Sharing Life and Christ

The past couple of weeks have been so amazing. Of course, my definition of amazing here is probably drastically different than how I might normally use it. I definitely wouldn't say that I've been having fun and really been blessed with joys abounding. But then again, maybe I would say that. If I think back 6 months, I can almost hear myself asking God "how can I find joy in trials?" Maybe I only have to think back 2 months or even less to remember that same question. I can say triumphantly that one of the most amazing things God is doing in my life right now is teaching me how to rejoice in trials and suffering. It has taken a whirlwind of events and emotions for this process to happen, but it's happening and I couldn't be more excited because I know I'm growing and becoming more like Jesus! He's answering my prayers! He lives so that I can have life in abundance! So where is the joy? It's in the continued evidence of Jesus Christ's work in my...

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you." As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. I have spent a lot of time ...

I am not going to lie. I have a heavy heart right now. For the first time in a long time, I won't be in church on Easter Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of my Lord, Jesus Christ. It hurts because Easter is such a hugely symbolic day for me. It is a day that brings to mind so many emotions and past events that helped shape me and draw me into closer fellowship with Christ. With that being said, I take comfort knowing that in the presence of God is fullness of joy, and that He is ever before me and at my right hand. As I ask God what it is He wants me to see through this experience, I am reminded of Peter and the lesson that God desired him to learn when he denied Christ three times. I was reading a couple of the accounts of Easter week this morning and was fascinated by the account in Matthew of Peter's denial. There are two passages that we'll look at. They are Matthew 26:30-35 and 26:69-75 . And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ...