“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 [NIV 2010]
- [emphasis is mine]
“Rcubes…how do you feel about the schedule change?” “Are you worried?” asked one of the LVN’s.
She was talking about the new schedule for the night shift staff, starting January 15. She noticed I would be working weeknights now, instead of weekends I used to do for so many years. I had job-shared during those years to lessen my hours and not aggravate the neck pain I sustained from an injury, working at a big hospital for almost 10 years.
“Not really.”
“Oh, that’s good!” she replied with a surprised tone of voice. She paused, wanting to hear more about my personal reasons.
“I think it’s awesome. Now, I get to spend more time with my family and do a lot of things families do.”
“Ohhh…” she didn’t know what to say next.
“Sometimes, it’s those little things that mean the most. I’m grateful for those.”
She started walking away, her head nodding slightly. But she would be the only one to know what her thoughts were upon hearing my answers.
Not all big things here on earth are better. Not huge amount of money. Not being powerful and listing all those achievements. They don’t mean a thing sometimes.
I may have this disability but despite the pain I had, that was the time I felt my strongest. That was the time I had achieved a lot of things I knew would be impossible for me to do most of the time. That was the time I had learned to grow more patient, more humble, more forgiving and more loving. That was the time I had more compassion.
It was because of Jesus. He had paid the biggest sacrifice to save us all. And now, He is inviting everyone, anyone, to submit their hearts and lives to Him completely. And having things like trust or even faith as small as a mustard seed on Him, He turns it into bigger things.
It is through brokenness when His redemption works best, not on being whole. It is through weaknesses that His power and might works evidently. It is by being weak that we become conquerors, because once He starts His work in someone’s life, He is always faithful to complete it. Thank You Jesus!
"31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" - Romans 8:31-39 [NIV 2010]
Small things + faith = more than conquerors in Christ:
[please silence my playlist on top]:
30 DAYS OF THANKSGIVING - 14
7 hours ago
Wishing you the best of luck with your new schedule.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this encouraging reminder. I truly feel without Jesus I can do nothing of value.
ReplyDeleteI pray you continue to be happy with your new schedule.
Mrs. A
More than conquerors???
ReplyDeleteThat phrase always amazed me.
The concept of conqueror I could understand.
Someone goes into battle; one side wins and one side loses. The winner is the conqueror.
But MORE than conquerors? I found that such a stretch the first several times I read it.
How can you be MORE than conqueror?
But one day I heard of a Joe Frazier fight. He and his opponent beat each other to a pulp for One Million Dollars. Joe won!
He got the money and he was the conqueror.
But Joe went home and handed over the $1 million prize money check to his wife.
I am sure she smiled.
I am sure she appreciated it to the max.
But did she deserve it? No way; Joe did all the bloody work and conquering.
But the results of that victory rested in the palms of MRS. Joe Frazier.
She....was more than a conqueror.
She had the ultimate prize and did not do a single thing to earn it.
Perhaps like the Mrs., we too, are "more than conquerors",.... for the bloody work has been done long ago, and we cash the check called "Get Into Heaven Free".
No wonder they call him the Saviour.
Ephesians 1:15-17 for you Rosel. WOW!
For those with no time to look it up:
"For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that YOU may KNOW him better."
Blessings to you Rosel.
The prayers you send out, are also returned. :)
When I think I have it all together, I'm less likely to depend on the Lord. I don't have it all together by any means and so ...I am dependent upon Him.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that brokenness drives me right into the arms of our Savior. Yes, we can be more than conquerors through Christ.
I love how you share the light in so many different ways even in the midst of a prison setting sister.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Brokenness also drove me to the arms of Jesus. When I had my fill of my way and sought His way it began my turn-around seeking His will...
ReplyDeleteIf we truly listen for that still small voice,I believe we will hear from him! He is worth the wait! hope your new shift works out for you, I am following your blog,you are welcome to follow mine as well.Blessings,jane
ReplyDeleteRosel, it is so weird, I am seeing the word Boast quite often in the last few days. Very interesting.....
ReplyDeleteGreat reminder of God's presence. Thank you dear one for sharing.
@ Wanda & Mrs. A: Thank you. God bless.
ReplyDelete@ Keystone: I'm amazed you never run out of those great stories and this was a great analogy you left about "being more than a conqueror!" Praise God. Thank you for prayerful friends like you. That's why I'm staying strong is because God had blessed me with awesome friends and spiritual family who lift me up and watch my back through their prayers. I'm grateful for Him Who listens to our pleas. Keeping you in mine. God bless.
ReplyDelete@Sister Debbie: It would be foolish not to depend on Him. But I was that way for a long time back then. I'm grateful that His love and grace has no limits! Glory be to God! God bless you sister!
ReplyDelete@ Sister Jane: Thank you for having your voice heard here. Nice to meet you. Looking forward to visiting you also and being encouraged by your words. God bless.
ReplyDelete@ JBR: Interesting....Hmmmm...That would be awesome if you can discern something out of that few days from now or when it is in His perfect timing! Thanks for always encouraging me. God bless.
ReplyDeleteAnd He will finish what He started in all of us! Praise the Lord for His promise to help us in this life. Praying for an easy transition for you, Rosel!
ReplyDeleteYour sweet spirit continues to encourage me. Our God is so good and it does seem that at our weakest we let Him come through for us
ReplyDeleteOh, I've missed visiting you! It's always like manna from heaven. I love your heart for Him!!! Happy new year to you sweet sister!!!
ReplyDeleteWylie
Amen! Nothing is impossible if we only believe!
ReplyDeletePraying your new schedule is exactly what you need right now at this point in your life! :)
Hope you have a great week!
If you HAVE the Son, it means that anything that infinite love and infinite power and infinite wisdom can do for your good will in fact be done for you.
ReplyDeleteWho is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, yes, who is at the right hand of God , who indeed intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors. (Romans 8:34ff.)
He who has the Son has One who can take all tribulation and distress and persecution and peril and turn it so that out of it comes not just a wounded soldier—no we are not just conquerors. Those who have the Son are "more than conquerors." Which means that the Son of God takes the tribulations of your life and actually turns them for your good. You don't just escape from your enemy. He serves you.
So if you want to be more than a survivor and, indeed, more than a conqueror in the battles of life, then you must HAVE the Son. For he who has the Son has life—all the life that an omnipotent God can give.
@ sister Mary: Thank you for the much needed prayers. Keeping you in mine. Love and blessings.
ReplyDelete@Sister Wylie: Happy New Year to you as well. May this be a year of more opportunities to serve the Lord by us. God bless.
ReplyDelete@ Sister Christy: Thank you for prayerful warriors like you. I'm hoping that through this change, I will see the reason behind it, not for myself but what the Lord wants from me. God bless.
ReplyDelete@ Bro.Ike: I don't need to say anything but "AMEN!" Glory be to God! God bless you.
ReplyDeleteI don't like being broken. It hurts. However, what I have gained through broken-ness, through what I have learned about my Father - and what He has done through my broken-ness is priceless. I remember someone who grew up in the same demonation I did talking about how he grew up in a dead church. His home wasn't broken; he didn't hurt inside. I found God in that same church because through my broken-ness, I cried out my need and God met me there. No church is dead. It is relationship with God that lacks life. Often, it is that broken-ness that opens up a dialogue between a person and God.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, how you answered your co-worker is very telling. How many people would have settled in for a victim-fest. Instead, you looked at the good things change was brining and shut the door on being a victim! Beautiful!
Still praying for you:)