What I learned in church last Sunday
I meant to finish this blog on Wednesday but the day just kind of got away from me; so did the week. I've been kind of focused on other things this week, unfortunately. A couple of things from the past came up that quite frankly, would be better off left where they belong. One was last weekend; another came up inadvertently in a conversation. Those things have kind of had my mind a bit preoccupied, and rightfully so. Each was an important issue. One, I hope, is resolved once and for all. The other will be discussed only one more time with the person involved simply to demonstrate I was telling the truth; past that, it'll never be brought up again.
As I think back about the two issues, I realize I knew that there were things I had to deal with from the past. I read an article online and for the life of me, I can't find it again, but it talked about how, once you find Salvation, that sometimes God will take you back to things and people in your past, just for a short time to reconcile things. I began to wonder if it had something to do with the Mrs., but it didn't. It was the issue that almost made me quit writing my blog I needed to deal with.
So, you're asking yourself, what does that have to do with the title of the blog post? It's this: In both situations, what I learned in church last Sunday gave me the tools and more importantly, the wisdom to deal with each circumstance. There's going to be a lesson I learned in church for all y'all at the end of this, too. Pay very close attention.
As I listened to the sermon, listened to the pastor talk about a couple of different themes, I realized a couple of things. The first thing was I had a better way to deal with my problem than just continuing to ignore it and hope it would go away. However, it wasn't just the pastor who started me thinking about this. I got some encouragement and a well-timed Bible verse from Wendi on Saturday night. It dovetailed nicely into the point Pastor Karl made on Sunday morning about taking our problems "to the cross". I gave my problem with this person to the Lord and believe He gave me inspiration and wisdom that hopefully has solved it. My trust is in God, who can do all things, that it is. I have to tell you, God's inspiration led me to a Bible verse that contained the answer to my problem and it was perfect!
The second thing I learned from church is that as Christians, it's important for us to share Christ's message of love, of redemption, of salvation with the community, with the world. I try to do that by writing my blog and it's why I decided I shouldn't give it up. Yes there are other things I can do, and I try, but in my own little way, this is my way to share that message with whoever stumbles across the blog. I can check the stats on my blog (don't worry, it just shows time, country, what kind of computer and what kind of web browser you use, not WHO you are) and I have people around the world read my blog on a hit and miss basis. I don't know who these people are but if one happens to stumble on my blog and learns about what God does in my life, maybe, just maybe, that person will turn to Christ and want those things in their life, too.
That's why I changed my mind about the blog.
The third thing I learned from church is from a very interesting passage in the Bible. Sometimes I talk about not understanding the "why" of what God does in my life or the path that He's taking me down. I don't need to and, well, neither do you. Are any of us smarter than God? What I do know is that there are a lot of my friends that don't understand why I'm headed where I am, and from a worldly view it probably seems quite foolish. If you apply the "normal" society view of the things that have happened over the last year, I honestly can see how you could come to that conclusion.
Maybe this will change your mind, though. The Scripture I'm going to share with you was part of the reading on Sunday. As it was read, the words just jumped out at me because it was like God was explaining the why I didn't understand myself. If you read it carefully, you'll understand what I'm talking about:
From 1 Corinthians 1: 13-31 (NIV)13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
I think there's a lot of knowledge in this passage. I highlighted the part of the passage that pertained to what I'd written. I included the whole passage instead of just the one verse so you have the context of what was written and just how much wisdom there is in the whole passage. Read it a couple of times and let the words take hold.
I want to end this by giving Glory to the Father! This story is just another example of how He works in my life every day. Do you have a story to share with us about what God does in your life? I'd love to hear it!
As I think back about the two issues, I realize I knew that there were things I had to deal with from the past. I read an article online and for the life of me, I can't find it again, but it talked about how, once you find Salvation, that sometimes God will take you back to things and people in your past, just for a short time to reconcile things. I began to wonder if it had something to do with the Mrs., but it didn't. It was the issue that almost made me quit writing my blog I needed to deal with.
So, you're asking yourself, what does that have to do with the title of the blog post? It's this: In both situations, what I learned in church last Sunday gave me the tools and more importantly, the wisdom to deal with each circumstance. There's going to be a lesson I learned in church for all y'all at the end of this, too. Pay very close attention.
As I listened to the sermon, listened to the pastor talk about a couple of different themes, I realized a couple of things. The first thing was I had a better way to deal with my problem than just continuing to ignore it and hope it would go away. However, it wasn't just the pastor who started me thinking about this. I got some encouragement and a well-timed Bible verse from Wendi on Saturday night. It dovetailed nicely into the point Pastor Karl made on Sunday morning about taking our problems "to the cross". I gave my problem with this person to the Lord and believe He gave me inspiration and wisdom that hopefully has solved it. My trust is in God, who can do all things, that it is. I have to tell you, God's inspiration led me to a Bible verse that contained the answer to my problem and it was perfect!
The second thing I learned from church is that as Christians, it's important for us to share Christ's message of love, of redemption, of salvation with the community, with the world. I try to do that by writing my blog and it's why I decided I shouldn't give it up. Yes there are other things I can do, and I try, but in my own little way, this is my way to share that message with whoever stumbles across the blog. I can check the stats on my blog (don't worry, it just shows time, country, what kind of computer and what kind of web browser you use, not WHO you are) and I have people around the world read my blog on a hit and miss basis. I don't know who these people are but if one happens to stumble on my blog and learns about what God does in my life, maybe, just maybe, that person will turn to Christ and want those things in their life, too.
That's why I changed my mind about the blog.
The third thing I learned from church is from a very interesting passage in the Bible. Sometimes I talk about not understanding the "why" of what God does in my life or the path that He's taking me down. I don't need to and, well, neither do you. Are any of us smarter than God? What I do know is that there are a lot of my friends that don't understand why I'm headed where I am, and from a worldly view it probably seems quite foolish. If you apply the "normal" society view of the things that have happened over the last year, I honestly can see how you could come to that conclusion.
Maybe this will change your mind, though. The Scripture I'm going to share with you was part of the reading on Sunday. As it was read, the words just jumped out at me because it was like God was explaining the why I didn't understand myself. If you read it carefully, you'll understand what I'm talking about:
From 1 Corinthians 1: 13-31 (NIV)13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
I think there's a lot of knowledge in this passage. I highlighted the part of the passage that pertained to what I'd written. I included the whole passage instead of just the one verse so you have the context of what was written and just how much wisdom there is in the whole passage. Read it a couple of times and let the words take hold.
I want to end this by giving Glory to the Father! This story is just another example of how He works in my life every day. Do you have a story to share with us about what God does in your life? I'd love to hear it!
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