perspective

when i first read/heard this yesterday i knew i wanted to share it with you:

"How can you find joy in difficult times?
Try seeing things from God’s perspective...

We read of Paul (Philippians 1) and in our comfortable culture often have a hard time relating. It’s been too long since many of us have had our faith truly tested. Hold on, because as children of God, I can promise you that you will.

...The truth is this – when you live for Christ, make the right decisions, are bold about your faith – life may not always be comfortable and easy and there will always be those who criticize. Some of you know what that feels like don’t you?

...You know that just by saying “it’s all good” doesn’t mean it’s all good. We live in a world where the Enemy reigns. There are temptations in front of us daily. The Christian walk is not an easy one, especially when we think we have it all figured out.

Still, difficulties will come.

There will be job layoffs.

There will be failures.

There will be breakups and divorces.

There will be rejections.

There will be foreclosures.

There will be sickness and death.

There will be many unforeseen emergencies and problems.

There will be news stories of tragedies in our communities and throughout the world.

So where is God in all this?
He is where He always has been and always will be. The perspective that Paul understood is one we need to grasp.
God is moving us to a better understanding, a better perspective.
This may not jive with some of you, but the reality of Scripture is that regardless of life’s circumstances, God is still in control...

Where is God in all of this? Our Sovereign God is not abandoning us... we need perspective like Paul... God is here and He is in control."  - David Tarkington speaking on choosing joy/Philippians 1. You can hear the sermon & read the notes here (Choose Joy 2 - "No accidents')

and then
as i lay under the covers, having one last bit before i turned the lamp off, there it was:

"Christ has not come to get me out of tough situations, but to live in me through them. Do you see the difference?" -Sheila Walsh
"From our perspective suffering is an evil to be avoided at all costs. But from the perspective of the New Testament, it is the character building cost of following Christ." -Chuck Swindoll
"It is the presence of God, not the absence of trouble, that brings peace." -Sheila Walsh

and today
my Dear Kara says, "Have you seen Louie Giglio's How Great is our God?"
i had not.
i watched it, just now...
"so you're at the toughest place in your life. how can you know that God is going to hold you together and bring you through? you know b/c there is a cross standing over history... it is the place where the Star Breather became the Sin Bearer where the Universe Maker became mankind's Savior & it is proof that God doesn't always change the circumstances. He did not change them for Jesus on that hillside outside Jerusalem, but the cross is also proof that God always has a purpose in the circumstances & that His purpose & His plan will prevail & will triumph through any circumstances in this world...... 'Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint' (Isaiah 40)" -Louie Giglio

the Sacred echo
perspective... perspective... perspective - may i have His perspective