MAY 2012

A contemporary Christian song that I have recently encountered has become quite meaningful to me. It is "Blessings" by Laura Story. Here are some the lyrics:

"Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise"

May I take some liberties with the lyrics to personalize them?

What if your blessings come from a year of unemployment?

What if your healing comes through the pain of foreclosure?

What if a thousand "why's" are what it takes to know you are near?

And what if your struggles are God trying to get your attention so that you can really learn how much He loves and cares for you?

James Chapter One Verse Two says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (The Greek word for testing used here means to tear down and build up as in developing muscle or the training of a Marine Corps recruit) Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

I have experienced two different seasons of unemployment in my life. One time I was without a job for a year. The next time it was for about six months. For a man, losing his job and waiting for the next opportunity to arise is as taxing on his self-esteem than anything I know. So much of our identity is tied up in what we do.  Although I cannot say I enjoyed those experiences, at this time in my life, I can truly say I would not wish for anything to be different.  God taught me more in those difficult times than I can tell you. At the time I was terminated from my job, I quoted a saying that I had heard, "I do not know what the future holds, but I do know the One who holds the future." I sensed a peace that passes all understanding that day.

I have not faced foreclosure but have experienced financial loss. Again, God showed me things through that process that I would probably not have learned in prosperity. I saw His hand of provision in ways you would not believe. In addition, He taught me, through his Word and through godly counsel, how to be a better steward of His resources.

 (over)

I admit there were times when I shook my fist at God and told Him to "lighten up"!

I think that He appreciated my honesty rather than some pious platitudes. He is a big od. He could understand my anger and lovingly walk with me in my pain.

The song ends with the following:

"What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy and what if the trials of this life...the rain, the storms, the hardest nights are Your blessings in disguise?"

Are you willing to allow for the possibility that the struggles you are going through are His blessings in disguise?

MINISTRY NEWS

Our Friday Morning Group has grown to include seventeen men since we have moved our meeting to the Marietta Country Club Men's Grill. We have been studying "The Hole In Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision. It has been a very challenging study.

We are planning a much larger Wounded Warrior Golf Outing in conjunction with Marietta Country Club slated to be held in November with soldiers from Fort Benning and Fort Gordon as well as Wounded Warriors living in the Atlanta area.

We continue to walk daily alongside men, meeting with individuals over the breakfast or lunch table, to discuss the challenges they are facing, whether it be marital, financial, employment or family issues.

We continue to plan for a trip to Guatemala next winter during their dry season to help with The House of Hope Project.

This is all made possible by the generous support of people like yourselves to whom we are most grateful.