2 Corinthians 4 ~ not destroyed

2 Corinthians 4

We are afflicted in every way,
but not crushed;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down,
but not destroyed;

Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,”
we also believe,
and so we also speak,
knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus
will raise us also with Jesus
and bring us with you into his presence.



Afflicted? In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other

Anger Grief Fear

James 1:20
The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

God knows a lot of two year old adults. Consider conversation to God, in Honesty. Complain.

Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Look forward to God using this to help others. And healing. Many people love to rush to judgment and tell you - this is insurmountable. I have witnessed people permanently give up and stay home. I've done that. It is a mistake. However, with a broken ankle, it's difficult to run. The second year of grief, is frequently more difficult - the burden of saying - 'I should be better now.'

Proverbs 16:9 Time
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Fear

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

A right hand does what mostly - most of our work.

John 5:17
Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

What was Jesus charged with as God's hand?

Matthew 3
"He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The day of adversity and the day of blessing. Not just Jesus meek. Son of GOD.

God is not the reformed God of the Old Testament. He was as compassionate in the Old Testament. He spoke to Elijah in ...

1 Kings 19:11-13
And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

What do we expect from God?

Are we this generation?

14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars

What doest thou here, Elijah?  
We do not play with God.


Psalm 26
7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.

If you could sit down to talk to God and have Him answer you, what would you discuss? You would have to have HIM stoop to your level. Like a Giant from Gulliver's Travels. Like Aaron splashing blood in His Holy of Holies. And in the midst of your front porch swing talk - you would hopefully realize - HE is God. Perhaps on one moonlit night, HE would explain That Nothing Is Impossible To HIM and even let you place your hand upon HIS.

If you were a two year old, you would still prattle on about yourself. And secretly tell Him that you could do a better job being God. But every now and then realize - how much God takes upon Himself every day. In the day of horrid adversity. Understanding all of the hearts, souls, no secrets are hidden.

And be in awe of who GOD is. I Am. Can you imagine ? Having to tell Moses this fundamental aspect of God.

God is so intent on providing - HE has to assure Moses of His name.

God is so Giving. He has to send Jesus to explain Himself. In His Story. If you have seen the Son, you have seen the Father.

Maybe we should quit preaching - Take Your Anger to God.

And start contemplating that Life is so complex. No house is built by throwing materials in the air.

We should quit believing the media what Life affords us in our choices - what we should "Really" Do with our lives.

If you were to really go into our homes. Would we be pleasing to God? Do we really believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in our Temple? And how far do we go and dare ask HIM to bear?

Take your anger to God?
Is HE our waiter or butler?
If your life is on the line -

Would you say to God -

I'm a good plant in Your garden - What did you leave behind?
What have you done for me lately - What have you truly given?
Why didn't You give me more - Were we faithful Stewarts?
Oh - that didn't count, did it? - What was your example to others? We all matter to others. God says we are all part of Him.
But they did it too. (Would God say "Really?")
I didn't know - God would say we did.

Mostly we have humdrum lives. And we want the attention of God! Youhoo! Yahweh!

How to start the conversation?

Hello God - You are Pretty Big up there. Want to um sit here?
Yeah. Let me dust that part off.
Hi! Yep. That's right it's me...

Haven't talked in a while with Real bad ole me. Why would you want to.
God would wrap you in His Wing.
Because God does a Lot of listening. He has to explain to Moses. I Am.
God shares something in common with us. HE thinks Life is good.
And very difficult.

Please come here God. Abba. Daddy.
You are holy. I'm not. Real not.
Is Your will for me good? Are You mad at me?
I'm not super thrilled with me, but I try to be.
And I fake that.

Surely You are mad at me.
Except God says - I call not the righteous, but Sinners.
Jesus sat with Matthew and Matthew invited all manners of people. God defended the partying.
God reads the thoughts of all of us. And wants to save the World.
(Usually at that point there is no subtitle that says, "But, not you."

God - You know me - no secrets are hid. All hearts open. What we are is a ol body wrapping a soul.

Your Will on earth as in Heaven -
You sure You are around here God? You are so quiet.
God is present in the lonely places - Jesus went there, regularly.

If you put a seed in the ground - do we watch for that?

Surely you don't expect the Lord to do everything for you. Do you? You gotta earn His presence. And then you gotta recognize HIM. And then you have to act on His Word. Almost like - people. Because God says He patterned people on Him. God has feelings. Lots of them.

Give us the DAY. Haven't we all heard - put your hand to the plow and don't look back? We have today. God says if we say - with important earnestness - "I'm Sorry." HE is going with not scarlet, but white. Because God is Not People. His Ways are HIS.

Give us the Day. What we looked for with a till or a magnifying glass - to check to see - Did He call? Where - what did I see? Then apply the work Jesus (almost ) always asked for in healing - do some work yourself. Give back. Like a child of a real - Parent.

God gives us problems to solve. Adversity. He wants you to come Home. But before you take the fun, fun, fun t-bird - Grow Up. Want more blessings? Don't we all enjoy our children when they whine? Gratitude -  is - a factor.

Forgive me the uh - sins. Yep. God wants you to say - Your Rules Apply. And then He wants you to fess up by saying to Him - why - you did that. Because He wants to talk about what caused the problem. That could take a while and lead to some real - healing.

And some anger - except - what does HE owe you? Now another round of conversation - God wants that too - God gives us desires in our heart - why - He is growing us into His self-aware, Life Abundant, use your unique talents and be more - fulfilled  - people. Because - HE is Your Father.

He puts a conversation in your heart to HIM - because you are answering His call to your Life.

Now. We explain how we feel about being sinned against - briefly. That is His Child too. And pray blessings on that person to. Real blessings. (I personally pray some people to be Very Blessed. Supremely Blessed on a variety of levels - in another state. And I live in Texas- so um - We ALL have work to do!)

Lead me not in to temptation - tell Him what you should ought not to choose to do. And say Help! And. Please!

Deliver me from evil. In myself. In others, in paths of no Light.

For we want GOD to succeed in HIS Kingdom, His Power and His Might. Because HE is For US! And HE alone is GOOD!

In the strongest name of Jesus, we pray. And now we do like the disciple Paul said and "Look to see how it will go with me." In expectation and deliberation and in examination of the day. Given! To us. In Jesus. Who really was a pretty wonderful Man. And wants to talk with you. And do the work of going to Church - to hear preaching - because - God not only died for you - but for His Church. Jesus survived death to do this - we might be able to put a little effort in it. Even if we sit in the back. To cry. To get out faster. Or just to be humble. All those reasons would appeal to Him.

Bring the Kids to My House, HE says. Because we need to be nourished. This is HIS House and His table is like His will - this is for us. But we have to do the work of claiming that - over the hassle - the stupidity - we call boredom - the lie of low self-esteem - and keep doing that because it's really hard to walk on a broken ankle when our feelings are tender and our souls raw.

Encourage one another. HE does.

Please vindicate me, O Father God.
Mostly I have walked with integrity.
Help me to trust in Your mercy when I have failed to trust.

Lord, prove me again. Try me.
Test my heart and my mind.
I want Your steadfast love and to walk in Your faithfulness.

I sit with all manner of people, as You did.
I am sometimes hypocritical. Help straighten my path to You.
I so not want to be placed with the wicked forever.

Bare with me, Jesus Christ the Lord, wash my hands and heart and
call me to redemption.

Help me to go around your altar, O Lord Father God.
I will proclaim of Your mercy in thanksgiving, breaking
silence into my relief and joy. Telling of your Wondrous
Deeds.

Help me to not be overwhelmed and bored - stupidly -
in Your House, Father God.
Help me to love the place where Your Glory dwells.
I do not want to be swept with sinners and the bloodthirsty.
I do not want to be known as one with evil devices.
And right hands fulled with bribes.

I want to say again - I walk in integrity.
Redeem me, Jesus.

Be gracious to me.

My foot will stand on level ground;
in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.

For I join with You, hoping with YOU, for Your good intentions to me.
In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Bear Hunt - ZIBRAH Song

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