The Gift of Suffering

For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. (Philippians 1:29 NLT)

Suffering a privilege? Really? What is it that motivates Paul to say such a thing? 

Recently I met a lady who is suffering. She has a little "hole" In her head where they removed part of her brain along with the tumor. Life is very hard for her, in many aspects, but yet she counts it a privilege to suffer for her Lord! She lost her ability to speak in surgery, but God gave it back to her and she uses it to praise and glorify The Lord. She lives to bless others, telling everyone who will listen (and even those who don't) how good God is, and how much He loves each one of us. God is using her in mighty ways. 

A friend recently shared this really big thought with me:

It's not about our story, but rather, it's all about His story.

God's perfect will for us does not include suffering. But guess what, He's a big enough God that He can not only sustain us through it, but He can actually bless us and others by it. Contrary to popular belief, we are not on this earth to be comfortable. We are in the middle of the most important conflict of all times. God loves us relentlessly, and He is concerned with our ultimate good, rather than our momentary happiness (though of course He delights in making us happy too). 

In suffering, we are given the opportunity to draw nearer to Him, to press in, to be strengthened in a way only possible in the midst of trial. If you ask God for the biggest, best, most incredible blessing He can give you, do you know what He will give you?

His only Son.

Everything comes back to Jesus. Jesus does not only give us good things, but He IS every good thing. Thus, if we have Him, we have all that we need, all that we could ever dream of! So if suffering leads to Jesus, then indeed, what a blessing and a privilege!

"And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne." (Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT)

"For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT)

By God's enormous grace may we not only stay strong in suffering, but may we be blessed beyond our wildest dreams as we allow Him to work out His good purpose in our lives. He is utterly trustworthy, entirely good, and unfailingly loving. We have nothing to fear as long as He holds us. And may we thank Him for the blessing of suffering.

Shout it from the mountaintop

It's one of those moments where silence is simply impossible. It's one of those moments where I just can't keep from shouting out from the mountaintop - "Look what Jesus did for me!! He is so good!"

I wrote in my prayer journal "Jesus, did You really just do what I think You just did? Did You really just show up so clearly in my situation? So vividly, so boldly, so confidently, You proved that Your presence makes all the difference"

I wish I could clearly describe what Jesus has done/is doing for me, but it really kind of transcends words. But He is teaching me that the way to Life often involves great pain. And I have a choice. Do I choose the way of temporary pain and eternal life, or do I choose what appears to be the easier path, that really leads to destruction?

For me, and for any followers of Jesus, we can expect hard roads and dark nights ahead. But in this one moment, I want to lay down a "stone of rememberance" and recognize and proclaim, that Jesus came through (and He's not done yet). He will always come through, especially when the night seems darkest. He is so good! His love is so deep! 

So today is a shout-it-from-the-mountaintop kind of day: I once was blind, but now I see, amazing Grace, His Truth sets me free! Taste and see for yourself just how wonderful He is.

Room in the Inn?

"And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn" 

Luke 2:7 ESV

Much has been said about the injustice of the King of Heaven being born in a stable. How lowly a birth place for such a Man. But today I started thinking about the inn, about the innkeeper and the other guests there. How sad that they missed out on such a magnificent experience! I wonder if things would have turned out any differently if there had been room in the inn? It seems like it was for good reason that the rooms were all full. I imagine they were all weary travelers, probably good people, thankful to have a place to lay down and rest. But there was still no room for Jesus.

What about in our hearts? Is there room for Jesus? He longs to fill us with blessing, but how can He if it's already full? There's lots of good stuff that can fill our hearts and lives. Friends and family, helping others, religion; none of these things are bad, but is there room for Jesus? And honestly, He is not content with just a little corner. He wants it all, every nook and cranny He wants to fill to overflowing. That's how the blessing flows out to others, when we are so full of Him that we can't hold it all in. 

I like the open hand metaphor. Instead of clinching life so tightly, trying to hold onto all the things we think we need, it's choosing to allow God access to all of us. In openness we find great freedom. God is free to clean out all the yuckiness, all the cancer, and replace it with more beauty than we can ever imagine. I wonder how many blessings I've lost out on because I simply didn't have any room.

"Anyone who tightly guards his life will lose it, but anyone who loses himself in reckless loving will gain eternal life"

~Jesus (paraphrased by Chris Blake)

This Christmas may we choose to offer Jesus a most wonderful gift: a heart with the vacancy sign out, stripped of all pretense and pride, ready to be filled with His love.

He is mine forever!

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. (Psalms 73:26 NLT)

I've been feeling a bit discouraged and overwhelmed lately. I've come a long way through this part of my journey, but I'm kind of ready for the scenery to change a little.

Tonight God reminded me of my current special verse (above). I just recently read it in a new translation and I realized how life-altering this concept is. The strength of my heart is not in my physical body, or even in my spirit (emotions or mind), but instead it is God who is the strength of my life. A force completly outside of me and my circumstances. And because I have accepted Him, He has promised to be mine forever! In the grand scheme of things it matters not whether I am weak or strong, because Jesus is more than sufficient. He remains my strength, meaning that my human frailty does not alter His great power, and neither does time. He is, was, and always will be.

I am encouraged! I don't need to spend my time worrying about doing all the right things, being successful in this world, or even my weaknesses. He has it all covered, and will never, ever leave me. My job is simply to stay close to Him and allow Him full access, keeping my eyes trained on Him.

I'm having trouble really fleshing out this concept, but the big change for me is related to learning to rely fully, completely, only on Jesus. He is big enough that my circumstances don't affect His ability to accomplish His purposes in me and in the world. There is no need for striving on my part to try and make myself be what I think I'm supposed to be. Thus I will learn to be more content in my circumstances because I know it has all passed through His hands first. My God is big, he loves me incredibly, and He is mine forever!

Living daily in the strength of Jesus, the journey continues :) Not too much longer now!

Blessed Hope

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13 KJV)

Jesus. Our Savior, Lord, and Friend. Our Blessed Hope. He alone makes life worth living and is everything to us. Looking forward to the wonderful day when His physical presence will be the ultimate realization of our daily hope.

I Saw One Weary

I saw one weary, sad, and torn,
With eager steps press on the way,
Who long the hallowed cross had born,
Still looking for the promised day;
While many a line of grief and care,
Upon his brow was furrowed there;
I asked what buoyed his spirits up,
“O this” said he—”the blessed hope.”

Verse 2

And one I saw, with sword and shield,
Who boldly braved the world’s cold frown,
And fought, unyielding, on the field,
To win an everlasting crown.
Though worn with toil, oppressed by foes,
No murmur from his heart arose;
I asked what buoyed his spirits up,
“O this!” said he—”the blessed hope.”

Verse 3

And there was one who left behind
The cherished friends of early years,
And honor, pleasure, wealth re-signed,
To tread the path bedewed with tears.
Through trials deep and conflict sore,
Yet still a smile of joy he wore;
I asked what buoyed his spirits up,
“O this!” said he—”the blessed hope.”

Verse 4

While pilgrims here we journey on
In this dark vale of sin and gloom,
Through tribulation, hate, and scorn,
Or through the portals of the tomb,
Till our returning King shall come
To tkae His exile captives home,
O! what can bouy the spirits up?
‘Tis this alone—the blessed hope.

(http://en.adventisthymns.com/1985/lyrics/441-i-saw-one-weary)

Together

It was a moment in time, a moment so simple, yet so beautiful and moving that there were tears in my eyes. I was playing with one of my favorite little boys. He was curled up inside a cardboard box pretending to be a baby cicada. A very cute baby cicada :)  But suddenly it just hit me (as it often does), how beautiful a gift it is just to simply be with other people. I'm not even sure how to describe it, but there's just something breathtakingly wonderful and special about being present with someone, especially someone you love. Suddenly the dirty dishes and unswept floor just don't seem quite so important. The worries about tomorrow somehow loosen their grip. I revel in these moments.

I've been learning a lot these last few years about the journey (the pilgrimage). There really can be joy in the journey, if we stop to find it. Sharing life with others, being present, walking together, learning together, encouraging one another, lifting each other up in prayer, bearing one another's burdens, these things all bring joy. We are the body of Christ after all, working together for one great purpose. I'm more grateful than I have words for, to be a part of this body, to know I am far from alone on my journey. It's often difficult in our individualistic society, to really connect with people. But this connection, this community, is one if the greatest gifts Jesus has given us. One which continues through eternity!

But even this great gift pales in comparison to the greatest gift. We have the privilege of a constant companion. One who never leaves our side, never gives up in us, even carries is when we need Him to. I still can't comprehend that the King of the universe would want to be present with me, walk with me! But it's true. He says:

"NEVER will I leave you. NEVER will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5, emphasis mine).

Life takes on an incredible sweetness when we walk with Jesus. His mere presence changes everything. Burdens are lighter, fears are banished, and there is joy! Just because He is. I can think of no greater gift than the presence and companionship of Jesus Himself. And He is everything. We need nothing else.

Together, we can face anything. Together, life is sweeter. Together we walk, together we live, together we fight. Thank you Jesus, not alone,

Together

The Moment of Truth

Fear. Pure, raw, fear must have nearly incapacitated the children of Isreal as they stood on the banks of the Red Sea. Why?! they must have cried to Moses. Why are we in this impossible place? The enemy is fast on our heels and there is no way out! We are hemmed in on every side. If God doesn't do something, we will die! It was the moment of truth. Would God indeed deliver them? 

"Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:13-14 NIV)

God made a way through the impossible. The people were hungry; God sent manna. They were thirsty; He made water gush from a rock. They were under attack, He saved them.Time and again God proved Himself faithful, and able to do what couldn't be done.

Fast forward. The scene is the same: God's people surrounded on all sides. No way of escape. Fear, confusion, uncertainty. Desperation. God! Why have you brought me here!? I've been trying so hard to follow You. What do I do?! How do I escape? Lord, if you don't intervene, I will not survive. The moment of truth: will God come through? Only this time it's you and me in the story. Our battles all look different, but we are all fighting them. The things we trust in might be different, but they all must be ripped away. Not until we come to that place, that place where there is nothing else, no one else, no other hope besides Jesus; only then can we know the answer for ourselves. 

"This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’ ” (2 Chronicles 20:15,17 NIV)

Never forget that Jesus is fighting for you. Never forget the love that motivated Him to give it all. Never forget where your strength lies or where victory comes from. And victory will come. In that moment of truth, that moment when there is only Jesus, we'll find that He is truely more than enough.

"Get going.....I’m giving you every square inch of the land you set your foot on—just as I promised Moses. .... It’s all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you. Strength! Courage!...Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. GOD, your God, is with you every step you take.” (Joshua 1:1-9 MSG)