Life...

Life seems to come at us so quickly and sometimes so harshly. Not only is this so but many times it creeps up and blindsides us. We are swiftly caught off guard and soon find ourselves wondering what has happened.

This has been my experience over this past week. A couple of family issues, including the loss of my Grand-dad, aka "Papap," as well as ministry and church struggles have come upon me in no easy fashion. I have found myself feeling completely weak and abused, looking around for some glimmer of hope or perhaps even a slight answer to all this.

Then, yesterday at Papap's funeral I felt (I know, strange for a Presbyterian to say) God's presence in a very real and vital way. I was lead to read 2 Corinthians 1-3 with Amy before we left for the funeral, paying special attention to chapter 1. I was confronted by the comfort of God Himself and it quickly began to leak from the pages of Scripture into my own heart. I was no longer needing to be satisfied by answers or the discovery of hope. I found in that moment God was enough! I also understood that with this comfort, as was the case for Paul and Timothy, I was to comfort others. Thus, I took the comfort of God and sought to spread it to my family and friends. I pray that in that funeral God was honored and glorified and that His comfort was truly felt.

I mention this because I have heard Pastor Tullian say time and again that "Christ plus nothing equals everything." I believe that with all my heart and understand if fully. However, I wanted to experience it. So, I prayed. God has since brought all this "stuff" into my life that has stripped me down. Then, when I was feeling quite low and just tired, God granted me the desire of my prayer! He drew near to me and comforted me. God is great and His grace is ever so sweet!

"Papap, I'll miss you!"

For His Kingdom...