Grief

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Sometimes the news comes quick. Sometimes the news comes slow. No matter how or when it comes, grief travels in the wake of the news. Grief is heavy, weighty, a burden, especially when it involves someone deeply loved. Grief is not meant to be carried alone. It’s too heavy and may last a while—and that’s ok. That’s what family and friends are for, to share the load. Jesus stood outside the tomb of his friend and wept but He did not weep alone. It was a deep, human moment. “ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted ” (Matt 5:4). If anyone knows how we feel in grief, it’s Him. But His grief did not linger long, as at the mention of his name, Lazarus came forth. We are not meant to dwell in grief, but should leave room enough for it. Let it run its course. Like the song says, “ Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain .” Another song says, “ The storm We will dance as it breaks The storm It will give as it takes And all of our pain is washed away Don't cry or be afraid Some things...

Obeying God's Will

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God’s will is still a hot-pursuit item; however, I think what most people really mean when they say they are looking for God’s will is they are looking for something easy to do, yet still feel like they are accomplishing something for the Lord. You know, “what can I do to feel spiritual, but not break a sweat or bring any drastic changes to my life?”

Read through the following list and see if you can name the individuals who experienced some of the hard-to-obey commands of God:

  • This man was told to name his son “John.”
  • This man was to anoint someone else as king while Saul still lived.
  • This man was told to enter a Gentile’s home and preach the gospel.
  • This man had to cross the sea . . . on foot.
  • Who was told to leave his father’s house and move to a new land?
  • And what about the guy who had to take a harlot for a wife?
  • Then there was the fellow who was told to preach to his enemy.
  • And the chap who helped a man who killed Christians?
  • What was the name of the man who built a boat on dry land?
  • Who was it that took his wife and infant son to Egypt?

How many of these failed? When we are told “to do” for the Lord, we feel like He is asking us to do the impossible. Consider what these people had to do. Reflect for a moment on how many of these people threw their full trust on God, who promised to accomplish what He has said He would do.

Here are the answers, but not in order (that would'nt be fun)—you get to find that out:

  • Abram (Abraham) in Genesis 12:1
  • Jonah, in Jonah 1:1-3
  • Hosea in Hosea 1:2
  • Moses in Exodus 14:14-16
  • Joseph, in Matthew 2:13
  • Zechariah in Luke 1:13-18
  • Ananias, in Acts 9:10-15
  • Peter, in Acts 10:19-20
  • Noah in Genesis 6:13-14
  • Samuel, in 1 Samuel 16:1-2

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