Joy to the Suffering World

I’ve been thinking so much about you, my dear readers, these weeks since I last posted. I hold various mental conversations with you as I anticipate writing a new blog post. By the time I attempt the new post, most of my ideas are gone or must go. There is just too much to talk and write about!

At this season for celebrating our Savior’s birth and incarnation, I send you my best thoughts for joy in the season to share with those you love. I pray for you — that God, who holds you in the palm of His Hand, will continue to nurture and guide you, and that you will bring joy to His heart as you love Him through your thoughts and actions.

I am attaching chapter 5 to this blog of the book I am currently writing, A Traveler’s Guide through Suffering and Joy.

I had expected to post it a few weeks ago, but I’ve struggled through this chapter. If you have not read any or all of the previous chapters, I think you can approach this chapter as a stand alone for the most part. I lived this chapter, which is why I struggled through it and why it took so much time.  Click below to access it. You may want to print it and write all over it.

Chapter 5- Discovery 3-Formative Suffering & Transformative Joy

I am not going to post any more of my chapters. In mid-January, I will take them down. I’d love your input.

I have a group of ladies who are going to begin the study in mid-January, and I have one or two other groups that may start the study later in the year. Let me know if you are interested in being a part of the trial studies. By the end of 2020, I hope to publish a revised version through a publisher so anyone can then access the material.

This chapter completes the first major section of this book which is a Bible study.  All the other chapters will build on this foundation. Twelve chapters are planned plus five appendices. Of course, many details can be added to this foundation, but these first five chapters provide the framework on which to build.

I should quote a section for you from this chapter. The following is part of page 7- 8. I wrote, “Through our suffering we have profound opportunities to be exposed to God’s glory. Our understanding of and respect for God can explode — if we let God’s Word invade our life experience.” Then I described a recent “explosion” or epiphany that I experienced as I was fussing over something I couldn’t fix:

At this Christmas season,

may we see the Ineffable, Triune God —

just as Isaiah 9:6 reports,

“For unto us a Child is born, a son is given,

and the government shall be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called 

Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God,

the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace” —

 in the delicate, fragility of babyhood,

for “Christ the Savior is born.”

Incomprehensible. Ineffable.

Yet by grace to us

a cup full of comprehension

with

Joy to our Suffering World.