The Fatherly Way of Paul’s Exhortation: 1 Thessalonians 2:9–12, Part 3 | Desiring God
https://www.desiringgod.org/labs/the-fatherly-way-of-pauls-exhortation

The Ongoing Miracle of God’s Calling: 1 Thessalonians 2:9–12, Part 4 | Desiring God
https://www.desiringgod.org/labs/the-ongoing-miracle-of-gods-calling

The Greatest Crescendo of Life and History: 1 Thessalonians 2:9–12, Part 5 | Desiring God
https://www.desiringgod.org/labs/the-greatest-crescendo-of-life-and-history

Lily Rose "Back Pew"

Showed up this morning 'cause I didn't know where else to go
Needed a word with the Father, Son, Holy Ghost
When I stepped in the lobby, the pastor, he stopped me
Said, "Lily, where have you been? It's been a month or so"
I told him I've been home
Tryna get through some goodbye tears
And you don't even know
The Hell it took to get me here
Might've been fifteen minutes late
Might've missed half of the worship
But at least I showed my face
And showin' up here's the first step
I've been through heartbreak hell
And my whole row can tell
'Cause I still smell like last night's booze
But I got a last ditch prayer
For the man upstairs
Oh, Lord, would you help me through
Even if I'm in the back pew?
Sat in my car through the first couple services
Took a drag just to calm down the nervousness
I turned down the music, told myself, just do it
Threw up a Hail Mary instead of cursin' him
I finally caught my breath
For the first time in way too long
I know I ain't there yet
But the light in the tunnel turned on
Might've been fifteen minutes late
Might've missed half of the worship
But at least I showed my face
And showin' up here's the first step
I've been through heartbreak hell
And my whole row can tell
'Cause I still smell like last night's booze
But I got a last ditch prayer
For the man upstairs
Oh, Lord, would you help me through
Even if I'm in the back pew?
I'm singin', Hallelujah
I hope it's comin' in clear (I hope it's comin' in clear)
I'm singin', Hallelujah
From all the way back here
Even though I was fifteen minutes late
And I missed half of the worship
But at least I showed my face
And showin' up here's the first step
I've been through heartbreak hell
And my whole row can tell
'Cause I still smell like last night's booze
But I got a last ditch prayer
For the man upstairs
Oh, Lord, would you help me through
Even if I'm in the back pew?

"I thank you God for this most amazing day,
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees,
and for the blue dream of sky
and for everything which is natural,
which is infinite,
which is yes.”

~e. e. cummings

art: Lucy Almey Bird

“There is no higher height to which humanity can attain than that occupied by a converted, heaven-inspired, praying mother.”

~Unknown

Those who are of the faith, sometimes feel hopeless.

Sometimes,
circumstances,
are so very bad,
we even despair of life.

We don’t think we can go on. We might not tell our closest friend, but we have even wished we could die.

And it’s not because we are feeling so spiritual, just hoping to be in Heaven, it’s more so that we just want to get away from here.

Sometimes the desperation comes from what others have done to us. Other times, as with Rebekah, our own actions have led to our misery.

After everything blew up with Jacob and Esau, Rebekah says she despairs of life. (Gen 27:46)

And regardless of the cause, if we are honest, many of us have felt this same way.

And even if you are a Christ-follower, you are not immune.

Yes, there is joy to be found in the Lord, but sometimes that joy seems so far out of reach. So distant.

Sometimes, our despair seems suffocating. Sometimes our hope seems hidden from us.

But, we need to understand the enemy wants to take these feelings and run with them.

Let’s realize the one bent on our destruction wants us to spiral down even further. He would like for us to take the life we gave to Jesus, and destroy it.

Make no mistake, the evil one will kick us hardest when we are down, and our past wounds are his favorite areas to target again and again. Have you noticed this?

He whispers lies and tries to convince us to numb our feelings with a drug, to fight others to “protect” ourselves, or to look for hope in an illicit relationship.

But the father of all lies’ solutions will only magnify our pain and the pain of those who love us.

For his goal is not to simply rob, kill and destroy us, but also to horribly wound those we love.

Yes, those we love.

His target is generational. He wants our kids and our grandkids.

And because we know this, we must fight to hold tight to Jesus and walk in truth.

God understands His children will sometimes feel discouraged and often very discouraged. Why else would He tell us to encourage one another? (1 Thess 5:11)

Yes, we all have hard times and down days. There is no shame in admitting it. AND there is no reason not to seek help with our despairing thoughts.

Oh friend, tell someone! Tell someone who can point you to truth and help. God has gifted us with some great godly friends, pastors, biblical counselors and physicians.

And remember, the hard road you are walking, and the feelings you are feeling may feel like they will never improve….but 99.9% of the time this is just not the case.

I’ve seen God restore hope and joy in my own life and in the lives of countless others walking through gut-wrenching things—hard things that seemed impossible to my human eyes.

God can restore your joy. Nothing, nothing is too hard for Him. And often, He will use others to help us during these times.

And, (don’t miss this) as we walk forward in restored hope, God will often use us to encourage others.

Oh friend, reach out and hold on. Better days are coming! And one day, this hard hard may the very way you are equipped help someone else.

~Kim Jaggers

CityAlight - What Love, My God

CityAlight - Grace

Evening

"Only be thou strong and very courageous."
Joshua 1:7

Our God's tender love for his servants makes him concerned for the state of their inward feelings. He desires them to be of good courage. Some esteem it a small thing for a believer to be vexed with doubts and fears, but God thinks not so. From this text it is plain that our Master would not have us entangled with fears. He would have us without carefulness, without doubt, without cowardice. Our Master does not think so lightly of our unbelief as we do. When we are desponding we are subject to a grievous malady, not to be trifled with, but to be carried at once to the beloved Physician. Our Lord loveth not to see our countenance sad. It was a law of Ahasuerus that no one should come into the king's court dressed in mourning: this is not the law of the King of kings, for we may come mourning as we are; but still he would have us put off the spirit of heaviness, and put on the garment of praise, for there is much reason to rejoice. The Christian man ought to be of a courageous spirit, in order that he may glorify the Lord by enduring trials in an heroic manner. If he be fearful and fainthearted, it will dishonour his God. Besides, what a bad example it is. This disease of doubtfulness and discouragement is an epidemic which soon spreads amongst the Lord's flock. One downcast believer makes twenty souls sad. Moreover, unless your courage is kept up, Satan will be too much for you. Let your spirit be joyful in God your Saviour, the joy of the Lord shall be your strength, and no fiend of hell shall make headway against you; but cowardice throws down the banner. Moreover, labour is light to a man of cheerful spirit; and success waits upon cheerfulness. The man who toils, rejoicing in his God, believing with all his heart, has success guaranteed. He who sows in hope shall reap in joy; therefore, dear reader, "be thou strong, and very courageous."

The Osprey is still my favorite bird to photograph and film. Their abilities never stop blowing my mind, and this one? Absolutely incredible. From the high-speed, feather-perfect dive, to the insane precision of snatching a needlefish right off the surface. Even with that slippery, lively cargo, it lifts off like it’s nothing. No one else around. Just me, the bird, and a reminder that nature doesn’t stop performing. Glad I’m not a fish!

~Mark Smith Photography

Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps.

1 Peter 2:21

You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

1 Peter 1:23-25

See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

~Jesus (Matthew 18:10)