Just checked my email. The following devotion was there. It is dated as being sent 3/14. Just showed up this AM...... The Lord knew we needed this one today.<BR>_____________________________________________<BR>From: "Terri Main" terrim@evangeltab.org<P><B>"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." Matthew 5.4</B><P>What a paradox! We think of grief and happiness as being mutually exclusive. In fact, even in Christian circles, we are often taught that the Christian always has a smile on his face and a song in his heart. We are<BR>told that to be sad is sinful, that grief represents a lack of faith, and that pain comes from sinful living. Yet, this teaching is directly contrary to what Jesus is saying here.<P>Let's look for a moment at the word "mourn." In the Greek it means to grieve a loss. This may be the loss of a loved one, but it may be other losses as well: loss of health, loss of security, loss of a relationship,<BR>loss of a dream, loss of a job, etc. Too often when a Child of God mentions a loss to another Christian she is met with rebuke for her lack of faith or told she is "having a pity party." It's doubtful she was having a pity party. To have a party you need guests and, usually, there is no one around to show pity on the Christian in sorrow.<P>Sometimes the person is alone in their sorrow, not because of lack of concern among the Christian community, but because no one knows about the pain. Many people get up in the morning under a burden of circumstances,<BR>filled with pain, but they put on their smile along with their Sunday clothes and go to church. They never let anyone know what they are going through. Sometimes this is because they don't want to appear weak. Sometimes <BR>it's because what is causing the pain might seem trivial to others. <BR>Sometimes it's because the pain is caused by something no one else would understand. So, even the person sitting next to them, even their spouse, child or best friend doesn't know that something is wrong. <P>But, Praise God, Jesus is telling us that he knows our heart. He knows when we mourn in silence. He knows that what is trivial to others may be overwhelming to us. And he says, <B>"Child, I know what you are going through. I felt your pain in my body on the cross. And I will heal that pain."</B><P>So, when we mourn, when we face hard times, when we are sad, when our hearts break and the pain mounts up inside so badly that we feel we can't stand it any longer, we are Blessed. We are Happy. Why? Because at those times we really know how much we need him. We become "poor in spirit." We feel <BR>his presence. And when he does the work (He will do the work), then we will come out on the other side of the loss with a stronger testimony and a greater endurance for what is yet to come. <P>It is only against the darkness of night that the brightness of the stars be seen. The jeweler displays his most precious diamonds on his darkest cloth. God shows his glory against the backdrop of grief. So, blessed are those who mourn, for we shall be comforted.<P>Lord, wrap your arms around me in my grief and give me the strength only you have. And let me pass that strength along to others. Amen<P><BR>Praise God, he is so good to us!<BR>MTAW

Wow! That was dynamite! Thanks MTAW<P>Other perfect timing stuff happened in ur church service today in that we are studying in Romans Chapter 8, entitled Great Expectations, subtitled Pain, then gain.<P>Pstor talked about that in God's great toolbox for life, this chapter was one of the best for carving our character into the likeness of God. Verse 18: I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (After the suffering, after he molds us into His likeness, after we learn to wait in eager expectation (More specific translation similar to one standing up on their toes, necks extended and craning to look for what is coming) subjected to frustration, bondage to decay and then set free. <P>RO 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. [23] Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. [24] For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? [25] But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.<P>The hope for what we do not yet have, restored marriages, godly husbands.....Again as the hearts for our home, our hope is highly relevant. I don't know ifI will be able to think about waiting patiently or expectantly again without the word picture of neck craning....knowing your desires will be fulfilled, not yet yours, but almost....<P>Paul describes his afflictions while here:<BR>[24] Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. [25] Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, [26] I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. [27] I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. [28] Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.<BR> <BR>And yet, calls such things light and momentary troubles:<P>2Cor 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. [18] So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Whether we are reunited with the husbnds we presently have, we have the hope and promise of being reunited with THE bridegroom forever.<P>Perhaps this week, we can pratice waitng eagerly, long yearningly...Got your necks craned?<P>Now what did He show you guys in His Word today?<p>[This message has been edited by SueB (edited March 19, 2000).]

we were in 2 cor 4:7-18.... Yes we were finishing with the two you quoted, 17-18... Great Stuff...<P>We have been going through chapter 4, learning how to live a 'new covenant' christian life, which is something we should all be doing to fend off lifes discouragements... My pastors messages are online.... You can hear them at:<P> <A HREF="http://cedarhome.org" TARGET=_blank>cedarhome.org</A> <P>They have been right on the money... The first sermon in 2Cor, was on how we are comforted not to be comfortable, but to be comforters.... Its why we go through afflictions of various types...<P>Anyway... I was blessed AW by your post, after reading the last one you wrote in the evening, I hope you come back here in the morning and read this one again...<P>------------------<BR>Jesus is the only answer!<BR>His blessings, Cozy<p>[This message has been edited by used2Bcozy (edited March 19, 2000).]

The Lord knew I was going to need these words today, didn't he. Thank you Father.

Cozy, what a good idea...here is our tape section <A HREF="http://gcconline.org/Tapes/tapes.html" TARGET=_blank>http://gcconline.org/Tapes/tapes.html</A> <P>I listened to the sermon from last week on discouragement. Really can see how discouragement bogs down the body. Thanks for sharing.<p>[This message has been edited by SueB (edited March 20, 2000).]