I don't like pain

1 Peter 3:14-15 (NASB) --- But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.

I don't like suffering at all. Yet it is a part of life. We have had people around us who have hurt for so many reasons. Some of the reasons were self inflicted. Choices were made that led to the results of suffering physically, emotionally or even spiritually. Some suffering comes for no reason at all. Such was the case of Job.

The verse above has been running through my mind since late last week. It was part of my sermon this past Sunday. It talks about God working in our lives when we seek Him and want Him. Yet suffering will still happen. What do we do when suffering comes to us?

The first or maybe most natural happening is fear and worry. See the verse above. God's first word to us is not to worry but let Him work in our lives.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) --- Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

That verse has brought comfort to me for 2 decades. It has also brought me back to reality. When pain comes, stop worrying and start trusting. When you suffer, stop blaming and start believing. No, that is not easy, but faith is just that, a God thing and not a human or natural thing. To trust God is out of context for the person who lives by what they feel.

What happens when we trust God? We gain perspective over our situation. We gain help in the situation because we stop throwing junk and start leaning on God. Plus, it gives us something to share with others we encounter who are suffering or going through times that are hard to understand.

We find ourselves at The Community being able to talk with lots of people and almost all of them are going through pain and suffering. It is only when we get honest about our own pain that we can help others who are going through pain.

So, begin to share from where you are, from where you hurt and from how good God is working. That will change your lives and the lives of people who hear your story and as they see God through your life.

Stop worrying. Start trusting. Stop blaming and start believing. God is working in your life. Let Him!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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