“But you don’t understand!”

Erik Raymond shares this thought based on Hebrews 4:15a, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses . . .”

Often times, particularly during tough times, we struggle with the thoughts that people do not understand what we are going through. I cannot count how many times I have heard people say, “But you don’t understand what I am going through!” The good thing for us who are Christians is that we don’t necessarily have to understand or identify with what each person is going through in order to help or to be consoled.

Why? Because Jesus does.

This is so good, so rich and so life changing!! In God’s infinite wisdom and design he has organized things to exalt his Son. Within this context we have Christ’s sympathy and compassion exalted. There is nothing that anyone has gone through, are currently going through, or will go through that Jesus cannot relate to, sympathize with or encourage his children in. Jesus is so gloriously and marvelously sufficient!!

Keep reading this excellent article here that reminds us Jesus is able to sympathize. He does understand!

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What will you choose today: worry or grace?

Stephen Altrogge:

I’ve always been prone to worry and fear. When I was little, my brother and I would pray every night that we would have “no fires, no fear, and no bad dreams”. As I’ve gotten older, my fears haven’t gone away, they’ve just gotten more sophisticated. Now I fear things like cancer, and miscarriages, my children getting seriously hurt.

When my imagination injects itself into my fears, that’s when things get really bad. Suddenly a little shortness of breath isn’t a sign that I’m out of shape, but a sign of early onset heart disease. Which means that I might die suddenly of a heart attack. Which means that I won’t be around for my kids. Which means…

It goes on and on and on. And it’s not only about health issues. My imagination can run wild with worry over just about anything, from difficult situations in the church to concerns for my children to paying the bills.

Can you relate? Even a little bit?

Stephen shares two important lessons that he has learned about worry and grace.  First, most of the things we worry about never happen. And secondly, God does give grace for today. . . . but he doesn’t give tomorrow’s grace until tomorrow–which is what we usually worry about–things that haven’t happened yet.

So please, do yourself a favor. Take five minutes and let this article strengthen you today in God’s amazing grace!

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Three free tools: praying for your family!

Husbands, do you pray for your wives? Do you pray Scripture for them?

Wives, do you pray for your husbands? Do you find yourself praying the same thing for them?

Parents, do you pray for your children?  Would you like some help in praying for them?

Here are three very helpful resources in different formats that will enhance your prayer focus for your own immediate family.  I have used the one on praying for children but have wanted to get the one for husbands as well.

The good news:  The Kindle, Nook, and PDF versions are free!  Softcover prices are very reasonable.

What are others saying about these books?

“Andrew Case has provided an ingenious and glorious tool for Christian husbands, one that has the potential of binding husbands and wives ever closer together while these prayers seek more intimate relationship between their wives and their God. By employing themes, principles, promises, and pleas from Scripture itself, Case has crafted hundreds of rich and meaningful prayers that any and every Christian husband can pray for his own wife.”
-BRUCE A. WARE Professor of Christian Theology
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Prayers of An Excellent Wife provides a template that if used properly will indeed produce excellent wives who faithfully and passionately pray God’s word for their precious husbands.”
-MARY K. MOHLER
Wife of R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Director of Seminary Wives Institute

Click here to get your copies.

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Give the gift of encouragement!

For the theologically minded out there, I’m not sure that the Bible calls “encouragement” a spiritual gift. ( The NIV and ISV suggest that it is in Romans 12:8 while the other versions call it “exhortation” which includes encouragement but seems a bit broader than that).  However, all who have served in ministry have known people who have thought they had the “gift of discouragement.” The truth is that all of us have probably known someone in the church who has been a discourager and in some ways we have probably even been that person to others.

Because we live in a world where many people are discouraged or discouragers, it always brightens our day when we meet an encourager or receive that gift from someone.  Do you know that there was such a person in the Bible who was known as an encourager. His name was Barnabas and James Faris over at Gentle Reformation talks about him in this article.

Here’s a summary of his article on what encouragers look like using Barnabas as a model:

1. Encouragers give sacrificially
2. Encouragers draw others into ministry
3. Encouragers see the grace of God
4. Encouragers tell stories
5. Encouragers expect God to change people

I’d like to encourage you to read the whole article and then with a new resolve be an encourager today! Purpose that when you go to church next, you will seek to encourage someone biblically by applying one of the principles found in Barnabas’ life. Be used of God to change lives.

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One day you will die

I have one friend this week whose sister-in-law passed away. Another friend shared that three of his neighbors have died recently. Another friend lost his brother this week after a courageous fight against cancer. Soon it will be one year since my sister entered heaven. In recent months we have lost a few dear ladies who were associated with our church family.  This has been a difficult year for many in losing loved ones.

But one day I will die. One day you will die.  Are you ready for that day? Are you right with God?  Do you love Jesus Christ and the things of God now? Have you turned from your sin? Are you trusting Christ alone to save you from your sin and God’s wrath against your sin?

Read this quote and think about this paragraph from J. C. Ryle.  It is true:

You cannot live forever. You must one day die. You cannot avoid the judgment after death. You must stand before the bar of Christ. The summons of the Archangel cannot be disobeyed. The last great assembly must be attended. The state of your own soul must one day undergo a thorough investigation. It will be found out one day what you are in God’s sight. Your spiritual condition will at length be brought to light before the whole world. Oh, find out what it is now! While you have time, while you have health, find out the state of your soul.

~ J.C. Ryle, Tract: Never Perish via Ryle Quotes

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