Everything Hurts!
Father, I am grateful for Your direction and answered prayers. We could ask for no better hands in which to find ourselves! All praise to You!
Romans 8:17 (<<click here to read the passage)
When you run your toe into the dresser or hit your thumb with the hammer, is your pain limited to that extremity alone? At least in my experience, the answer is no. When those kinds of things happen to me, the pain radiates through my whole body – everything hurts it seems!
So, if that is the case, read this verse – Colossians 1:18a,
He is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the church… AMP
Then Amplified Bible notes on the word church reads,
This refers to the entire body of born-again believers (whether past, present, or future), not a local congregation. (emphasis mine)
Now read today’s verse,
And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory. Romans 8:17 AMP
The part I want to hone in on is if indeed we share in His suffering…
My NIV Reflecting God Study Bible states,
The Greek construction used here does not set forth a condition but states a fact. The meaning, then, is not that there is some doubt about sharing Christ’s glory. Rather, despite the fact that Christians presently suffer, they are assured a future entrance into their inheritance.
When one part of the Body suffers, we all suffer. We rejoice with those who rejoice but we also mourn with those who mourn. God’s Word puts it this way,
Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief]. Romans 12:15 AMP
We don’t need to seek out suffering to gain His glory, believe me, it will find us. It may be in some fashion like the sufferings of Christ. And His sufferings were many.
- physical suffering – just think of all he went through in the days prior to and the actual act of crucifixion He endured.
- emotional suffering– Matthew 23:37
“Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Murderer of prophets! Killer of the ones who brought you God’s news! How often I’ve ached to embrace your children, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you wouldn’t let me. MSG
- spiritual suffering – the old King James Version quoted Jesus saying numerous times, “O ye of little faith…” (Matthew 6:30, 8:26, 16:8). He had invested in his followers so greatly and still…
He suffered on many fronts, but He also suffers because we suffer. He has great empathy for us. And if you really think about it, His Body – His Church – follows right along in His footsteps.
Suffering is just part of who we are in Him. It doesn’t mean we’re in the wrong or that we have to earn our place in Heaven. Jesus paid it all and all He asks of us is to follow Him knowing that He will never leave us or forsake us. Amen.
“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT
Feb 22nd, 2023, Wed, 12:27 pm
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Thomas A. Dorsey
Another day of quiet, Father. Thank You for Your presence and for Your guidance, as I continued getting ready for Sunday. You know our needs. May Karen and Massey’s time with her father be a blessing for them and her father. Amen.
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Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Psalm 100:1-2 KJV
Many years ago, when I served as the children’s pastor at a wonderful church in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, we regularly did musicals. The closing line of yesterday’s post – Hand in Hand – was “Precious Lord, take my hand”. That song was in one of the last musicals we did together. I have searched, trying to find it but have been unsuccessful. But it doesn’t make the song any less special.
I knew a little about its origins but did a little online research to learn more.
Precious Lord, Take My Hand, was written by Thomas A. Dorsey (not to be confused with trombonist and big band leader, Tommy Dorsey). Thomas Dorsey grew up in Georgia, the son of a preacher, with many elements contributing to making the man he would become.
As a young man, he became a well-known composer of jazz and blues after moving to Chicago, but over time his Christian roots brought him back to the Lord – and amazingly so. The thing is, he didn’t shun his jazz and blues experiences but began to incorporate those styles in composing gospel music.
Early on in that period of his life, his wife Nettie died giving birth to their first child, a boy. The child died hours later. When she died, he was in St. Louis conducting a convention where musicians could learn gospel blues. He immediately returned home, despondent at losing his beloved wife and their son.
The loss shook him to the very core of his being, but his faith prevailed, and out of this horrific experience Precious Lord, Take My Hand was born.
(For a more inclusive writing of Dorsey’s life and the history behind this hymn, click on this link – History of Hymns: “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”)
Here are the lyrics and also a beautiful modern rendition presented by the Jeremy Winston Chorale.
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand and lead me home
When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near
When my light is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand oh Lord and lead me home
When the darkness appears and the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand
Guide my feet, hold my hand
Take my hand and lead me home
Once more, precious Lord, take my hand!
Feb 21st, 2023, Tues, 6:32 pm
Hand in Hand
A day of solitude is pretty rare, Father, but I give You praise for helping me make it so productive. Sunday preparations are well underway!
Romans 8:14-17 (<<click here to read the passage)
One of my fondest memories of my time at Kohl’s was seeing the many instances of fathers and their young sons strolling by the jewelry counter, hand in hand. I may have said something about it once or twice but all in all, I just enjoyed seeing it.
When you’re there in that moment as a father, more than likely you don’t think a thing of it. But from my point of view, it is priceless. It is something that should be cherished, for too soon that time passes, and it will not come again. I don’t think even a grandfather holding a grandson’s hand in the same way, has the same meaning.
There is that bond between father and son, that is like no other. As time marches on, at least in our culture, it becomes a thing we don’t do. The only other time when some might take advantage of the moment is when the end of days is coming and a son will hold his father’s hand, grasping for one last connection before it is gone once more, never to return.
I began tonight’s time by readying myself to read through verses 14-17 of Romans 8, but as I read verse 14 from the Amplified Bible, I felt compelled to go no further. That would be my focal point, but then my eyes drifted to the notes for the next verse and once again I paused.
Verse 14 from the Amplified Bible reads,
For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
The Amplified Bible actually emphasizes the words I underlined and bolded – allowing themselves to be led…
For the point of reference here is verse 15,
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba! Father!”
We are God’s children! In the Roman culture of the day, adoption gave the adoptee the full rights and privileges of a child born into their adoptive families.
The note for this verse refers to the word Abba,
An Aramaic word used by young children when addressing their fathers, but not used by Jews in prayer because it implies a sense of familiarity. Jesus’ use of the word emphasized his Father-Son relationship with God.
We too, as God’s children can joyfully cry, “Abba! Father!” as we allow ourselves to grasp the hand of God as we walk along through life.
Time moves along in this life of ours, and things change. But I for one am grateful that our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
The first portion of Malachi 3:6 proclaims,
“For I am the Lord, I do not change…” AMP
Hebrews 13:8 proclaims likewise,
Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever. AMP
Precious Lord, take my hand!
Feb 20th, 2023, Mon, 6:52 pm
He Sat Down
It was a crazy weekend with far too many ER visits. Father may all those impacted make good progress in recovery under Your watchful eye and in Your loving arms. Amen.
Hebrews 1:1-4 (<<click here to read the passage)
There are many times when we take something simple and make it crazy complicated. And just because it is unbelievably powerful and majestic doesn’t have to translate into being unable to be understood. Take our salvation for example.
Towards the end of verse 3, Lord, is a statement that has profound ramifications – You sat down. Two simple words but what they mean – wow! My New Living Translation Life Application Study Bible states, that Jesus sat down means that the work was complete. Your goal in coming to earth was to be the final sacrifice for sin and once You did that Your work was done, You sat down!
Once and for all my sin has been taken care of – every sin of my past, every sin I will ever commit…taken care of! And this applies to every man, woman, and child who has ever or who will ever walk the face of this earth. I committed the crime but Lord, You, paid the penalty…and the price was Your life. You died, but You weren’t down for the count. No…You rose from the dead, wrapped things up, and sat down. It…was…complete.
And now all we have to do is accept Your gift of forgiveness. We cannot fix it. We cannot work for it. It…is…a…gift! We cannot just take it either – no, shoplifting salvation is not an option. There can be no hidden motives – no masks. Just me…before You… and it will be done.
I am speechless!
(Feb 11th, 2016, Thurs, 6:27 am)
Feb 19th, 2023, Sun, 8:50 pm
Stomping on Temptation’s Toes
As I sit here, Father, catching my breath, I am grateful for a good night’s sleep, some nice time with Karen for lunch, and a good brisk walk after taking her back to school. Direct my heart and mind in the direction You would have it go. Amen.
Romans 8:12-13 (<<click here to read the passage)
One thing that drives me a little looney on my elementary route, is when one kid is trying to get another kid’s attention. They’re not sitting together but maybe across the aisle or several seats back. I hear, “Hey Will, Will, Will. Hey, Will, Will! Will! Hey, Will!” – an incessant repetition, until finally I have had it, and I call out, “That’s enough!”
Temptation is often that way. Whatever that temptation may be, and we all struggle with temptation of one sort or another, it seems to be around every corner. It doesn’t always come up and smack us in the face but often just continually pecks at us until we give in…or at least glance in its direction, giving it just enough attention that we’re hooked. Sometimes we can still turn away but oftentimes the door is open just enough that temptations foot is stuck in it, and the next barrage of “Hey, Thom, Thom, Thom!” lures us in that much more quickly. Far too often it leads to our succumbing to, as Paul puts it, our flesh [our human nature, our worldliness, our sinful capacity].
(Can you tell that I have some experience in these things? Don’t we all?)
But another area that I am experienced in is …living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit which leads me to habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body.
In recent weeks, one of my temptations calls out to me on a pretty regular basis and from all different angles. I have found it very helpful to be ready to spit out rebuttals, “NO! Lord help me!” “Nope, I’m not going down that path of thought!” Sometimes I say a prayer. Sometimes it’s a simple calling out to God. Sometimes it’s a hymn – recently Jesus Loves Me was on my mind, and any time temptation reared its ugly head, I would belt out “Jesus loves me, this I know…” I like to think of it as stomping on temptation’s toes, with a mighty yell, “Get that foot outta my door! Jesus lives here and you are not welcome!”
So many times, our temptations began by yielding to something repeatedly. But let me tell you, it works both ways! May the Lord help us to habitually put to death the sinful deeds of the body. The Holy Spirit is more than willing and able to answer our prayers and pleas for help. His strength and tenacity become ours – one step at a time, one day at a time.
It’s time to put an end to some habits by beginning others! Amen!
Feb 16th, 2023, Thurs, 12:52 pm