5-13-20 THOUGHTS

The old saying “When you’ve got lemons, make lemonade” ought to be our way of living.  Most of us feel like we’ve got lemons in this time.  We must respond appropriately.  We always head toward God!    ALWAYS... EVERY STEP... EACH DECISION!

The Church at Corinth had its problems.  Paul had already written them a letter that was largely CORRECTIVE.  Rightfully, he was concerned about how they would receive it.  They took it well!  They made adjustments individually and collectively.  The following is rich!
It speaks to the growth that comes through our difficult times. Read this several times...
Go read it from a good translation.
2Cor 7:6-11 Message Bible
    Then the God who lifts up the downcast lifted our heads and our hearts with the arrival of Titus. 7  We were glad just to see him, but the true reassurance came in what he told us about you: how much you cared, how much you grieved, how concerned you were for me. I went from worry to tranquility in no time! 8  I know I distressed you greatly with my letter. Although I felt awful at the time, I don’t feel at all bad now that I see how it turned out. The letter upset you, but only for a while. 9  Now I’m glad—not that you were upset, but that you were jarred into turning things around. You let the distress bring you to God, not drive you from him. The result was all gain, no loss. 10  Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets. 11  And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you’ve come out of this with purity of heart.

Heb 12:11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

My Prayer:
Oh God of comfort who desires our best, help us in time of difficulty.  Guide our hearts and our steps in a time of aloneness and stress.  Turn our hearts to you and to each other.  Revive my soul as I seek to revive others.  Give us alive hearts that serve you at all times.  Help us to hunger for your Word and give us the joy of your salvation as we partake of it.  Help us share the excitement of being alive and being yours.    In the name of Jesus                        Amen