YouTube - ESV Study Bible - J. I. Packer

The ESV Study Bible is one of my favorite study tools.  It is accurate, compact, and as the well known and highly respected theologian, J.I. Packer said, it is an entire library in one.  Here's why!

YouTube - ESV Study Bible - J. I. Packer

Never Stop Thinking! It's a sign of life!

It's been a roller coaster ride the last few days.  As many of you know, my mom had a light heart attack Monday afternoon.  Her heart cath on Wednesday revealed no major heart damage for which we are very thankful.   Mom is 81 and boy is she young! She volunteers at Murray Calloway County Hospital three days per week as a runner, transporting files, patients, and anything needed, to different areas of the hospital.  She works out at the fitness center three days per week, and helps with the "senior citizens" through her church and community at Puryear.  What a gal!  Plus she has time to serve through her church and still entertains our now rather large and ever growing family for special birthday and holiday gatherings.  A little over a week ago, she had to, in her words, "stop and rest for about half an hour," as she was trimming her yard with the push mower and "ran out of breath." Being as active as she is, you can imaging her disappointment when she was told that she couldn't go home until Friday.  The doctor wanted to be sure she didn't have a reaction to her heart medicine so she needed to stay another day for observation.  But mom is always thinking!  After a pensive moment or two she said, "Well, that's okay.  They told me I couldn't drive for two days after the cath and Friday will be two days!"  That's our mom!  Always thinking, always serving, always loving others.  What's the secret to her longevity?  She loves God, loves others and serves the world . . . and she's always thinking!  It is a great sign of life, don't you think!  When we get in trouble in life is when we forget that God left us here to love Him and serve others.  If we keep our focus on Him and His plan and purpose for our lives, we'll finish strong and we'll finish well. You go mom!  You're my hero!  Now and forever. Your middle son, Steve PS I echo the sentiments of my older brother Mike & his wife Pam, my younger brother Glynn and his wife Myra, as well as the rest of our families.  I just happen to have the pen!  But they love her as does our entire family and community, just as much as Marylin and I do.

How about some COMFORT FOOD?

The old adage is still true: No pain . . . No gain.  But how?  That's the question, isn't it?  It's not that we want our pain to go to waste, we just don't know how to spend it!  Hopefully, this article will help. How can you waste PAIN?  Horde it.  Anytime we horde things, they get wasted.  But when we share them, the energy gets multiplied.  For example, if you keep food and let it ruin, neither you nor anyone else receives the benefit from it.  It's chocked full of nutrients, vitamins, energy, and health; but allowed to sit on the shelf, it just rots.  And if it's sitting next to other food, it will cause it to spoil prematurely also. However, if you give that food to someone who needs it, someone wonderful happens.  They now receive strength from it, the food doesn't go to waste, the recipient is made stronger, and there is a new friend to help provide food for others, thereby cutting the load in half.  Whereas one had to bear it all alone, now two are refreshed and enabled to not only carry on, but provide comfort food for others as well. The same applies with our pain.  Paul said this in his letter to the Corinthians,  All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT)   So this is the deal, as you receive God's comfort you have a choice to make.  I can multiply God's comfort into the lives of others, or I can horde God's comfort.  The only problem with refusing to spend the comfort of God is that over time, unless it's worked out, it becomes a flabby muscle that gets weaker and weaker. Paul went on to say, Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. 2 Corinthians 1:6-7 (NLT)  Did you catch it?  We must get this!  The then is so important and must become the now of our lives.  When you help others, regardless of the reason, whether suffering for the Gospel's sake, or because of something we did or something that was done to us, by comforting others great things happen.  This is the equation: Add + a friend | divide  / the pain | multiply X the benefits | then subtract - the lingering effects.  Each time you apply the formula to your pain, look what happens to it.  It keeps getting smaller.  Why? Because you're willing to spend it in the lives of others, rather than keeping it to yourself.  Don't horde it -spend it! Then God will receive the praise and glory, you will have helped a friend, and you will receive the blessings and rewards for faithfully serving.  Not a bad exchange! May God bless you this week as you apply the Truths that Expose the Myths about your PAIN.  Go ahead! Have some COMFORT FOOD today! Pastor Steve