"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree..." Ps 92:12a

While we don't tend to relish adversity, I am discovering that it is through it that we draw closer to God.

Today at the breakfast table Dave G. told us that a palm tree will grow more during a single hurricane than during five years of good weather. When he asked me what then did I think of Ps 92:12a, I responded: "It's in the times of adversity that we grow the most."

I am currently reading 'In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day' by Mark Batterson (highly recommend it). One of the things he says about adversity is this:

"Adversity can produce an increased capacity to serve God."

How true is that? He goes on to say it in a different way: "If you don't have any problems, you don't have any potential. Here's why: Your ability to help others heal is limited to where you've been wounded."

He wraps up the chapter by talking about the rebuilding of a broken bone, and how once a bone is broken it is remade stronger than before. He says: "...God breaks us where we need to be broken...He does it to remodel us into His image. And once we heal, we end up stronger than we were to begin with."

He ends the chapter by simply asking: "Where have you been broken? What adverse circumstances are you facing? Do you have any overwhelming problems? ... Maybe God is increasing your capacity via adversity."

 Hallelujah! What a thought! The pain, and hurt, and adversity can be redeemed! HE can redeem it! He WILL redeem it! The tough times that we go through are NOT in vain.

Today as I sat in a little rented house and listened to Haitians pour out their hearts to God - I was moved to tears. I was finally where He'd told me to go. I may not understand the Creole yet, but the joy of the LORD was so evident in their singing and on their faces.

During a time of prayer (everyone prays out loud at the same time - I've done this in prayer groups at PCC and yes, it's a little different and a little strange at first - but I do like it), I was able to pour out my heart to God. Some things that had really been bothering me - just lay them out, cry, ask for forgiveness, surrounded by others doing exactly the same thing...knowing I wasn't alone. Hearing them pray around me, all of us lifting up our own problems to God the Father - it was beautiful. Just beautiful. Later we had a time of quietude to just listen. To 'be still and know that I am God.' To just quietly nestle in the Father's arms. And all of this before the sermon!

Which was in and of itself amazing! The passage was on the Prodigal Son. When the pastor got done reading the passage, everyone held hands and repeated after him: "However far away you'be gone from God - come back." Wow.

Some sermon notes: (bear with me ;D)

It doesn't matter how much time it's been since you left your father's house - you can always go back. Jesus gave us this to show us how His Father is...No matter the distance between you and the Father you can always come back. He's not going to refuse you. He's got two arms open wide for you. He created you...Analyze where this man was - with the pigs. And those who watched pigs were seen as heathen because pigs were unclean. He'd left the straight and narrow path and was living with the heathen. Imagine the sins he'd commited - how far he'd gone from God. That's like us, Jesus is waiting for us. Whenever we decide to come back to Him, He's waiting for us. No matter what level of sin you've got yourself in - whatver state you're in today He wants to wash you. (Thanks to Dave for translating - haha - my Creole's not that good yet ;D)

There was more - and it too was good - but I'm afaid I'll bore you - it's nothing I've not heard before but today it struck a deep cord within me. And I wanted to share it with you.

I know someone who has caused a lot of grief to her parents through the poor choices she's made and yet they keep forgiving her and taking her back - I've watched as they've loved on her only to have her hurt them again and again- I've not been able to understand it - today I think I caught a glimpse of it - they do it because they love her. Just as God loves us as our Father - so they love her because she is their child - I'm not married (yet ;)) and don't have children of my own but how great must that love be? and how much more so from the very Being who is Love itself? I stand amazed...and marvel...and sing: "how great is the love the Father has lavished upon us - that we should be called sons and daughters of God?" (Speechless by Steven Curtis Chapman)