Joy, Love, and Defying Gravity

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It’s probably because I was watching the star of the movie “Wicked”, Cynthia Erivo, in an interview, because I woke up singing “It’s time to try defying gravity… I think I’ll try defying gravity… And you can’t pull me down…”

It’s catchy, I’ve enjoyed the musical since it first came out 10 or more years ago, love the twists of the plot line, even if we really wish we could fix the misunderstandings of her powers, and make everyone and everything live happily ever after. I am surely a Pollyanna – but you got to go with optimism…

The movie version is good, if only it was FULL LENGTH like the musical, then again that’s too long without intermission. I’m looking forward to the second part later this year. That’s OK, I know how it “ends” – all made up of course. 

Defying gravity – maybe we can think of not flying through the air, but Defying gravity of a situation. I don’t mean ignoring true gravity of sadness and horror, tragic circumstances too which may not be corrected. I mean defying the deliberate pull downs of ruining JOY, or evil ways trying to pull the darkness over light – it can’t do that. 

Love never fails, try defying “gravity” with that!

God is LOVE and we have JOY to break our earthly tethers and to keep moving even if the grief of life. Laugh through the tears and look bigger picture. Yes, cry when others cry – but rise up in knowing “Joy comes in the morning”

Jesus Himself knew to look past the evil knocking people down – many times defying Satan on individual scales, plus the ultimate defying gravity of RISING FROM THE DEAD. We know how it ends – with a new beginning – let us remember to not let this world hold us down – we are but travelers – and our home is Heaven.

Jesus wants us to believe in His Ultimate Win, and trust and praise God in all circumstances. Whether raising Peter’s mother-in-law from the dead, or chasing out impure spirits who know His Name and Power and Almightyness, Jesus Overcomes and so can we.

I can imagine Jesus singing movie lyrics too: “If we work in tandem, There’s no fight we cannot win, Just you and I, defying gravity, With you and I defying gravity, They’ll never bring us down”… 

EXACTLY !!! Joy, Love, and Defying Gravity. Jesus will lift us up!

Amen


Luke 4:31-44

Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit

Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

“Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.

All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.

Jesus Heals Many

Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.

At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.

At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.


Psalm 30 NKJV
The Blessedness of Answered Prayer – A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the house of David.

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up,
And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
O Lord my God, I cried out to You,
And You healed me.
O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave;
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.

Now in my prosperity I said,
“I shall never be moved.”
Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong;
You hid Your face, and I was troubled.

I cried out to You, O Lord;
And to the Lord I made supplication:
“What profit is there in my blood,
When I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise You?
Will it declare Your truth?
Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me;
Lord, be my helper!”

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.