*** Warning, this is one of the longest post's if not the longest post I will ever write. But I ask you to please take the time to read it anyway!
(It is on my blog too but I knew I had a better chance of you reading it here).
Joy is possible only when we have the right perspective of life.
One of my very favorite moments in this life are those when I am reminded of Gods glory and the wonderfulness that is Christ so overwhelmingly that my body tingles, and I want to smile and cry and sing and worship all at the same time. It is in these moments that I wish so many of you, my family and friends were sitting with me.As I grew closer my Lord through the words of our pastor. I felt nothing but joy, peace, comfort and happiness. I wish it was something you could experience with me. I wanted so badly to have you there with me, I want you to know what I know and feel joy, and happiness that I felt because of this knowledge.
I need you to know in this life I have experienced horrible events, I have been betrayed, abused, and lied to. I have been depressed to extreme levels, seen things I dare not say out loud,and had paralyzing anxiety. To say life has been hard would be the understatement of the century. It is with all this that I say this, through all that I have been through and will go through in this life I WOULD DO IT ALL AGAIN, and again IN A HEART BEAT, BECAUSE I AM PART OF HIS PLAN. I know that every second and minute and hour is part of His flawless, perfect plan. I say this with pure conviction, pride and confidence that this hard life goes hand in hand with all that is wonderful, because it is all for His glory. You were not there with me today when I had this moment , so I feel lead to share with you some of what made me feel this way.
First I would like to share a quote from a book by M. Scott Peck. (The book is called, The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth. It was published in 1978 and spent on The New York Times best seller list for over 20 years.) It says....
“Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand and accept it-then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.”
STOP. Please, and think about this.
Now please read this from Philippians 1: 12-26.
***Note, It is in this time that Paul an apostle of Christ has written a letter to the followers of Christ in a city called Philippi. Paul is writing from a prison where he is chained to a guard at all times. 24/7 he is attached to someone who loathes him and everything that he stands for. While he sleeps, eats, and uses the bathroom. His pride should at this point be gone. He has been tortured and humiliated. Would you agree this is a "hard" time in his life? I don't think it would take much for you to or I, in this situation to feel broken, betrayed, and broken. But as a man of God, having complete trust in his Maker and Captain he writes this letter of encouragement to those feeling as though they too are going through a hard time.....
12. Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. 15. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19. for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23. I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24. but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26. so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
If you were not convicted, felt relieved, lighter, or like crying and laughing at the same time, that's okay! Click on this song, pray for conviction and read it again.
If it still didn't work, click on ----> this song, listen, pray for true happiness putting aside all ideas of what you have planned, and read it again.
If you still aren't there, third time is a charm right? click -------> O <-------, listen pray and repeat.
If still nothing, let HIM know.
If that doesn't work, let me know. I will come and get you, and hold your hand, and walk with you, if you promise to try until you feel your load is lighter, and you feel the unspeakable joy that can only be felt through knowing Christ, I will too.
I know that this life is ridiculously hard. I know that YOUR life is ridiculously hard. And that most of us experience events that make us doubt everything.
BUT I am hoping, and praying more than ever that YOU will be with me one day. I want YOU to feel the kind of happiness that makes YOU smile so hard your face hurts, I want YOU to feel like YOU are going to burst, laugh, cry and scream all at the same time. This feeling is really indescribable! Even more so because I know what life is like without this feeling and I can promise YOU, it is not life. It just isn't!
If YOU have even an small desire to feel this feeling please let me know. I would be more than happy to help YOU!!! Just know that no matter what, I love YOU, because He loves us. And I will never stop wishing that you were next to me when I feel this feeling.
