They said he was bold with his letters and wimpy in person. They said he preached with impure motives to draw attention to himself. They said he was flesh controlled rather than spirit-controlled. These words had to cut especially deep considering all Paul had endured to bring the good news of the gospel to thoseContinue reading “Remember this…”
Tag Archives: persevere
Have you pleaded with God to take “it” away?
Have you ever pleaded, “God, why won’t you take this away?” Paul did. Paul describes the trials and hardships he has endured for the cause of Christ— hard labor, imprisonments, beatings with rods, stonings , robbery, and multiple shipwrecks. He says he had been cold, weary, hungry, and had gone without sleep. He had beenContinue reading “Have you pleaded with God to take “it” away?”
Is it worth it?
If I’m honest, some days I wonder if the hard days are worth it. I’ve uttered, more than once, when the trouble around me feels deep, “Oh Lord, won’t you just come on and get us?” But then, as He does so often, at just the right time, right when I need it, God willContinue reading “Is it worth it?”
When the hard things pile up…
Sometimes, the hard things pile up, and we can feel like Job. Even those who don’t read the Bible know about the tragedies of Job. In the midst of it all, the Bible tells us, Job walked forward, but could not see God. He looked backward, but could not perceive Him. (Job 23:8) Where wasContinue reading “When the hard things pile up…”
Where hope is still found…
I needed to read these words from the old preacher-teacher, Oswald Chambers, today (pictured with his daughter)– “Put Trust in God First. Our Lord never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, and never lost hope for anyone, because He put His trust in God first. He trusted absolutelyContinue reading “Where hope is still found…”
Do you ever feel NUMB in your faith?
I asked my daughter to share this. I think it is important to realize we all go through times like this in our faith but we don’t have to stay there— Numb. I’ve felt that way a lot lately. I’ve been a Christian for about 14 years now and I’ve been reading my Bible mostContinue reading “Do you ever feel NUMB in your faith?”
It’s okay, if this world calls you foolish.
As Christians, we so want what we know to be good and right and true to be embraced by our culture. We often find ourselves exuberantly cheering the slightest hint of Christianity in our political figures when they use a Bible verse in their speech or our athletes when they thank God after the victory.Continue reading “It’s okay, if this world calls you foolish.”
Go ahead and lay that down…
Does your brain ever get stuck on something, or is that just me? After reading Genesis 22, I’d like to just move on and stop thinking about God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, to surrender all, to hold nothing back. But I keep thinking about it. To be honest, I’d like for God toContinue reading “Go ahead and lay that down…”
Beware!
I love how the Bible sugarcoats everything and only tells the simple, pretty stories. Except it doesn’t. The Bible is real. God shows us the proclivity of humans to see Him do amazing things and then turn right around and blow it. After Lot and his two daughters had just been supernaturally rescued from SodomContinue reading “Beware!”
When you don’t have the answers.
I don’t have answers to life’s questions. God knows I have many, many questions. I long for Him. I want to understand Him. I want to follow Him. But, if I am honest, I also want life to be stable, predictable and easy. When hard days come, I want to immediately see what God isContinue reading “When you don’t have the answers.”
For those in the BATTLE
I take notice when I hear their stories. The ones who have suffered and stayed. They endure the hard marriages, they care for the elderly parent, they patiently raise the child with special needs who will never leave home. They love the prodigal. They serve the homeless and pick up the broken and addicted. TheyContinue reading “For those in the BATTLE”
God’s Word doesn’t sugarcoat what it sometimes feels like to be a Christian.
Thousands of years ago, the children of Israel would lift the words of Psalm 143 to the Lord, a song begging for guidance and deliverance. The words were written by David, who first garnered attention in the courts of King Saul for the soothing songs he would play on his harp—but Saul’s adoration would soonContinue reading “God’s Word doesn’t sugarcoat what it sometimes feels like to be a Christian.”
Are we ready to face affliction for the cause of Christ?
You know, it’s easy to say “yes” to Heaven, but are we ready to face the affliction that might come because we follow Christ? Are we ready for that? Will our kids be? Paul and Silas had been beaten and jailed in Philippi because of the gospel. Their joy, as they sat in prison singingContinue reading “Are we ready to face affliction for the cause of Christ?”
Our tears don’t mean we are faithless.
I posted this on this day last year. It seems so fitting in this day. So thankful God is okay with our tears—- I find myself in Daniel 7 and 8. And it’s hard to read. I slow down. I back up. I pull out commentaries. I see that many great theologians, like John CalvinContinue reading “Our tears don’t mean we are faithless.”
God is NOT absent in the HARD THINGS we face.
Most believers I know will tell you they don’t fear physical death because they know they will be with Jesus in the blink of an eye. We believe God sent His Son to taste death for all of us (Heb 2:9) and through His death He destroyed him (the devil) who had the power ofContinue reading “God is NOT absent in the HARD THINGS we face.”
God doesn’t often tell us HOW He will carry us through. He just does it.
I wonder if you have noticed it too? Not once, but over and over… I see people whose faith has grown as their earthly securities have been removed. They lose jobs, finances, relationships, even face death of loved ones, and they still grow closer to God. It’s astounding to watch. It’s amazing. It’s also unnerving.Continue reading “God doesn’t often tell us HOW He will carry us through. He just does it.”
Need encouragement? Questions to ask when trouble comes
I woke up earlywith my troubles,and the troublesof those I love,so very much,on my mind. Again. My heart hurts. I know God teaches so much more in the hard times than He does in the “easy days”. But how do we go from knowing that to actually seeing God in the midst of the trial,Continue reading “Need encouragement? Questions to ask when trouble comes”
How do you hold on when life is so hard?
What do you do when you get the phone call , the diagnosis, the news you never saw coming? What then? Are you destined to continually be consumed by the trouble and pain and spiral further downward into a pit of despairing emotions? Can you experience peace in the here and now despite your veryContinue reading “How do you hold on when life is so hard?”
When you don’t have the perfect picture
We are a people desperate to be reminded of the hope we have. Our flesh forgets. Our souls become downcast. Our eyes forget to look beyond the here and now. We struggle to remember God can make a way when our limited imaginations can’t fathom any possible way. And we, who possess eternal hope, spiralContinue reading “When you don’t have the perfect picture”
When you want God to explain Himself…
Just in case you are suffering and need some deep truth about our Lord, (and just in case you need to know God is at work through the next generation), read this from my sweet Jenna Mitchum. I’ve been reading the book of Job, a book I continue to come back to, but this timeContinue reading “When you want God to explain Himself…”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 