Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Crushed down but not destroyed

I must confess that these past couple of have been very joyous and yet also very perplexing, if not downright sad at times.


Don't be too concerned, nothing tragic is going on with me personally, but it seems a number of friends and acquaintances of mine are struggling through things that I can't even wrap my brain around. I just received an e-mail from a dear friend who recently lost his mother to cancer. He shared with me that his dad suffers from loneliness and helplessness quite often.

Another dear friend just lost her mother right after her first baby was born. She suffers from not having her mom to call and ask practical questions to or ooo and ah over her baby with.

On Sunday I sat in Church next to another friend who's husband was still in the hospital being treated for cancer. They only found out recently, but their lives are already vastly different. She looked tired.

And last night Daryl and I prayed for a dear girl who still believes in God but has not been back to church since childhood because she was sexually molested there.

This world is a devastating place.

But there is a hope. A sure hope.

And that hope for my friends, that I have watched them hold fast to and even rejoice in, is not just the promise of eternity where everything is good and right and pain-free as God desires, but their assurance that God is with them, that God is for them, and that God is good - no matter what their circumstances are.

Oh, to know the joy of the love of God through Jesus Christ our Lord! What a privilege to understand that He has saved us from much suffering that we deserve, and that even in trials, He is working good. What an amazing, perplexing truth.

And the hope for me as I watch my friends, is the same, but it is also this:

Our "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ [is] the Father of mercies and the God of ALL comfort, who comforts us in ALL our affliction...For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share ABUNDANTLY in comfort too." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

In that very same book, it says:

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the SURPASSING power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." 2 Corinthians 4:8-11

How I have been amazed and over-joyed to see the life of my Lord and Savior so beautifully through the lives of my friends as they continue to worship Him, and yes, even as they grieve, but not as the world grieves, with hope, glorious hope.

Maintain hope dear friends; it looks GREAT on you! How you shine!!!!

PS - How cool is this? I just clicked on the Desiring God site (listed under my links) and John has an article about suffering with others! God rocks!

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Kids

This picture was actually taken a long time ago, but it's one of my favorites.


It was taken just before I got married at a slumber party (aka surprise bridal shower) I was having with some of my dearest friends who I met through serving with Dv8 (the middle school ministry at CRC).

Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 2:8, "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us."


Though I don't work directly with that ministry any more and see those girls far less frequently, they still have my heart. They became dear to me.


Elsewhere in Scripture Paul calls the people he leads in ministry, "my joy and my crown." How true that as I see them continue to follow Christ and reflect His glory just by being alive and believing in Him that they are my joy.


Keep pursuing Him girls. And while you're at it, no that you are a joy to me :) and I miss you. Can we hang out soon?????

(and maybe eat cake?)