Living with Pain- My Perspective

            Pain is not something new to the follower of Yahweh. It is not how God originally intended for life to be, but due to the fall of man in Genesis 3 pain has become a part of life. God promised Eve that she would experience pain during childbirth Gen 3:16. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul tells of a thorn that was given to him to help keep him from getting conceited. This should give us as believers some comfort that in our weakness God is getting the glory for the strength we do have. It is not of ourselves. I know suffering from fibromyalgia has changed my life and my perspective on life. And that is what things boil down to is perspective. Paul choose to see his strength lying in his weakness, and coming directly from God.

            I like Paul realize that it is no longer my own strength that things get accomplished, but through the power of Christ I am able to handle most anything. I remember what it was like to be completely healthy and do whatever I wanted; I would be remised to say I don’t miss it. However, due to my current circumstances I have grown closer and more in tune to the Holy Spirit. I can only hope to maintain the attitude of Job (Job 1:21). God gives and he takes away, but blessed be the name of the Lord. It is never easy trying to live in constant pain or dealing with the inability to concentrate going through what is called fibro-fog. Job was a special man he lost everything except for his wife, and she wanted him to curse God and die. Job 2:9. Job not only lost his lively hood, his kids, his home, he ended up losing his health to the point that he was covered in boils. Leaving him not only in a depressed state but in constant pain. Even with all that he trusted God.

            While chronic pain has taken much away from me, it has also given me something I would never have gained without it, a stronger confidence in God. There are some in the Fibro community who will disagree with me, and that is okay.  I believe it has allowed me to trust that God has a plan for my life beyond what I can comprehend, there is a Christian rapper named Trip Lee that I really connect with because he suffers from a similar condition known as CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). I mention him because he not only raps but wants to be a pastor (which is what I am studying to become). Because with Fibromyalgia comes a very heavy fatigue some days. I have met the man in person and he is very down to earth and loves Jesus very much. On another note back to my point God is working something together for my good, I have a life verse I hold on to dearly it is Romans 8:28.

            So all of this to say, don’t allow the circumstances of life to dictate how you view life. Remember it is all about perspective, you can choose to view the glass as half empty or half full. It is my hope that you will see it as full and running over because of the work Christ has done on our behalf. Romans 5:8, 1 Peter 2:23-25.

-Preach

Teaching on 2 Timothy 2:2

This is my first attempt at a screen capture teaching. If you like it please let me know and I will try and produce more of them. This teaching is on 2 Timothy 2:2.

Looking at Life From a Starbucks

      

      I have been sitting here for just about an hour and have seen many different kinds of people come in and out. Some people in casual clothes others in suits-n-ties. I wonder what the massive appeal of this place is. I have come here today to break up the monotony of sitting at home all the time doing work. I have not been doing anything special just checking email and looking at Facebook while people watching. I have come across two “friends” using the term loosely. They are more acquaintances, one is here meeting another person while, the other works on different things on his computer.

            This place is what is considered cool and hip; it allows you to have what ever you desire the way you want it. But that is not the way things go with God. He does not give us everything our hearts desire, because he knows that we are sinful and there are times we are going to ask for things we do not need, for whatever reason. James is a great book of the Bible full of some great insights. He says “You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:2-3, ESV) We are selfish people, is what James is saying. I’m not saying that there is anything inherently wrong with wanting things, it depends on why we want them that brings up the issue. Do I go to Starbucks to fit in and be part of something or do I really like the coffee? My answer would be both. I like feeling like I am part of culture that is accepted. We all do some degree. I am usually standing outside looking in because I do not accept all of what modern society is trying to push on me. While I enjoy the atmosphere, I do not support everything they support.

            I am a Bible believing Christian and that makes me different than some of their clients. Remember I said there were all types of people who were coming and going. Do you think it’s okay to frequent a business even if you do not agree with all of its practices?  Paul told us to be all things to all people, and to eat what is put in front of us, unless we know for sure it has been sacrificed to idols.  I say whatever you do, do it to the glory of the Lord.  I hope that my short stay in Starbucks had a positive impact on those I came in contact with. My point in all of this is no matter what you are looking for find it in Christ and not in a place, a culture, or things. Because in the end they are temporal and will pass-away, while the love of Jesus will last forever. Don’t just look at the right now but think about the enteral impact things will have and trust that the Lord can use you.

God Bless

-Preach


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