weeping with those who weep

this is from a comment i made on a friend’s blog. i thought it was worth sharing here.

this is probably going to sound false, or pithy or simplistic, but it’s not. one of the truly, TRULY beautiful things about personal suffering is that, by God’s grace and tender mercies, it increases one’s compassion for the suffering of others. that is an incredibly beautiful thing. it is a GIFT beyond measure to have the smallest glimpse into the tenderness of God’s heart for our hurts, and to be able to share that with others. weeping with those who weep is a privilege, comforting others with the comfort God has given us is an honor. Jesus said that when we did for the least of these we did for Him. perhaps comforting one another, weeping with one another is a chance for us to stay and watch with Him in gethsemane, instead of falling asleep.

so, it is our privilege and joy to comfort one another, to stand shoulder to shoulder and face the battle in shared tears, encouraged to last another moment.

Into the vipers’ nest

Tomorrow I go back to work. I’m scared I don’t know what to do what to say how to be. I was so blindsided I dont know how to fix what’s “broken.” I sure know I dont trust anyone. I’m tired of trying so hard and losing every time. Trying to believe.

Psalm 27
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”
9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.
13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

One Example of One Reason the Church Has Lost it’s Impact

Warning: graphic and disgusting talk in this video.

I’ve got no issues with the last 30 seconds of this post. but the rest of it makes me want to vomit, or shake someone.

Jesus died for the church so that we could know HIM. So that we could each live out His incarnational ministry. If you are going to use Him as the model then get with the program and realize that he spent 3 years pouring his life into 12 guys, knowing one of them would betray Him. don’t you think they KNEW their pastor?

I know that depending on the size of your congregation, it’s not possible that the pastor could visit everyone that’s in the hospital. but he could send an elder on his behalf. or a deacon. or make sure someone could go to minister. I’m not saying that pastors have to sacrifice their families to ministry, but they are called to sacrifice their lives, as Jesus did.

The tone of this video sickens me. It’s self-centered, not God oriented. It’s flippant and callous about caring for the sheep which was Jesus’ highest concern. And what does it model for the congregation? It says “your family is important, so you can blow off your obligation to love and serve the brethren. After all, that’s what the pastor does.” This creates sick, vapid, empty, shallow, self-centered, me first churches.

Do you want to know why believers, let alone nonbelievers, would rather spend Sundays resting, watching football, etc. It’s because of these kinds of attitudes. If the church isn’t going to be more than a group of people listening to some guy that doesn’t care about them talk about stuff that he doesn’t live out, football sounds better to me, too.

My Utmost for His Highest: Are You Ever Troubled?

Another great word from yesterday’s My Utmost for His Highest;, written by the late, great Oswald Chambers. The emphasis at the end there is mine.

This one goes out everyone that is troubled, especially those that I know and love.  Jesus sees your sorrow.

Are You Ever Troubled?

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you . . . —John 14:27

There are times in our lives when our peace is based simply on our own ignorance. But when we are awakened to the realities of life, true inner peace is impossible unless it is received from Jesus. When our Lord speaks peace, He creates peace, because the words that He speaks are always “spirit, and they are life” ( John 6:63 ). Have I ever received what Jesus speaks? “. . . My peace I give to you. . .”— a peace that comes from looking into His face and fully understanding and receiving His quiet contentment.

Are you severely troubled right now? Are you afraid and confused by the waves and the turbulence God sovereignly allows to enter your life? Have you left no stone of your faith unturned, yet still not found any well of peace, joy, or comfort? Does your life seem completely barren to you? Then look up and receive the quiet contentment of the Lord Jesus. Reflecting His peace is proof that you are right with God, because you are exhibiting the freedom to turn your mind to Him. If you are not right with God, you can never turn your mind anywhere but on yourself. Allowing anything to hide the face of Jesus Christ from you either causes you to become troubled or gives you a false sense of security.

With regard to the problem that is pressing in on you right now, are you “looking unto Jesus” ( Hebrews 12:2 ) and receiving peace from Him? If so, He will be a gracious blessing of peace exhibited in and through you. But if you only try to worry your way out of the problem, you destroy His effectiveness in you, and you deserve whatever you get. We become troubled because we have not been taking Him into account. When a person confers with Jesus Christ, the confusion stops, because there is no confusion in Him. Lay everything out before Him, and when you are faced with difficulty, bereavement, and sorrow, listen to Him say, “Let not your heart be troubled . . .” ( John 14:27 ).