I wanted to share some quotes with you this morning out of Graham Cooke’s book, Approaching the Heart of Prophecy.  I really like his prophetic style and what he has to say about many things.  I thought you might be blessed by a few quotes as well.

If we perceive God to be harsh, demanding and prone to judgment, then our experience of Him is not going to grow into any great place of relationship. How do we make friends with a tyrant?  It is impossible because fear governs the relationship – fear of making mistakes, of saying the wrong thing, of doing a wrong act. Paranoia rules and peace is impossible.

         However, if we perceive that the Father has huge wells of compassion and mercy, which never run dry; if we know Him as being the one who is full of grace, rich in love, and abounding in love and truth; if He is slow to anger and incredibly patient toward us; if He is joyfully happy, with a sunny disposition; if His very cheerfulness can cover the world; if He is scandalously forgiving and generous; if He is the very epitome of goodness, so much so that we can only be transformed when we link our repentance with his goodness and kindness, then our whole personality is formed by such values.

         Jesus was always accused of lavishing too much time on sinners (Mt.19:11-13) and always had an answer for religious people.  God desires love and compassion in his people.

         We are called to pray, not condemn.  We are called as Jesus to intercede for a depraved world to the God who cares.  God takes care of His own wrath; He does not need our help.  (Graham Cooke, Approaching the Heart of Prophecy, p. 15)

There is a rising tide of evil in the earth and there is no rising tide of goodness to combat it. “We overcome evil with good” (Rom.12:21). What if the problems in the world are not lawlessness and crime, not poverty and sickness, not greed and selfishness, not drugs or terrorism, not abortion or immorality? What if the biggest problem in the earth is simply the lack of goodness? (Graham Cooke, Approaching the Heart of Prophecy, p.14)

 Joy is who God is, where He lives from, and what he does. He lives in perpetual, everlasting and eternal joy.  In His presence there is fullness of joy. The Father does not give us joy. He gives us Himself. He is absolute joy personified.  The atmosphere surrounding God is always joyful. We need to anchor our souls in the person of God and embrace his uninhibited delight in all things…. Joy is meant to overwhelm every negative emotion.  “Weeping may last for the night but joy comes in the morning” (Ps.30:5).  When joy is present, not negative emotion can flourish. Jesus was acquainted with grief (Is.53:3); it was not a close traveling companion. We need to be restored to the joy of our salvation, the delight and pleasure of our first major contact with the Lord.  Joy keeps all experience in God fresh. …  It is His plan for us to be joyful on a constant basis. “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full”(Jn.15:11). (Graham Cooke, Approaching the Heart of Prophecy, p.87)

These quotes from Cooke remind me that during this season of remembering God’s great gift to us, it would be good to really reflect on the joy of the Lord that comes from Him.  We all know the quip, “Life is hard, and then you die.”  Many believers reflect that sentiment more than the joy of the Lord. Some days I’m wearing the t-shirt.  But joy is a fruit of the Spirit, not somberness or depression or cynicism.

As we reflect on the birth of Christ, we might reflect on the angelic proclamation sent by the Father to us, to you.  “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today, in the town of David a savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly hosts appeared with the angel praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace to men on whom his favor rests’” (Lk.2:10-14).

God is joy.  Find Him and we find joy.  Be blessed this Christmas season.