Weakness into strength

As some of you may already know, I had the honour of being the speaker at the Vancouver Island Women’s Retreat last week. What you might not be aware of is the tumultuous journey leading up to the event. From navigating emotionally taxing weeks to recovering from a nasty bout of food poisoning, to dealing with delayed flights and missed connections, it seemed like every that could go wrong, did. Leaving Toronto, I felt drained, ill-prepared, and completely inadequate for the task ahead. Sitting in the airport, weary and disheartened, I couldn't help but wonder, "How would God use this mess?"

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

My grace is sufficient for you.  This verse is written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth. He is relating a season in his life where he was given a thorn in his flesh - something that persistently hurt him — and Paul tells us that he begged God multiple times to take it away but God remained silent. It wasn’t until the third time when Paul got a response. And the response he got from God would probably cause a lot of us to struggle because God does not remove it, instead God says, my “grace is sufficient for you”.

The definition of grace is undeserved favour. And when I think about GRACE it’s often in the context of the gift of salvation that allows us to have the Holy Spirit with us at all times.  So, when I hear this verse, what I hear Paul saying — what I hear God saying — is that ‘I am enough for you’.

In other words My power, at work with you is enough to overcome every situation you face because what you view as a weakness, I view as a window through which My glory can shine through.

As I stepped up to speak on Friday night (the first of four talks) God was faithful and I was humbled at how God could use even me, in my rather depleted state.  The weekend was brilliant and all glory goes to God who, did indeed, shine through!  I was given strength when I didn’t have any and it was good.

So today, be reminded that God is enough for you. When you are weak, God is strong and God wants to do infinitely more through you than you can ask or imagine.

So bring to God your weaknesses today, surrender them and lay them for God. Allow God to flip the script and take what you view as a weakness and turn it into a strength, for God’s glory and your good.

The king of king is near

You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. (John 12:8)

To understand this verse you have to go back to verses 1-7 where Jesus is at a party thrown in his honour.  He is reclining at the table with his disciples and his friends - namely Lazarus, who he has just been raised from the dead.  Mary, Lazarus’ sister, sees her now alive brother sitting with the man who raised him from the dead and she is moved by gratitude. As an act of worship she goes and gets an expensive perfume and she anoints Jesus.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, the one who later betrays Jesus  says, “What a waste! This perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Of course, we are told that Judas didn’t really care about the poor because he was a thief and wanted only for himself.

Here is how Jesus responded. Jesus, knowing that he is heading for his own death, his own crucifixion, says, “you will always have the poor among you, you will always have time for that but I am here…now. Judas, you are missing the point.”

So the question comes to us…Jesus is here now, in all of his mercy and all of his compassion and all of his power and glory and his holiness… how will we respond?

Will we miss the point, like Judas?  Will we be clouded by our own greed and our desire to get more for ourselves or will we like Mary bring an extravagant, un-calculated, generous, humble offering of worship.

The king of kings is close today, how will you respond?

Lord make us tender, make us sensitive to your presence.

Be Strong and Courageous

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Does this verse sound familiar to you?

It is found in Joshua 1, verse 9 and honestly you can find it everywhere —on throw blankets, and wall hangings, on mugs and t-shirts.  I have it on the cover of a notebook, oh and I also have it embroidered on a pillow!   

Be strong and courageous!  And as empowering as it is, it can also feel overwhelming because most days - the idea of being strong and courageous  isn’t something that naturally comes to me.  But here, sandwiched in this one small verse is a promise — the promise of the presence of God.

Why can you be strong? Why can you be courageous? Because it’s not in you or in me.

God was having a conversation with Joshua. The mighty mentor Moses had passed away and Joshua is now leading the children of Israel into the promised land. Joshua, like most of us, would have some insecurities leading over a million people through some overwhelming and terrifying situations.  And God promised — I will be with your wherever you go.

You don’t need to be afraid. And knowing that God promises to be with us - we can be strong and courageous.

If you are reading this today and don’t feel courageous - maybe you’re feeling a little weak and alone, here is the good news, God promises to be with us. You and I, like Joshua, get to hold on to the promise of God’s presence.

So friends, be strong and courageous, God’s presence has gone before you!