You fear you won’t make it through this. You feel the depression will never lift, the yelling will never stop, the pain will never leave. Whatever you are going through – financial woes, relationship predicaments, health crises, career misfortunes, grief valleys – you CAN get through it!

Here’s how…start by groaning about it!

We can respond in one of two ways to suffering: groaning or grumbling. Groaning and grumbling can seem similar, but there are critical differences. Both are responses to suffering, but their sources and their direction are different. Groaning is a response to the weight of suffering, and it is directed toward God as an honest expression of pain, grief, and sorrow. Grumbling also reflects the weight of suffering, but it springs from anger and resentment toward God. It lacks a memory of His past faithfulness. Groaning expresses an element of hope in God, despite current sufferings, but grumbling reflects a lack of hope and faith and is accompanied by a sense of doom. In the Bible, we see that God responds to groaning with mercy, but he responds to grumbling with anger and discipline. God wants to hear your vomit of groans. Groaning is a godly way to grieve our losses and get through whatever it is we are going through.

So whatever it is you are going through, the loss of a loved one, a betrayal by a close friend, more month than money, a bad test result, unfaithfulness in your marriage, being laid off from your job, or a deep, dark depression, have you been groaning or grumbling? You CAN get through this. Start by groaning about it!

So, son of man, groan! Double up in pain. Make a scene!

Ezekiel 21:6 (The Message)

Every good and perfect gift is from above…James 1:17

Thanksgiving season is upon us again! We are 40 days (37 to be exact) away from stuffing ourselves with food, football and family. And it’s a time that reminds us to give thanks for all the good things in our lives. Because let’s face it, there are other times during the year that our mind is on anything but thanksgiving. We are often guilty of enjoying the gifts while ignoring the Giver.

My family is starting a new tradition this year. We have purchased a pumpkin. Actually, we have purchased several pumpkins. But this one particular pumpkin is not used for decoration. It has been placed in a prominent place in our home and there is a sharpie marker next to it. Every day, each one of us takes the marker and writes at least one thing on the pumpkin that we are thankful for. It sits there every day as a visual reminder of thanksgiving for the gifts in our lives and each day, new ones get added to it. It’s a way for us to enjoy the gifts and acknowledge the Giver.

I challenge your family to take the 40 Days of Thanksgiving Challenge. You are welcome to borrow our idea, or feel free to adapt an idea of your own. But in some way, give thanks for the gifts and to the Giver!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have you ever done something and then sworn to God and others that you’d never do that again – whatever that is? If you’re human, then the answer is yes.

We think thoughts that we shouldn’t think. We say things that we shouldn’t say. We do things that we shouldn’t do. We recognize we shouldn’t be thinking those things, doing those things, or saying those things. And we promise ourselves and God that we won’t think, say, or do those things ever again. And then we think those things, say those things and do those things again and again. We have good intentions. Nonetheless, we blow it on a regular basis. And we end up thinking there is no way God could ever love us.

We are in good company. This is the story of God’s people in the Old Testament. God rescues them from their troubles again and again, but they always end up back in a cesspool of their own making. It’s an ongoing cycle of failure, desperation, repentance, God’s mercy, complacency that leads to more failure and so on.

That’s where the prophet Hosea (and many other prophets) arrives on the scene. Hosea is called to a bit of a strange thing – to marry a prostitute who continues to be promiscuous after they are married. Because of Hosea’s faithful obedience we get to read about a story that parallels the same kind of love our heavenly Father shows us. Despite our best efforts to turn away, disobey, and prostitute ourselves to other gods, He continues to call us back and love us unconditionally.

In Hosea, we see how God loves His people even though they turn away from Him over and over again. While Israel kept failing, God’s love for them never did. His love is unconditional and never ending. God’s love was not based on what His people did or didn’t do; it was based on their position as His children. Nothing could ever change God’s love for them.

Sin matters. Of course, it does. God didn’t excuse that in the life of Hosea’s wife. It’s never okay for you or me to just resign ourselves to wallowing in the things we shouldn’t think, say and do. But if you find yourself in a condition where you are wondering how God could still love you, remember, your position as His child has not changed. His love for you still remains the same. You may think that God could never love you because of the things you think, say or do. But God’s love is not based on what you think, say and do. God’s love is based on your position as a child of God (1 John 3:1)!

It’s pandemonium in Kansas City. It’s making the headlines nationwide. The Chiefs are off to a 4-0 start behind the remarkable arm of second-year quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.  The former Texas Tech standout has thrown for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns with zero interceptions in the first four games of the season. He set an NFL mark for scoring throws in the first three games of a career.Just recently, Mahomes led a fourth quarter comeback victory over the Denver Broncos that was capped off by a memorable left-handed heave for a first down completion that left onlookers flabbergasted.

But Texas Tech Red Raider fans are not surprised at all. We’ve seen Mahomes do that and more during his time as the play caller for Texas Tech. While the statistics he’s putting up are stunning to some, those who watched Mahomes play at Tech aren’t speechless.  In fact, Red Raider faithful are claiming the bragging rights. Our chests are puffed out, we wear our Chief’s merchandise with pride, and share every social media post of the antics that happen in Arrowhead Stadium that we can find. Texas Tech fans all over have straightaway converted to Chief’s fans regardless of their football allegiances. Cowboy fans are donning the red and gold. Even those who aren’t followers of football have become fanatics of “Showtime” Mahomes.

Did you know that is how God feels about you?

God is your biggest fan! He is that proud of you! You are so precious to Him (Isaiah 43:4). He takes delight in you (Zephaniah 3:17). God brags about you all the time; He says that you are the “apple of his eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10). God does more than wear your merchandise; He has your name engraved in the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:16). He has an entire stadium of people cheering for you (Hebrews 12:1). And you haven’t surprised Him in any way -good or bad (Psalm 139:1-4). Besides, the bad stuff has been covered by the cross (Ephesians 1:7). Even in the imperfect, God is so proud of you (Romans 8:37-39)!

You can see why God is so proud of (you)…

Hebrews 11:16 (The Message)

Hebrews 11 is full of characters from the Bible who God was so proud of. They weren’t perfect. They didn’t have headline making numbers. Some didn’t even reach their goals. But they all had one thing that made God boast. They had faith. The had trust in God. In the highs and in the lows. On the good days and in the bad. In the known and in the unknown. In times of victory and in times of defeat. And they were always looking for something better of themselves. Always hoping for more.

Yes, God is so proud of you! Even more proud than the Red Raider faithful are of Mahomes (and that’s saying a lot). So, whether you need this reminder today or need to hang on to it for another day, don’t ever forget how proud God is of you!