Comments on: Pain's Purpose

By: Erin

Erin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:30:45 +0000

Wow, this stopped me in my tracks today.

"It would be better to be an absolute mess who relies on grace than a squeak-free, surge-protected, name-brand, self-sufficient appliance that relies on strength and ability."

Thank you so much for the awesome post, looking forward to part II.

Erin @ Rare & Beautiful Treasures

By: Debbie

Debbie — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:45:43 +0000

So good. So terribly TRUE of our limited scope and imagination. How can PAIN bring anything beautiful? How can scars showcase the glory of God? And what shame we embrace when things aren't "right" in our lives.

CANNOT wait to read more…
.-= Debbie´s last blog post … Am I Singing Off Key? =-.

By: Courtney (Women Livi

Courtney (Women Livi — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:11:34 +0000

I can't wait to read part 2 tomorrow!! You have my attention - my heart is listening! Courtney http://www.womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com .-= Courtney (Women Living Well)´s last blog post ... Tasty Tuesday: How To Make a Candy Land Cake =-.

By: thoughts on ‘pain’s purpose’ | Grace Is For Sinners

thoughts on ‘pain’s purpose’ | Grace Is For Sinners — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:14:25 +0000

[...] I’m over at Like a Warm Cup of Coffee talking about ‘Pain’s Purpose’. There are many ways we respond to pain and many [...]

By: Candace

Candace — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:51:40 +0000

Hi Sara, This made me think of a paper that a local pastor wrote. You can read it here, it's quite long but worth the read! http://www.kgfchurch.com/images/stories/God_and_N... In this paper he said something that really woke me up: “Listen to what you’re saying, ‘better for us’. We tend to define ‘good’ and ‘bad’ according to one criteria – how it affects ‘us’. If something makes us feel bad or causes us discomfort, we assume it is ‘bad’. Likewise, if something pleases us or brings us happiness, we assume it is ‘good’. But that is not really an adequate basis to make that judgment. So often we want to reduce God to the level of performing for us what pleases us and makes us happy. At the very best, this is a selfish view of God. At worst, it is idolatrous. It assumes that we can, or should, control God and his actions in the world.” .-= Candace´s last blog post ... The Love Dare - Love Brings Unity =-.

By: Apriil

Apriil — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:24:04 +0000

I am blown away. Just blown away. Serena, I hope you don't get tired of seeing my name so often in the comment sections of graceisforsinners because WOW I am blown away and speechless, but want you to know it, so I attempt to put thoughts to words every time. I absolutely am so inspired and smile as I read this. It's as if I have just been hit by such pure honest truth and I am sitting on the ground recovering from it, a sense of relief that it's all right to just focus on Christ. Simple. That simple.

By: Sisterlisa

Sisterlisa — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:43:28 +0000

So true, Serena. The idea of 'giving up' and 'letting go' is so hard for the religious because of their self-righteousness. Been there done that. But letting go is exactly how we walk in faith. We rest in Him and rely upon His strength, not our own. Trying to hold onto 'good works' in fear of falling is not faith. .-= Sisterlisa´s last blog post ... Expressing Love =-.

By: Tina

Tina — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:37:12 +0000

Wonderful post, can't wait to read the rest!
For me,Iv just resolved to the fact that no matter what I do I can't be anything but a sinner and Jesus is the only way to be at peace with God's will and accept our lives, good or what we perceive as bad.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose"
That purpose though is something we may not understand.
On another note, the idea that we can do some type of formula, A+B+C=Happiness and an easy life is what Religion teaches people. Jesus teaches us that its only through Grace and his everlasting love that we will get to go to Heaven and live in His kingdom, and well whatever happens here on earth was never promised to be easy or pleasant. Why would we expect God to give us a better life then his Son? Being content in all of life, good or bad, is one of the hardest pills to swallow.
.-= Tina´s last blog post … Im Back!! =-.

By: Brooke Clarke

Brooke Clarke — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:24:04 +0000

Wow, Jess, what a testimony of trusting God in something so difficult and impossible to understand. Your faith is inspiring.

Personally, I have seen how God has loved me through allowing me to exprience the pain of my own sin and fallen decision making. I came to faith through an addiction and I have never been so grateful for anything in my life. God has used that painful experience in my life to glorify himself and God has a beautiful testimony in what HE did in little ol' me.

Thanks for the post, SarahMae. I really like your blog.

By: Serena Woods

Serena Woods — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:22:51 +0000

Thanks for posting your thoughts!

I have come to believe that God allows things to happen, not so we can have an easy life, but so that He can use us. We just have to decide if it's 'ease' or 'use' that we want.

Life is an effective sieve. Pain is life's race car.
.-= Serena Woods´s last blog post … what are you saying? =-.