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Choices Recycling our Pain - February 28th at Granite United

Notes from message on February 28th at Granite United.

God - Why me?

Why do people suffer - Why when it rains does it feel like it pours?

Final choice - Everyone has hurts and issues. We need to take our hurts and issues more and realize they may be more about others than about us.

There comes a time when we turn everything over to God, He recycles it and then helps us to help others.

God has given us the power of choice. God could have made us like robots, not having any choices. ~ We would not have love or generosity.

We make awful choices ~ it's not Gods fault.

Deuteronomy 30:19

Our choices affect our descendants, our family and friends.

We have the choice to bless others.

God lets us have pain to get our attention.

2 Corinthians 7:9

When God gets our attention it becomes less about us and more about God.

Pain sometimes is just a caution.

Pain teaches us to depend on Him.

2 Corinthians 12:9

You are not God, you are not in charge, we need to depend on Him. We are given grace so that we can extend it to others.

God gives grace abundantly.

Everyone has junk - if we didn't have it we wouldn't have to depend on God.

Pain becomes the pathway that you will serve others.

Pain makes us sympathetic - pain makes us realize we are human - Pain has purpose.

We have a choice to do what we will with our pain.

Pain opens up possibilities to be able to talk about Gods grace.

2 Corinthians 1:4

No one is perfect

How can you recycle your pain!
- By serving
- By sharing your story
- By turning over your pain
- Make a pathway to serving

Genesis 50:20

God knows how to use you the best!

1 Peter 2:24

Reading and God's Word

People say I read a lot and I will be the first to admit I do read a lot. I am also noticing I am starting to branch out from just Christian non-fiction to lately starting to read business and customer service type books as well. However with reading much I still need to be mindful to not allow the reading of regular books to take the place of reading the Word of God! I believe it is a trap to think just because you may read a devotion or Christian based book that this may take the place of the Word of God and that everything is all good! The problem with neglecting the Word of God is that there is no power in reading a novel or business book or Christian "living" book.

God said in Isaiah 55:11

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

There is power in the Word of God so I may read much I need to stay grounded in His word as well. I am currently reading through the book of Luke in my Bible.

This week I am reading the following books:

A great book that is just kicking my butt in so many area's is "The Hole in our Gospel" by Richard Stearns

Also reading "Red Letters" by Tom Davis this too is a very convicting book and is a call to all of us who call ourselves Christ Followers.

Book I just started today which is more of a business based book is "Focus like a laser beam" by Lisa Haneberg. So far so good!

Nothing wrong with reading books as long we don't neglect The Book!

Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

God of the impossible!

Psalm 22

This is my church!

I was hungry...

"At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by 'I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.' Hungry not only for bread - but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing - but naked of human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a home of bricks - but homeless because of rejection." - Mother Teresa