Blew Me Away

Last night at New Community Dr. Bob completely blew me away! In my opinion that was one of his best. It was so real, so raw, so honest - - knowing everyone has been through pain, through betrayals, through suffering. And most of the time now understanding how God could allow this to happen. If you didn't see it last night, go watch it. I already watched it again today.

There were so many amazing things that were noteworthy last night, so here is an overview of what I actually was able to write down fast enough!

• God doesn't want us to jump over the valleys.


• Butterflies have to make their own way out of their cocoon. Without the struggle, there are no wings.


• Pain it here to stay - we have got to deal with it together.


• We do everything we can to avoid the valleys, but we need to experience them in order to get stronger, to grow character.


• Sometimes what looks like the best thing that can happen to a person, can be the worst thing.


• God does not allow suffering. He allows our free will.


• We're the reason there's not enough love in the world! Some things we do to ourselves; some things we do to others


• Our respons to what happens to us is more important than what happens to us.


• God knows every bird that falls to the ground; He doesn't always prevent the fall.


• Sometimes the pain makes us crazy - look at Job.


• God understands the doubt born of sorrow


• "Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional. If you can't get up, you won't" Antoinette Bosco


• "Storms always pass...don't they dad"


• One person's experience drives them to bless God, and the exact experience for someone else drives them to curse God


• Where there is great opportunity for love, there is great opportunity for hurt.


• Only someone you love can betray you.


• Psalm 38 - God is close to the broken-hearted


• God never wastes my pain! I do, but He doesn't! Every evil is redeemed.


• God is close to those who are suffering


• Judas and Peter both had similar downfalls - they both screwed up and betrayed Jesus, but you can tell how they responded differently by how they are seen through history. No one names their child Judas, many people name their child Peter

Even typing these now still hits me. How I hope I am able to remember these things when I am in the valley again. If you see me in the valley, remind me there is hope.