Remember, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

Isaiah 60:1 says, “Arise, shine; for thy light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.”

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12: 9-13

John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

“Go is love, and He who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16

Proverbs 15:13 says, “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.”

The apostle Paul says, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3-4)

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted” (Galatians 6:1)

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in rebellion” (Hebrews 3:12-13, 15)

The Bible says in Proverbs 15:13, “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face. But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.”

“Let them praise the Lord for His great love and for the wonderful things He has done for them. Let them exalt Him publicly before the congregation and before the leaders of the nation.” Psalms 107:31-32

Jesus teaches us, “Do not judge others and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged” (Matthew 7:1-2)

“There is a time for war and a time for peace” (Ecclesiastes 3:8b).

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he finds it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends, and his neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:3-7)

A story in the Bible came to mind after having these experiences. Luke 17:11-19 reads as follows: “Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him-and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

A good example of bartering in the Bible is in Genesis 47:17, “So they brought their livestock to Joseph and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses and the flocks and the herds and the donkeys, and he fed them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year.”

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Matthew 5:13

“I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” Psalm 16:8.

Mark 1: 35 shares with us a time that Jesus went into a space of solitude to pray. “And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there He prayed.” Even Jesus needed time to be alone with the
Father.”

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not claim to be wiser than you are” (Romans 12: 15-16)