Looking Back: The "Why"

Photo by Cherry Laithang on Unsplash

"In His kindness God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus.  So, after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation."  1 Peter 5:10 

As I begin to look back and "debrief" 2020 a bit, I have started to read through my sermon notes and quotes written down from other talks I've listened to.  Looking back on even the first quarter of 2020, I have gotten chills reading what God was teaching me, us, even before the Pandemic began.  The "why" that is Christ.  Alive and living in us.  Daily.  Eternally.  

I share some of the quotes here as a reminder of this truth.

"He who has a 'why' to live for can bear almost any 'how.'" "What is the 'why' that is big enough to live for when the 'how' isn't enough anymore?" Robert Hahn

"Who is your King? Whose Kingdom are you building?" Nathan LaBorie

"What is the thing you still want from God which is getting in the way of just wanting God?" Hahn

"When you serve God, you have to be ready to be uncomfortable."  Bobby Sickle

"I've put down my rock, and I'm going through the narrow gate."  Hahn

"Nothing else defines me.  You and only you, Jesus."  LaBorie

February sermon resolution:  I will cut out my need for control and fear from my life.  (Right before the Pandemic began!)

"Our experience of how we are as the church will change for a time.  We will re-discover our core purpose as a church. Not a building, but the people." (March 15, Ben Trawick)

April 4:  The thief on the cross. His SIN led him to Christ, not his righteousness. 

"Waymaker, promise keeper, that is who you are." (Song:  Way Maker, echoed during the Easter 2020 season)

"Loss of our routines helps us re-evaluate what we do and what needs to be changed.  It gives us the opportunity to see God at work through the unexpected."  (Tony Sundermaier)

The pandemic is no surprise to Him.  

(Echoed throughout 2020)

"Don't pray the problem, pray the promise." Carlos Whitaker

"Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."  John Wooden

"Fatigue fatigue."

"Gratefulness is not an exchange for truth." (M.O.P.S. speaker)

"The only one who death bows to, that's the God who walks with you." (Song: Remember)

"You turn graves into gardens."  (Brandon Lake)

"Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge."  Psalm 62:8