Remember

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

This is not Pollyanna, “think good thoughts and fly with Peter Pan.” Because Jesus Christ has come, good really does exist. Love exists and is defeating hatred. You have good things to encourage you and to meditate upon, feast upon those things.

What will you feed your soul upon? How many nihilistic, violent movies do you need to watch. How much profanity do you need to hear? How much violence do you need to consume? How much cynical political and sports commentary do you need to hear?

I’m not trying to give you a bunch of legalistic rules to follow and feel good about yourself. I am just asking you, what is it getting you?

You have a got a wonderful story to meditate upon, and be part of. Let that story feed your soul. Jesus came into the world to fulfill this promise:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

He is still doing it. Good news is proclaimed to the poor – our community groups could not find a place in Tulsa to volunteer to help the poor. The soup kitchens and homeless shelters did not have an empty time slot until April. Liberty is proclaimed to captives – go to the setting captives free website, and know that freedom has extended to many in this room. Sight has been given to the blind--people who have grown up in the church have finally seen the truth this year. The oppressed are set at liberty – I can point you to families filled with depressed people, homes that seemed settled under a cloud of darkness, they are not that way anymore.

God is at work, meditate on it, see it. How could Paul be so confident? 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day – The word of God strengthened him and restored is joy.