After watching American Beauty this evening, I was inspired to find the following verses describing the joy we are given because of Christ's glorious sacrifice.
Psalm 4:7
You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.
Psalm 5:11
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.
Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 51:12
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Psalm 63:5
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
Psalm 84:2
My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Psalm 119:111
Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
Proverbs 10:28
The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
Proverbs 17:22
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Isaiah 29:19
The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
Jeremiah 15:16
Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.
John 15:11
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 16:22
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
Acts 13:52
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Colossians 1:11
May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,
Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
James 1:2
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
1 Peter 1:8
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
and ...
my favorite verses:
Habakkuk 3:17-19
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19 God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places.
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hey Kious...we just got back from world changers and I am sitting at the Zabala's house...it won't be until tomorrow until I can post about WC...you will be surprised at everything that happened
Thanks for the encouragement, Christine. Or rather, thank you Lord God!
Did you like American Beauty?
very much, Shiloh. Mike recommended it to me. It was very well done. I was overwhelmed by the emptiness and lack of joy in EACH of the characters' lives which stood out in stark contrast to me against the joy we are given in Christ.
American Beauty is very much a secular portrayal of Ecclesiastes. The movie has a profound message about the emptiness in many people's lives in spite of material success.
You really LIKED that film? I chose not to see it because it looked like it would be the celluloid version of French existentialism...
Besides, there's enough joylessness and materialism all around in the Real World without subjecting myself to a contrived version of it...
Tell me again, *why* did you enjoy seeing other people's emptiness and joylessness, please?
*enjoy* is not a word I'd use to describe what i thought about the film, Meredith. appreciate, yes.
the portrayal of emptiness and discontent and sin showed me through contrast the brilliance of the precious gifts of joy, contentment, and real purpose that we have in Christ. For myself, I've been immersed in Christian community most of my life. I too often take God's grace for granted I'm thankful for the reminder of what my life could be like without the Holy Spirit in my life.
In addition, the film was remarkably well done. The plot and character development were superb ... even leaving many doors open after the film was over to contemplate what futures the characters had.
From http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/americanbeauty.htm ...
This film is uncomfortable because it reflects a very true and discouraging problem in Western Culture. It mirrors our dis-connected-ness with our families and friends. We spend most of our time wanting and needing meaningful relationships and yet we cannot see past the end of our own noses to see and appreciate those right in front of us.
Self-centeredness is the sin so forcefully presented in this film. We have become like the Marilyn Manson motto: we 'love hate,' and 'hate love'. Why is it that families all too often have the appearance of being happy (new car, great house, good job, paid bills) but are unhappy, and emotionally disconnected? Something is wrong in our culture. This film is a painful reflection of that fact.
“When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.”
(Eccl 2:11, HCSB)
Okay - I get it. Thanks. I have spent nearly all my life *outside* the Christian community, and find Christian fellowship still a rare, sweet thing, even after 17 years as a believer. I am around more non-Christians than Christians, as a rule (there just aren't that many Christians in academia) and the emptiness of life without Christ is painful to look at. Hence my movie choices tend to run to animated childrens' films and action flicks where the good guys always win...
Yeah, I think it amounts to the difference between escapist entertainment and art that is supposed to move you or affect you in a certain way -- both of which have their place. I love a good, fun movie sometimes.
"American Beauty" is certainly not a feel-good movie, and I wouldn't recommend it to everyone or in all contexts, but, as has been pointed out, it is a great film that shows the meaninglessness of life without Christ.
"Appreciate," not "enjoy." That's a great way to put it.
If you liked American Beauty, try Magnolia. They are two of my favourite films.
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