Joy and Strength (Christian life and music)

Whoa.  Wait a minute, you might be thinking.  How could this mess I am going through be a blessing ? Let us review, dear friends!   Here's a short list of how trials formed the saints of Scripture: - Daniel experienced firsthand God's supernatural power in protecting him from the voracious lions - Jesus was in  the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (and He is with us in our "fiery furnace!") - God protected David from Saul's murderous plans again and again, bringing him into his destiny as King - Job was doubly blessed - more than he had been - after he lost everyone and everything in life - Paul's letters to the churches are the most-quoted Scripture of all time; he wrote them from a prison cell - Jonah needed to learn that God's grace is for all - even for those he couldn't stand; he finally learned obedience - Joseph was left for dead by his jealous siblings; he ended up ruling over them eventually - Jesus endured severe hunger and

  Jesus heals.  He healed people when He walked this earth as a man and He is still healing people today through His power and Holy Spirit. Even when He was among us, He didn't have to be present to heal someone.  There is the account of the canturion (if you are not familiar with this account, please read here ).  And there is the account here in Luke 17:14, the verse I want to write about today. Three words stuck out to me: as they went.   Jesus could have easily touched the lepers and healed them right then and there.  But for whatever reason, He told them to go on.  He told them to go show themselves to the priests.   Now why would they want to go show themselves with their leperous bodies to the priests?  Did they simply do as Jesus asked, knowing that He is Lord, and not think why they were doing so?   Jesus didn't tell them that He would heal them on their way to the priests.  He simply told them to go.  Did they intuitively feel that they would be healed as they went? 

What situation in your life is not as it should be?  We all have something  we wish were different.  This is not even out of discontent or complaining.  Some things are just not as they should  be. Life is not perfect.  We all know that much! But what is that thing in your life that is not as it is "supposed" to be - at least in your estimation?   If a loved one refuses to seek God and is living a life of rebellion and sin against Him, we know that this is not as it should be.  "Lord, I've done everything I can to help him/her.  He/she is not changing, Lord, no matter how hard I pray or even fast.  When are You going to fix this for me?" Maybe you live with physical pain and you just can't take it one more day. Maybe you are discontent with yourself and wish you could respond to your trials with more grace instead of frustration, doubt, or fear. Maybe, just maybe, you  are not as you are "supposed" to be yet. Do You think the Lord doesn't know

We all face hardships in our lives at one time or another.  But when they never seem to end, or when one ends only for another to come along soon after, we grow weary.  Worse, our faith may waver or weaken. But for the apostle Paul, as far as what I can see in the New Testament, his hardships never let up.  Ever.  They lasted right until his earthly end. So many Christians say they want to "finish well" or "finish strong" for God.  But what does that mean?  Did Paul finish well?  Did he finish strong? He was martyred.  He was beheaded for his faith.  Is that the sort of "finish" you want for yourself?  "Paul was different," you may assert.  How so?  Are we any less chosen than Paul?  Is God's call on us any less important just because we didn't write the New Testament? Each of us is called by God - to follow Him, know Him, trust Him, obey Him - wherever He may lead.  As long as we are staying close to Him and obeying Him, then He will use

Have you ever gone through a crisis and when it was over think, "Finally!" only to meet with a new crisis?   Just when I think the bad times are behind me, something else pops us to try and derail my composure.  It is frustrating, to say the least. I whack one proverbial mole only to find another one popping up. Where is the rest?  Where is the peace?  Why is God allowing trial after trial in my life? God promises us calm in the midst of the storm.  He promises peace not as the world gives - not through the "security" of money or possessions which deep down we know are here one day, gone tomorrow.  His peace is powerful.  His peace is permanent.  It calms emotional storms within us. When will it all let up?  When will your own struggles end? I wish I could tell you that it will let up soon.  Very soon.  But I know that we will all be "whacking moles" probably right to the very end - either the end of this earthly life or until Christ returns and takes us u