orphan Relief (GO!) has been serving orphaned children since 2005, and as a result of this effort, children, widows, families, and entire communities are transformed through our Nutrition initiative. The care provided creates a ripple effect through the entire community as we demonstrate God’s love for His people.
You may send support or other correspondence to Global Orphan Relief, 16352 Prairie Farm Cir, Parker, CO 80134 or you may give also give electronically at Punjab Orphan Outreach for this specific effort to support food aid or orphan children or you may give on this website at the upper right-hand corner under ‘Donate’ by choosing Nutrition Initiative under the Fund designation.
Movement of FAITH | Voice of HOPE | Act of LOVE
Global Orphan Relief is a Christian relief agency serving Orphans in need and a recognized U.S. public charity, tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3). All donations are tax-deductible to the extent of the law.