PERSONAL!

The news has been non-stop in regard to TSA rules and regulations. People have been complaining that this inspection is too personal or too invasive. They was even a report of a guy who wet himself during this process. Honestly, who is this comfortable with a complete stranger in the manner of the photo above?

To make this scene more uncomfortable, you are being set aside for security reasons.

In truth, I am not sure how I would respond to this sort of security but the outcry is clear. Too personal! It is distressing.

People need comfort. The comfort can come in the form of law or in another person. Comfort is necessary due to the stress of being personally offended even afflicted.

Paul in his second letter to the church of Corinth in chapter 7 expresses this comfort.

I am acting with great
boldness toward you;
I have great pride in you;
I am filled with comfort.
In all our
affliction, I am overflowing
with joy.
- 2 Corinthians 7:4

Overflowing with joy. When our bubbles are burst or when our personal comfort zone is infringed upon, do we respond with joy?

Paul continues to speak of the comfort that was brought to him.

He says God is the one who comforts and provided the comfort of sending Titus. Titus came with a message of longing and mourning. Essentially, the church is bearing the weight of the ministry and would love to see him again. Paul rejoices because of them and their repentance, not his affliction. Even in his affliction, he is other focused.

He speaks of godly grief and defines it.

9As it is, I rejoice,
not because you were grieved,
but because you were grieved into repenting.
For you felt a godly grief,
so that you suffered
no loss through us.
10For godly grief produces
a repentance that leads to
salvation without regret,
whereas worldly grief produces death.
2 Corinthians 7:9,10

Paul says godly grief produces a repentance (a change) that leads to salvation without regret. The word in the ESV is regret. The root word is ametameletos. It means not repentant of, unregretted. It is only used twice in the New Testament. In this passage and in Romans 11:29. This verse could be rendered. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation affording supreme joy.

Joy. Joy even amongst sorrow.

Prayer

I started off with a prompt to visit and follow another blog.  Today or tonight, I want to impress upon myself to pray.  The first question of many going through my head is: why blog about this?  why pray?  what is prayer anyways?

Before I answer my own question and enjoy the sound or words of my own voice :), I have to be honest that I do not on a continuous basis talk with God.  In my daily devotional, Charles Spurgeon says and I quote, "Prayer is the forerunner of mercy."

Prayer makes the darkened cloud

withdraw,

Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw,

Gives exercise to faith and love,

Brings every blessing from above.

William Cowper, 1731 - 1800

I can pray because God sent his one and only Son to die in my place taking it all.  All means all.  All the shame, guilt, mistakes, fears, brokeness, honestly crap that would prevent me from giving the most precious gift I can give.  Faith in the God of the Universe who I can not see but it is not faith if you actually have seen because who actually can sincerely say they have faith when they can clearly see.  I could introduce a philosophical analogy that states you have faith in a chair that it will not break and you willingly sit down on the chair.  That is fine but I am not writing for the philosophers.  I am writing for the emotional readers. For the readers that are tired of.... of it all... of everything and you tried doing life without God but that clearly is not working for you.  I want to be very intentional and say pray.  If prayer is the forerunner of mercy than God have mercy.

Why blog about this?  I was inspired by a line of text.  I felt the need to blog.  I (emphasis on I) felt the need to say pray.

Why pray?  According to Charles Haddon Spurgeon it is the forerunner of mercy.

What is prayer anyways?  Communication with your Father, who will never leave you, fail you, or forsake you and who is always gracious and loving even when we are being discipline.

In order to fully comprehend the gravitas of prayer, we need to know the joy the Father had.

Hint:  Joy is not what you think it is.  Until next time.

Good Providence, 

Lonzo