my sanity

my sanity is God.

2 Corinthians Chapter 4-

Trial and Torture.

Since God has so generously let us in on what he is DOING, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. (breaking up is so hard, but there is such a bigger picture) We refuse to wear masks and play games.  We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. (we maneuvered behind the scenes to everyone for too long)  And we don't twist God's word to suit ourselves.  Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God. (Now everything is out in the open)

If our message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way.  No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. (I am so glad we gave it serious attention) All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness.  They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing in truth they CANNOT SEE. (sometimes when you cannot see the bigger picture it is so easy to live in sin) They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get.

Remember, our message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master.  All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you.  It started when God said, "light up the darkness!"  and our lives filled up with that light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.

If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness.  We carry this precious message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives.  That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us.  As it is, there's not much chance of that.  You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at.  We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, terrorized but God HASN'T LEFT OUR SIDE; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken.  What they did to Jesus they do to us -trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them he does in us-He Lives!  Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us.  While we're going through THE WORST, you're getting in on the best! (So true.  Even though this feels so terrible it means I am getting in on the best that God has planned for me)

We're NOT KEEPING THIS QUIET, not on your life!  Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it,"  we say what we believe.  And what we believe is that the One who raised up the master Jesus will certainly raise us up with you, alive.  Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!

So we're not giving up!!!!!!!!  How could we?  Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, (so true :() on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.  These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times :). the lavish celebration prepared for us.  There's far more here then meets the eye!  The things we can see now are here today, gone tomorrow.  But the things we can't see now will last FOREVER!

Thank God there is hope.  I just love him so much and I want to tell everyone how much he loves them, and show them his love.  I cannot help it.  Its spilling out of every inch of my being.  He is flowing through me more then he ever has before, just because of listening to his still small voice.

Thank you God I love you.  And Spencer Scott Hendricks....I love you more then ever before.  I just hope God lets us be together again, someday :( But for now, enjoy this incredible gift he has given us.  Wow, I'm in love with our minds!