It still continues to amaze me how many Christians and “preachers” still misunderstand what faith in Christ is all about?????. Our faith in Jesus Christ is supposed to equip us to face the challenges that life throws at us, to help us through the fire and through the flood. There are many people that have embraced the “Happy Gospel.” God wants me to be happy and rich and never ever asks me to do anything that is uncomfortable or requires commitment from me.  It is this type of “Gospel” that Paul says “they have a form of godliness, but it denies the power there of” It looks good but no substance. ALL SHOW and NO GO.


It is very true that when we apply God’s principles to our lives it puts us in the best position to be blessed and to be used by God for his purposes……..whatever HE chooses. God’s will for your life and my life is that we become like Christ. This I know and you can take this to the Bank, the people God uses are the people that have been through Pain and disappointment. The people who trust God even when their life is upside down, when it doesn’t make since, when the circumstance of life scream “where is God” and “God don’t You care” and “God don’t You see”. Every follower of Christ has had times like this in their life. Remember the story of the  disciples crossing the lake and a violent storm came up they said the same thing and Jesus was with them in the boat, He is here, He cares, He sees.  Not everything God calls you to will give you peace, this is a common misunderstanding. Peace comes after Trust.


Two things 1. He said “let’s go to the other side”
                    2. He said “Peace be still”
The work He started He will finish making you complete just like Him. Trust Him through the Pain and uncertainty He is faithful, and that’s the way I see it in my market.

ap.pe.tite: a natural desire to satisfy a bodily need.
more: a greater or additional amount or degree.

we all have God given appetites and that in it self is a good thing. It is when our appetites get out of control that we run into trouble. you have to understand your appetites have one word and that is MORE, Their goal is to control you. Appetites out of control cause us to do Stupid things.

* to be irresponsible.
* to be unhealthy.
* to be hurtful.
* to be ungodly.
The reality is that you and I have an appetite that is battling for control over our life.

What do we do?
1. Ignore it?
2. Think positive thoughts?
3. Ask God for help?

Well the best answers is always found in God’s Word. So lets Go there and look.
Titus 2:11-12 ” For the grace of God that bring salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “no”  to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. “
Paul understood somethings about the Grace of God. From his point of view he had received so much himself, coming to realize how bad he was and how good God is. It humbled him to say the least. And out of humble repentance his life began to change. He no longer trusted in himself or his tradition, because he had been face to face with Jesus the perfect picture of Grace. It is God’s grace that teaches us to say NO. Once you have seen grace ” has appeared to all men” Jesus is what he is talking about. Once you see him you don’t want to do the old life. His grace teaches you, The Holy Spirit of God teaches you and leads you to the best life you can have, but it all starts with saying “NO” repentance. The power of sin and death is broken when we repent and allow grace to teach us.

What appetite do you need to say NO to?___________________________. God’s grace will teach you, and thats the way I see it in my market.

“He was despised and rejected by men……..” Isaiah 53 was written 700 years before Jesus lived this out. I have heard this scripture preached and taught many times and almost always the focus is on His physical suffering, which was horrific to say the least. I don’t want to minimise it in any way but I think the emotional pain he went through was equal to or possibly even greater than his physical pain. “a man of sorrow, and familiar with suffering…..”


When no one else understands the lord knows. 


“ and by His wounds we are healed” I have to believe that includes the pain of rejection, my rejection, your rejection. The deepest hurt you have ever known can be healed if you allow God to take it.
My deal was to build a wall, the problem with that is the wall you build to keep people out, keeps people out. It’s hard to be loved and accepted through a wall. Pain made me socially awkward, I didn’t know how to talk or act around people. The simple act of saying good morning or how are you? was foreign to me Nobody ever ask me how I was Nobody cared they where too self absorbed. So I stayed quite,  I was labeled “stuck up” It’s not that I didn’t want to be a part I just didn’t know how???? After you have been told how dumb you are a couple of hundred times a day you start to believe it.

My life began to change when I met Wendy and her family. She never seemed to mind that I didn’t talk much. ( she has always been able to make friends fast) I still remember the first time I went on a picnic it was with her family nobody yelling or screaming but the most amazing thing was no deputy sheriff came to break up a fight. (we where “the Myers”) they knew us by name. it was peaceful and good. My family experience had been anything but peaceful. This I have learned, God love’s me! and accepted me for who I am but loves me enough not to let me stay that way.

I also have learned that I must live for God’s approval and not for the approval of people. “but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” John 14:31 God’s amazing love caused Jesus to rise again and to risk again. It can do the same for you Gods love can cause you to rise above your Pain and cause you to risk again.

Remember without risk there is no return. maybe you have been hurt and hurt badly more than words can say, Jesus has made a way back for you he knows the way. will you trust him? will you accept God’s amazing transforming love?? will you risk it one more time ?? or will you reject it? the choice is yours. And thats the way I see it in my market.

As we have been working through this series on “Pain” I have been thinking about all the difficulties  and challenges that have been painful and the opportunities that accompanied them. It seems to me that the part of me that gets better is the part of me that holds out until the pain is over. Every time there has been a great opportunity “God ordained” direction there have been challenges as soon as the door was opened.

I have been thinking a lot about this one????? Why is there suffering in the world? If God is Good, why is there bad? and the list can go on and on, the short answer is God our creator is good and created everything good. (check out Romans 8.) Genesis chapter 1 versus 31 ” and God saw all that He made and said, it is very good” God made everything good, but Sin corrupted everything because of the fall of Adam, sin came in to a perfect world and we have been fighting its effect ever since.

Can I tell you something??? Life is not FAIR-But God is GOOD.


Jesus told us “In this world You will have trouble. But don’t fear! I have over come the world” John 16:33
OK somebody is thinking how does that help me? That’s a fair question, Let me ask you, What if the breakthrough in your life is just on the other side of what you are suffering right now? Sin is Bad and Bad is Bad and even though God didn’t make it Bad, he can use something that is BAD to change your life. Sometimes through the pain of suffering some good things can come out of it. James says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4


I think the better question is not WHY? But WHAT? What am I lacking?  What are you Teaching me through this experience? What are you working on?  God, What do you want to do in me? You will never know how deep your faith in Christ is unless you go through suffering, because then and only then does God have the chance to touch your life in a divine and Holy moment, when your are in desperate need of a saviour, He has the opportunity to be that for you, when you have exhausted yourself he can fill you with HIS spirit and be YOUR HEALER, Making you better, making you complete and that’s the way I see it in My Market.