We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:8-18)
Today's Morsel: How much trouble do you think you can handle? Listen to this article if you think you've got trouble. "A man was working on his motorcycle on his patio and his wife was in the house in the kitchen. The man was racing the engine of the motorcycle and somehow the motorcycle slipped into gear. The man, still holding the handlebars, was dragged through a glass patio door and the motorcycle dumped onto the floor inside the house. The wife, hearing the crash, ran into the dining room, and found her husband laying on the floor, cut and bleeding, and the motorcycle laying on top of him and the patio door shattered. The wife ran to the phone and summoned an ambulance. Because they lived on a fairly large hill, the wife went down the several flights of steps to the street to direct the paramedics to her husband. After the ambulance arrived and transported the husband to the hospital, the wife put the motorcycle upright and pushed it outside. Seeing that gas had spilled on the floor, the wife got some paper towels, blotted up the gasoline, and threw the towels in the toilet. The husband was treated at the hospital and was released to come home. After arriving home, he looked at the shattered patio door and the damage done to his motorcycle. He became despondent, went into the bathroom, sat on the toilet and smoked a cigarette. After finishing the cigarette, he flipped it into the toilet bowel while still seated. The wife, who was in the kitchen, heard a loud explosion and her husband screaming. She ran into the bathroom and found her husband laying on the floor. His trousers had been blown away and he was suffering burns on the back of his legs. The wife again ran to the phone and called for an ambulance. The same ambulance crew was dispatched and the wife met them at the street once again. The paramedics loaded the husband on the stretcher and began carrying him to the street. While they were going down the stairs to the street accompanied by the wife, one of the paramedics asked the wife how the husband had burn himself. She told them and the paramedics started laughing so hard, one of them tipped the stretcher and dumped the husband out. The husband rolled down the remaining steps and broke his ankle." SO the next time you think you are having trouble, think of this guy. Daniel Defoe, 17th century British writer said, "In trouble to be troubled is to have your trouble doubled." Paul said that we are troubled on every side yet not distressed. We don't allow our troubles to stop us. We may think that our troubles will destroy us, but really they are to shape us and cause us to become more like Christ. So the next time you are having troubles always remember that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalms 46:1).
Sing: God is our refuge and strength, our refuge in time of trouble, trouble. God is our refuge and strength, our refuge in time of trouble. And He will hide me under the rock, under the rock, under the rock; and He will hide me, under the rock, safe in the time of trouble.
Thought for Today: Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
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