heartache, i felt like i had been to church. i almost told someone,
"at church today . . ." but remembered i hadn't actually been in
the building. why did it feel as if i had? i think it is because
when we suffer and lean into Him, we feel very near to Him.
jp recently posted an inspiring quote from anne lamott at her
witty blog, seens from the back of my eyelids, which holds an
answer to my question. "when God is going to do something
wonderful, He always starts with a hardship; when God is going
to do something amazing, He start with an impossibility."
one of my heroes of the faith, richard wurmbrand, supplies his
perspective. he was tortured in a communist prison during the
cold war for his faith. after he was released from prison, he
frequently referred to those days of glory.
glory?
"in our darkest hours of torture, the Son of Man came to us,
making the prison walls shine like diamonds and filling the
cells with light."
that surpasses any church service i have attended, but oh, the
cost. please pray for our brothers and sisters of the faith who
are being persecuted today from azerbaijan to yemen.
love,
lea
"then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to
death, and you will be hated by all nations because of Me."
matthew 24:9
i'm linking to spiritual sundays!
58 comments:
when god is going to do something wonderful...he always starts with a hardship....
enjoyed reading this
have a wonderful weekend
kary
Your words are precious to my heart. I love the quote by Wurmbrand. He has been a tremendous inspiration to me also. Gonna jot down the quote in my Bible. Thank you so much for this post.
I am praying for you, Lea!
Cheri
... thank you for the kind words...
sending love,
kary
xxx
Yes and AMEN!!! Blessings to you also! Thanks for the encouraging words!
You got with with the title.
You inspiration never ceases. I love my visits to you and know I'm always here even when you don't 'hear' me speak.
Love to you~
Rebecca
That is one of my favorite quotes too. I often have to agree with Sprugeon in that I have learned with the hammer, the saw and the file. I never am the closest unless I am in a darkened room. I wish so much it was not. Thank you for your insight and your reminder to pray for the persecuted church. One of my friends was in a prison camp for smuggling Bibles. Visiting with her was like standing on Holy Ground.
Blessings today Lea
It is humbling to see people who are truly persecuted for their faith. Thanks for the reminder to hold them close in prayer.
Love,
Margaret
I love that quote. I have had a little hardship of my own. Nothing like the persecution that many others endure...but something that has been hard on me. I pray that God will use it to do something wonderful in my life! Thanks for such an inspiring post. Carla
"When God is going to do something
amazing, He starts with an
impossibility." I'm holding on to
this one, Lea. =-)
We pray for the persecuted church,
but thank you for the reminder and
the encouragement today.
Love,
Sandy
I loved stopping by here today. What a great post honey and I so enjoyed reading it.
Hope your doing well and have a great weekend
Love
Maggie
Oh my friend....this is so inspiring...and fills my heart with such JOY...HOPE ....and HIS LOVE!
Extra hugs today xoxox
One of my closest frinds was saved when she heard Richard Wurmbrand's testimony.
We need to read more of these stories of the faith, and get a glimpse into what real suffering for Jesus is. It always reminds me of Corrie Ten Boom when she said "there is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still."
I love your thoughts today.
Well I dont know what you are gogin through, but i do hope it gets better. I woudl like to beleive what you write here is true but having spoken to two women who were abused sexually as children growing up and kept praying for relief when out of their hands but none came ever, not sure I think they ever found any light or glory there. If it can be found, great. I have read his book and remember that he said when he was at end of himself with nothing left that is when he felt most alive and almost didn't want to be released.
Anyway, i hope it doesn't take that depth for you, even so! :)
Please take care and keep pressing in dear Lea.
Thank you for sharing this request on behalf of those Christians suffering persecution for their faith.
The freedom we have in America to worship the Living God is something which our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world do not have.
Blessings and peace.
MTJ
I hope you find a way to joy again. This post is wise, and I prayed for our fellow persecuted Christians, as you asked. Thank you, dear friend.
It was my joy!!! I am a mother too remember!!! You would do it if it was one of mine...I just know you would..because your gift of mercy and kindness is just HUGE!!
Enjoy the weather change...I am sure it is coming your way!!
Dear Lea
"when god is going to do something wonderful...he always starts with a hardship...' .. these words are filled with such hope....
Hope all is well In your world.. see you when I get back and thanks for popping over.. ciao xxx Julie
Thank you for sharing these words today and I am praying for you Lea.
The persecuted church is near and dear to our hearts as a church family. We have a map on the wall right in the sanctuary and pray for the persecuted every week.
In January we will start quarterly services called Chruch In Hiding - to study through the night God's word in a dimly lit rooms, much like the persecuted. We are trying to live out Hebrews 13:3.
Very thoughtful post.
~Dawn
Thank you Lea. The little dog belonged to my late mother who was blind. Mother lived with us for the last 10 years of her life and I spent every minute of every day with her; I miss her so much. Now that my husband is disabled, can't work or drive, the little dog brings him such joy and love also. She's a simple joy that has blessed us all!
My dear friend I so enjoy my visits to your corner of BlogLand. I always feel warmly inspired when I leave.
Hailey posted today... and it was wonderful to read her words. Though she misses everyone art home dearly ... she shows so much giving of herself to others... xo HHL
I love the quote...when God is going to do something wonderful....... Just love when words hold so much power! God bless your weekend.
In all things, we must keep our eyes on Him! Oh how good it is to be able to lean on the Lord for strength, peace and love...through whatever challenges we may face. Our family was blessed with His glory during the difficult challenges of the time when our then 14 year old son had to do chemo against cancer. And we continue to be blessed with the awesome witness of our son's healing and health.
Blessings & Aloha!
Thank you dear friend for stopping by and for your sweet comment. I truly appreciate you.
I wrote a little note to you on my blog as a reply. Didn't know if you would peek back.
Yes!! While I never enjoy trials they always bring me closer to Jesus!
And you're so right, you do feel HIS presence so incredibly close~
~Cinnamon
Praise God. This post is so encouraging!!!
Heartache is a heavy burden to carry and the Lord will lift the load. I have been remembering you in prayer for some days now.
I love that you felt you'd been to church, but hadn't been to the structure itself!!
I've got you in my prayers, Lea!
What a beautiful and inspiring post. It is so obvious that your heart is heavy and hurting, and I will be praying for Amazing things to happen because of your prayers and your tender heart.
Thanks for the reminder of those who are putting themselves in harms way, giving the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of Christ. I have so much admiration for them! I will be praying with you.
Love, Joyce
that quotes by Lamott is the best...and so true.
I could not even imagine(or try to)living in a Country where we could not share are faith,or read a Bible. I will indeed pray for these people.
God Bless,
Ginger
Richard Wurmbrand is one of my heroes, too. I read his book with my mouth hanging open in horror and in awe of his response to it all. What a powerful life!
That Anne Lamott quote really spoke too, and I shared it immediately with my husband because it is exactly where he is right now. So timely; so good.
I have to confess that even though I receive emails and a magazine from Voice of the Martyrs, my mind is hardly ever on them... Maybe it's time to re-read Tortured for Christ so I can get my head right. :)
I love reading you. Have I said that before? Like maybe one time? Or twenty-six? :) xo
Hi Lea,
Hope and wish you doing fine.
Its always a great new experience while reading your lovely blogs truly inspirational and motivating.
Have a nice weekend ..Enjoy :)
With Love
Vivek
-----
It is good to know that God has good intentions for us and plans the very best in our future. Even when we have to struggle to get where He wants us to be.
Many times I have sessions with my patients and the Spirit of God is so heavy in my office it feels as though we are in a revival meeting. There are days when that happens several sessions throughout the day and I feel that I have been to church rather than at work. God is faithful and He will always with us. When we are hurting, He is even closer if we will not pull away from Him. That's what we are inclined to do. Thanks for sharing such a common human experience with a One of a kind God Almighty. Dr. Bobbi
This is a truth that many have not found. Thank you for sharing your insight and this beautiful post.
Blessings,
Charlotte
When God is going to do something wonderful, He always starts with a hardship. When God is going to do something
amazing, He starts with an
impossibility.
That is so very true! We've been through our own share of trials and hardships and it's so wonderful to see God working through it all.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Beautiful post, Lea. I love the quote.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful post....
Much Blessings,
Virginia
The cost of our closeness to Christ is steep, it is a humbling and painful place to reside. My flesh cries out in those times, and begs for it to stop, but my spirit cries out in such a different way. In those times there is a closeness that I don't tend to experience when there is absolute peace. I am comforted in those peaceful places, but there is something so much deeper that takes place in the struggles. I hunger and feel a sense of longing and a clinging.
I am praying for you this afternoon.
love your sister in Christ, Trish
ps. There is a song that I am posting tomorrow. I just love the words and pray they are a blessing to you (if you would like to drop by-smile).
I can't really tell you what this post meant to me today...let's just say...it spoke straight to my heart. Like so many of your post do, but today...I needed this one.
Stopping by from Spiritual Sundays ~This post blesses my heart so much. I posted a few weeks ago about the persecuted Christians throughout the world. How often we take our freedom of religion and a "church on every corner" forgranted. Thanks for sharing and inspiring.
grettajohns.blogspot.com
Great post...for many reasons.
Praying for you today. Hope God brings you comfort in whatever you are going through.
Tough week ahead for me... These words I will hang onto.
Teri
Great post. You have so many wonderful comments from those who got here before me, I hardly know what to say. I love the quote from Ann Lamott.
praying sweet lea, your words bless...
His love endures forever...and by the grace of God we will carry on...His love endures forever, sing praise...
(don't you love to sing?) :)
love,
bree
I love that quote. Thanks for sharing.I'm joining you in praying for those that are being persecuted for His namesake.
Blessings, Annette
I like the comment left here by My Farmhouse Kitchen. It is true. He gives us trouble to smooth out on His terms. I am grateful to know Him and so glad I stopped by. Thank you for your insightful post. Anne
Love the quote. Thanks for sharing.
Have a blessed Sunday!
Very inspiring. Have a blessed Sunday.
oh sweet Lea.. thank you for such an inspiring post... you are such a blessing.
Blessings,
Ruth
It made me sad that you were hurting so. Praying your heart pain eases as you lean on Him. I especially liked the Anne Lamott quote. There's a lot of hope in that perspective!
Such tender, thoughtful words. Thank you for writing them. They were balm to my heart.
Blessings, Tiffany
tiffany: just this morning i sang "there is
a balm in gilead."
coincidence? nah.
Lea, are you familiar with presentturthmn.com? Your post brought this to mind. I loved your children being rewarded for being obedient and even more to that grand man of God for praying over your children. What a gift and legacy for them and for you. You're tucked into prayer for the Holy Spirit to comfort you, Jesus to interceed for you, God to hear you.
Such precious words. Thanks for sharing.
Have a blessed Sunday!
Beautiful words. Beautiful post! Thank you.
Jocelyn
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/
Those quotes have so much wisdom packed into them. Wisdom inspired by God. I am saying a prayer for those being persecuted for their faith in God.
I am also inspired by Sonja's quote here (in the comments) by, Corrie Ten Boom. It is so true!
Sweet blessings to you, Lea!
xoxo Gloria
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