In this post, I'd like to share a bit about our church service yesterday. Pastor Tommy brought forth such a good lesson (as always) that affected me so personally. The title of his sermon was "Finding Purpose in Our Pain." Mmmhmmm...you see where I'm going with this, don't you?! In a nutshell, Pastor Tommy outlined some of the reasons why God allows believers to suffer:
- To strengthen our character
- To teach us obedience
- So that we can comfort others
- To make us more fruitful
- To help us develop an eternal perspective
Oh, how I wish I could convey his message so that you might understand what it meant to me. I am going to be listening to this sermon over and over again, I just know it. And I'll be praying about how to apply the lesson in my own life as I work through my grief and pain. One thing I know for sure...I do not want to be guilty of the sin of self-pity. I do not want to be a "spiritual sponge" - as Pastor Tommy put it - always taking and never giving.
I invite you to listen for yourselves...to do so, visit my church's website, click on the Music & Worship tab at the top. Once you enter the site, click on "podcasts" on the left hand side, scroll down to the sermon for 5/31/09 and click. You won't be sorry...
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3
*************************************************************************
Oh...you didn't think I was going to leave you without a song on this Music Monday, did you?
One of our associate pastors sang a solo at yesterday's service...and as he sang, it hit me right between the eyes. POW. Regardless of my sorrow, or your suffering, or anything...God is still God. And He is still on His throne. And for that, I am thankful. I look forward to the day when I can bow before Him in adoration at His Throne of Grace...until that day, I'll just continue to praise Him in one of my most favorite ways - with music.
**Remember to scroll down and pause my player before clicking the link**
You Are God Alone ~ Phillips, Craig and Dean
Have a blessed week!
Posts
8 comments:
I will definitely have to try to carve out some time to listen. Though we haven't lost anyone in the sense of death, we certainly have had our share of pain and sorrow with the paths of our children.
I hope you have a wonderful week!
I hope you can find the time to listen, Dawn...I think you will be blessed. I know I was...
I hope you have a wonderful week as well! Thank you for always stopping by and for your supportive words...
Have a blessed day Gigi.
That song is the ringer on my Cell phone lol! i just love it!
Know that you have been a giver gigi in blessing the lives of others,, i just want you to know that :)
Oh thank you Tamela! You've made my day...God bless you!
You won't believe this...our pastor preached on this too!!!
I even thought about you! LOL Not that I didn't need to hear it, but you really did cross my mind!
Love you dear...and awesome song!
Have a great weeks end
Jess
Hi gigi,
I just wanted to swing by and say hi and that i was thinking about you and when i think about you I always lift up a prayer for you :)
Developing an eternal perspective is such an important thing. It helps us put so much of our lives into place.
It's a shame that we so often talk about the wondrous eternity that God has planned for us, yet we live as if our life will end at the grave.
Post a Comment