Sunday Writing... "DO NOT LOSE HEART"... 6/3/18

Good morning!

Today's writing is about the pain and suffering that all of us experience at different times of our lives. "DO NOT LOSE HEART" talks about how this is experienced in many ways, even within the church.  But God encourages us to not lose heart and to trust in him.  No matter what this world throws at us, when we remain faithful we will win an eternal victory.

Blessings,
Jan and Corinne

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Today's Devotional:

"DO NOT LOSE HEART"

by

Jan Andersen

In this life there will be pain and suffering.  All of us at some time have felt pain of some sort.  Sometimes that is due to causes outside of human involvement, such as being pounded by acts of nature that destroy our property or even harm us physically.  At other times it is inflicted by another person, when we are physically, emotionally, or spiritually abused.  It is especially perplexing when it occurs by someone who is supposed to love and protect us, such as a friend or even a family member.  Since we are all called to be disciples to the world, it also can happen to any one of us as we try to share the Gospel with those around us.  Then there is the particularly puzzling persecution within the church, when a pastor and family are suddenly turned upon by the very people who called them into their ministry family, or some in the church family are abused by their religious leaders or pastor.  These paradoxical attacks within the church often comes as a shock, since no one expects Christians to devour their own.  We expect them to be forgiving and lovingly helpful to one another.  But no one is perfect, not the pastor or the people within the church, and neither are those outside of the church walls or Christian circle.  We are all perpetrators of sinful thoughts and actions.  And we actually ought to expect to be attacked, especially when proclaiming God’s word.  Satan does not like it when we are good witnesses in this world. 

We can take heart in spite of trouble, affliction and perplexing persecution.  Jesus invites us to lay it all at his feet.  God has it all handled.  But our minds tend to hold on to the grievance and the pain that it caused.  It can make it hard to function in life when we are resentful.  It is hard to know how to deal with those who caused us suffering, especially those closest to us with whom we must interact.  But there is hope if we do not lose heart.  First, we can pray for God to help us to know how to handle the pain.  We can also pray for those who were involved in causing the harm.  We ask God to soften our hearts to be willing to forgive.  When we do have direct contact with them, we deal with them the way we want Jesus to deal with us - as sinners - with love for the person, though not the offense.  If we find ourselves unable to deal lovingly with them, we ask God to give us the strength to walk away so as not to add to the harm by thinking, saying or doing the wrong things.  We ask for forgiveness for our own wrong-doings, whatever our part may have been in the issue.  Then we trust God to do as he has promised, to work all things for good for those who love him.  May God remind us that it is all about Him, not us, and that we are to shine his light in the darkness of this world as we fix our eyes on Jesus.  As we remain faithful throughout our lives, we will attain an eternal blessing in heaven.

2 Corinthians 4:5-10, and 16-18 (ESV)  For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 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.

So we do not lose heart, Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Dear Lord, help us to shine your light in the darkness of this world, in spite of whether we are pained, perplexed, persecuted or pounded by troubles. Forgive us for all we have done wrong, and help us to forgive those who have wronged us.  Bless them as you have blessed us, and keep us faithful until the end. In your name we pray,  Amen.

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Song:

YOUR HANDS

by JJ Heller

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Prayers are lifted up daily for 

you by the Devotional Writers 

and the Monthly Writing Staff

of Women's Focus Ministries.

Blog Writers:

Jan Andersen, Sandy Billingham, Carol Steficek,   

 Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward,  Karen Bennett, 

Collette Phillips, Cathy Friberg, and  Corinne Mustafa

Occasional Contributors:

Kathy Bireley,  Lynda Kinnard, Mary M. Wilkins,

Terri Baker, Beverley Napier, Kelly Dobyns

Glenna Williamson,  Shelly Keith, Amie Spruiell,

Lisabeth Lipp,  and Nandita Bhatnagar