Suffering

This theme seems to be jumping out in my life through my surroundings quite a bit lately. Suffering of all different types and degrees happening everywhere seems to beg a response to the question, "How could a loving and caring God let this happen?" Or even rather, "How can God's will sprout from such suffering?"

"We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone." -1 Thessalonians 5:14

What goes through your mind when you read that verse there? Think hard...
Read it a few times.

Do you always do all of that??
Me neither.

I can't always pinpoint the Lord's will. You may even say it's seldom that I do. The more I learn about the Lord, the more I see how huge He is. It's as if you learn a topic as to close in on the knowledge that is there on the subject as to be an expert, but with God, even though you learn, you see how big He really is and you realize you don't know what you're talking about to an extent.

Did you know Jesus's love is 4-dimensional?

"...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints that is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." -Ephesians 3:17-19

We live in three physical dimensions. Four dimensions wouldn't even make sense. It's like throwing a 3-D football through a 2 dimensional world. You'd completely freak out all of the stick people. It would make no sense to them.

I know one guy who suffered pretty bad for me...and you...to save our souls that we may forever be with Him. It's the same guy that has this ultra-complex four dimensional love. His name is Jesus.

No, it's true I don't always understand suffering.
But His love will always truly baffle me.

Yahweh, My Strength, My Knowledge

Did you know that whenever "LORD" shows up in the Old Testament, what's really being said or written is "Yahweh" or "Jehovah" (same word, different pronunciation)? I don't know, I like referring to the Lord by His actual name from time to time, "Yahweh".

Outside of Yahweh, I seriously know absolutely nothing and I will fail continuously. No strength. No power. No wisdom. No knowledge. No life.

A Psalm by me

Yahweh, I don't know why, it's beyond me
Your love for me and my life is incomprehensible
Without You oh Lord, I know nothing
You calm the storm, You calm my soul
Dominate me oh God! I cannot go on alone!
You know my pathetic heart yet you love me
You've numbered every hair on my head.
You know my past, You know my present, You know my future
In the morning I cry to You oh Yahweh! Dominate me!
I long for Your plan over anything of my own
For You know all, For you have all Power
And I have all sin
But in You oh Lord my God, I have all of You
Hallelujah!

I Count All Things but Loss

"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ."

-Philippians 3:7-8

Oh how I love the words of Paul, and for that matter the Word of the Lord. What is knowing Christ Jesus the Lord?

The words of Jesus in prayer to the Lord for Himself in the garden of Gethsemane:

"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

-John 17:3

Let there be no debate or matter of opinion, eternal life: knowing the Lord!!

That does not start when you die. That starts right now!

It can't be put any better than this:

"For I am determined to know nothing among you except Christ, and Him crucified."

-I Corinthians 2:2

Knowing Christ, and knowing Him more and more, and being deep in your relationship with Him, above and beyond all else is all that matters.