The God of All Comfort

Posted on February 13, 2006 by gophumek | Permalink 0

The God of All Comfort
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

I am on the mailing list of a gentleman named Gailyn Van Rheenen. This morning he sent that list an email. The subject of that email was "unspeakable sorrow." The email was sent at 3:58 a.m. and concerned his son who had suddenly died a few hours earlier in a traffic accident. He died immediately in the sleeper of an 18 wheeler when his truck ran into the back of another truck with his co-driver driving. I begin to weep any time I read Gailyn Van Rheenen’s words, "We feel unspeakable pain. A father is to die before his son."

How will Gailyn Van Rheenen and his wife be comforted? I know that because of God, and because of their faith in Him, they will receive comfort. God will use times of solitiude to help this family. God will use helpful words and hugs of humans to comfort this family. And God will use time and distance to help Gailyn Van Rheenen and his wife Becky during this time of unspeakable sorrow.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."   – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.

God will help us through terribly difficult times. My hope is that each day, more and more people will come to know our Heavenly Father personally, and then, experience his comfroting love.

Encouragment, Hope, Ministry, Struggles

A Day in the Life of Jesus

Posted on January 29, 2006 by gophumek | Permalink 0

A Day in the Life of Jesus
Mark 1:21- 35

Work is hard sometimes, one may even say it is unbearable. We have a savior that can identify with us in so many ways. He was hungry. He was thirsty. He was angry. He was tempted. He had a pretty demanding job at times. His occupation of being “Savior of the World” led to his healing of many.

In our passage today, Jesus began teaching in the synagogue. He healed a man afterward. He then later healed Simon Peter’s mother-in-law at her house. That evening, he wasn’t able to rest at the five o’clock whistle. He continued to work. For the whole town gathered at Peter’s house. He healed many more and drove out demons. We think sometimes that Jesus might not know how we feel after a hard day of work. Our bosses ask us to do the miraculous sometimes, but at least we don’t have to drive out demons. Okay, you can now insert a joke about your boss who may act like a demon on occasion.   :)

I want all of us to see a parallel between the work of Jesus and our job duties. Early the next morning (Mark 1:35), Jesus got up and went to a solitary place to pray. Jesus prayed after his exhausting day of work. There are many other times when Jesus goes off to pray. Jesus needed time alone with his heavenly Father. We do too. We cannot successfully tackle our jobs alone, whether that job is a peanut butter sandwich inspector, traveling salesman,  or 11th grade student.  Many of us think we don’t need God’s help. Many of us refuse to take time out of our day to plead to God for help or to praise him for helping us through a tough day. I’ve been guilty of this. I vow to do better… will you also make this same vow?

Ministry, Struggles

The Mailman Vs. God

Posted on January 5, 2006 by gophumek | Permalink 0

The Mailman Vs. God
Psalms 23

I just want to let you know there is no one or nothing like our marvelous Father in Heaven. He is always faithful. He’ll never forsake us. The bible speaks to us numerous times about this. He’s even with us, I should say, He’s especially with us when we go through dark valleys.

Why did I think of this today? Well…let me just say our mailman isn’t quite so reliable. You might know the phrase, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” This phrase is inscribed on the James Farley Post Office on Eighth Avenue and 32nd Street in New York City. This was never the motto for the postal service. It was merely a phrase the architect of the building admired and thought appropriate, maybe it was wishful thinking. Unlike our mailman who was today prevented from making his appointed rounds by a dog on the loose, God is always faithful.

Attributes of God, Praying to God, Struggles

Praising God in Our Home

Posted on November 30, 2005 by gophumek | Permalink 0

Praising God in Our Home
Acts 2:46-47

I’ve heard stories of the underground church in China. Sometimes, they would gather 30-40 people into a small apartment, maybe even more. They would sing praises to God. Sure, it wasn’t the most comfortable thing in the world, but they were enjoying fellowship with one another, and with their Father in heaven.

What keeps us in America from enjoying the same fellowship and love? Comfort could be the key concept there. I am trying to figure out a way to get 14-20 people in our house for some praise and fellowship. However, our living room is small, our house is not very attractive, and we wonder what would happen if too many people came. If worse came to worse, we could have one small group of folks singing in the living room and another group in the dining room. These rooms are totally separated by a wall. Not the best setting, but would God care?

In Acts 2:46-47 where Luke writes that the Christians met daily in the temple and in their homes. He didn’t qualify that statement by saying they met in wonderful 5 bedroom ranch houses with lots of room. They simply met. Can we do the same today? I’ll find out and keep you informed.

Evangelism, Ministry