Thursday, July 9, 2015

He shows His mercy through Tears

We are simple sinners walking in God’s grace. These past 3/4 years were really hard for us as a family… I dwelled in my flesh a lot…. if there is anything good you have seen in me it has been Christ’s mercy on my sinful selfish soul powerfully shining trough despite my flesh.

I am thankful for these sufferings though…. not that I am happy that things happened the way they did…but that in these sufferings God has shown Himself to me in ways that otherwise I would have never seen Him.  I am thankful that He is Jehovah Shammah (God is with us).  That He created us for a relationship with Him and that He loves me enough to show me over and over again how much I desperately need Him. Through the trails in our lives and our sinful selves He has worked throughout History to lovingly show us that it is not about us, that we aren’t in control, and that He loves us despite our sinful selves.  Here is great sermon spells that out ..that encouraged me this week...


I wish I could say that my faith was beautiful through these trials… that I was always full of peace and contentment never questioning God but instead resting in my deep trust in Him.

But it is NOT true.

I was an ugly mess at times. I was at a place where nothing seemed to be going MY WAY…. and I threw some messy temper tantrums. I was discontent wanting so many different things than i was given. Tears flowed so many times these past few years.

The last 2 years were the hardest in our marriage as well.

Year #11's theme was "Year #11 Marriage isn't Heaven" (can't even find the picture for that one)


Year #12 1 Peter 5:10...

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

Quite a contrast from this dazed little couple here….


We both realized how selfish and hurtful we can be when stress arises and trials come…. When we are operating in our fleshiness…. but the great gift God gives…. is grace…. and I need mountains of it to survive…

And somehow now I love Jonathan differently but in a "no matter what" kind of way.... new vows are being written and now with understanding that things won't be pretty and to count on me through those times/years. 

This story of struggle, trials, suffering, thorns in fleshes, and redemption marks every follower of Christ throughout History. It is not that if you follow Jesus you won’t suffer in this world… you will… it is even a promise from God that you will ….

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 1 Peter 5:10

Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 1 Peter 4:13

So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you. 1 Peter 4:19

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12


….it not that you are “perfect” if you are a follower of Christ… if that were the requirement no one would be Christian… in fact it is just the opposite if you are a follower of Christ.. you are basically admitting you stink and all of your good efforts stink (are filthy rags ) and you desperately need God to survive every day.

…. The most amazing thing  in all of this trial filled and hard life is that the ALMIGHTY CREATOR GOD… He is with you… you …. You know…. “you”… the teeny tiny human… the one in a trillion whatever – I have no idea what number person you are born into this world – but that number is what I am talking about…

… HE does know though… what number you are…. HE knows the number of hairs on your head…His thoughts for you outnumber the grain of sand in enormous ol’ sea…..He cries when you cry even though He knows the ending (Lazarus) … He formed you in your mothers womb… crafted your inner parts… side note- the kids and I discussed briefly about DNA in Homeschool Science this week….. it is over whelming to what detail God went to into creating you….

The God of the universe beyond anything we humans can understand yet He loves us and wants to walk with us through our life trails… WOW….. if we can get this it will draw us right into awe of Him and worship of Him… which will bring us a joy that nothing in this created world can offer. 

What I am saying is that I am thankful… that despite my many failures God is still with me… He is still working on me… He hasn’t given up and wants me and loves me and through the sacrifice of Jesus He calls me beloved daughter and even lets me go to work with Him where He is working around the world.


I am also thankful for the trails of life.. though they leave me in tears they draw me closer to Him whom shapes me through them. He loves me enough to allow and even bring at times these tears in my life.