For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that his all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.....
II Corinthians 4:6-10
II Corinthians 4:6-10
This is one of... one of... my favorite passages. It is so honest about the struggles and suffering we will walk through in life and yet it is also so full of hope and purpose.
He makes His light shine through us, penetrating the darkness. And though we may be hard pressed, crushed, perplexed, persecuted.... though we may find ourselves overwhelmed by life, disappointed by broken dreams, confused about which way to turn.... we cling to hope because His life in us redeems all of our pain... Redeems for His glory.
I found out tonight that a friend and co-worker suddenly died today. He was on the way back to the country in which he works when he passed away. Details of what happened exactly are becoming known to us slowly. And I don't really know what to write next. He wasn't an extremely close friend but I worked with him last month and was supposed to be helping him with a project. .....perplexed but not in despair.....
Last month I found out that my sweet friend from college also died suddenly. He was about my age... (maybe 30?) and died unexpectedly from a heart condition. I didn't get a chance to tell him that I loved him; didn't make a chance to tell him that God loved him. And I'm so ashamed of myself for not being bolder and giving more of myself.... because now, for Jeremy, it's too late. I always feel torn in so many directions with my life and ministry here. There are so many people- millions, in fact- who need the message I bring. It is quite exhausting- physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I confess- I often feel frustrated that I don't have time to meet my own needs for rest; for being taken care of and not do the care-taking..... but in times like these I wish I had given more of myself and more of my time, taken more risks and been more bold. When it's all said and done, I doubt I will regret not taking more time for myself like I regret not taking the time for Jeremy...... hard pressed on every side, but not crushed......
At Christmas time, I was traveling to spend some time with my family for the holidays. I had arrived at the Israeli border looking forward to the afternoon ahead cooking Christmas dinner, sneaking away to wrap presents, and loudly singing Christmas carols around the house with my mom and dad. I longed to hold my new niece, who would be there, along with her parents, for a short visit. I was rudely snatched out of my warm day-dream by a border-patrol officer angrily yelling at me refusing my entrance into the country. I was escorted out of the building like a criminal and forced to wait outside in the cold and rain for a total of 8 hours, not allowed to speak to anyone, not allowed to ask questions. The week that followed consisted of, among other things, waiting in one government office after an other- unpleasant officials throwing annoyed, snide looks in my direction before deciding to totally ignore me. I felt so hurt and disappointed. And it was in these darkest moments that I was urged to desperately cling to the hope that through these disillusioning experiences His light in me would redeem my struggles....... persecuted, but not abandoned......
Another favorite- Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14
I share these things in an effort to offer some encouragement... to press on, cling to hope- even if you're only holding on to it by the tips of your fingernails-, look with excitement towards what is ahead whatever it may be, because He is worthy and because God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good
Be blessed. Be encouraged.
He makes His light shine through us, penetrating the darkness. And though we may be hard pressed, crushed, perplexed, persecuted.... though we may find ourselves overwhelmed by life, disappointed by broken dreams, confused about which way to turn.... we cling to hope because His life in us redeems all of our pain... Redeems for His glory.
I found out tonight that a friend and co-worker suddenly died today. He was on the way back to the country in which he works when he passed away. Details of what happened exactly are becoming known to us slowly. And I don't really know what to write next. He wasn't an extremely close friend but I worked with him last month and was supposed to be helping him with a project. .....perplexed but not in despair.....
Last month I found out that my sweet friend from college also died suddenly. He was about my age... (maybe 30?) and died unexpectedly from a heart condition. I didn't get a chance to tell him that I loved him; didn't make a chance to tell him that God loved him. And I'm so ashamed of myself for not being bolder and giving more of myself.... because now, for Jeremy, it's too late. I always feel torn in so many directions with my life and ministry here. There are so many people- millions, in fact- who need the message I bring. It is quite exhausting- physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I confess- I often feel frustrated that I don't have time to meet my own needs for rest; for being taken care of and not do the care-taking..... but in times like these I wish I had given more of myself and more of my time, taken more risks and been more bold. When it's all said and done, I doubt I will regret not taking more time for myself like I regret not taking the time for Jeremy...... hard pressed on every side, but not crushed......
At Christmas time, I was traveling to spend some time with my family for the holidays. I had arrived at the Israeli border looking forward to the afternoon ahead cooking Christmas dinner, sneaking away to wrap presents, and loudly singing Christmas carols around the house with my mom and dad. I longed to hold my new niece, who would be there, along with her parents, for a short visit. I was rudely snatched out of my warm day-dream by a border-patrol officer angrily yelling at me refusing my entrance into the country. I was escorted out of the building like a criminal and forced to wait outside in the cold and rain for a total of 8 hours, not allowed to speak to anyone, not allowed to ask questions. The week that followed consisted of, among other things, waiting in one government office after an other- unpleasant officials throwing annoyed, snide looks in my direction before deciding to totally ignore me. I felt so hurt and disappointed. And it was in these darkest moments that I was urged to desperately cling to the hope that through these disillusioning experiences His light in me would redeem my struggles....... persecuted, but not abandoned......
Another favorite- Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14
I share these things in an effort to offer some encouragement... to press on, cling to hope- even if you're only holding on to it by the tips of your fingernails-, look with excitement towards what is ahead whatever it may be, because He is worthy and because God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good
Be blessed. Be encouraged.
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