Tag: grace

I’m “HAPPY” I’m Not Perfect

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Have you ever had a nagging splinter in your finger or hand? What about a paper cut on your finger? Okay, how about this– you ever had a cramp or a “charlie horse” in your leg?Image

 

Each and every one of these are nagging and beyond irritating! Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of cramps in my athletic days… not the most exciting time of my life! 

Needless to say, just like cramps, splinters, and paper cuts, there are times when we deal with life issues and challenges that are just as nagging and irritating, if not more. Just like those cramps, splinters, and cuts, there are times when we deal with personal problems, struggles, issues, pain, addictions, shortcomings, thoughts, tragedies, and/or people that nag and irritate us. Unfortunately, unlike cramps, splinters, and paper cuts, these irritants seem to never go away! 

This is not only human nature, but this is also biblical. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, the Apostle Paul writes:

“7 Even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep[a] me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.[b] 8 Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power[c] is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

In other words, Paul had his own (thorn) personal struggle, issue, habit, addiction, or cramp that he dealt with! He never explicitly tells us what his “thorn” was, but we know it never left him. It was a constant nag and irritant in his life to remind him of his humanity and imperfection. However, what I like about Paul is, he chose to boast and be glad/happy, in spite of what he had to deal with! He was glad/happy, because he had faith that God would give him the strength and grace to be effective and useful, even in his shortcomings.

SO……..no matter your “thorn” or issue in life, choose to be HAPPY, because GOD will give you all the power, strength, ability, grace, and courage you need to BE who God has called you to BE!

Enjoy what You have and BE Happy!- Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, 3:12-13

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I CONFESS, a lot has been on my mind recently, too much actually. I’ve allowed the enemy to alter my perspective; see lately I’ve viewed my problems bigger than my God, instead of God being bigger than my problems. Over the past 18 months, life has been turned upside down, I mean real crazy. In June/July 2012, I had a job I loved(working to keep students in school), fulfilling my call and purpose in Pastoring a church, just been fully ordained in the AME Church, just married, fresh off the honeymoon, making the most $$$ I’ve ever made (in the smallest town I’ve ever lived in),relationships with friends and ministry colleagues,  sense of calling in my life, and my first child on the way– a bouncing Baby Boy! Now, I don’t want to engage in revisionist history, life wasn’t perfect, but I was in my groove!

Well, fast-forward to NOW(December 2013), I’m no longer working that job, instead I’ve had to take jobs to put food on the table and pay bills, not currently Pastoring(I miss this so much), not currently attending an AME church(praying about this one), still married(Erica is a blessing in my life), we work hard to re-create honeymoon experiences, making less $$$ than I did when I first came out of college with just one degree, a lot of those friends/ministry colleagues I haven’t spoke to since the wedding and beyond, still called to Pastor(praying about how that looks), in an new city that I’m trying to learn and enjoy(Charlotte), and the most devastating of all this is– we’ve lost 2 children, a boy and a girl!

So, needless to say, life has been a whirlwind. However, through all of this, I’ve grown closer to God! I pray more! I read my Bible more! I love my wife more! God’s grace has been with me, through all of this! It hasn’t been easy, some days are much better than others, but I know this storm will pass over! I’d be a liar if I said, the storm has passed, but it hasn’t! My wife and I are still healing and still grieving! Tomorrow, December 11, was supposed to be the due date of our daughter Brielle! That’s going to be tough for the both of us! My wife still hurts, because she hurts, I hurt! So, the storm is still here, but it’s passing over! Not too long ago, I heard Rev. Dr. Freddie Haynes say, “WE ALL have Storms in life, we’re either coming out of a storm, in the midst of a storm, or headed into a storm.”  So, pray for us! Pray our strength!

So what’s my prescription to all of this? What does God’s word say to us during these times? Honestly, the Bible says a lot of things to encourage us and give us hope, but I’m going to leave you with the action item from my devotional this morning!

Ecclesiastes 2:24(GNT) The best thing we can do is eat and drink and ENJOY what we have earned. And yet, I realized that even this comes from God. 25 How else could you have anything to eat or enjoy yourself at all? 26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness to those who please him, but he makes sinners work, earning and saving, so that what they get can be given to those who please him. It is all useless. It is like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 3:12 (GNT) So I realized that all we can do is be HAPPY and do the best we can while we are still alive. 13 All of us should eat and drink and ENJOY what we have worked for. It is God’s gift.

So, in closing, this is my resolve…..To be HAPPY and ENJOY the GIFTS of GOD! All of this happens, through PLEASING GOD! So, I resolve to PLEASE GOD and BE HAPPY!

Peace,

@RevBmack

For an added bonus, allow Bobby McFerrin to drive the message home!