Has It Ever Seemed Easier to Just Give Up? | DISPATCH | 9-3-20
This week in the Dispatch:
Three “Quick Hits” to get us going this week!
“The Power of Moments” looks at experiences in our lives that have extraordinary impact.
Does your marriage need a check-up?
“Here and There” in Insights
A thoughtful Challenge
A final thought to get you moving!
This Week’s Quick Hits:
The first Awesome Marriage Online Marriage Retreat is coming soon! You won’t want to miss this with 25 amazing speakers on topics that will make a difference for your marriage.
I recently discovered an interesting website, rapidtests.org. It stresses the importance of rapid COVID tests and shares info on the topic.
I recently finished the YouVersion plan, “When God Doesn’t Make Sense.” It helps us have a different perspective on the times when we struggle to find God.
Books:
The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip and Dan Heath
The Power of Moments is one of the books that really impacted me over the past few years. We all have defining moments in our lives. Many of them seem to just happen but what if we were intentional about creating those moments that can change our lives? For example, the book tells of the world’s youngest female billionaire and how a question her father asked the family at the dinner table was crucial to her success. By embracing the elements of elevation, insight, pride, and connection, we can create more moments that matter. What if a teacher could design a lesson that he knew his students would remember 20 years later? What if a manager knew how to create an experience that would delight customers? What if you had a better sense of how to create memories that matter for your children? This book will help you become the creator of experiences that will enrich your life and those around you.
Podcast:
Awesome Marriage
This week on the Awesome Marriage Podcast, Christina and I talk about the importance of an annual checkup for your marriage. Don’t miss The Annual Check In Counseling Appointment: Why Every Couple Should Do It.
Insights
“So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG
Since mid-March of this year, have you ever thought about giving up? Normal life can be overwhelming at times but now we have COVID life and it can be overwhelming all the time. How has it affected you? We all have our stories from this different and difficult time. Some are heart rendering. Some are frustrating. Some are confusing. In writing to the church in Corinth two thousand years ago, Paul talked about how it looked like things there were falling apart in their world. On the outside things were bleak - very bleak. Sound familiar? People were on the verge of giving up. Maybe some already had. I don’t know exactly what these people were experiencing but it was not good and it was taking its toll. Yet, Paul is adamant that they not give up and he has his reasons why.
As Christians, the outside world can literally crash down around us (some of us think it has!) and yet, on the inside, God is making new life. Think about it. Nothing surprises God. Nothing ever surprises God. As Christians, this earth we live on is really not our home. Our home is with Him in Heaven forever. I was reading a book this week that really brought that truth home for me in a new way. That truth changes everything. We were never promised an easy life or a perfect world to live in. I remember that surprising me when I was young and young in my faith. It seemed to me that if I followed God, my life would be a kind of Heaven on earth. No problems. No major issues. Just peace. That all sounded good until life began to happen. There were wars and people I loved died and the economy went on a roller coaster ride and people were abused and there was injustice and then COVID. No Heaven on earth. Paul says that what we endure here is nothing compared to the new life God has waiting for us when we get “home.” I believe that. I like that. Eventually we will leave the today’s and tomorrow’s behind for life that will last forever,
Yet, even as we struggle there are glimpses of Heaven today and every day matters. God is working on our inside making us more like Him. It may not change our circumstances but it will change how we deal with them. He is as close as a whisper or a thought. He knows and He cares. He knew that in this life we would struggle so He has given us access to His ears 24/7/365.
This is my recap:
In this world, we have problems
In this life, each of us has a God given purpose
God gives us what we need to navigate this life and to do that well
One day soon, we will enjoy good times with Him and a lavish celebration.
We will be home!
Challenge
When have you felt like it would just be easier to give up?
How does God’s truth and promise of eternity with Him change your perspective?
Final Thought
Even though this is not our home, this life is important. It is important to us and it is important to God. Remember, He sent His Son into this world. I sometimes think of this life as a bootcamp for Heaven. Don’t miss this. God has a purpose for you in this life and it is not you sitting around waiting to leave. What is God doing in your life? What is your purpose? If you know, Is there anything standing in the way of fulfilling that purpose? If you do not know your purpose, then it’s time to figure that out. Your best sources will be God, His Word, and fellow Christians. Once you know your purpose, take that first step to fulfilling God’s plan for your life.
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