Relying on ourselves works to a certain point. After all, the pain of a hard work-out will bring gains in strength.

When the pain is beyond our ability to endure, relying on God means we understand what the Apostle Paul shared here. He describes the burden of ministry becoming so great that they (the team in Corinth) despaired of life itself.

Because God has the power to raise from the dead, He will deliver those who put their hope in Him. The author of Proverbs reminds us that being humble towards God leads to “fearing” Him (or having a deep reverence) which can bring considerable blessing-riches, honor and life (Proverbs 22:4).

Life is an amazing blessing when you’ve experienced the comfort of God. This comfort can only be understood after an ordeal of suffering (aka grief or loss).

There are times when the suffering is caused by another’s sin and required forgiveness. In Tim Keller’s book on forgiveness***, he proposed the idea of carrying the pain of a “forgiven” sin for another when you choose to actually forgive them.

How opposite of “Western world” values, we should not have to carry that stinking load for an unworthy, ungrateful soul. On the other hand, isn’t that what our Savior did for all of us?

Is loss the only way to gain the perspective of Christ’s suffering death and resurrection? Philippians 3:7-11 reminds us of how that works in heaven’s value system.

The excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord may not be a call to watching out for me, myself and I but it is a call to receiving the comfort that goes deeper than our ability to cope. #relyingontheOnewhohasresurrectionpower

Let’s comfort others by first of all allowing God’s comfort to reach us deeply, to our inner core. He longs to find us right where we love and live. -Teresa #allowHimtocomfortyou #prayforthosesuffering

2 Corinthians 1:1-11 ESV *

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God of All Comfort

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,⁴ who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.^{[a] 6} If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. ⁷ Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

⁸ For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers,^[b]of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. ⁹ Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. ¹⁰ He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. ¹¹ You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.Read full chapter

*** “Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I?” Book by Timothy Keller

Footnotes

1. 2 Corinthians 1:5 Or For as the sufferings of Christ abound for us, so also our comfort abounds through Christ
2. 2 Corinthians 1:8 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters

*OneyearBibleonline

**no-pain-no-gain-9AKBN27.jpg; Pexels.com

When I chose the lemons for this pie, they were actually gifted to me from our neighbor. It really was the best flavor for this particular confection.

When the King of Persia chose to honor Mordecai, he realized from his midnight insomniac reading that Mordecai had saved his life. (The beauty of documenting important events and God’s influence at work on a nation through the previous 4 days of prayer and fasting).

When God chose the nation of Israel (through Jacob and his 12 sons), He set up a Levitical (chosen family) priesthood and a sacrificial system of worship to reflect the beauty of heaven to the people of earth.

It is no wonder that when evil Haman wrote up a decree to annihilate God’s chosen people (the Jews) and the King signed the edict, God stepped in to save them. In the end, Haman and his family were wiped out. Mordecai the Jew and his family (Queen Esther) were saved. Haman’s friends recognized the power of the Jewish God in an ominous foretelling of the events to come.

Even so, with the new covenant God chose men, women, boys and girls from all peoples, nations, tribes and tongues. Colossians 3 reminds us that we have a responsibility to take off the old sin nature and put on the new nature given us through Christ Jesus (our Passover lamb, Jesus Christ the Lord).

Colossians 3:12 ESV

[12] Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…

Whether it’s lemons, reactions to heroic deeds or a people to honor God’s name…the choices are made. My husband read a quote this week about God “finding” us as a shepherd finds the lost sheep. How beautiful to pray: “Lord, find me” rather than “help me to find you, God”. It is His specialty to bring salvation and find those who recognize they are lost.- Teresa #chosen #holy #dearlyloved

Esther 5:9-14, 1-13 ESV* (bold added)

Haman Plans to Hang Mordecai

⁹ And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.¹⁰ Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. ¹¹ And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. ¹² Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. ¹³ Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”¹⁴ Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows^[g] fifty cubits^[h] high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.

The King Honors Mordecai

6 On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.² And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana^[i] and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. ³ And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king’s young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” ⁴ And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows^[j] that he had prepared for him. ⁵ And the king’s young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” ⁶ So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?”⁷ And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, ⁸ let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown^[k] is set. ⁹ And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’” ¹⁰ Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.” ¹¹ So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”

¹² Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. ¹³ And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”

*Oneyearbibleonline

God’s all-encompassing love for David is present and accounted for all in this one chapter: from David’s recognition of his sin, confession, forgiveness experienced, prayers offered, hiding place provided, being surrounded by shouts of deliverance, the promise of instruction, teaching and individualized counsel (with God’s eye on him).

David writes about it from personal experience and to remind all who trust in the Lord that His steadfast love surrounds us as well. Don’t be overcome by sorrow but be glad, rejoice and give shouts of joy!!!

It’s easy to take up the sorrow of the wicked, especially when it’s fed to us on every app and platform available. Being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1,2) means that we are able to see the “news” through God’s “app”- His Word. It becomes God’s work in our hearts (like what David experienced) that brings about deliverance.

Yesterday, I was tested on this. In light of the road I’ve been journeying over the past 5 years with my elder’s inability to make sound judgment about certain relationships (i.e. scammers), I was literally frightened about some information displayed on my computer screen. I had a visceral reaction and asked God to help me through the process of finding the truth.

God answered my prayer but I realized how vulnerable I was to what “appears” real vs. what truly is reality. The Psalm below comforted me as I had to confess my lack of faith in God’s care for us, because of those who target the innocent.

I had just taught the grandkids “David and Goliath” during our Star Camp Bible school this week. Be NOT afraid was the main point. God’s name (aka character) is trustworthy. He strengthens us to be victorious when “bullies” are shouting insults.

If we would make a shadow box (or prayer journal) to put on display in our front rooms, then we would remember as David did what incidents in our lives were critical. This would be a visual reminder and we could tell the story over and over of God’s deliverance. This is similar to the children of Israel placing boulders retrieved from the river bed of the Red Sea onto the shore to remind their children and grandchildren of God’s miraculous deliverance. #remember

How many times am I stubborn like a horse or mule, refusing to drink deeply of the water God leads me to? Instead, I’m picking up the “apps” of the world’s information and sipping from dirty mud puddles of sorrow. Help me, Lord, to stay near YOU, your word and your steadfast love. – Teresa #joyfulreality

Psalm 32:1-11 (ESV)*

Blessed Are the Forgiven

A Maskil^[a] of David.

32 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
² Blessed is the man against whom the Lordcounts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

³ For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up^[b] as by the heat of summer. Selah

⁵ I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

⁶ Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.
⁷ You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
⁹ Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.

¹⁰ Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
¹¹ Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

*Oneyearbibleonline

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)

A Living Sacrifice

[1] I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Who of you are called by God to salvation?

Maybe you noticed in the Bible passage below there are some seemingly unlikely candidates for salvation …but God chooses those who are considered foolish in the world’s eyes: powerless, not wealthy, even despised or basically “nothing”.

Why? So that Christ’s wisdom, power and nobility can shine in and through us, He is “Someone” important. #makeroomforHim

Lord, we boast in you alone. For those of you born into wealthy, wise or powerful families- don’t despair. Paul specifies there are a “called” few (not many) in this category.

Lord, we are grateful to you. You love us all and have a special calling for those who are despised or don’t think of themselves too highly- especially the children. – Teresa #Christalone #thewisdomofGod #nowthat’sapowerfulplan

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5English Standard Version

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

¹⁸ For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

²⁰ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach^[a] to save those who believe. ²² For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

²⁶ For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,^[b]not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, ²⁹ so that no human being^[c] might boast in the presence of God.³⁰ And because of him^[d] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, ³¹ so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Proclaiming Christ Crucified

2 And I, when I came to you, brothers,^[e] did not come proclaiming to you the testimony^[f] of God with lofty speech or wisdom. ² For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. ³ And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, ⁴ and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men^[g] but in the power of God.

Footnotes

1. 1 Corinthians 1:21 Or the folly of preaching
2. 1 Corinthians 1:26 Greek according to the flesh
3. 1 Corinthians 1:29 Greek no flesh
4. 1 Corinthians 1:30 Greek And from him
5. 1 Corinthians 2:1 Or brothers and sisters
6. 1 Corinthians 2:1 Some manuscripts mystery (or secret)
7. 1 Corinthians 2:5 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women