God is constant

Good morning my Brothers and Sisters. I like going to the gym. It actually is my sanctuary from my daily chaos. I know it’s hard to believe that I go to the gym by looking at me, but I also love tacos and Krispy Kreme. But anyways, I love they gym until about the new year. This is when all the quitters start signing up at the gym and they flood the gym. So during this time I grow frustrated with all these newbies flooding all the machines and weights. In my head, I think just quit already you know your going to quit in a few weeks. Just hurry up and do it so I can get back to my peace. But recently while I was trying to find my inner peace at the gym, I thought of the story of Joseph. The story of Joseph starts at , and we all know the story. When his Jacob favored him his brothers got jealous and sold him as a slave. Then as a slave he was falsely accused of by Potiphar’s wife and imprisoned. Then during his lengthy stay in prison he as forgotten about until he translated Pharaoh's vision. Again we know the story, but what stood out to me was that he never faltered on his faith. Even though he was imprisoned, sold, enslaved, he relied on God’s strength. Then in Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and says “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” Joseph knew he was part of God’s plan, it was during this time of reflection that I wondered how many people lose this vision just like they lose the drive to stay consistent with the gym. At it dawned on me that peoples physical lives are like their spiritual lives with God. Whenever adversaries or troubles come their way the falter or change their spiritual lives.

and ends at @@@@. I was thinking of this because I wonder how many people thought the same thing I did when he was going through the troubles of life. At it dawned on me that peoples lives are like thier spiritual lives with God. Whenever adveraries or troubles come thier way the falter or change thier spiritual lives.

We need all need consistency, we all are creatures of habit. I know we all have different levels of stress right now. We all have personal stressors in our lives and then to pile more stress on our lives we are here at CHBOLC. This training puts more stress on us and for some it takes us out of our comfort zone. In the book called Influence, Dr. Robert Cialdini ( a psychologist who completed a study on consistency) found that people strive for consistency. Actually he found that if someones consistency is broken it could cause up to 400% stress on the individual. This is why people desire to go back to their old ways.

But do fret, God is constant. In it says, “  

They will perish, but you will remain;

they will all wear out like a garment.

You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,

but you are the same, and your years have no end.

God is forever and he will never change. He introduces himself to Moses as “I am.” God introduced himself as the Alpha and Omega. He is forever and he won’t change. We need to find comfort during times of stress that God will never back out of a promise he made for us.

It is sin that creates adversaries-

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

It is sin that creates adversaries

“1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. 15 Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death. 16 Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.

I know this might be hard, but we need to find happiness in our misery. AKA embrace the suck.

We have to remember that when sin entered the world through Adam, it was this act that created death for us, but remember that our new life was created through Jesus Christ. Through the fallen it has introduced us into corruption and despair. We now live in a world that is dying and we see it especially as clergy. We need to remember when Jesus died on the cross for our sins and defeated death, we now can receive eternal life through his. We have been washed and sanctified through the sacrifice made by him. Even though God allows us to go through suffering we have to remember that this small time here on earth is but a blink of an eye. We also have to remember that if we are God’s people then God will turn our suffering into a good thing.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

We have to remind ourselves that this suffering isn’t going to last forever. I know it hard sometimes laying in the puddles during PT. But our lives are buy a blink of an eye for all eternity. As chaplains, we have to rejoice in the suffering because we know that God is about to give us blessings for the steadfast faith. I know my God sings praises when I choose him over my stress. And I know my God has the strength to lead me through anything.

1:12 Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him.

and - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

I want to share a quick story with you. In 2006, when I was an enlisted MP I volunteered to deploy to Iraq. When I was at my mobilization station literally right before I was going to go overseas, I recieved a red cross notification. I found out that my mother was on life support and I had to fly home to remove her from life support. So at 22 years old I had to bury my mother with little to no family support. Now I share this with you not for empathy or misery, but with life. I rejoice in this story because there was life and good that came from it. I gained the experience of soldier care with the request of a Chaplain, and I also met my wife through this experience. 6 months after I came home, I was injured and my future wife was the receptionist who in-processed me.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

I share this story that there is hope in the future.

“ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.”

It hurts during your troubles. I am not denying this. The pain is real, but there is light after the misery. There is good that will come from our troubles and trials. We just have to focus back onto Jesus, the life giver, the dead defier, and God our comforter. Instead of lowering our tears in our hands, we need to look up and seek his Goodness. In stead of worrying about this world, I say just give me jesus. I now ask CH Roland to play our final song.