Good morning to all on this Saturday, October 21st. What a wonderful time of the year it is with all of the magnificent signs of fall in full evidence - the beautiful multicolored assortment of leaves on the trees, the freshly dropped leaves coloring the ground, the crisp cool autumnal weather with frosty mornings, and the general feel of fall in the air. It is important to take the time to fully enjoy and appreciate each and every day given to us by God and make time to notice all the nuances of people, places and things in our lives. The full application of Psalm 118:24, This is the day which the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it, is reflected in the following comments taken from numerous commentators and commentaries about rejoicing and being glad each God-given day:
1. Each day has a suitable delightful aspect which should cause a high degree of joy
2. Each day has a case for comfort, hope, and seeds of joy
3. Each day has grace to enjoy fellowship with Christ which should produce intense delight and gladness
4. Each day should be a thanksgiving day for joy
5. Each day should be a spiritual day received by man to be joyful
6. Each day is a feast made for laughter
7. Each day should be to rejoice in His honor and our advantage
8. Each day we should overflow with joy
9. Each day we should endeavor to make it both happy and pleasant
10. Each day should produce gladness because He has shown His mercy
11. Each day ought to create joy and gladness because of the blessings of grace, peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation
12. Each day should be joyful because it is distinguished by God's favor
13. Each day should be solemnized to the honor of God with great joy
14. Each day should be a continual feast kept with joy
15. Each day is a day for service which should produce joy and gladness
16. Each day is sanctified by His glorious presence and work and is by His appointment
17. Each day should be observed with great thanksgiving and rejoicing
18. Each day should be lived without mourning or murmuring because the Psalmist provides a double reason to be glad in the Lord
19. Each day should lead to double joy - rejoicing in heart and glad in face both in secret and in public
If these are not adequate reasons to rejoice and be glad for/because of each day the Lord has made, I suggest focusing on the Psalmist's emphasis on our personal choice in the matter. He said, "We will rejoice and be glad in it." It is in our hands, we choose to rejoice and be glad or choose not to. What a wonderful verse the Psalmist has given us for each day of our lives - we have only to put it into practice every day and what a difference it will make those days we do.
Lord willing, I will be preaching tomorrow AM in both services. My viral infection is gradually improving and if there are no further complications, I will begin my sixth and final round of chemo on Monday. Thanks for all of your prayers and please continue as I enter my next round that I will not have complications.
By the way, my hair is beginning to grow back. I thought it might grow back thick curly and black like it was in my youth, but alas, it is thin, gray, and straight. Oh well, I will rejoice and be glad anyway and call myself "the silver eagle" instead of the "the bald eagle" :-)

Love in Christ,
Mel Brown