2 Corinthians 12:1-10
1 This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. 3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know 4 that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell. 5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Now from the message:

1 You’ve forced me to talk this way, and I do it against my better judgment. But now that we’re at it, I may as well bring up the matter of visions and revelations that God gave me. 2 For instance, I know a man who, fourteen years ago, was seized by Christ and swept in ecstasy to the heights of heaven. I really don’t know if this took place in the body or out of it; only God knows. 3 I also know that this man was hijacked into paradise—again, whether in or out of the body, I don’t know; God knows. There he heard the unspeakable spoken, but was forbidden to tell what he heard. 5 This is the man I want to talk about. But about myself, I’m not saying another word apart from the humiliations. 6 If I had a mind to brag a little, I could probably do it without looking ridiculous, and I’d still be speaking plain truth all the way. But I’ll spare you. I don’t want anyone imagining me as anything other than the fool you’d encounter if you saw me on the street or heard me talk. 7 Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! 8 At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, 9 and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.

My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. 10 Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.


No one knows for sure what Paul's thorn was but we do know that he asked 3 times for it to be taken away. But God didn't grant that prayer. He did however get things greater because he got grace from God, a stronger character, humility & an ability to empathize with others. It also benefited those around him in that they saw God at work in his life. We don't know why some people are spared & others not. We must pray, believe & trust. Nothing separates us from God's love (Romans 8:35-39). & our spiritual condition is always more important than our physical condition.

My grouping gals, the Ya Ya's & I have started a new study. It's "deepening life together a study in Romans". I won't lie, it's been tough in spots but it is a good one.

Last week I handed out a Spiritual Gift Inventory sheet. Many had never done one before. Unlike myself, I've done several hoping for a different gift. I know how silly is that!! Anyway, this one has 112 questions on it & then you tallied them in a certain order to get your gifts. I did mine & got 2 out of the same 3 I usually get. I just can't seem to shake one lol. Just kidding, a spiritual gift is something God equips you with in order to fulfill His work. It aids us in what we are to do for the Kingdom.

If you haven't done one before I encourage you to do so. The one we used is found at http://www.spreadinglight.com/biblestudy/gifts/gifttest.html

The very same voice that raised the dead is the same one who still speaks today.

Think about that for a minute. The same God that parted the sea, the same God that healed the leaper, made the lame walk, the same One whose arms were nailed to a cross for OUR sins.

Do we really fathom that? If we did, I dare say we would have much more reverence for Him than we often do. It's so easy to go through life & try to do it ourselves. And boy can that get U-G-L-Y!! This momma can get all tangled in emotions & look out cause she is gonna explode but confessing our dependance on Jesus can calm that storm a' brewing.

Try it today & see what happens!

I'm reading the book Magnificent Obsession (btw, if I ever get to be a lay director on a walk that will be the theme) anyway, it's by Anne Graham Lotz. This paragraph stuck with me. (Maybe I'll quit asking for those flashing neon billboards).
"And then it hit me: God shows up in the ordinariness of our day, doesn't He? He doesn't show up only when He parts the Red Sea with a powerful wind, or in the banquet hall with handwriting on the wall, or on Mount Sinai with thunder & lightning, or on the Mount of Transfiguration in radiant glory. He shows up in everyday situations, as we are going about our everyday responsibilities in our everyday routines."


It's OUR job to stop long enough to see & hear Him. Have you seen Him lately?? If not I challenge you to stop & listen for His still, small voice.

Guest Blog!

Thanks Christy for letting me “guest blog” - - we’ll see if you loose a few followers after this LOL !!!

 You know, God didn’t say life was going to be easy, He said it’s going to be worth it!

  He didn’t say it was going to be comfortable, He said it’s going to be worth it!

  He didn’t say it was going to go just how I want it, He said it’s going to be worth it!

  

I strive to know Him more.

  Even on the days when I have the “cruise control” on, He calls me to dig deeper, to press on.

  I love the song “Press On” by Selah.

  It speaks to me on many different ways.

  Today, this is what is going through my mind;

  “If I’m going to press on, does that require ACTION from me?”

  I think it does.

  

As the Body of Christ, we must move.

  As believers in HIS holy power and might, we must move.

  There are days when I feel like I’m standing out there all by myself and other days when I feel like I have 1000 others tugging the line with me.

  Either way, Jesus is with me . . . if I lean on Him, if I press on toward His will for me, I will win the ETERNAL VICTORY – PRAISE GOD!!

  

So today friends whatever mountain you face, whatever valley is in your path, know that He holds us if we “PRESS ON” toward His will for our lives.

  It’s not about us, it’s all about Him.

  

Keyly Watts