Seeking Shelter - My Jesus, my Savior, my comfort, my shelter...

http://youtu.be/R752dEbs1ac   - Shout to the Lord - Darlene Zschech

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare of the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my GOD and I am trusting HIM." Psalm 91:1-2


I love this passage.  When I saw this photo of how the mommy bird was covering her chicks with her wings, it reminded once again of His invitation.  "Let me be Your Shelter and Protector."

Jesus invites us to rest under the shelter of His wings, yet we refuse His protection and safety.  Why is it so hard for us admit that we need Him to be our Shelter?

Matthew 23:37 NLT
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me."


Saturday, as we watched my grandson, Bryce, play T-Ball, his sister, Jaycie, was obviously hot from standing under the sun.  She didn't complain but I could see that she was uncomfortable.  She needed a shade to lessen the effects of the hot sun.  I told Jaycie to stand in front of me, in my shadow.  My shadow would be her shade.   So Jaycie stood in my shadow.  Unfortunately, my shadow wasn't quite big enough to provide complete shade for Jaycie, but it did help a little. 

After a while, Jaycie stepped out of my shadow, and moved back along side me again.  I couldn't understand why she didn't just stay in the shade I provided.  It reminded me of this passage from Matthew - "I would have gathered your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me."  How many times do I step out of His shade?  How many times do I fail to seek relief from the "heat" of my day by simply stepping under His Wing?

Psalm 91 has been on my heart lately.It's the first thing that comes to my mind when I want to offer comfort to anyone who is struggling or suffering. I want to say "live in the shelter of
the Most High and you'll find rest". Just to say those words brings a sense
of peace over me. He is my safe place, my refuge.

A while back, a friend sent this beautiful photograph to me with a verse from Psalm 91.

“He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings.

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” Psalm 91:4

I believe God puts these words on my heart to remind me.  He is telling me that He is my safe place and that HE will shelter me just like that momma bird shelters her babies. I hope that you can get the
same comfort that I have from meditating on Psalm 91. Read Psalm 91 and let every word speak to your heart. Every word in the bible is His Inspired Word - and He's speaking this Psalm, no probably singing this Psalm over you. He will be Your shelter - just let yourself live in that shelter of His Wing.  Listen to the spiritual blessings He provides if we'll just accept His shelter.

He will rescue me from every trap, every deadly disease. He will cover me under the shelter of His Wings. I do not have to be afraid. He is my Protector from anything that would threaten me.

My understanding is so limited, so influenced by my human perspective. I sometimes fail to see God's Protection when bad things happen to good people. But His Protection is real, even in those times. How else can I explain a mom watching her son slowly slip away after months of terrible
suffering? God provides comfort and shelter - when nothing else can soothe her heart, God brings a Peace that we just can't comprehend in our human minds.

God is sheltering and protecting, giving us a safe place to be when the world seems to be crumbling around us. If we could just fathom how short our time on earth really is, even if we live to be 100! This is not our life! Our LIFE is with Christ in Heaven. The only way I can come close to understanding this is to look at my time on earth as a mission trip. Just like one goes to
another country to work in a mission field, I, too, am "visiting" earth. My time here is meant to help others, to love others, to tell others about my Savior.

Just like a missionary provides for physical needs, I need to lend a helping hand to those who are in need, i.e. widows, orphans, the homeless, the helpless... When I reach out in love to those people, they just might see Jesus through me. Then, I can tell them about the Hope they can have, too.

God is my Shelter. I will have struggles on earth. But HE will bring me through those times - even use those very struggles to draw me closer to Him or maybe to draw someone else closer. I am convinced that God doesn't allow anything in my life that He will not also provide everything I need to get through it. I believe everything He allows is first filtered through His amazing love for me, and that if He allows it, it can have purpose - good can come from my suffering. And while I go through those difficult times, He will protect my heart and give me peace.


Holy Father, thank You for being my Protector, my Safe Place, my Refuge.
You've told me there will be trials and sorrows in this life, but Jesus has
overcome this world. In Him, Your precious Son, I have hope, I have a future
that far outweighs any momentary suffering I may endure here. Thank You
for sending Jesus to be my Savior. Thank You for loving me even when I
am so unlovable. Please shelter me from the Evil One and hold me close.
I know that with You I can face anything this world sends my way. You
alone are my God and I am trusting in You.
In the Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

John 16:33
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”


2 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.


http://youtu.be/wKjj1EezGso - Psalm 91 - Sonicflood



Psalm 91
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.


3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.


4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.


5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.


6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.


7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.


8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.


9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,


10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.


11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.


12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.


13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!


14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.


15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.


16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”

It's not about me.

http://youtu.be/J4xm2mtDj2c - This Life - Mercy Me


We teach our kids how to be the best at whatever they do. 
Do we teach them what's most important?

 My life is not my own.  Not only did You create me, You sought me and bought me.  You paid the price for my admission into Heaven with Your precious blood.  You are my true Treasure and I adore You. 

I want to make much of You, Jesus.   Please help me not live a wasted life.

http://youtu.be/EFl2qi8N4gk - Much of You - Steven Curtis Chapman




Don't Waste Your Life!

I just started reading John Piper's book, "Don't Waste Your Life".   He shares a story of when his dad was a preacher and would visit different churches to share the gospel.  One night, there was an old man who responded to the alter call.  The old man's friends had been praying for him for years and years,and he never responded. But for whatever reason, this night, the old man finally heard.
He finally understood that he was a sinner in need of a Savior.  Mr. Piper says he still remembers
the words the old man said to his dad as he sat on that bench with tears in his eyes, "I wasted it. I wasted it!"   He knew that he had lived his whole life without understanding the real meaning and purpose of life.  He had so much regret.

John Piper said that one moment impacted him more than any other experience.  He determined right then that he didn't want to get to the end of his life, look back and say "I've wasted it!".  Neither do I.

Unfortunately, I did waste several years chasing my own happiness.  I was pursuing the American Dream.  It took much too long for me to finally see that the happiness I was seeking was meaningless because it was self-centered.  It was all about me. 

God's purpose for me is not to gather as many toys as I can.  His purpose for me is not to be successful in my job or famous for my talents/skills.  His purpose is not that I be "happy".  His purpose is for me to glorify Him, to reflect His light, to those He puts on my path.  His purpose for me is that I would be so in love with Him that others would be able to see His awesome goodness and love and compassion in my life ... His plan is for me to be full of joy because of my complete devotion to Him.  When I'm completely wrapped up in His love, it consumes every part of my existence.  That brings pure joy.

Honestly, I used to think God was a little, dare I say it? - full of Himself? Really, He created us to worship Him?  He created us for His glory?  Lord, please forgive me!

Isaiah 29:16 NLT
How foolish can you be?

He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay!
Should the created thing say of the one who made it,
“He didn’t make me”?
Does a jar ever say,
“The potter who made me is stupid”?


Never mind the fact that we're His creation to do with as He pleases.  Never mind that He is Creator and Sustainer of the Universe and has every right to do whatever He choses.  How dare I,  the lump of clay, question the potter!  

Almighty God is Supreme over everything and everyone.  He created the Universe and sustains it with His Word.  He deserves all our adoration and praise and devotion.  The fact that He created us to be in a relationship of love with Him is too wonderful to take in.  He want us to know how awesome and great He really is and that has nothing to do with pride or selfishness.  It has everything to do with Him wanting us to experience His glory so that we can share in His amazing love and have overwhelming joy at the very idea that this Awesome God would want us to be His children.  To realize that The Creator of the Universe seeks a relationship with us so that we can experience His great love... well, the only response to that is total adoration and gratitude. 

My heart yearns to bring Him praise.  When I begin to understand how much He loves me,  He becomes my true Treasure and my heart's desire is to help others to accept His gracious gift of eternal life. Like my Father, I want everyone to share this unbelievably wonderful relationship with a loving, caring God.

Do people who know me know that Jesus is my Treasure?

Most of us have treasures here on earth.

Matthew 6:21 NIV
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Too many times our real treasures are sports, education, careers, keeping up with the Jones'.   We take time out for God on Sunday mornings, maybe, if it doesn't conflict with our pursuit of our other "treasures".  We put Him last on the list, when He should really be the only thing on our List that matters.  In my pursuit of the American Dream, the more things I had, the more things I wanted.  Bigger car, nicer house, more clothes... I wanted to be noticed for how I looked.  I wanted people to see me as successful.  I wanted people to like me. I wanted things for me!  But no matter how much I accomplished and accumulated, the excitement of the moment, that flitter of happiness didn't last very long  before I needed something else to make me happier. 
 
Chasing the American Dream can be like a drug.  We become addicted to having more stuff, accomplishing more things, becoming more famous, successful, popular...  But the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, made a very wise statement:   "It's all meaningless".

"Don't waste Your Life" is about making every moment really count for Eternity.  When I die, I'm not going to be able to take anything I own to heaven with me.  When I stand before my Holy God, it won't matter how many earthly accomplishments I had.  It won't matter if I was the best athlete the world had ever seen.  It won't matter to Jesus how "smart" I was in school or how much success I had in my career.   My large bank account won't count for anything.   All those "treasures" I valued so much will be left behind.

What will matter as I stand before God?  

Two things.

Did I love the Lord my God with all my heart, mind and soul. 

Did I love my neighbor as I love myself?


Matthew 22:36-45 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?”
37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

  What I am finally discovering is that when I seek happiness my way, it never really lasts.  But when I seek to bring honor and glory to my Savior and God, I find not only happiness, but Joy.  True Joy comes from making God my heart's desire, not because He commands it, but because I am so amazed and grateful for what He has done for me.    When I seek Him first, I find joy.  God is so good.  He wants me to have a fulfilling life on earth, but He wants even more for me to be with Him for all Eternity, to share His glory.  His purpose is for us to bring Him glory, not because He's selfish, but because He wants us to grasp how awesome His love is so that our lives will  reflect that to others so that they, too, might find the joy that He offers.

"It was not always plain to me that pursuing God’s glory would be virtually the same as pursuing my joy. Now I see that millions of people waste their lives because they think these paths are two and not one."   - John Piper

When we make Christ our true Treasure, we do all things for His glory.  When we love Christ as He loves us, His amazing love overflows in our hearts so that our natural response is to love others.  We seek to do good, to encourage, to build up, to bless...  When our eyes are set on Eternity, earthly things take a distant second place in our priorities.  When I'm in traffic and someone cuts me off, I don't care.  It doesn't matter.  If my team doesn't win the big championship, I'm disappointed but not broken.  It really doesn't matter, not Eternally.  What does matter is how I treat others.  Do I reflect the Glory of God?  Can others see Jesus in me? 

Luke 6:38 New International Version (NIV)

38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

How many of us read this verse and immediately think, "okay, if I want God to bless me, I need to give to others.  So, I'll give to others so that I can be blessed."  ???     I've thought that.  If I give - I'll get, right?   That's not what this verse means at all.  Jesus is saying that He wants us to give to others - our time, our resources, our money... but not to get something in return.  He wants us to give  out of love.   If I  give $1000 to help my friend in Kenya with his orphanage because I love him and want to help those kids, that doesn't necessarily mean God is going to give me $2000 back because I  gave $1000.   The "good measure" I receive back is worth so much more than money.  I get back pure joy in knowing that my little offering made a difference in the lives of 12 children.  My joy from being part of that ministry is pressed down, shaken together and running over!  I don't give to get back.  I give from love and my God blesses me with incredible joy!

When I stand before God, all my earthly accomplishments, all the material possessions I have accumulated will seem like nothing.  The only thing that will go with me into Eternity is the love I showed to others.  All the "good deeds" I've done with the intention of being recognized or praised won't count at all.  Only the things I've done out of love for God and others will stand with me on that day.

1 Corinthians 13:3
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.


A wasted life is a life spent pursuing my own happiness.  I don't want to look back at the end of my life and realize that I wasted it.   We're here on earth for such a short time, even if we live to be 120 years old, that isn't even a blink in the face of Eternity.  What will matter to us when we stand before God?   How many awards we received on earth?  I don't think so. 

The worse thing about a wasted life is that if I don't use my life to reflect Jesus to those around me, I miss opportunities to draw others to Christ.  When I make my child's athletic accomplishments the center of my life, when I focus on my child getting the best academic education, when I emphasis my child's physical beauty, intelligence, skills or talents, but fail to teach him the most important thing, I will have failed at being the mom God intended me to be.  All those other things are wonderful and cause for celebration. And they can be opportunities to reach those people around us. If I'm a great baseball player, I can be the godly influence on my team.  If I'm a wealthy business man, I can use my wealthy to help others financially.  God wants us to use our talents and skills for His glory - not our own.  If He gives us the gift of  influence because of our successes, we owe it to Him to use that influence to draw others to Christ, to lift Him up - not ourselves.

I want my children's true treasure to be Christ.  I want them to consider everything else as garbage compared to knowing Christ.  When my children stand before God, I don't want them to look at me and ask "Mom, why didn't you tell me what was most important?"  

Philippians 3:8 NLT
Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.


I have prayed for God to show me His purpose for my life.  I want to accomplish all He has for me to do on this earth.  There have been many times when I couldn't see what He had for me.  I couldn't understand why God wouldn't take away the difficult circumstances that I faced.  Couldn't I serve Him better if I didn't have those worries?  Surely, I could accomplish more for the Kingdom if I weren't weighted down with my own problems and concerns.  But a walk through the Bible reminds me that God uses difficult circumstances in powerful ways, if we are willing to allow Him to work through us during those times.  I have finally come to realize that He has told me my purpose.  Not once or twice but many times throughout His Word.  My purpose is to bring Him glory.  I accomplish that by loving HIM will all my heart, soul and mind and by loving those around me.
 
1 Corinthians 13:4
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

http://youtu.be/6dRoVMUMUEQ - This is my temporary home - Carrie Underwood

  

http://youtu.be/dY0hUQFUSWw - Praise You in the Storm -     Casting Crowns

Psalm 121


1 I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from?


2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.


3 He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.


4 Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.


5 The LORD protects you; the LORD is a shelter right by your side.


6 The sun will not strike you by day or the moon by night.


7 The LORD will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life.


8 The LORD will protect your coming and going both now and forever.




Mark 4:35-40
As evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with His head on a cushion. The disciples woke Him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care      that we’re going to drown?”


39 When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then He asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

I love my New Living Translation Bible.  That last sentence in the 1996 edition of the NLT says
"Do you still not have faith in me?"    That hits home.

In the middle of suffering or struggles, I sometimes cry out just like the disciples did.

"Jesus, don't you care that I'm drowning here?"  

Have there been times when you just felt like Jesus was too busy with everyone elses problems to help you with yours?  Maybe you wondered if He really cared? I think most of us have felt that way at one time or another. 

I'm so thankful that God chose to include this story in His inspired Word.  Can you imagine being in that boat with the disciples; the waves were threatening, water was rising in the boat, the situation was looking hopeless.   Some of the disciples were seasoned fishermen and had most certainly dealt with the the tumultuous Sea of Galilee before.  Violent, unexpected storms were not uncommon on the lake.   Maybe because they had experienced other life threatening situations on this Lake, they knew how serious the situation was, and they couldn't understand why Jesus was not worried.  They were scared and He just didn't even seem to care.

I have the honor and blessing  of interceding in prayer for several amazing Christians.  Through personal friendships and by following new friends on The Care Page and The Caring Bridge websites, I have had a front row seat witnessing  as these friends were tossed to and fro on their own Sea of Galilee.  The waves and winds threatened and the waters rose to the point where their boat was destined to sink.  Yet these steadfast believers trusted in Jesus to calm the storms - in His perfect timing.   I'm sure they have days when they just don't understand why He's taking so long to "wake up" to their crisis, but they keep trusting.  The reason they have faith even when it seems God is "sleeping", is because they know Him and they trust His great love.

Romans 8 paints a beautiful picture of Christ's love for us.  Our lives on earth may not be smooth sailing every day.  We may face high winds, our boat may even fill up with water, but Paul reminds us that Christ is still with us.  We should never confuse His silence for indifference.  When the storm rips and destroys everything we hold dear, HE is still in control.  He is still Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.  And He loves us more than we can imagine.

We forget that His focus is on our Eternity - not just on our short, little boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. 

The letter to the Romans was written in anticipation of what the believers would soon be facing.  Unbelievable hardship and persecution was coming.  Some of the believers would lose their very lives because of their faith in Christ.  Paul wanted them to know that it was not going to be easy but heaven would be more than worth any pain or suffering they endured.  He wanted them to be ready to face the storm with the full knowledge that no matter what happened, nothing would ever shake the love Christ had for them.  Nothing could separate them from the love of Christ.

Romans 8
15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.


The Future Glory


18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) 26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.


38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 
Bad things happen to good people.  The psalmist in Psalm 44 pleads with God for help.  This psalm may have been sung at the occasion when faithful Jehoshaphat was surrounded by his enemies and the Levites sang to the Lord before the battle.  

Can't you just hear them pleading with God?

Are You asleep God?  

Have You forgotten about us? 

Why won't You do something?

Psalm 44
For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.


1 O God, we have heard it with our own ears—
our ancestors have told us of all you did in their day,
in days long ago:


2 You drove out the pagan nations by your power
and gave all the land to our ancestors.


You crushed their enemies and set our ancestors free.


3 They did not conquer the land with their swords;
it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory.
It was your right hand and strong arm
and the blinding light from your face that helped them,
for you loved them.

4 You are my King and my God.
You command victories for Israel.

5 Only by your power can we push back our enemies;
only in your name can we trample our foes.


6 I do not trust in my bow;
I do not count on my sword to save me.


7 You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies;
you disgrace those who hate us.


8 O God, we give glory to you all day long
and constantly praise your name. Interlude


9 But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor.
You no longer lead our armies to battle.


10 You make us retreat from our enemies
and allow those who hate us to plunder our land.


11 You have butchered us like sheep
and scattered us among the nations.


12 You sold your precious people for a pittance,
making nothing on the sale.


13 You let our neighbors mock us.
We are an object of scorn and derision to those around us.


14 You have made us the butt of their jokes;
they shake their heads at us in scorn.


15 We can’t escape the constant humiliation;
shame is written across our faces.


16 All we hear are the taunts of our mockers.
All we see are our vengeful enemies.


17 All this has happened though we have not forgotten you.
We have not violated your covenant.


18 Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path.


19 Yet you have crushed us in the jackal’s desert home.
You have covered us with darkness and death.


20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods,


21 God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.


22 But for your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.


23 Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep?
Get up! Do not reject us forever.


24 Why do you look the other way?
Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?


25 We collapse in the dust, lying face down in the dirt.


26 Rise up! Help us!


Ransom us because of your unfailing love.


He most certainly has ransomed us because of His unfailing love. Yet sometimes we go through struggles that seem so unfair.  What did we do?  How can change it?  How can we make things right so the suffering will stop?  But sometimes, our suffering is not a punishment but a battle scar that He can use to demonstrate our loyalty through the suffering. - Life Application Bible

We are here for His glory.  Our purpose is to shine for Him and point others to His Son who has graciously offered Eternal Life through His suffering.  When I think about that, my suffering doesn't seem very significant.  Heaven will be so worth anything I have to face here on earth.

There's a scene in The Hunger Games where a young girl volunteers to take her little sister's place in a battle that almost is certain to end in her death.

Twenty four children from the ages of 10-18 are selected by drawing names out of a pot. These twenty four children must fight each other until only one child is left alive.

I cry every time I remember that scene from the book where Prim's name is drawn and Catniss, her big sister, rushes forward screaming

"I volunteer, I volunteer!"


It was Prim's turn to compete in the Hunger Game which would mean much suffering and pain, almost certain death for Prim. Catniss loved her little sister too much to allow that suffering.
I am so moved by Catniss' sacrifice...


Then I remember... that's what Jesus did for me.



He Volunteered!  He took my place.

11 “I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.


14 “I am the Good Shepherd; I know My own sheep, and they know Me, 15 just as My Father knows Me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to My voice, and there will be one flock with one Shepherd.


17 “The Father loves Me because I sacrifice My life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can take My life from Me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what My Father has commanded.”


There's a difference between being willing to die for a family member or close friend.  I think I would be willing to do that.  Most certainly, I would do it for my family.  But to volunteer to die for someone who despised me?  To be willing to be tortured to death for someone who treated my child horribly?  No way.  I just wouldn't.  But that's what Jesus did.  He volunteered.  Even though I turned my back on Him so many times.  Even though I fail to  acknowledge all He's done for me...  He took my punishment yet I have so little regard for that great sacrifice...

Even still, He was willing to die for me.  

I cry when I remember the scene from The Hunger Games, when Catniss steps up to take Prim's place.  That moves me deeply to see the love she had for her little sister.  But am I moved when I  think about the love Jesus has for me?  I don't think I understand just how much He loves me, otherwise my whole life would be a living sacrifice to Him filled with gratitude and praise.


Paul understood Christ's love.  When he finally realized that Jesus was the Son of God, Paul sacrificed every thing to carry the message of God's love to everyone, but especially to the Gentiles.  Not only did he give up his respected lifestyle and status as a Pharisee, he suffered great persecution and eventually death, because he wanted everyone to know Jesus was the Messiah that had been promised.  

Paul sent a letter to the believers in Ephesus to let them know not to lose heart because of his sufferings.  They had heard of his suffering, and Paul knew they were concerned for him and afraid about the future.  Paul knew heaven was worth whatever he had to endure on earth, and he wanted the Ephesians to know that, too,  so that they would stand firm.  Because Paul understood what Christ had done for him, he considered it an honor to suffer for His Namesake.

Ephesians 3:12-21
12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.


Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth


14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.


20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.


I think if I ever began to truly comprehend how much God loves me, nothing in this world could get me down. No struggle, no suffering, no loss, nothing would matter except Christ crucified.  I want to know His love more deeply so that it overflows from me to everyone God puts in my life. So that, like Paul, I will consider it a honor to suffer for His Name. 

http://youtu.be/D9S86nMqaLg - Amazed - Phillips Craig and Dean

Father, I fall to my knees and lift up my prayer to You,  the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You will empower me with inner strength through Your Spirit. Lord Jesus, make Your home in my heart as I put my trust in You. Make my  roots grow down into Your love and keep me strong. Give me the power to understand, as all Your people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. Help me experience Your love, Jesus, though it is too great to understand fully. Make me complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You.


Holy God, may all glory be to You, for You are able, through Your mighty power  within me, to accomplish infinitely more than I might ask or think. All glory to You in Your church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

http://youtu.be/k_MyC6kJzPg - Unfailing Love - Chris Tomlin

http://youtu.be/VpodVp6LH8s - Mercy came a running - Phillips Craig and Dean

The mercy I show is the mercy I will receive.  I could be in trouble.  I'm not always so merciful. 

Do I really feel any better when I choose to retaliate when someone treats me harshly?  I don't think so.  I might feel better for a moment, but it doesn't last.  You know why?  Because that person who treated me harshly will just lash out at me again in defense.  It becomes a vicious, never ending battle of words and attitude.  What if I offered forgiveness instead of retaliation? What if I blessed my enemy instead of cursing? 

This is not my idea.  It comes straight for God.  He gave us so many examples of how to forgive and how often.  And yes, He is talking to you about your circumstance.  Whatever wrong has been done to you, God calls you to forgive.  Just like He forgives.  He not only forgives, He forgets. 

Matthew 18:21-35 NLT

21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”


22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!


23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.


26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.


28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.


29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.


31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.


35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

Forgiving  isn't just a suggestion.  It's a critical part of our Christian walk.  It sets us a part from the world.  It's set Christianity a part from every other religion.

I was reading in 1 Peter this morning and I came to one of my favorite passages.  It's not always easy to obey these instructions, but we are called to bless those who insult us.  This is what makes us different from the world - not retaliating, not insisting on our own way but responding to insults with blessings:

1 Peter 2:18-23 NLT
For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.


21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.

1 Peter 3:8-12 NLT
8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. 10 For the Scriptures say,


“If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.


11 Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.


12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
and his ears are open to their prayers.


But the Lord turns his face  against those who do evil.”

I don't always do this well.  It's our human nature to become indignant when someone offends us.
We are all "right fighters" as Dr. Phil calls it.  When we think we have been mistreated or that someone has treated us unfairly, we get indignant.  "How dare that person treat me that way!"  Right?   We hold grudges and even after an apology, sometimes we still remember and refuse to be merciful.  That's not the way God intends us to behave.

All you have to do is take a little trip down your Face Book page to see unforgiveness.  You can see people "facing off" regarding some real or imagined wrong.   We use Face Book to ridicule those who have offended us. We hold the offender up for the judgment of others.  After all, it's not fair for people to treat us badly.  We deserve justice!   Even though no name might be used, generally, our friends know who has "done us wrong".  But do we really feel any better for having told the world we've been mistreated? 

God calls us to be different.  Our lives should reflect the attitude Jesus had towards us.  He died for us, while we were still sinners!  He died for us and offered us His Hand in love and forgiveness.  Some of us have reached back and accepted His gracious Gift.  Some of us turn our backs on His mercy.  Yet, He still stands offering His gift if we'll just receive it.

Do I offer my hand in forgiveness to those I feel have hurt me?  Or do I cling to my rights? 

If we are ever going to win over the world for Christ, non-believers have to start seeing that our lives are different.  They should see us loving the unlovable.  They should see us offering mercy instead of retaliation.  We should always be the first one to make a  move towards reconciliation, and if we're rejected, we should never put a message on Face Book that shouts out of our unforgiveness. We bless instead of curse.  When we do, we make Jesus proud of us.  The angels rejoice!

We are to be different.  That's our purpose while on earth. 

If we are merciful to the undeserving, others can see Jesus living in us, giving us the ability, the strength, the love to be like Him.  If we really do that, others will want Christ in their lives, too.

 Instead of retaliating with insults, what if we showed mercy?  What if we offered a blessing instead of insults?

That's what Jesus did for us.  He did nothing to deserve the persecution He received, yet He left His defense in the Hand of His Father.  Can we do that, too?  Or do we deserve better than Christ?  We have all disrespected Jesus at one time or another.  I do it all the time - every time I choose to do things my own way instead of listening to His direction.  I disrespect His divine wisdom and love by thinking I deserve better than He received on this earth.  He pleads with us to treat people the way He treated them - with mercy and love.  Yet we have the audacity to think we have a right to lash out at perceived wrongs directed at us. 

Lord, forgive me for thinking I deserve to be treated better than you were treated.  Forgive me for my unforgiveness towards others.  Purify my heart.  Renew in me a right spirit.  Help others to see You living in me - help me to return blessings instead of insults to those I think have treated me unfairly.  Help me to be a living sacrifice for You. Thank You for Your gracious mercy.  I do not deserve Your forgiveness yet You give it so freely.  I love You, Lord.  Please, change my heart and make me more like You.

http://youtu.be/J4xm2mtDj2c - This Life - Mercy Me

Adversity is an opportunity to let His light shine through me.

Can you imagine what it must have been like for the early church?

Persecution was almost unbearable.  Christians were being tortured and murdered for their beliefs.  They were forced to flee from their homes to protect their families from certain death.  They had to leave everything they had known and sometimes that was other family members who had not accepted the message of Hope that Christ offered.  They just left everything.  These uprooted Christians could easily get discouraged and wonder if the message they had accepted was real.  You can be sure the Enemy played on their emotions, feeding them lies, doing anything to shake their faith.

Then Peter who understood very well about persecution writes a letter of encouragement to them.
He reminded them that God the Father had chosen them.  He repeated the message that they had already received.  He gave them Hope that comes from the knowledge of the gospel.  He told them
everything that they were enduring would be worth it.  Whatever price they had to pay, Eternity with God was worth every tear, every struggle, every suffering.
I tried to read this letter of encouragement today, thinking how much it must have meant to those persecuted Christians.  As I read, I thought how often I can have those same discouraging thoughts.  No, I have not been tortured and forced to leave my home.  Most of my family and friends are believers so I don't worry about being ostracized because of my faith.  But there are days when I feel overwhelmed and wonder why God won't make my struggles go away.  In my heart, I know His plan is best.  I know He loves me and I trust Him completely.  But still, why?  Why does it have to be so hard? 

I see others who seem to have it so easy.  They go about their lives doing whatever they want to do, without a thought of how God wants them to live.  And everything seems to go their way.  What's up with that?  It's not fair.  At least from my earthly perspective.

The problem is that I forget that this world is not my home.  For a little while, Satan is prince of this world.  Of course he would want evil to look enticing.  Of course he would make a godless life seem attractive, successful, blessed.  He is the master of deception and wants to destroy you and me, and everything that matters to us.  What better way than to lure us into his pit than by making his way seem so pleasant.

I know without a doubt that God is more powerful than the Enemy.  But for a little while, He has given Satan power on earth.  But... He also gave us Power over the Enemy through Christ.  Whatever Satan throws at us, God gives us His Strength and His wisdom to overcome any challenge.  And when we listen to God and follow His plan for living a godly life, we come out stronger and better able to be His witness to others.  Those very struggles that Satan tries to use to destroy us, God can use to make us stronger in our faith. 

Whatever we face on earth can be used for good if we follow God.  This life is so short. While we are here, we have two choices:  to live for Christ or to live for ourselves.  Every trial we face can be either a living testimony to our trust in the Lord, or we can allow Satan to use it to tear us down and destroy our witness.  I want my life to be a living sacrifice of praise and gratitude for all Christ has done for me.  I want others to see me rising victoriously through every obstacle, every adversity.  I can't do it on my own, but Jesus has promised to give me everything I need to live a godly life that honors Him.

This is the beginning of Peter's love letter to believers who have been facing such persecution and hardship.  He understood the pain and suffering.  But he also knew what a precious gift they had been given.  Eternal life through Christ!  That's what he wanted them to remember. He wanted them to know it was all going to be worth it.

If you have a moment, read all of 1 Peter.  It is packed with words of hope and encouragement.

1 Peter 1 New Living Translation (NLT)

Greetings from Peter


This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.


I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

May God give you more and more grace and peace.

The Hope of Eternal Life


All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,  and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.  And through your faith, God is protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.


So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.  These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.


You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.  The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls.

This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when He told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and His great glory afterward.


They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.


A Call to Holy Living


So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.  So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.  But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.  For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”


And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of Him during your time as “foreigners in the land.”  For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver.  It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.  God chose Him as your ransom long before the world began, but He has now revealed Him to you in these last days.


Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because He raised Christ from the dead and gave Him great glory.


You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.


For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.  As the Scriptures say,

“People are like grass;
their beauty is like a flower in the field.
The grass withers and the flower fades.
But the word of the Lord remains forever.”


And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.


As the old song goes "I never promised you a rose garden".   Faith isn't faith until it's tested, right?
Faith is believing when you can't see.  Trusting God's way when your way seems so much better.  I can truly say the struggles have made me draw closer to God.  My faith has been tested, not as much as some others, but, but like Paul,  I know in whom I believe and I know that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him for that Day.

1 Timothy 1:8-12 NKJV
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.



Peter's letter to the believers was full of love and encouragement and hope.  He wanted them to understand that as hard as it was, they were not alone. He wanted them to know that the Holy Spirit was with them every single step.  And to the degree they were willing to allow HIM access, they could tap in to the Power and Strength of God, through His Holy Spirit living in them.

This verse in 2 Peter is what started me thinking about my walk with Christ this morning.  I feel so inadequate to live a godly life.  Like Paul, I too, feel that the good I want to do, I don't.  And the things I should not do, that's what I do.  But I don't have to live like that.  I have the strength, courage, and power to live each day for Christ - through His Strength.  He has given me everything I need.  Thank You, Lord.


2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."

"despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us."

http://youtu.be/MUWbmtbzDno - Praise You in the storm - Casting Crowns

Bearing my own cross

Luke 9:20-35 New Living Translation (NLT)


20 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!”

Jesus Predicts His Death

21 Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. 22 “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”


23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?


Thanks Ben, for this post on FB.


"All the children of God have a cross to carry. They have trials, troubles, and afflictions to go through for the Gospel’s sake. They have trials from the world, trials from the flesh, and trials from the devil. They have trials of feeling from relations and friends – hard words, hard conduct, and hard judgment. They have trials in the matter of character – slander, misrepresentation, mockery, suggestion of false motives – all these often rain thick upon them. They have trials in the matter of worldly interest. They often have to choose whether they will please people, and lose glory; or gain glory and offend people. They have trials from their own hearts. They have each generally their own thorn in the flesh, which is their worst foe. This is the experience of the children of God. Some of them suffer more, and some less. Some of them suffer in one way, and some in another. God measures out their portions like a wise physician, and cannot err. But never, I believe, was there one child of God who reached paradise without a cross."

J.C. Ryle

John 16:33 New Living Translation (NLT)


I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

We are never promised a happy, "no problems" kind of life.  We are promised trials and sorrows. And even though God warned us these things would come, we get angry at Him for allowing bad things to happen.  We forget that His power works best in our weaknesses.  When we are weak, then we are strong because He comes along side us to get us through.

Paul suffered from a "thorn in his side".  We don't know what that thorn was, whether it was a physical illness, chronic pain, maybe it was emotional - the loss of a spouse or relationship with family/friends, maybe it was mental struggles... We don't know, but whatever it was, it was chronic and God wouldn't take it away. 

Don't you just know Paul struggled with that?  He had so much to do for the Kingdom and this thorn must have slowed him down.  He asked God three times to take it away.  Have you ever been there?  I have.  I know that pain, that feeling that God isn't listening.  But instead of blaming God, Paul used that thorn to allow Christ to have full reign over his life and struggles. 

2 Corinthians 12
12 This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. 3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know 4 that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.


5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.




I don't believe God causes the bad things in my life, but He most definitely has taken some of my worst moments and used them for good.

God in His infinite wisdom and love, carefully filters every struggle, every suffering, every unbearable circumstance through His unfathomable love for us, allowing only those things that can have purpose and meaning in our lives and/or in the lives of people whom we can influence for Him.  His purpose is for us to have fellowship/relationship with Him and with others.  Struggles can facilitate those relationships.

We grow closer to God when we realize we cannot face this life without Him.  We grow closer to one another when we see our brothers and sisters in Christ rushing to our side to help carry our burden when we are suffering.  This is true communion in the Spirit.  Loving as we have been loved.  This is what God wants for us.  His perfect fellowship.

Jesus told us we each have our own cross to bear.  He warned us about the trials and sorrows in this world,   but He also gave us our Hope.  He has already overcome the world and everything thing in it.  He has promised to provide all we need to get through whatever struggle or suffering or trial we may be called to endure.  All we have to do is keep our eyes on Him, trusting in His Strength and His Power that He has promised to provide. Listening and following where He leads us.



Philippians 4:12-13 NLT
¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Romans 8:35-37
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)

37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.




http://youtu.be/Hlh6_5znn7U  - Lead me to the Cross - Francesca Battistelli