Praising Him through the storm

While generally I don't enjoy topical Biblical study, and lean more toward an expository approach, the first message in Pastor Adam's topical series, "What about _______?" hit home. Very hard.

My earthly life has been a whirlwind over the past year+. A trying time that has brought temptation, pain, "depression", anger, tears, brokenness, and worship. Yes, you read that correctly, worship. Long before Adam's sermon on suffering I had decided that I would attempt to, No, I would, worship God through this stormy season. What his sermon offered for me was a sober reality check.

Am I worshiping God through this storm? What is my response to Him? What could be my response to Him? In good times, bad, strong, weak, horrible, painful, aching, suffering times?

Worship. Period. Worship is the only acceptable response.

This isn't to be taken lightly. It is hard, terribly, horribly hard. But terribly, horribly wonderful. It has been the greatest struggle I've faced, to worship Him at all times, but the peace, OH THE JOY!!!!

I know there is one Sovereign Christ. My sin, my wretched, ugly, disgraceful sin, was placed upon Him. My sin drove the nails into His hands. Pierced his feet. My sin ripped at His flesh, spat on Him, stabbed Him. My sin put him on the cross, and screamed at the top of my lungs, "Crucify", and it did.

But that third day. That wonderful, beautiful third day. That day when my Sovereign Lord conquered death. Destroying my sin, and clearing the wrath that was mine. The wrath that I absolutely deserved, and He willingly bore.

That third day. That is the source of my worship. What condemnation? What penalty? What guilt?

WHAT REASON DO WE HAVE NOT TO WORSHIP!!!!

closer than a brother

I'm not alright

I have this conversation 50 times a day.
"How you doing?"
"Good, good, and you?"
"Doing good"
The answers never change. Despite the different people, situations, struggles. Everyone is always doing good, great, perfect...Because that's what we want to hear, it's what we expect to hear, and socially, what is acceptable to say.
Sometimes, often, it's a lie. An open, flat out, bold faced lie.
Sometimes, often, I'm not alright. Sometimes I'm hurting, down, questioning. Sometimes I need someone to call me on it. Sometimes I need someone to say, "Really? Are you really doing good?"
I am proud to tears to know that I have friends closer than a brother (two of who are my brothers) who are willing to hear the truth, and to ask for the truth. (Proverbs 18:24) They are my Jonathan's, my Eli's, my Barnabas's. They are willing to jump in the furnace with me.
Am I that kind of friend? Am I a friend, brother, to call out the truth, and to be there for my brothers? Are you being that friend?
Romans 12:10 calls us to "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love."
Devotion to fellow citizens of the Kingdom, what joy in obedience!
Be that brother today. Be willing to hear and hold your brother. Be willing to let your brother know if you're not alright. Because sometimes, often, we're not. That's where we can show ourselves as being closer than an earthly brother.