Friday, May 31, 2013

I thought we were toast for sure


2 Corinthians 1:8-11  We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. 11 And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our  safety.

Hey guys - we are gonna keep it real and it may make you a little bit uncomfortable. That's ok. That's my title for the next several verses in 2 Corinthians and here is the loose Trish Wilson translation:
We have suffered some really tough times. It was much more than we could ever handle on our own. We thought we were toast for sure. Then just when we were at the end of ourselves, me and my friends remembered that the only thing we can fully trust and depend on is God. He did his BIG GOD THING then, and He WILL do it again. We trust Him completely and He will continue to take care of us. And Don't Forget ... your prayer makes a difference. Lots of us will be able to praise and honor God for the way He uses the power of intercessory prayer.

Life gets hard sometimes. Expect it. Accept it. Don't be surprised by it.
Life will give you more than you can handle on your own. Get comfortable with that idea.
God is big enough for all of it - always has been - always will be.
Prayer matters. It makes a difference. It's a love language that I can share with my ABBA and you can too.

Lets Roll


Thursday, May 30, 2013

Sometimes life just hurts

Sometimes I make life hard and I make it hurt. Sin. Pride. Personal agenda. . . . . 
Sometimes it's not about sin ~ mine or that of someone else. Sometimes it's just life.
Sometimes life just hurts. Sometimes things get hard. Life just happens. People I love get sick or fall off skate boards and need stitches; cars break down or just wear out; children eat, sleep and grow and then none of their clothes or shoes fit; roofs leak and basements flood; husbands and wives disagree; jobs are lost; people do people things; my feelings get hurt; friends relocate; kids grow up, fall in love and move away. It's not that the world conspires against me. Occasionally life just happens.

Life moments can be overwhelming. They can take away my joy. They can take my breath away.  I can be left feeling deflated, defeated, discouraged and numb. Not every life event is designed to be a spiritual attack, but I can give Satan a spiritual stronghold in those times when life just happens. 


2 Corinthians 1: 3-7  All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

I still have choices. Do I let God be my comfort?  My first comfort? My best comfort? What if in this moment, the one good thing that comes is that at some time in the future I will be able to speak of God's comfort to someone else? What if in this moment I am suppose to let sister in Christ share with me how God's faithful comfort has sustained her? The Christian experience is shared. While my journey is my own, I am called to journey with others. God's not stingy and He doesn't want me to be either. He's the source of my comfort and he expects me to share. I know there will be struggle, so in those times I will seek Your comfort first God. Help me find ways to share You better. I don't want to be stingy when someone else is learning that ...sometimes life just hurts.