Kathy Howard's Blog: Unshakeable Faith for Life, page 55

Say Yes to the Cupcake: Why We Need Food & Fun in Women’s Ministry

I am a Women’s Ministry leader and I have a confession to make: I love cupcakes. And ice breaker games. And door prizes.

Does that make me shallow?

I also crave transformational Bible study and deep spiritual conversations about the things of God. I love to discuss theology. I long to pray in intimate circles of Christian sisters about things of eternal value. I want to impact the world for Christ.

Cupcakes and theology are NOT mutually exclusive. There is room – and need – for both in women’s ministry.

#Cupcakes and #theology are NOT mutually exclusive #WomensMinistry
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In October 2011, author Sarah Bessey posted an open letter to Women’s Ministry on her website which has been republished (FaithIt.com and ChurchLeader.com), applauded, and condemned.

Although four years have passed, the article recently began popping up in my Facebook feed. Then a friend from church emailed me the link, wondering what I thought about it. So I decided to think about it. Really think about it.

Basically, I agree with the heart of Bessey’s article. Women always need deep, spiritual connection to other believers. We need encouragement to fulfill God’s purposes for their lives and to grow into Christlikeness. We need accountability and equipping. Solid biblical teaching and sound, godly leadership.

Yes, all women need these things. This should be the heart and soul of our women’s ministry. It is in fact, the church’s calling.

But if we’re honest, we’ll acknowledge that not all women recognize this need in their lives. If we want to reach all the women in the church – and the community – we must also minister to the felt need of cooking, friendship, and yes, maybe even crafting! We must connect with the women who aren’t ready to jump into the deep end of the spiritual pool. We must provide a way for them to get their feet wet.

The women’s ministry at my church is both deep and wide. We provide in-depth Bible study at various times during the week. We train teachers and mentor moms. We reach out to new women in the community. We sew reusable feminine products for women in South Asia. We reach out to those caught up in the sex industry in the inner city. And we have “girly, girl” events.

For instance, my church has a yearly “Table Top.” You know, that dinner where women show off their table decorating skills and act as hostess to a table full of women. It’s fun, it’s festive, and yes, some think it’s frivolous.

But the guests hear a strong Gospel message and are given the opportunity to get involved in specific mission efforts. Women who won’t come to Bible study or a spiritual retreat accept their neighbor’s invitation to Table Top. And the women in our church who hang out on the fringe of things come. They meet and mingle, and move a little deeper into the spiritual water.

Jesus often paved the way to deeper things over a dinner party. And He bonded with the guys in a fishing boat. He fed the crowds and the twelve with both physical and spiritual food.

Food and fun can foster relationships. Few of us will pour our hearts out to strangers or ask some woman we don’t know to be an accountability partner. But give them an opportunity to bond over a cupcake and then they’ll reach out when a crisis hits.

There’s room for cupcakes and spiritual depth.

We can have the cupcake and eat it too.

#WomensMinistry There’s room for #cupcakes and #SpiritualDepth
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The post Say Yes to the Cupcake: Why We Need Food & Fun in Women’s Ministry appeared first on Kathy Howard.

Carla McDougal’s 911 Prayer

This post is a giveaway to celebrate the release of Carla McDougal’s new book “Sold Out: Live for Jesus.” Read below for how to enter!

Have you ever prayed the 911 prayer? It’s a regular prayer for my friend Carla McDougal.

Shortly before she was scheduled to speak at a women’s retreat, she felt a heavy oppression. Although she knew it was a spiritual attack from the enemy, she began to doubt her  reason for being at this women’s event.

Earlier that day, during her morning prayer time, she had opened her Bible to Psalm 91. The first verse seemed to jump off the page:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 NIV

Peace washed over Carla, and God’s Word strengthened her for the event that evening. The next day she shared this experience with a close friend who said, “Next time, text me to pray for you!”

#CarlaMcDougal’s #911Prayer #SoldOut
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Later in the day Carla went back to Psalm 91:1 and this is what she saw—­ 911. Her heart started pounding with excitement and she decided from then on, when oppression comes her way, she will text PRAY 911 to her prayer team. Sometimes there isn’t time to do anything more. But they don’t need to know why Carla needs prayer, they just need to know to pray.

Carla jumped up and started praising God. Even now, she smiles when she thinks of how God used that real life situation to teach her a spiritual life lesson.

Carla shares about 911 prayer  and much more in her new book “Sold Out: Live for Jesus.” “Sold Out” reflects Carla’s desire to live her life for Jesus and not for herself. When she was 40, she heard the phrase, “Life is not about me, but all about Him.” She took this to heart, and it became the focus for her life and ministry. Today she strives to reflect Paul’s words in Philippians 1:21:

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Carla’s close, “sold out” relation with Jesus is evident even by reading through the Table of Contents of her third book, “Sold Out: Live for Jesus.” Titles such as “God Appoints: His Kingdom Puzzle,” “Forgiveness: Fresh Start, and The Word: Spiritual Nourishment” entice the reader to hear what she has to say on the subjects. The chapters are short, but the content is mighty. “Sold Out” is a wonderful devotional tool, with each section containing scriptures, personal anecdotes, a life challenge and a place to journal your thoughts.

Related links:

Carla’s blog
Carla’s books
Purchase “Sold Out” on Amazon

Carla is giving away a copy of “Sold Out” to one of you! The giveaway will end at noon on Wednesday, September 16th. You can enter in up to four ways:

Comment on this post
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Note: You are entered when you comment, so you will need to comment here each time you share!

The post Carla McDougal’s 911 Prayer appeared first on Kathy Howard.

Forgetting the Past

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment? Maybe it’s a professional success or a solid marriage. Perhaps it was meeting a difficult physical challenge or surviving a particularly trying season of life.

Whatever that accomplishment, it’s probably never far from your thoughts. You hold it up to remember what’s possible, how far you’ve come, and that you are capable. That can be helpful and healthy – sometimes.

But other times we need to forget our accomplishments. To put our successes behind us. God’s Word even encourages us to do this (Philippians 3:12-14).

Before we go further, let me warn you. You may have heard these passages taught a different way. You have probably heard that “forgetting what is behind” refers to “past mistakes and failures.” And while there is a time for that as well, that is not the context of this passage.

What did Paul mean by “forgetting what is behind?”
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For the past 6 Thursdays, we have been taking a weekly look at a verse or passage of Scripture that is often misunderstood, abused, or taken out of context. Philippians 3:12-14 is one such passage. When verse 13 is read alone, it’s easy to think Paul was referring to past failures.

We can imagine him encouraging the believers in Ephesus to “Don’t dwell on your past mistakes! Don’t let your failures keep you from moving forward now! Continue to push ahead toward God’s goal for you!” There’s just one problem with that – the larger passage that surrounds it.

Let’s back up and consider the larger passage in order to determine Paul’s original meaning of “forgetting what is behind.” Here is a quick “outline” of sorts of Philippians 3:1-12:

Paul reminds the Gentile believers in Philippi not to fall for the false teaching that they must be physically circumcised to be saved. (Philippians 3:1-2)
Those who have been saved by the Spirit (spiritually circumcised) know that human effort cannot save us. We are saved solely by what Jesus has done for us. (Philippians 3:3)
But if anyone could save themselves from sheer effort, it would have been Paul! He was the most religious, the most zealous, and the best “law keeper!” (Philippians 3:4-6)
But none of his effort came close to comparing to what he found in Christ. He happily lost it all to gain Jesus. He longed to follow Him in complete obedience to know Him more and become increasingly more like Christ. (Philippians 3:7-11)
Paul is not yet where he needs to be spiritually. He is not yet “perfect,” but he the journey is not over. He continues toward that goal. (Philippians 3:12)

For Paul – and for us – the thing that would most likely trip him up, that thought that would prevent him from pressing on to win the prize in Christ, is not a failure. It’s not a past mistake. That thing that would have held Paul back – and often holds us back – is remembering the success of our own effort.

Our #past #success can trip us up quicker than our past mistakes
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When we think we can do it, then we’ve already fallen behind. When we think we can do the work in our own power that only God can do, then we trip over ourselves.

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:13-14 NLT

Oh sisters, let us “forget what is behind” and strain forward in God’s strength and power. Not our own!

What success do you need to “forget” today?

The post Forgetting the Past appeared first on Kathy Howard.

Pray for Laborers

Last week I was on a “ministry cruise.” Yes, yes, I hear you. “Sure, you were.” Seriously, I went on a four-day cruise with a small group of women who work together as advocates for a particular work of God in Bangladesh. And we spent lots of hours, praying, studying, and planning. But we also had  a lot of fun together!

One thing that struck me during our meetings – even with as much as we’ve seen God do already – there is so much work still to be done. So many people in Bangladesh, America, and around the world that do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. So many, many people who would be forever separated from their Creator if they died today.

What can we do? What can we do as individual believers and churches to spread the Good News about Jesus Christ? Here are 3 things we can do today:

3 things you can do to spread the #Gospel. #Go #Give #Pray
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1. Go – We can go and tell someone about the eternal salvation that can only be found in Jesus. He is the “way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). “Salvation is found in no one else. There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Although the whole world needs Jesus, we don’t have to move across the world to tell – unless Jesus calls us! We can go on a short-term trip. We can go around our city. We can go next door!

2. Give – Missionaries – long-term and short-term – need our financial support. Even small amounts can be used to support the work of Jesus around the world.

3. Pray – I think we too often turn to prayer as a “last resort” or when we can’t do anything else. Prayer should be our first, last, and everything in between mode of operation. Pray for God’s guidance in what He would have you do. Pray that He would supply the needs of the missionaries on the field. And pray that He would send more laborers into His harvest field.

#Prayer is not a last resort! It’s our primary tool to spread the #Gospel
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Today, on Labor Day, I think it’s appropriate that we pray for God to send out more workers into His harvest field. So many people do not know Jesus. The harvest is indeed plentiful. And sadly, the workers are few. Will you join me in this prayer today?

Lord Jesus, so many people around the world are lost, separated from You because of their sin. Call your people to go and tell. Raise up workers to the harvest! Expand Your Kingdom and bring glory to Yourself! (Feel free to add your prayers in the comment section!)

Do you know Jesus as Lord and Savior? Here’s how you can.

The post Pray for Laborers appeared first on Kathy Howard.

Do You have Vision?

Does your church have a “vision” statement? Maybe you even have a personal vision statement, purpose statement, or mission statement for your own life. There’s nothing wrong with this as long as it directly reflects God’s vision and purpose for your church or your life.

Unfortunately, some of us have developed these “vision” statements to communicate our own hopes, dreams, and goals. And sadly, sometimes we recite Proverbs 29:18 to back up this practice. You’ve probably heard the KJV version of Proverbs 29:18.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18, KJV

Sadly, Proverbs 29:18 falls near the top of almost every list of Bible verses that are misunderstood, abused, or taken out of context. As we humans so often do, we look at it from our perspective instead of God’s perspective. We want to be the one with “vision.” We want to pursue our big hopes and dreams.

So, let’s take a look at the original meaning of Proverbs 29:18 to discover how we should understand and apply it. Considering the meaning of a few of the Hebrew words from this verse will help:

Vision (English word used in the King James Version) – means “to see with the eyes, either physically or spiritually.” Here, given the context, the spiritual is obviously meant. Therefore, “vision” in Proverbs 29:18 refers to a “revelation, oracle, or prophecy.” In other words, “divine communication.” It originates with God and is given to mankind through His prophets or the Bible. We “see” it and “understand.” This “vision” does not originate with us.
People – Refers to “people or nation.” This verse does not necessarily speak to individuals but groups of people joined in some kind of relationship like a nation.
Perish – Means “undisciplined, let go of all restraint, run wild.”
Keepeth – Means to “observe” or “give heed.”
Law – Generally “teaching, doctrine, direction, or instruction.” It can also refer specifically to the Law of Moses (Torah).
Happy – Means “happiness, blessedness.”

Properly understood, Proverbs 29:18 gives us very wise advice indeed. Those who don’t observe God’s revelation live undisciplined, unrestrained lives and suffer the consequences. But those who live by God’s Word will experience His blessing.

The New Living Translation reflects the correct meaning in modern language:

“When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is happy.” Proverbs 29:18, NLT

Is His vision our vision? Or are we operating under a vision of our own making? Our spiritual and eternal well being – as individuals yes, but certainly as communities and nations – depends on our obedience to God’s Word. When we scoff at or turn away from His divine law we suffer the results of our unrestrained living. But when we keep and observe His Word, our obedience will be “blessed.” (Side note: that doesn’t necessarily mean physical prosperity. God’s presence and His spiritual, eternal blessings are far greater!)

Is His #vision our vision? Or are we operating under a vision of our own making? #Prov29:18
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So, what is your “vision?” What is the “vision” of your family, community, nation? What results of that “vision” do you see around you?

When people do not accept divine guidance they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is happy. Prov…
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Whose #vision is it anyway? #Prov29:18
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“Nana” Lessons from a Coffee Mug

This is the 14th and last post of the Mug Monday summer series. Thank you for indulging my coffee mug “wisdom” musings. Today, we consider not one mug, but three! What lesson will God teach us today?

When I was shopping one day, I spotted several mugs decorated with my grandmother name – “Nana.” How nice! Not only would any of them make a very adequate holder for my coffee, but everyone would also know the coffee belonged to me. But, I couldn’t purchase all of them. I needed to choose one.

So, I began to evaluate the pros and cons of each mug. Did it fit my hand? Was it thick enough to help keep the coffee warm? Did I like the colors and design?

Then I noticed the variation of the sayings on each mug and wondered if any of them describe me in my role as “Nana.” The three slogans read as follows:

Ask not what your Nana can do for you, but what you can do for your Nana
Love, Live, Spoil
Life is Better with Nana

Mug #1

I’m going to be honest. At first, this mug was my favorite. Like me, it’s a bit of a smart-alec. I thought, “Wow! It would be great if somebody did something for Nana!”

Then I realized Mug #3 is simply a reflection of our self-absorbed, “it’s all about me” culture. That’s not the kind of Nana I want to be. That’s not the kind of person I want to be.

Mug #2

Do I “love, live, and spoil?” I’ve definitely got the “spoil” thing down to a science. (But for the long term, that’s probably not a good thing.) And, oh my, I do “love” my grandson! I would battle a pack of ferocious wolves to protect him. Grandmothers don’t have to work on the “love” part; I’m pretty sure God wired us for this one.

Spoil? Check. Love? Check. But what about “live?” When I’m with Micah, do I “live” in the moment? For the most part, yes. But not always. Sometime I’m writing a blog in my head or checking email on my phone.

I forget that “these days” are limited. The days when Micah says, “Play with me all day Nana.” Or the days he calls me on Facetime from his house 4 hours away and says, “Nana, come home.” “These days” will be over in a flash.

Mug #3

Well, let’s see. I can name and transform all of Micah’s Rescue Bots. But, is my grandson’s life better because I’m part of it? Will Micah be a better person because of my influence?

Spiderman t-shirts, ice cream cones, or the latest Rescue Bot will not give my grandson a “better” life. Yes, those things are fun, but am I investing in his life in a way that will matter for the long haul?

3 Lessons from the Mugs

You may be wondering which mug I brought home. I decided to not buy the one that best described me.

My “Nana” role is still fairly new. I’m only three years into this gig. I can still evaluate for possible redirection. I choose to learn a few lessons from the Nana mugs and select the one that best described the “Nana” I want to be.

Live in the moment – When I’m spending time with Micah – and future grandchildren – I need to be present in every moment. I must “live” every last one of them while they still want me around.


Make their lives “better” – Yes, I will still buy them ice cream, but I must make a positive spiritual impact. I need to “Nana” in a way that points my grandkids to Jesus and helps foster a desire in their hearts to know God.


Don’t be afraid to be silly – (Okay, I had to find a lesson in Mug #1.) I will laugh, sing, and dance with them. I will make goofy faces over Facetime. I will pretend, yet again, to be a gorilla. Because, I don’t ever want to stop hearing, “Play with me all day, Nana!”

What kind of grandmother- or mother – do you want to be? What would be the slogan on your “Nana” mug?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The “Delight” and “Desire” of Psalm 37:4

“Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

How many times have you heard this verse quoted or even quoted it yourself? Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? By itself, that one statement seemingly holds great promise. “If we delight in, love God, and find joy in Him, He will fill our lives with all the things we enjoy and value.”

Just one problem. That “interpretation” is taken out of context and totally self-focused. As we’ve been doing together for the last several Thursdays, let’s step back and consider the greater context of the verse – Psalm 37 – so we can better grasp the meaning of verse 4. (If you have time, read Psalm 37:1-9 now.)

Does #Ps37:4 mean what you think it does? #Delight #Desire
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In this psalm, David – the shepherd boy God made king – contemplates an age-old dilemma. Often, evil people prosper while those who faithfully follow God struggle to pay the bills and provide for their families. It’s tempting to envy “evil” people who enjoy wealth and all the things the world offers. We may even wonder what’s the use of following God? Maybe we should just do things the world’s way?

Things really haven’t changed throughout history. Since the fall, people have acquired wealth through deception. Innocent people have gone hungry. Evil people enjoy luxury while righteous people suffer great need. The wicked gain at the expense of the godly. The ways of the wicked both tempt us and harm us.

David saw this plight in his own day. He knew this earthly life is not fair. But as horrible as the situation was and is, he knew it was temporary. He wrote Psalm 37 to encourage God’s people to see things through an eternal lens. To realize that the spiritual far outweighs the physical.

The wicked and their wealth will one day perish (Psalm 37:20), but the spiritual inheritance of the godly will “endure forever” (Psalm 37:18). The things of this world are fleeting and temporary. The things that only God can give will remain for eternity.

Now that we’ve looked briefly at the larger context, let’s reconsider verse 34. “Delight” means to be “soft, pliable” and to “pamper oneself.” We are tempted to “delight” ourselves in the world, to be molded by it and to lose ourselves in its offerings. But God calls us to yield ourselves to Him, to be soft and pliable in His hand so He can shape us into His image.

In the surrounding verses, David helps the reader understand what it means to “delight yourself in the Lord.” Here are three ways David encourages us to do this:

Trust in God through active obedience (Psalm 34:3).
“Commit” our way to Him by living under submission to His will (Psalm 34:5).
Wait patiently for God to act on our behalf (Psalm 34:7).

A Christian who “delights herself in the LORD” will be pliable in God’s transforming hand because she trusts in, submits to, and waits on Him.

3 characteristics of #delight in God #Ps34:7
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But what about the “desires of your heart?” The context helps us understand this as well. God’s people saw the seeming success and prosperity of the wicked, even at the expense of the righteous. The purpose of the psalm is to encourage those who trust in God that the wicked will not win. If God’s people will continue to “trust in, submit to, and wait on” God, their “desire” (request and petition) for righteousness to prevail will be satisfied.

5 Ways the LORD Will Fulfill the Desires of the Righteous

Justice will be done. The wicked will be punished (Psalm 34: 2, 13, 17, 35-36, 38).
The Lord will protect His children and give them strength in times of difficulty (Psalm 34: 15-17, 24, 39-40).
The righteous will receive an eternal inheritance (Psalm 34: 18, 29, 37).
The Lord will sustain them in times of need (Psalm 34:19).
The righteous will experience the Lord’s love and faithfulness (Psalm 34:28).

When we patiently trust in God and submit ourselves to His care and protection, He will be faithful to sustain, protect, and provide. And we will see His justice carried out in His time. The wicked will not prevail.

Do you see this verse from a different perspective? How has your understanding changed?

The post The “Delight” and “Desire” of Psalm 37:4 appeared first on Kathy Howard.

Mug Monday: Rejoice Always?

It’s Mug Monday! Our summer series is almost over. Enjoy today’s wisdom from the side of a coffee mug! “A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition!”

Picture the most positive person you know, that “glass half-full” friend. She’s the one who always has a good word and a smile, even when things aren’t going her way. I do know a few people like that. But I’m not one of them. My glass is usually “half-empty.”

Today’s “coffee mug wisdom” implies that a cheerful attitude is possible all the time. Really? Trials, pain, loss, and grief fill the world and spill into our lives on a regular basis.

Do you believe you can be joyful when everything is crashing down around you? Do you buy that?

The apostle Paul sure did. In his first letter to the believers in Thessalonica, he commanded them to “be joyful always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Paul repeatedly told believers to rejoice (Romans 5:11, Philippians 3:1, Philippians 4:4-7). And he wasn’t the only one. James and Peter did too (James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 1:3-7). And it sure wasn’t because their lives were trouble-free. No, they lived lives of joy despite their earthly circumstances.

“Joy” is primarily a verb in Paul’s writings. Paul himself demonstrated how a believer can actively choose to “rejoice in the Lord” despite the condition of our physical circumstances. We humans are so physically focused. We tend to allow the stuff of earth to capture our attention and fill our thoughts. Yet, real joy can only be fostered when we focus on our spiritual circumstances.

Christ and His saving work creates eternal reasons for us to rejoice. His presence and power in our lives. His working in and around us. The comfort and guidance of His Spirit within us. Our sure hope of eternal life with Him. Christ is our source of real, lasting joy. He is our joyful “circumstance.”

A constant attitude of rejoicing does indeed transcend our earthly circumstances because it is founded in the eternal. We can even rejoice in and through earthly trials because we know that God is using them to accomplish His spiritual transformation within us (1 Peter 1:3-7 and James 1:2-4).

#Joy transcends our earthly #circumstances when we have an #EternalFocus #MugMonday
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Today, let’s choose to focus on our eternal circumstances and our spiritual condition rather than our temporary circumstances and our physical condition. What are some practical ways we can do that?

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The Real Promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13

You’ve probably heard – or maybe you’ve even said – “God will never give me more than I can handle.” Sounds really good but there’s just one problem. The Bible doesn’t teach that.

Many people point to 1 Corinthians 10:13 to back up this “Christian teaching.” But is that what Paul meant when he wrote: “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear?” Let’s pull back and look at this sentence in the context of the larger passage to find out what Paul was talking about. (See this post for more information on “biblical context.) The context, the topic of 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 is temptation and being prepared to resist it. Keep reading to discover the real promise found in verse 13.

At the end of chapter 9, Paul encouraged the believers in Corinth to practice strict spiritual discipline like he did. Take note of the “for” in 1 Corinthians 10:1 (NIV). Paul wanted them to be self-disciplined because he did not want them to follow the bad example of Israel in the wilderness who gave into temptation and disobeyed God. Because of their disobedience that generation died in the desert and never entered the promised land. Their story was recorded as a warning for the Corinthians and for us (1 Corinthians 10:11).

Then in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, Paul elaborates on what we should do instead of giving into tempation and falling into sin. Here are three truth points for us from this passage:

Thinking we are too strong to fall into sin makes us vulnerable. We must keep up our guard.
No temptation will come our way that hasn’t already been part of the human experience. We won’t be tempted with something “new” or “unusual.”
God is faithful. He will not allow any temptation to come our way that is too great for us to resist. He will always provide a way for us to say no and the strength to bear up under the pull of sin.

Okay, did you see that? Number 3 is the real promise of verse 13. God will never allow us to be tempted to sin beyond what we can resist. 

3 #truths from 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 #ContextIsKing
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So what about this question: “Does God ever give us more hardship than we can handle?” The short answer is “yes.” But let’s turn to another one of Paul’s letters for a more in-depth explanation.

In his second letter to the believers in Corinth, Paul wrote about hardships he experienced in Asia:

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, NIV

The same biblical author that wrote 1 Corinthians 10:13 also wrote 2 Corinthians 1:8-9. Paul knew that God would allow him to experience more hardship than he could bear. He had lived it. He had pressure in

Asia that was far beyond his ability to endure.

Why? Why did God allow Paul – and why does God allow us – to experience trials and difficulties, grief and pain, more than we can bear? So that we will rely on God and not on our own strength and power.

Hear Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 1:10:

He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us. 2 Corinthians 1:10, NIV

When we are unable to deliver ourselves, God is able. We we are unable to stand up under the pressure, it will be God’s strength in us.

No, God does not promise that He will never give us more than we can handle. Instead, He holds out His hand and tells us to lean on Him.

Have you ever misunderstood the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13? What comfort can you take in the real promise?

 

The post The Real Promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13 appeared first on Kathy Howard.

Contentment without Coffee?

I love coffee. After my initial morning glass of water the coffee begins to flow. A “coffee-free” morning is rare – and extreme. It requires something dramatic like a required fast for blood work. Or a direct word from God.

Even after my disastrous “coffee accident” last Friday – I knocked a full mug over into the keyboard of my laptop – coffee is not a luxury but a necessity. I always pack coffee when I travel just in case it isn’t readily available. Depending on the circumstances I may also pack my own mug and my handy little water heating tool.

I can adapt to just about any conditions. I have slept in a tent in Africa. I have pottied in a hole in the ground. But a morning without coffee?

No #contentment without my morning #coffee. #MugMondsay
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The apostle Paul could teach me an important lesson. Paul knew what it was like to have more than he needed. He also knew what it was like to be in great physical need. But in both situations he had learned to be content.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 3:12-13

Paul relied on Christ’s strength to experience contentment no matter his circumstances. Whether he was hungry or well fed. I have a long way to go. I can’t even be content without a good cup of coffee in the morning.

#Contentment found through #StrengthInChrist #MugMonday
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What about you? Do you struggle with finding contentment through strength in Christ no matter your circumstances?

Related post you may find helpful: Do you misuse Philippians 4:13?

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