I have been through
a lot in my life, it has never been easy, I served 22 years in the Air Force,
spent 22 months in the Middle East in various conflicts. Fathered 3 great boys,
survived cancer, been married 26 years to the same women who is my best friend
to this day, ministered to hundreds of people, sat with the dying and comforted
the living. Watched, encouraged, helped, wondered, doubted, worried about the people around me. At times I have wanted to
drop out of this world, run from all the hurt but I can't. I have a God who
suffered also, who went through more than I can ever image, he did it because
he loved me. He rescued me, called me, strengthened me, showered me with grace
and mercy. He fills my life with purpose and my heart with love for others and
secured my future with him as his son in eternity.
I don't know how people pick up a newspaper, watch what is happening in the world, see others suffer and not have Jesus Christ in their life. I can't image to think this is it, that suffering and all that happens doesn't serve some kind of purpose even if I don't understand it. I'm thankful for what has been given to me, I am humbled that God would even consider me and he did far more than consider me, he demonstrated his love knowing all my sin from beginning to end and was willing, with joy to embrace the cross of my shame and die, so that I would have life in him through trust in what he did and not what I do. I stand amazed and in awe of this reality.
I don't know how people pick up a newspaper, watch what is happening in the world, see others suffer and not have Jesus Christ in their life. I can't image to think this is it, that suffering and all that happens doesn't serve some kind of purpose even if I don't understand it. I'm thankful for what has been given to me, I am humbled that God would even consider me and he did far more than consider me, he demonstrated his love knowing all my sin from beginning to end and was willing, with joy to embrace the cross of my shame and die, so that I would have life in him through trust in what he did and not what I do. I stand amazed and in awe of this reality.
Call
on him who is able to save you from yourself, from this world and from the sin
that so easily ensnares us all. He alone can lift you out of the pit, he can
free you from the mud and clay of this life, he alone can place your feet on a
rock and give
you footing, clean you up and place a song in your mouth and joy in your heart.
Don't look for it in people and things of this world, but look to Christ, the
bright and morning star, the creator of heaven and earth, the one who made the
stars, placed them and named them. He is the one who can fill your heart with
joy when your world crumbles around you, when your well has ran dry from the
tears, he is the one who can fill your life with meaning and give you something
to live for when all else fails. God is good, trust in Jesus Christ and him
alone. Grace and peace be with you all.
