BOWLING PIN

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

ARE YOU SEEKING?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

There you are, standing helpless like a pin at the end of the bowling lane. Life is just a few feet away, sizing you up, picking its spot and staring you down. Then methodically life approaches, takes a lusty backswing and hurls a huge ball of unexpected circumstances right at you.

You know it’s coming right at you. You cringe.

You can’t move right or left. You know it is going to rock you into the pit at the end of the alley. You try to brace yourself but POW!

Head over heels you go; flying up in the air, wildly careening off of other pins, spinning around uncontrollably until finally coming to a brief rest.

You take a breath.

But then what happens?

Life decides it wants another shot, so it scoops you up and plops you right back down for the next frame.

Uh oh…here we go again!

Ever feel that way? Like life has become a never ending set ups and knock downs?

I know I have.

But did you know that while life can knock you down, it sure doesn’t have what it takes to knock you out.

Did you know that?

Did you know that regardless of the number of times life sets you up and knocks you down you have what it takes to keep going!

So don’t give up.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

¹⁶ That is why we never give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day. ¹⁷ We have small troubles for a while now, but these troubles are helping us gain an eternal glory. That eternal glory is much greater than our troubles. ¹⁸ So we think about what we cannot see, not what we see. What we see lasts only a short time, and what we cannot see will last forever.

That is right!

Even when our bodies and minds are worn out, even when we are tired from the dishing that life is doling out, even when we it seems like we can’t take one more “strike”, our spirit will sustain us!

Proverbs 18:14
The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble…

I was speaking with a dear friend just yesterday and she was so tired.

Her emotions were frazzled and she was completely exhausted. She had been through at least 9 frames just yesterday. She wanted off the lane badly.

But after a long talk and a time of reassurance, she was able to again remember that this world and these circumstances may knock her down, but they couldn’t keep her down.

Maybe you are there too today, tired of the knock downs and the set ups.

You too may be beat and battered. Don’t give up; keep getting up, keep standing firm, life doesn't have what it takes to knock you out.

Here is why.

1 Peter 5:10

… keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney