Word for Today, Tue, 14 Dec 2004: Turning Points Out of Tragedy
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
My friend Larry Davies knows pain, disappointment, and tragedy.
He personally knows about divorce, having personally experienced
one. He personally knows about suicide as well, having
experienced a suicide from someone who was once very close to
him.
Such memories are not easy at all. I have my own set of
memories, disappointments, even major failures. Many choices I
have made in the past still elicit deep sorrow whenever I am
reminded of them, yet I have resolved in my heart to do what God
has done - long ago - forgiven them. God is amazing. He sets up
rules and regulations for our lives, but those rules and
regulations are never to be the big cosmic meanie, those rules
and regulations are intended to provide God's very best for each
one of us.
Inevitably, each one of us falls short. We fail to follow all
that God has planned for us. Shall we give up in disgrace? By
no means. Shall we hide our indiscretion? No, that isn't right,
either. What then shall we do?
The Bible gives us a very clear answer. If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us
from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9, my paraphrase).
Mistakes, even tragedy, are not good things. Neither are they
the end of the world. Never ever deliberately sin, for sin does
have consequences. But when you do sin, know that you have an
advocate. He is Jesus Christ. Admit your failures to Him, ask
Him to help and heal you, then move on. It can be done, and
Jesus Himself provides the Way.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
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"Christmas Memories 1989: Tragedy Becomes A Turning Point"
Larry Davies
Do you remember December of 1989? News organizations broadcast
live from the Berlin Wall as it came crashing down symbolizing
the rapidly imploding collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and
the coming break up of the Soviet Union. Christmas for many would
be a happy celebration for the free world and the United States
in particular as the "Cold War" was about to end. Having grown-up
under the constant threat of global nuclear war during the 50's
and 60's, I normally would be elated.
These were not normal times for me... my life came crashing down
much like the Berlin Wall. 1989 would be my first Christmas as a
divorced single parent with two young children to raise. My
credibility and confidence as pastor of a local church was
understandably compromised. Didn't the Bible say: "If someone
cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God's
church?" (1 Tim. 3:5)
Tom Riddle, a personal friend and former employer called
immediately upon hearing the news and offered a lucrative job and
an opportunity to quit the ministry and come back to business:
tempting.
"Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was
still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph,
her fiance, being a just man, decided to break the engagement
quietly so as not to disgrace her publicly." (Matthew 1:18-19)
Can you imagine the difficulty of this situation?
We know and accept that Mary was pregnant through God's Holy
Spirit but all Joseph knew for certain was that Mary's pregnant
and he was not the father. Brokenhearted, Joseph strived to do
the right thing in the midst of the shame and controversy
surrounding their engagement. These were not normal times for
Joseph whose life must have come crashing down much like the
Berlin Wall.
The future looked miserable but miserable times often kindle
life-changing turning points if we make ourselves available and
open to the voice of God. We can learn from Joseph and what
occurred next:
"An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.
'Do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary.
For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit
and she will have a son and you are to name him Jesus, for he
will save his people from their sins.'" (Mat. 1:20-21)
Joseph changed dramatically after hearing the voice of God.
Rather than dumping Mary quietly, he became her protector
throughout the accusations and the gossip that very likely
swirled around their relationship. After all, who would ever
believe that a young girl could become pregnant by God?
"What a lame excuse for teenage shenanigans! You would think
she was carrying The Messiah!" (She was!)
For Joseph... tragedy became a dramatic turning point as he
received God's blessing of witnessing the birth of the
Christ child: God's Son, whose life, death and resurrection
would transform the world.
For me, like Joseph... tragedy also became a dramatic turning
point that would change my life forever.
I too heard the voice of God offering comfort and healing grace
many times during those long, sleepless and lonely nights. Family
and friends surrounded me with love and acts of kindness. The
church I served went out of its way to demonstrate their love for
me and their confidence in God's hand on my ministry. My
children needed me more than ever as I gradually regained
self-assurance.
Over the next few months, like Joseph, I heard God's voice
and decided not to quit but to change: I discovered an exciting
new ministry offering God's grace and hope to others
experiencing divorce. I became a more compassionate minister
ready to share struggles as well as triumphs. I worked hard to
become a better single parent. I became more spiritually
dependent upon God's guidance and grace.
I also met Mell. One evening, just before Christmas, she called
and asked to visit. As she talked of her recent divorce, marital
problems and mistreatment, I found myself sharing my own
difficulties. We were soon talking as if we had known each other
for years and I remember thinking, "I don't want to
counsel this wonderful woman. I want to marry her!" A little
over one year later, we were married.
Christmas is not always a happy time, but it can be a meaningful
time. God has a way of taking our worst tragedies and using them
to become turning points toward better lives. If you are in the
midst of a tragic Christmas... look up! God is already there;
ready and able to provide comfort, guidance and grace so this
Christmas could become a dramatic turning point for you as it did
for Joseph and me.
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Jesus said: "You are the light of the world--like a city on a
mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your
light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine
for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)
"Breaking the Peanut Butter Habit: Following God's
Recipe for a Better Life" now on sale only through our
website. http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm
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Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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