Creed for the Suffering

I came across the following in a small booklet of poetry Mom had that I read in 1974 when I was only 8 years old. (Oops❗️🫢 Accidentally outed my age on the internet again.)

(*Remember poetry must be read out loud)

"I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey ...

I asked for health, that I might do great things.

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things ...

I asked for riches, that I might be happy.

I was given poverty, that I might be wise ...

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God ...

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things ...

I got nothing I asked for—but everything I had hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among men, most richly blessed."

- Unknown Confederate soldier

My first take on reading it as a child, almost 4 years before I became Born Again and owned Jesus as my Lord, was that if God was trying to drum up business THIS poem was NOT going to do it for Him. In fact, I suspected it was a clever plot by Atheists to sound like it's Christian but actually turn people off of following Jesus altogether. 🤨

Unfortunately/Fortunately  this poem is as realistically Christian as one can get.

Shall I explain the great truth of this poem to you line by line as all those who have known and followed Jesus for a Lifetime and through great suffering can do?

Nope. 

Until you have encountered your own personal seasons of suffering our explanations will fall on deaf, unexperienced ears.

However, I can tell you that you should ponder this poem a bit and keep it handy because Following Jesus goes hand in hand with suffering.

(It appears I won't be drumming up much business for Following Jesus either.)

Then let me redeem your time with the words of the Apostle Paul when he was discussing all the great things in life this world had given him but he had forsaken to Follow obediently wherever Jesus had called him to go.

"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things."

Philippians 3:7-8

Yes. Jesus is just that wonderful to know.

Well put, Paul.

Link to all of Philippians chapter 3 from the Bible

The Truth with Love,

 Always Laura-Lee 

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"Walk On" by 4Him 

Keep going, Children. 😖 

We're almost Home. 🥹

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The Integrity Time Warp

 

Let's take a Christian man and put him in a hypothetical situation.

He grows up in a strong Christian home.

He begins his own personal relationship with Jesus at a young age.

He excels at his job.

He demonstrates faithfulness to Jesus through decades of his life.

He gains a reputation for seeking and speaking the truth even in stressful situations.

He gives generously to the poor.

He commits Fornication or Adultery or Swindles someone out of money or Embezzles from a company or (insert any major sin)

Then he hides it, lies about it and then gets caught at it.

What happens next?

Everyone asks the questions,

"I wonder how many other women he's had sex with?"

"I wonder what else he has stolen?"

"What else has he been hiding and lying about that he just hasn't been caught at yet?"

He may have lived a pure life until the moment he fell, but suddenly every past deed he's done is doubted because his integrity has been  destroyed and nobody trusts him anymore.

And it's not just his PAST deeds destroyed but his FUTURE deeds too.

He's with a woman which could be a completely innocent relationship but everyone is wondering if he's sleeping with her too. 

Will his wife ever completely trust him again?

What single Christian woman who has been refusing sex before marriage will want to marry a man who has had sex with another woman and can't withstand temptation?

Who's going to give him a job where he has access to money again?

He robbed before. What's to stop him from doing it again?

He gave himself over to temptation just once ☝️ in a big way, didn't admit it, lied about  until he got caught and it has cast aspersions on all  his past and future deeds.

A person can be loved and forgiven for evil deeds 

but 

 people can't just muster up trust. It must be earned and that takes time, integrity and sacrifice.

If you don't maintain purity and integrity  you may never fully restore them again.

And if I haven't made resisting temptation and maintaining integrity important enough to you yet, ponder this.

If people know you are a Christian you will desttoy Jesus's reputation with your own and negate your ability to quote the Bible again with any authority.

"We need to be Salt and Light."

"We need to live uncomprised lives."

"We need to thoroughly deal with sin in our lives."

"God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can withstand."

Keep your word. 

Keep your integrity.

Do whatever it takes to withstand temptation.

Stay Transparent and  Accountable to SEVERAL people and if you do a major sin...

come clean, 

admit it, 

and own it completely  BEFORE you are forced to admit it because you got caught.

The Truth with Love,

Always Laura-Lee 

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