Look around you. The people you walk among are so valuable to God that he sent his one and only son to this earth to be tortured, humiliated and killed. For our sake! Just because the person next to you has a smile doesn’t mean everything is alright. Take a few moments to lend an ear or sometimes give a testimony. It just may be the difference between life and death.

What is the one thing above all things that most of us choose not to share or discuss? While I am sure it varies; I believe no one really likes to remember the pain and suffering we have gone through. I am very confident that no one wants to go through pain and suffering.

As brothers and sisters in Christ; why don’t we share one another’s burdens more often? Luke 24:13-15. We are all so quick to share the new car, invite for the house warming or the baby shower. What about when we lose our jobs or our dog dies or when someone calls you that awful name at school?

This may seem strange but I have a very fond memory of a time of pain and suffering. Back when I was around 19 I got into some trouble and everything that I had around me was melting before my eyes. I thought to my self that no one could possibly suffer the way I did. I even had thoughts of suicide. I was forced to go to a similar meeting to AA but it is called EA (emotions anonymous). After being there a month or so, a man around 30 years old came up to me and asked if I was ok? I replied “Do I look like I am ok?” He said; “I know where you are coming from.” I replied “You have no idea where I am coming from! Who do you think you are?” Well after a few more colorful words the man told me that he knows that I am not willing to discus my burden. He asked me would I mind if he shared his. Well after all that tongue lashing I gave him that was the least I could do. So here is what he said:

I am a selfish man.

My whole life has been based on me. I had a wife and three kids. I got addicted to cocaine. One day after doing coke I had to pick my family up from the mall. My wife, daughter and two sons got in the car. After the usual fighting we left the parking lot and headed home. I could hardly see the yellow line much less the truck coming at me as I veered off into his lane. The last thing I remember is my wife screaming no… I can hear it now echoing in my head. After I woke up in the hospital the first thing I worried about was getting in trouble for being under the influence and driving. I remember thinking “I hope the cops didn’t look in the glove box!” After my first concern “ME” I asked where my family was and were they ok? I will never forget the response: No, Mr. *** your family is not alright. You killed them all! Shortly after, I was charged with manslaughter and now I am talking to you.

This story is true unfortunately. You may wonder how in the world I could have a fond memory from any of this.

My life was changed forever after that man shared his burden with me. I was at the brink of suicide but because he shared with me his pain I was able to understand that I am not alone. I was able to understand that other people suffer a great deal more than me and maybe my pain is not so bad. I still think of his story to this day when I face trials and I also remember that God blessed me with the daughter I have now and if he would have listened to my prayers back then I would never know the joy of my daughter now.

I don’t know all of you. I may not have ever gone through what you are or will be going through but “I understand where you are coming from“. If any of you ever need to talk please don’t hesitate. Who knows Jesus may stop in and say what’s up? Luke 24:13-15 I am just one man, I promise you; there are so many kind brothers and sisters just waiting to share life with you. Isn’t it time we put aside our embarrassment or fears and be the body of Christ we are called to be? Won’t you lend an ear to someone you know that may be in pain? Take your guard down for a moment and share your inner self and watch for Christ. He is near! ]]> http://blog.htmlinc.com/2006/07/fellowship-and-suffering/feed/ 0 http://blog.htmlinc.com/2006/07/patience/ http://blog.htmlinc.com/2006/07/patience/#comments Mon, 03 Jul 2006 22:17:58 +0000 Scott http://blog.htmlinc.com/?p=39

“Fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil doing.” Psalm 37:8

I have been asking our dedicated brother Michael (my pastor) some questions through email here lately. These questions to me are of utmost importance and I felt that since he is such a busy man and has so many responsibilities all ready that email would be the best line of communication.

Our brother has helped me in more ways than he has known. You see, I write these questions down and send them to him and right after I click send/receive I start looking for a response. Crazy huh? Ok, I go read some then come back and look for a response. Well by now I figure out that he doesn’t sit by the computer like I do. I am a web designer so I sit by the computer all day at work and when I come home I usually have work to complete.

Well after waiting sometimes a day or so. I let my thoughts run away with me and I wonder if my questions will be answered? About the time I start to doubt, I hear the computer go din-don and I know I have mail.

Sure enough it is from our brother. When I read it I am absolutely amazed to the point of tears at the knowledge I have just gained from a godly perspective. While I am sure he knows that he has given me sound advice I don’t think he knows that he has helped with my walk with Christ in a profound way… Patience

Oswald Chambers said “Deliberately tell God that you will not fret about that thing. All our fret and worry is caused by calculating without God.”

It took the delay of my responses from Michael to help me realize that our father God does not respond when we expect him to either. I usually send a prayer out and then sit back and wait on the answer. I am praying in faith that it will be answered but I sit by the prayer expect an immediate send/receive.

The psalmist tells us: “Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14
Isn’t that so hard at times? Wait… Waiting is a very difficult task but a much needed process to learn if we want to grow in our walk.

I know father God is waiting to bless us in our walk and thanks to some help from Michael Beale and Oswald Chambers I understand that we must wait for God to answer us. Anything else is just “worry caused by calculating without God”

I pray that your walk will be richly blessed and that we all learn to be more patient in our walk with Christ and our walk in the daily grind.

I love you all, Scott Smith

Father please give me something, hope for my marriage, to hold onto today. Take my hand & love me. Im so broken to the core. I can hardly breathe anymore my soul & spirit are so crushed in the wake of my wifes absense. Im hurting & perplexed. HELP
- Mark — CO, United States of America

For reconciliation and Godly communication between my husband David and myself. For ALL walls of division and contention between us to be torn down. For forgiveness, peace and love to flow between us. For David to turn back to God.
- Donna — AL, United States of America

I pray that I will stop hating myself. I hate what I have done to my family, but I hate myself so much that it is difficult to function. I want God to call me home, I hate myself too much to continue here. I am just hurting my family.
- Glenda — SC, United States of America

My wife left us. She says she thinks it may be God’s will for her to stay away. I hurt so badly but father is holding my hand. Please pray for us to know and follow his will. Praise Jesus for all he has done so far. God open her eyes to your will.
- Scott — AL, United States of America

These are actual current prayers from WPT.

In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul tells us because of immorality that each of us should marry (If only we were as strong as Paul, he does say it is GOOD for you single people if you can be strong!). Isn’t in wonderful how God meets us in our weaknesses! Paul tells us that it is ok to refrain from each other mutually to pray but to return so that Satan will not tempt us because of our lack of self-control. 
Paul also says in verse 10-11: “To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.”
I firmly believe to the point where I can say I know that this is the importance and order of life:
1. The Holy precious trinity; God the father, Son and Holy Spirit. (The source)
2. Family (The backbone to share the source)
3. Church (The means to share the source)
Satan will work in reverse order to obtain his ultimate goal… Separate us from our father! First we hear the whispers of why we should skip or never go to Church and then the defeated one will whisper lies about family and finally the deceiver whispers to us that it may be God’s fault or will.

Do you know how many broken families are in our country alone? On average 75% of all marriages end in divorce. Well over two million every year. The deceiver knows the war will be lost but he wants to take as many down on the way as he can.

I am not sure how to explain it and I don’t think you can understand it unless you experience it. Judging by the awful statistics of it… Some of you reading this will. The pain; the pain of separation has no comparison. Sure, it will settle; in time. It is worse than any physical or mental experience I have known. The bible tells us that a man and wife become one flesh. It is that separation of half of what we are that makes it seem so unbearable.

Now, it is my absolute prayer that none of us ever experience this but none the less some of us will. If you find your family in the clutches of the deceiver, pray and fight for your Love. Don’t give in to the lies he will whisper in your ear. Remember his goal is to separate us from anything of God especially God. Should you find that your Love is not enough and it may appear that God will not repair this situation? (God will not force someone to Love, which is the way of the liar) Run quickly to the Lord. Find your comfort in his arms, not another’s or in a bottle. His Love is enough to quench any and all pain. He is after all Love in itself. Surround yourself with everything (I pray we will do this anyway) pertaining to God. Engulf yourself in the word. Embrace your brothers and sisters. Pray and bear your heart to the Lord. Most importantly; Love..Love…Love… Before you can heal and grow you must not let go of Love. How can you Love the Lord if you cannot Love yourself or others. Do not let the deceiver influence you into a closed hard heart.

This holds true to any trial you face in life. Honor your father in heaven. Love him first. Wrap yourself in the word. Praise God constantly! Pray and fellowship with other believers; the Lord our God will deliver you and bless you. He is after all our Daddy that loves us unlike any Love we will ever understand.

You may be a single person or happily married. Satan will use the same tactics in other areas of your life. Let’s come together and stomp our foot at him while embracing our Lord and each other! Separation is Satan’s goal!

I love you all, Scott Smith