If I Hadn't

I've been thinking about the "story" of my life and how God has ordained each and every day of my life. I've been wrestling with the Lord about the numerous trials I've had in my life. I know they are part of the refining process that the Lord has and is using to shape me into the likeness of His Son, Jesus, but some days it is hard to accept them as a gift. Some days I wish my "story" was written differently than it is.

The phrase "If I hadn't" came to my mind this evening. If I hadn't experienced a certain trial then what? What would I have missed or not learned without that pain.

Below I've written a short phrase of some of the trials I've experienced and contrasted it with a benefit that came from it.


If I hadn't been abandoned
I may not have discovered One who will never leave me or forsake me

If I hadn't experienced shame
I may not have turned from my sin and received forgiveness

If I hadn't been spat on
I may not have learned to turn the other cheek

If I hadn't experienced unfaithfulness,
I may not have experienced His great faithfulness

If I hadn't experienced divorce
I may not have met the perfect Bridegroom

If I hadn't been a single mother
I may not have learned to depend on my Father in heaven

If I hadn't experienced bankruptcy
I may not have found my Greatest Treasure

If I hadn't been desperately alone
I may not have found my Sweetest Companion

If I hadn't experienced rejection
I may not have learned humility

If I hadn't experienced depression
I may not have turned to His marvelous Light

If I hadn't grieved the loss of a loved one
I may not have have experienced the fullness of joy,
knowing they are in heaven

If I hadn't experienced the rejection of man
I may not have admitted the idol of my heart, acceptance of man

If I hadn't grieved the loss of a dream
I may not have put my hope on eternity

If I hadn't had breast cancer
I may not have have shared in physical suffering
or discovered new mercies every day

If I hadn't experienced these trials
I may not have realized my deep need for Christ
nor experienced the most profound love of my life

The message behind 'Healing Begins'

James 5:16 - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other SO THAT you may be healed.

Healing Begins by Tenth Avenue North

Someday by Michael W. Smith

I KNOW
THERE'S A PRAYER FLOWING FROM
THE LONGING
FOR THE HEALING TO COME
SOMEDAY
NO MORE DARK, ACHING NIGHTS
SOMEDAY
I WILL OPEN MY EYES
THE LIGHT WILL COME
AND I WILL SET YOU FREE
SOMETIMES
THERE’S A JOY IN THE PAIN
SOMETIMES
PEACE THAT CAN’T BE EXPLAINED
SOME FIND
A LONGING THERE IN THEIR SOUL
SOMEDAY
I WILL MAKE ALL THINGS WHOLE
I PROMISE TO
SET THE CHILDREN FREE
SOMEDAY
YOU’LL FIND A PLACE IN THE SUN
SOMEDAY
WHEN ALL HEARTS BEAT AS ONE
YOU’LL SING
WITH THE HEART OF A CHILD
SOMEDAY
WHEN THE RIVER RUNS WILD
MY FATHER COMES
TO SET HIS CHILDREN FREE
SOME SAY IT’S A VISION
SOME SAY IT’S JUST A DREAM
I SAY IT’S A PROMISE
A COVENANT, A DESTINY
I WILL COME TO SET MY CHILDREN FREE
SOMEDAY
WHAT THE YOUNG ONES HAVE DREAMED
SOMEDAY
ALL YOU’VE HOPED AND BELIEVED
WILL BE
YOU WILL ALL UNDERSTAND
THE LONGING
PLACED INSIDE EVERY MAN
OVERCOMES THE WORLD
AND SETS THE CHILDREN FREE
AND I WILL COME
TO SET MY CHILDREN FREE
SOMEDAY
WE WILL SEE
WE WILL SEE YOU
SOMEDAY

In loving memory of my daddy, Allan Jorth.

Amazing Love - Newsboys

Amazing Love by A.W. Tozer

Jesus felt the Cross. He felt it long before he reached it. Its shadow stretched far ahead and wrapped Him in its black, clinging folds. He shrank from it, though He never flinched. The thorns tore, and the nails cut His heart, long before His body was touched by them. The shame of it stung to the quivering quick. But love held Him steady. If it only might grip us, how Jesus loved us! -S.D. Gordon

Titus quickly identifies Jesus Christ as the Savior "who gave himself for us," and we can quickly learn the value of any object by the price which people are willing to pay for it. Perhaps I should qualify that—you may not learn the true value, for it is my private opinion that a diamond or other jewelry has no intrinsic value at all.

You may remember the story about the rooster scratching around in the barnyard for kernels of corn. Suddenly he scratched up a beautiful pearl of fabulous price which had been lost years before, but he just pushed it aside and kept on looking for corn. The pearl had no value for the rooster, although it had a great value for those who had set a price upon it.

There are various kinds of markets in the world, and something which has no value for a disinterested person may be considered of great value by the person desiring it and purchasing it.

It is in this sense, then, that we learn how dear and precious we are to Christ by what He was willing to give for us

I believe many Christians are tempted to downgrade themselves too much. I am not arguing against true humility and my word to you is this: Think as little of yourself as you want to, but always remember that our Lord Jesus Christ thought very highly of you—enough to give Himself for you in death and sacrifice.

If the devil does come to you and whispers that you are no good, don't argue with him. In fact, you may as well admit it, but then remind the devil: "Regardless of what you say about me, I must tell you how the Lord feels about me. He tells me that I am so valuable to Him that He gave Himself for me on the cross!"

So, the value is set by the price paid—and, in our case, the price paid was our Lord Himself!

— A.W. Tozer

Think About the Greatest Affliction

"In order to suffer without dwelling on our own affliction," Thomas Merton once contemplated, "we must think about a greater affliction, and turn to Christ on the cross. In order to suffer without hate, we must drive out bitterness from our heart by loving Jesus. In order to suffer without hope of compensation, we should find all our peace in the conviction of our union with Jesus. These things are no a matter of ascetic technique but of simple faith."

Excerpt from, 'When God Weeps,' by Joni Eareckson Tada

What's So Good About Suffering? - Part 3

In recent weeks, I have wondered why God decided I should be healed of cancer while others I know and love were not. Some may define this as survivor's guilt.

For those of you who have been diagnosed with cancer or a life threatening situation, understand what it's like to have death stare you in the face. Your knees buckle and you're placed in a position of humility to feel the hand of God resting on your life.

When death glared at me, I wasn't frightened of death itself, but of the pain that may lead to it. I was sad, not because of what was to come, but what I'd leave behind and the joys I'd miss with my loved ones.

I certainly wouldn't have chosen cancer, but it has caused me to think about life and death. As a believer in Jesus, I have the hope of eternity. I didn't fear death, but discovered at a much deeper level that death will be the better thing. I'd be removed from the pain of this world and be face to face with Jesus forever.

I've come to a deeper understanding of Paul's statement in Philippians 1:21where he says, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." For those who do not believe in Jesus, life on this earth is all there is. It's natural to strive for the world's values - money, popularity, pleasure, status. I, too, have done that and found emptiness. For Paul, to live meant to develop eternal values and to tell others about Christ, who alone could help them see life from an eternal perspective.

Paul goes onto share the struggle of choosing life or death in verses 22-24 where it says, "If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body."

In verses 25-26, Paul continues, "Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

Paul's purpose for living went beyond providing for physical needs. His life was to be an example to others, for the benefit of other believers (the Body of Christ, the church).

In Colossians 1:24, Paul reiterates this concept. "Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church." Joni Eareckson Tada explains this passage, in her book, When God Weeps, ' Nothing is lacking when it comes to what Christ did on the cross. It is finished, just as he said, But something IS lacking when it comes to showcasing the salvation story to others. Jesus isn't around in the flesh, but you and I are. When we suffer and handle it with grace, we're like walking billboards advertising the positive way God works in the life of someone who suffers. It's for the benefit of believers. But it's more than a matter of example or even inspirations. It's you. Because we are one in the body of Christ, we are linked together. Your victories become mine.'

As believers, others learn something powerful about God from observing us in our suffering. Christ gave us this example, it's one we should mimic for the benefit of others. That's a purpose worth living for!

Blessed Be The Name

Job 1:21 NIV: "...the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

"Love found. Love lost. A goal reached. A broken dream. Both good and bad are in our lives. Each thing we experience helps to shape who we become. Each thing that happens to us should be looked upon as purposeful; allowed by the Sovereign Hand of God. Our circumstances are not always pleasing; yet, we can always take pleasure within them in knowing that God´s perfect will is being accomplished. It´s not easy; yet, the benefits are tremendous. With each and everything we face, God has a perfect purpose. To say otherwise would be to say that some of what shapes us is beyond His control. He sees in us the potential of who we can be. His will is to see that we meet that potential, and He will only allow us to experience those things that can be used in doing so.

by Faithwriters, May 28th, 2010

What's So Good About Suffering - Part 2

In the past few days, I have been deeply touched by the testimony of a family in Cedar Falls, Iowa who have glorified God through an incredibly tragic accident that affected their 22 month old son. Thousands of people have banded together along side them to pray for their son & this family. They have sung praises to God, not knowing whether or not their son would live or die. The message of God's only Son, Jesus, who came to die for all mankind so that people may have eternal life, has spread because of this terrible accident. Some have accepted Christ as their Lord & Savior through the sharing of this suffering.

During tragedy and suffering, people are brought together who may have never known one another before. Suffering has a way of leveling the ground before the Cross. Suffering doesn't discriminate. Every race and social economic status, every person will experience some type of suffering, some how, some way, some day. It is inevitable. it just looks different for each one of us. Jesus promises it in John 16:33 when He says, "In this world you WILL have trouble."

Since we know suffering will happen, what will we do when it does?

In Philippians 1:12-14, Paul wrote of his imprisonment, 'Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the world palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.'

Randy Alcorn writes in 'If God is Good,' Paul clearly saw God at work through his suffering. Just as boldness in imprisonment advances the gospel, so does boldness in disability, disease or disaster.

In our suffering, the door is opened for the gospel to be shared, when it may not have been otherwise.

In Galatians 4:13-14, Paul also wrote about his experience when he visited the Galatian churches, 'As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel (messenger) of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.'

Even while Paul was imprisoned and seriously ill, he shared the message of hope in Christ. Suffering changes and expands our sphere of influence for Christ. Whatever our trial or suffering may be, lets turn it into a testimony for His name sake, just like this faithful couple from Cedar Falls, Iowa has done in recent days.


Ephesians 6:19-20 - Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.