Pastor Dan’s Blog

Pain - Doesn’t Only Have To Hurt

The space between our present and our purpose is often wrapped up in a process called pain. The thing about pain . . . it hurts. Miles McPherson states that pain doesn’t only have to hurt.

We all face it. We all feel it. We all experience it.

The good news is that God has a plan to make your life count. Sometimes that plan includes pain. I know that doesn’t sound like good news but the good news is . . . that pain is not always bad. Pain is given for two reasons.

First, pain is given for our protection. Pain in our body is a warning sign to protect us from further damage. When we touch something hot, our senses tell us to move our hand or we will burn. The pain sends a message to the brain to change the behavior. God gave us pain to protect us.

Secondly, pain is used to promote us. When we respond correctly to painful circumstances in life it can catapult us toward greatness. Consider that life’s greatest struggles can become your greatest stories. What would Helen Keller be without her handicap? David without Goliath? Paul & Silas without the prison? Jesus without the cross? Each of our biggest stumbling blocks are actually stepping stones to the next level. Your pain is the process for your promotion.

Pain can be identified to come from two distinct sources. From self-inflicted pain due to unwise decisions or what I call life-inflicted pain caused by others or just life happening to us. Either way we will all experience pain at one time or another. How we view that pain will determine the value we receive from it. Rick Warren says “God never waste a pain.”

Let me introduce you to Naomi. She is a very attractive lady, inwardly & outwardly. She is a noble woman. Whether at the mall or a local restaurant everyone celebrates her arrival. She has a wonderful way about her that makes others comfortable. She has a successful husband and two active boys. They live on a piece of land that has been in the family for generations. That is until the recession hit.

They lost it all. So serve was the famine they couldn’t feed the family, lost their property and relocated to another country. Her sons grew and married women from that country. Things seemed good until more pain hit. Her husband died. Then not one but both of her sons followed suit, they passed on as well. All she valued in life was gone. She had only one option . . . return to home she had left.

Upon her arrival the city was abuzz in anticipation for her return. They remembered her joy and pleasant nature. They anxiously sought her out. However, when they saw her they openly questioned if it was really Naomi. Naomi hearing their inquiries tells them, “Don’t call me Naomi (pleasant, joyful) call me Mara (bitter).” (Ruth 1:20)

You pain will make us bitter or better. It is your choice. Bitterness can keep us from recognizing what God is doing in our lives. He may not cause the pain but He sure can work from it.

Make a choice to be better not bitter.

Next week, find out how she worked through the bitterness to become better.

Tags: better, bitter, Miles McPherson, pain, Process, promotion, protection

Renewing Vision - Part Five

In Times Of Darkness, Remember It A Process

 

After all these events Jesus ask the blind man a question . . .

 

He asked him, “Do you see anything?”

 

You mean You did all of this and wasn’t sure it was going to work?!

 

However, the question was not to see if the miracle had worked just to what measure it had proceeded too. One major truth we miss is that some works of God happen in process, not every work is immediately seen in our lives. Everything needed for the miracle has been provided but there is at times a process.

 

The blind man response,

 

And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.”

 

This simple response tells me that this man had not been blind all his life. Something had happened to cause his to lose his vision. His usage of trees in his response means that he knew what a tree looked like. At times it is harder to renew vision than to receive it. This man had vision at one time but something took it away. An accident, a sickness or disease damaged his ability to see. Whatever happened to him was still hindering his fully receiving his breakthrough.

 

It was still a miracle. He could see but it was blurry. This man however had not gone through all this just to walk way with spit in his eyes & blurred vision, he wanted to see clearly. When the first touch doesn’t take, seek another. Don’t settle for blurred vision.

 

Jesus touched him again.

 

Then the man did something amazing, in Times of Darkness, He Refocused His Perspective.

 

Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. ~ Mark 8:25 NKJV

 

It was not until he changed his focus off of the men around him & that he focused his eyes upon heaven did he see clearly. You see my friend, until we change our perspective and see through the eyes of heaven will we truly see clearly.

 

Things were blurry when he looked at earth but when he lifted his eyes upward his vision cleared. If only we could look at the events of our lives through the lenses of heaven will we truly have a vision for our family & community. Life will remain blurry and decisions making skewed until we see our lives through the Father’s eyes.

 

Lift up your eyes. Take your focus off of the circumstances around you that caused you to lose your vision to begin with. Focus on heaven’s perspective and see clearly for the first time.

Tags: lost vision, perspective, Process, refocus

Process of Promise

When the angel Gabriel visited Mary with the announcement that she would be mothering the Son of God she responded with the question, “How can this be since I have never known a man?”

 

Although the Son of Promise was given to her she did not fully understand the process by which this would happen. The angel responded that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her & she would conceive. Mary then declared, “let it be unto me as you have said.”

 

There is a deeply profound principle at work here. Although Mary did not understand the process, it did not hinder the promise. You see, we need not understand every facet or detail of how God will fulfill what He has promised to do in order to receive it.

 

Simply put, you do not need to understand the process to receive the promise. His promises are not based on your ability to grasp the process. Moses didn’t know how the Red Sea split, it just did. Lazarus didn’t understand how he was raised again but he was. The blind man whom Jesus spat in the dirt & told him to wash in a pool about a mile away didn’t understand the process but his obedience granted him sight.

 

You may not understand this Christmas how God will do what He promised He would do but you need not understand the process in order to receive the promise Just declare to the promises of God, “Let it be unto me as you have said.”

Tags: Christmas, Mary, Process, Promise