I don’t believe in any way shape or form in “coincidence" or “fate" or “luck” or any of those other things or events that happen “by chance” - God is FAR too big, FAR too powerful, FAR too all-knowing that things just “happen” to work out a certain way.
There’s a reason for everything. There’s a perfect timing that we rarely choose to see, but get to be a part of continually. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (and “The Byrds”) made this concept more well-known. There’s a time for EVERYTHING under Heaven.
To get the song stuck in your head, or to hear a golden oldie, here ya go -
There’s a reason for everything. There’s a perfect timing that we rarely choose to see, but get to be a part of continually. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (and “The Byrds”) made this concept more well-known. There’s a time for EVERYTHING under Heaven.
To get the song stuck in your head, or to hear a golden oldie, here ya go -
To read the Bible verses along with the song, go here - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Because of the Bible (and apparently reinforced by the Byrds), I just will not be convinced that things “just happen” without a purpose and a reason.
Based on that, I need you ALL to understand something. There is a reason that our church, guided by the direction of the Holy Spirit, has spent the last few months talking about marriage, and then following up with talking about how real sin is… and what to do about it.
If the enemy wants to destroy churches, one of the best ways to do it is to destroy marriages/families, and to do it through sin. Because SIN IS REAL. There are MANY people in our church seeing just how real, and just how devastating sin is.
BUT THE STORY DOESN’T END THERE!!!!!!
The story does NOT end in defeat!! The story does NOT end with our failures!! The story does NOT end with us sinning (once again)!! The STORY IS NOT OVER THERE!!!
How do I know? I know this because I’ve read the end of the Book!! I know how the story ends, and it’s NOT in our defeat! It’s not in the Church’s defeat!! It’s NOT IN JESUS’ DEFEAT!!!
The story ends when God makes ALL THINGS NEW!! When God WIPES AWAY EVERY TEAR AND EVERY PAIN AND EVERY SORRY AND EVERY REGRET AND EVERY LOSS AND EVERY FAILURE!!!
We are MORE than conquerors through Christ WHO LOVES US!!!!
HIS GRACE NEVER ENDS!!!!
Because of the Bible (and apparently reinforced by the Byrds), I just will not be convinced that things “just happen” without a purpose and a reason.
Based on that, I need you ALL to understand something. There is a reason that our church, guided by the direction of the Holy Spirit, has spent the last few months talking about marriage, and then following up with talking about how real sin is… and what to do about it.
If the enemy wants to destroy churches, one of the best ways to do it is to destroy marriages/families, and to do it through sin. Because SIN IS REAL. There are MANY people in our church seeing just how real, and just how devastating sin is.
BUT THE STORY DOESN’T END THERE!!!!!!
The story does NOT end in defeat!! The story does NOT end with our failures!! The story does NOT end with us sinning (once again)!! The STORY IS NOT OVER THERE!!!
How do I know? I know this because I’ve read the end of the Book!! I know how the story ends, and it’s NOT in our defeat! It’s not in the Church’s defeat!! It’s NOT IN JESUS’ DEFEAT!!!
The story ends when God makes ALL THINGS NEW!! When God WIPES AWAY EVERY TEAR AND EVERY PAIN AND EVERY SORRY AND EVERY REGRET AND EVERY LOSS AND EVERY FAILURE!!!
We are MORE than conquerors through Christ WHO LOVES US!!!!
HIS GRACE NEVER ENDS!!!!
Church -
Our marriages are under attack. Our children are under attack. Our grandchildren are under attack. Our nieces and nephews are under attack.
The question is this - WHAT WILL YOU DO?
The answer is this -
1. PRAY. Pray for others. Pray for the church. Pray for the Church. Pray for the kids. Pray for the fathers and mothers. PRAY for strength to be humble!! PRAY for grace for forgiveness!! PRAY for peace for decisions to be made!!
2. REPENT. Own up to your sin. Don’t pass the buck. Don’t blame someone else because you fell again. Just own it. You’re NOT perfect. You won’t be perfect this side of Heaven. Confess it. Call out to Jesus for forgiveness. If you’ve harmed others, confess it to them. Seek their forgiveness… and as you seek their forgiveness, seek God’s forgiveness… then forgive yourself. If God is faithful and just to forgive you, I think you can forgive yourself.
3. GRANT FORGIVENESS. As people who have sinned against you come to you to confess their sin, to seek forgiveness, GRANT IT TO THEM. God is faithful and just to forgive us, so who are we to withhold forgiveness from anyone else (including ourselves)?
4. MOVE FORWARD. Life goes on. Learn from the mistakes. Recognize your weakness… in fact, BOAST in your weakness - because as you are weak, and you seek His strength, you will be made strong THROUGH HIM.
When a part of our body doesn’t work correct, the remaining parts struggle… When a member of the body of Christ is struggling with sin, it impacts the rest of us in some form or fashion. Just as we’d go to the doctor to fix our body, then go through physical therapy, so we also need “spiritual therapy” of accountability and crucial conversations and forgiveness and grace shown…
Don’t be deceived - satan is looking for whom he may devour… and the more we preach and teach and live Jesus, the bigger the target on our back is… and the MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR GOD’S STRENGTH TO BE SHOWN!!!!
DON’T LIVE DEFEATED!!!!
Our marriages are under attack. Our children are under attack. Our grandchildren are under attack. Our nieces and nephews are under attack.
The question is this - WHAT WILL YOU DO?
The answer is this -
1. PRAY. Pray for others. Pray for the church. Pray for the Church. Pray for the kids. Pray for the fathers and mothers. PRAY for strength to be humble!! PRAY for grace for forgiveness!! PRAY for peace for decisions to be made!!
2. REPENT. Own up to your sin. Don’t pass the buck. Don’t blame someone else because you fell again. Just own it. You’re NOT perfect. You won’t be perfect this side of Heaven. Confess it. Call out to Jesus for forgiveness. If you’ve harmed others, confess it to them. Seek their forgiveness… and as you seek their forgiveness, seek God’s forgiveness… then forgive yourself. If God is faithful and just to forgive you, I think you can forgive yourself.
3. GRANT FORGIVENESS. As people who have sinned against you come to you to confess their sin, to seek forgiveness, GRANT IT TO THEM. God is faithful and just to forgive us, so who are we to withhold forgiveness from anyone else (including ourselves)?
4. MOVE FORWARD. Life goes on. Learn from the mistakes. Recognize your weakness… in fact, BOAST in your weakness - because as you are weak, and you seek His strength, you will be made strong THROUGH HIM.
When a part of our body doesn’t work correct, the remaining parts struggle… When a member of the body of Christ is struggling with sin, it impacts the rest of us in some form or fashion. Just as we’d go to the doctor to fix our body, then go through physical therapy, so we also need “spiritual therapy” of accountability and crucial conversations and forgiveness and grace shown…
Don’t be deceived - satan is looking for whom he may devour… and the more we preach and teach and live Jesus, the bigger the target on our back is… and the MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR GOD’S STRENGTH TO BE SHOWN!!!!
DON’T LIVE DEFEATED!!!!
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