Pastor Reed preached a great, timely message about discouragement on Sunday morning. God knows just want we need and when we need it. He is so good! I decided to write the points to the message on here. Hope it can encourage someone else!
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "We Faint Not"
"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
Colossians 3:2- "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."
Matthew 6:21- "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Proverbs 4:23- "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
Your discouragement is directly related to the things that you treasure. Paul managed to faint not though his outward man was perishing. If anyone had reason to be discouraged it was the apostle Paul. But he learned to treasure the things that were important.
"Things Paul Treasured"
1) Paul treasured the inward man more than the outward man.
"the inward man is renewed day by day"
We must daily take the time to refresh our spirits with prayer and the Word of God. He did not focus on his looks or appearance, but he was more concerned with keeping his inward man encouraged.
2) Paul treasured the eternal more than the temporal.
Each trial or heart ache we face is but a "light affliction" compared to Heaven and eternity. Is this specific thing that is bugging me or causing me pain going to pale in comparison to eternity?
It will soon pass!
Psalms 37:5- "Commit thy way until the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
Ecclesiastes 7:8- "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."
3) Paul treasured weakness more than strength
2 Corinthians 12:9- "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: For my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power if Christ may rest upon me."
*Treasure affliction!
Romans 5:3- "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;"
4) Paul treasured the unseen more than the seen
Sometimes you can't see what go is doing behind the scenes, but He is always working!
You might just have to listen to the message online because I know I didn't do it justice! The website to our church is on the blog, so go listen to it if it sounds like something that might help you. Sometimes we might think that we don't have all the money we need or the job we need, but we have just what God wants us to have! Treasure the things that God wants us to. I think if we could learn to take our eyes off earthly things, then we would be much more happy and content!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Jack's Clothes
Jack has been getting a multiple of new things! Here are just a couple.
Corey's mom bought him this. So cute!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Clara's Baby Shower
Clara and I have been best friends since our senoir year of high school. We got married one month apart and now we are both having baby boys two and a half months apart! We had her baby shower today and it was so much fun. She only has 2 weeks to go and little Samuel will be here!
Carrie Warner, from our church, made this cake for her
shower. It was so good!
I Must Tell Jesus
I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;
He is a kind, compassionate friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,
Make of my troubles quickly an end.
Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior;
One Who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share.
O how the world to evil allures me!
O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me
Over the world the victory to win.
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;
He is a kind, compassionate friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,
Make of my troubles quickly an end.
Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior;
One Who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share.
O how the world to evil allures me!
O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me
Over the world the victory to win.
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
Discouragement
"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God." 1 Samuel 30:6
"Thus apt are we, when we are in trouble, to fly into a rage against those who are in any way the occasion of our trouble, while we overlook the divine providence, and have not that regard to the operations of God's hand in it which would silence our passions, and make us patient." -MH
"Things are sometimes at the worst with the church and people of God just before they begin to mend." -MH
"David bore it better, though he had more reason than any of them to lament it; they gave liberty to their passions, but he set his graces on work, and by encouraging himself in God, while they dispirited each other, he kept his spirit calm and sedate." -MH
"Those that have taken the Lord for their God may take encouragement from their relation to him in the worst of times. It is the duty and interest of all good people, whatever happens, to encourage themselves in God as their Lord and their God, assuring themselves that he can and will bring light out of darkness, peace out of trouble, and good out of evil, to all that love him and are the called according to his purpose, Rom. 8:28. It was David's practice, and he had the comfort of it, What time I am afraid I will trust in thee. When he was at his wits' end he was not at his faith's end." -MH
"Physical exhaustion leaves us wide open to discouragement."
-R.B. Ouellette
When Elijah was discouraged God gave him "food and rest" to start the process of deafeating his discouragement.
"Don't make major life decisions while you are discouraged." -R.B. Ouellette
"We think that God is going to deal with the source of our problems. We think God will take away the cause. We think God should remove it. If He doesn't, we think He isn't doing anything. But taking the problem away is not the way He usually works."
-R.B. Oullette
"Never forget, especially when discouraged, what God has done for you in the past."
-R.B. Oullette
"It's tempting to try to deal with our problems by refusing to admit they exist. However, when the stones are being sized up for throwing potential, it's time to face the facts. To conquer the problems we face, we must address them as they really are."
-R.B Ouellette
"Thus apt are we, when we are in trouble, to fly into a rage against those who are in any way the occasion of our trouble, while we overlook the divine providence, and have not that regard to the operations of God's hand in it which would silence our passions, and make us patient." -MH
"Things are sometimes at the worst with the church and people of God just before they begin to mend." -MH
"David bore it better, though he had more reason than any of them to lament it; they gave liberty to their passions, but he set his graces on work, and by encouraging himself in God, while they dispirited each other, he kept his spirit calm and sedate." -MH
"Those that have taken the Lord for their God may take encouragement from their relation to him in the worst of times. It is the duty and interest of all good people, whatever happens, to encourage themselves in God as their Lord and their God, assuring themselves that he can and will bring light out of darkness, peace out of trouble, and good out of evil, to all that love him and are the called according to his purpose, Rom. 8:28. It was David's practice, and he had the comfort of it, What time I am afraid I will trust in thee. When he was at his wits' end he was not at his faith's end." -MH
"Physical exhaustion leaves us wide open to discouragement."
-R.B. Ouellette
When Elijah was discouraged God gave him "food and rest" to start the process of deafeating his discouragement.
"Don't make major life decisions while you are discouraged." -R.B. Ouellette
"We think that God is going to deal with the source of our problems. We think God will take away the cause. We think God should remove it. If He doesn't, we think He isn't doing anything. But taking the problem away is not the way He usually works."
-R.B. Oullette
"Never forget, especially when discouraged, what God has done for you in the past."
-R.B. Oullette
"It's tempting to try to deal with our problems by refusing to admit they exist. However, when the stones are being sized up for throwing potential, it's time to face the facts. To conquer the problems we face, we must address them as they really are."
-R.B Ouellette
Thursday, April 24, 2008
TWINS?!?!?
No...we are not having twins! lol But apparently the cashier at lunch today thought that I was big enough to be carrying twins! He referred to my belly as "they". Now if that's not discouraging, then I don't know what is! I am only 6 months! haha
Friday, April 18, 2008
Flowers!
They are allowing me to plant flowers at our new house! I am so excited. I have never planted flowers or anything and I have this inkling to plant something! I am going to do a rose bush as well. I probably will not get around to it until June, so I will post some pictures when I do. By the way.....if anyone knows how to plant things, then let me know!
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