ONLINE CHURCH BULLETIN

Paul's Pleasure

2 Corinthians 12.7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul knew the joy of Christ as he endured suffering. He learned to trust Christ and to depend on His power as he realized his own weakness. He knew that without Christ he was nothing but that Christ provided all of the strength he needed.

Philippians 4.13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

The toddler acquires strength by crawling, walking, falling and getting up again and again until he can finally walk confidently and steadily. He delights in independence.

The ultimate Source of our strength is not in accomplishments, skills, beauty or possessions. We are strong to the extent that we rely on Christ--not our own legs. Be not deceived. All other "pleasures" and sources of strength are temporary. God provides power that endures as we depend on Him. We grow in strength as we let Him pick us up and hold us tightly when we are unable to stand.

Dear Father, we are so grateful to know the joy and strength in Christ. You have provided so richly for our needs. You give us hope and joy in the midst of our troubles and we are grateful for this. May we know this hope and joy more fully today as we rely on Christ. Help those who are hurting. We ask this in the name of Christ, the Powerful One. Amen.

1 John 5.14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Only God can know HOW our prayers WORK but we believe HE answers. Please write me to add names to the prayer list and to report changes in status.

Let us be thankful and prayerful!

Love
Brad Forgy