The Joy Of The Lord Is Your Strength
How are you feeling today? Happy, sad, or ho-hum. I always feel a little sad after Christmas is finished and as we start into the new year all the lights and decorations are gone from Christmas and I am faced with a mostly dreary days of winter. As I think about that, it does seem very trivial to you if you are facing the loss of a loved one, loss of a job or any type of loss of anything. Or perhaps looking at your life as bleak.
I love our text for today. We can be so down and so dejected, but if we seek Jesus and his joy it will give us strength and purpose. The song by Rend Collective brings that out, “The joy of the Lord is your strength. In the darkness I’ll dance, In the shadows I’ll sing, The joy of the Lord is my strength.”*
Over the years Loren and I have discovered that life has an ebb and flow, sometimes it is more like being on the mountain top and then sliding down into the pit of despair. Look back on your life. Can you see a pattern? You have had a special moment, something which is intense or thrilling, then the next few days or so you feel a downer and you might not be able to explain why. This really came home to us when we were in full time evangelism. We would be in an intense relationship with a church for six weeks, preaching, praying and relating to people. We would then have two or three weeks before the next series of meeting and we felt sad, life was a real downer. It went on like this time after time. It was then when we realized our emotions and bodies need the mundane and rejuvenating time.
There are times when this ends up stretching out in our lives and all of a sudden we realize we feel we are caught in a trap. It is then that we have a choice to make. Do I continue, or do I choose to praise the Lord and look for things to praise the Lord for and sing songs to his glory. I tell you if you have every tried this when you are down, IT IS HARD! As I have focused on the reward it will bring my spirit so I am willing to choose to make the effort, as there is nothing worse than to stay in my sad state.
It has raised my spirit to do something for someone to bring them joy and in turn it brings me joy. To love unconditionally and give with no thought of reciprocation. We often hear the catch phrase now, “Pay it forward.” It does not always involve money, it can be in anything the Lord brings to your mind. We all need to find something bigger than ourselves. That is something which has brought me much joy and satisfaction.
God wants you to flourish and grow in him. Joy is not just for the optimist or for happy people but it is for you and me! We can have that joy, but we have to actively pursue it. The Lord can guide you in what form that will take. It is then you can find that strength. Yes you will have down and quiet times, maybe even feel funky, but after the low you can look up and say “I need to find some joy in the Lord.!” God doesn’t want you to just to survive, he has called you and birthed you to create a beautiful picture of life which will bring glory to his name whatever the lows might be.
No matter your storms or distress the Joy of the Lord really CAN be your strength.
Love to you,
Ruth
Added note:
*There are several different songs using the words “The Joy of the Lord is my strength.” Below is lyrics of the song by Rend Collective. They are a contemporary band from Ireland. I also put the YouTube address if you would like to hear their rendition. I was blessed by their song.—Ruth
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The Joy of the Lord
Though tears may fall
My song will rise, my song will rise to You
Though my heart may fail
My song will rise, my song will rise to You
While there’s breath in my lungs
I will praise You, Lord
In the dead of night
I’ll lift my eyes, I’ll lift my eyes to You
When the waters rise
I’ll lift my eyes, I’ll lift my eyes to You
While there’s hope in my heart
I will praise You, Lord
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
In the darkness I’ll dance
In the shadows I’ll sing
The joy of the Lord is my strength
When I cannot see You with my eyes
Let faith arise to You
When I cannot feel Your hand in mine
Let faith arise to You
God of mercy and love
I will praise You, Lord
Oh You shine with glory Lord of light
I feel alive with You
In Your presence now I come alive
I am alive with You
There is strength when I say
I will praise You, Lord
When sorrow comes my way
You are the shield around me
Always You remain
Like courage in the fight
I hear You call my name
Jesus, I am coming
Walking on the waves
Reaching for Your light
Songwriters: Edmond Martin Cash / Gareth Andrew Gilkeson / Christopher Dean Llewellyn — Joy Of The Lord lyrics © Music Services, Inc
Rend Collective – Joy Of The Lord (Lyrics And Chords)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3gLeCiMJqI
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January birth flower,
This beautiful, tiny flower pops up from under the snow, bringing with it hope that spring is coming–its purity and spring scent always brings joy to those who have them in their garden. They are used as ornamental plantings, potted plants or cut flowers
They are often represented as shy flowers, who are afraid to raise their heads because of some misdemeanor or other. The real reason is that their dusty pollen must be kept dry and sweet in order to attract the few insects flying in winter. No mean feat in the February winds, snows and rains. And so – they droop!
In the poem On Seeing a Tuft of Snowdrops in a Storm by William Wordsworth gives the timid person, who like the snowdrop, seems delicate and weak, can stand strong against all odds.
When haughty expectations prostrate lie,
And grandeur crouches like a guilty thing,
Oft shall the lowly weak, till nature bring
Mature release, in fair society
Survive, and Fortune’s utmost anger try;
Like these frail snow-drops that together cling,
And nod their helmets smitten by the wing
Of many a furious whirl blast sweeping by.
Observe the faithful flowers! if small to great
May lead the thoughts, thus struggling used to stand . . . . .
Snowdrops are perennial bulbs from the Amaryllidaceae family, (bulb plant of the daffodil family) genus Galanthus. They are very hardy bulbs, being the first to bloom of all bulbs, even before spring comes. There are various members of the snowdrop family one might encounter. The Galanthus nivalis is the most common. Galanthus means ‘milk flower’; gála meaning “milk,” ánthos meaning “flower” whereas nivalis means snow-like thus called the snow milk flower.
Snowdrops folk names: Snowdrop flowers have acquired many folk names over the last few centuries, some reflecting their appearance, some the superstitions associated with them, some their unusual winter flowering habit, and some their identity with the spiritual calendar. Candlemas Bells, Christ’s Flower, Death’s Flower, Dew-drops, Dingle-Dangle, Drooping heads. Drooping Lily, Fair Maids of February, French Snowdrop, Mary’s Taper, Naked Maiden, Purification Flower, Snow-bells, Snow-flower , Snow-piercer, White-bells, White-cups, White Ladies, White Purification, White Queen,
History
Snowdrops have been known since early times, being described by the classical Greek author Theophrastus in the fourth century BC in his Περὶ φυτῶν ἱστορία (Latin: Historia plantarum, Enquiry into plants)
Snowdrop is a native of Switzerland, Austria and of Southern Europe originally from Europe and southwest Asia. They are said to be native to all Europe from the Mediterranean Sea to Great Britain. There appears to be some uncertainty as to whether snowdrops are native to Britain or not. There seems to be no record of snowdrops growing wild in Britain before 1770, and the first garden reference is in Gerard’s Herbal of 1597. It is thought that monks may have brought snowdrops to Britain from Italy in the 15th Century, as the flowers are frequently found in the gardens of old monasteries.
‘Lupercalia’– February 14th (possibly during 13th – 15th century) was a pagan Roman festival, supposedly held in Rome at the site where twins Romulus and Remus were suckled by the mother wolf. After sacrifice of a goat and dog, chosen men known at Lupici dedicated themselves to purifying the city before ‘The ides of March’ or Roman new year. Later, this date was dedicated to St. Valentine. ‘The Feast of Purification’ was once celebrated on this day as the 40th day after Twelfth Night (Epiphany), before the calendar changes of 1752.
Snowdrop Name: First mention of the common name ‘Snowdrop’ in its modern form comes from the Latin Galanthus nivalis, clearly classified by Carl Linnaeus, a remarkable Swedish botanist, in his pioneering work ‘Species Plantarum’ 1753.
Victorians took snowdrop planting on the graves of loved ones to their hearts, and in many parts of the country, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was considered very unlucky to bring the little blooms into the house from their cold environment – a single bloom being the worst omen of all.
Christian church – Snowdrops are affectionately known as the fair maids of February, and their pure white flowers, modestly drooping as if in prayer, were chosen by the Christian church as a symbol of Candlemas, which is celebrated on February 2nd. It may be for this reason that the grounds of many old monasteries are carpeted with snowdrops every spring. Because of this, they became known as the ~church flower.~ Traditionally on Candlemas (Feb.2) the image of the Virgin Mary was taken down and a handful of snowdrop blooms were scattered in its place. Their presence in churchyards generated an unlucky reputation as time went on.
Candlemass – (The feast of White Purification.) A Christian festival, remembering Mary’s purification in the Temple at Jerusalem. It was believed (and still is in some parts of the world) that a woman who has given birth is ‘unclean’, and at around five weeks after the birth, by law, she must be ritually ‘purified’. in her place of worship.
Some centuries after the life of Jesus, candles were used in procession to celebrate the day. Still later girls in white dresses would join the procession and snowdrops were strewn about the church altar. Families would bring their own candle to the church and light it from a central flame, where it would be blessed. (The candle is used as a symbol, standing to remind the congregation that on that day Simeon held the baby and made a first reference to his being ‘a light’.) Luke 2:32 (NLT) He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
Russian Snowdrop Day – Celebrates March 1st. Legend tells us that the tiny flowers are the tears of winter snow melting into spring and that they bloom only on that day, You must go out into the forests at sunrise in order to see them. Children pick bunches to give as gifts to parents and grandparents as a symbol of thanksgiving for the passing of winter.
There are ‘First Day of Spring’ celebrations on this day in many Northern countries
Significance, Meaning And Symbolism:
The snowdrop flower has several meanings depending on the context.
The most common meanings are:
- Hope, renewal, and romance
- Represents snow and the welcoming of spring.
- Given to a bride as a symbol of optimism, hope and virtue
- Expression of consolation, sympathy or as an expression of celebration.
- Message is typically positive, signifying hope, rebirth and a bright future.
- In Victorian times snowdrops were considered foreboding of death, due to their appearance in cemeteries and people wouldn’t allow them in their homes.
- They symbolize sympathy when given on a solemn occasion such as after death, loss or misfortune.
- Color meaning – it come in only one color, white – thus it symbolized purity, the traditional meaning of white flowers.
Snowdrops in Folklore & Legends:
According to legend snowdrops first appeared when Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden, after the Fall of Man, to a land where it was winter: cold, snowy, dark and barren. An angel consoled them by promising that, even here, spring would follow winter. As a token, he blew upon some falling snowflakes which, as they touched the ground, were transformed into snowdrops. In this way, hope was born. Ever since then, snowdrops have appeared during the bleakest winter weeks as a sign of the better times to come.
In Germany there is a different snowdrop legend. When God made all things on the Earth, He asked the snow to go to the flowers and get a little color from them. One by one the flowers refused. Then, very sad, he
asked a snowdrop to give it a little of its color and the snowdrop accepted. As a reward, the snow lets it bloom first whenever spring shows.
Another folklore says, the snowdrop is meant to represent ‘the passing of sorrow’.
In the West of England, it is believed that snowdrops cannot be brought into a house before the first chickens are hatched, or else all the eggs will be addled.
Snowdrops are so much like a corpse in a shroud that in some countries the people will not have them in the house, lest they bring in death.”
In “The Handbook of Folklore” published in 1913 by the Folklore Society, it was a common country belief that “Snowdrops may not be brought in at all, as they will make the cows’ milk watery and affect the color of the butter.”
Margaret Baker, in her well known book “Discovering the Folklore of Plants” 1969, mentions that, along with other spring flowers, bringing snowdrops into the house could affect the number of eggs that a sitting chicken might hatch.
Snowdrops were not held in fear everywhere “In Shropshire and Herefordshire the house was ‘cleansed’ when the snowdrop was carried in, with ceremony in the ‘white purification’.
If a girl eats the first snowdrop she finds in the spring, she will not get tanned in the summer. (don’t try this they are poisonous, this is just folklore)
In The Garden
There are around 20 species of snowdrop, of which Galanthus nivalis is the most common.
Snowdrops will grow on any soil type, but prefer rich, moist soils. When you purchase your snowdrop bulbs, plant them immediately after you receive them. The same goes if you are breaking up clumps and replanting. They should be immediately replanted. They are a tough bulb against cold, but when exposed to the air they dry out quickly and will not tolerate replanting. Snowdrops don’t often multiply from seed in a garden, but they will multiply by offsets. If you wait until the flowers fade but the leaves are still green, simply dig up the clump, separate the bulbs and immediately replant them in the new spaces that you already prepared.
The best time to plant snowdrops is in the early fall. Snowdrop flower bulbs (Galanthus) are grown in both cold winter regions and moderate winters, they truly dislike warm winters.
Snowdrops are a pest-free plant. Rabbits and deer won’t eat them either, and most chipmunks and mice will leave them alone
They have a surprisingly strong honeyed fragrance, which is drawn out by the heat of a room when brought inside. Snowdrops are good as a cut flower if they are cut with a longish stalk. They also grow well in pots, especially small terracotta ones. Plant a small clump in each pot using a general-purpose potting compost and keep them in a cool corner, bringing them into the sun in the New Year. Although you can use these as houseplants, they will last longer if kept outside in the cold.
MEDICINAL USES
Although snowdrops are toxic, they are used in medicine to help treat disease.
Galanthamine (or Galantamine), an alkaloid found in the snowdrop flower is a chemical ‘messenger’ responsible for sending signals between nerve cells in the brain. The term ‘alkaloid’ (meaning ‘alkali-like’) is difficult to define. The most usual definition is, a natural plant compound having a basic character and containing at least one nitrogen atom in a heterocyclic ring. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors have become the dominant form of therapy and is currently approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s in several countries. It has been helpful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, though it is not a cure. The substance also occurs naturally in daffodils and other narcissi.
It may be effective in treating diseases of the nervous system and is being studied for its effectiveness in treating HIV.
Extract – Apparently an extract from snowdrops was used to waterproof the fabric of the early planes, so they’re not just a pretty face.
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References:
https://www.babiesonline.com/flowersbirthmonth/snowdrop.asp
http://www.almanac.com/content/january-birth-flowers
http://literarycalligraphy.com/birth_flowers/snowdrops.html
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2412/
http://www.seriouslyflowers.com/birth-month-flowers.html
January Birth Month Flower: Snowdrops
https://www.facebook.com/notes/amigos-flower-adoration-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B7%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AA-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%A8/birth-flower/467789279941530/
http://birthflowerguide.com/january-birth-flower/
https://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A3694728
Snowdrops: welcome signs of spring
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galanthus
http://www.cornwalllive.com/little-known-history-surprising-facts-snowdrop/story-25906705-detail/story.html
http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/flowers/s.html
http://www.ecoenchantments.co.uk/mysnowdropmagicpage.html
http://www.flowerfairiespictures.com/january
http://www.peterorchard.me.uk/nature-notes/snowdrop-milk-flower
Information About Snowdrops And When To Plant Snowdrop Flower Bulbs
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