See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.

2 Corinthians 7

See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. v11

God wants us to repent from our sins, turn towards Him and believe in Him - this is what Paul refers to as Godly sorrow.  We all need Godly sorrow...not worldly sorrow as Paul calls it.   We need an earnest sorrow that produces a growing desire for Jesus.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great in every way...more ways than I can imagine.  You have produced a beautiful day...and You have given me a day of rest and so much more...You bless me well beyond what I deserve.  I am selfish, quick to anger, slow to listen, etc.  I am weak...thank You that You love me anyway and for all the incredible blessings You provide.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me instead turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Help me give Lisa strength.  Help me lead my family.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?

2 Corinthians 6

 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? v14

It is not that we cannot be friends with unbelievers, it is that we must not allow their unbelief to influence our own belief - we must instead be a light on lampstand that shines for others to see:

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Matthew 5:15

My Prayer: Lord, Your heart is pure, holy and blameless. I know You have a heart for me...unbelievable because I am a sinner!  I am selfish, prideful, arrogant, impatient, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Heal Lisa's cancer.  You are a great God and I desire to serve and glorify You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.

2 Corinthians 5

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. v16

I have often prayed for God to forgive me for my harsh thoughts, words, and actions in terms of how I think of others...including my own family!  Paul is imploring me to view others through the lens of Jesus Christ and how He sees us...as perfect in His eyes and as one of God's creations worthy of the gospel.  I am reminded of Peter's vision from God in Acts 10

While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. Acts 10:27-28

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God full of love, compassion, and mercy for all...You even came for me...a sinner!  I am not worth such an effort...my sin continues daily and I desperately need You to save me.  Thank You that You love me despite my selfishness, my judgmental nature, etc.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sins and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do...help me see others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. v10

There are consequences for our sin....whether in this life or in heaven. I don't like to think about this but this DOES help us live in reverent fear of God.  We need Him desperately...for forgiveness and mercy.  For we know that  ... "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23) and only He can provide such mercy and forgiveness.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You indeed are a great God, full of love, compassion, and mercy.  You went to the cross for me and I know of no greater act of love, compassion, and mercy.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such an act.  I am selfish, quick to anger, slow to listen, impatient, prideful, etc.  Thank You that You know all about me and my sin...that You love me anyway.  Please forgive me for my sins and help me turn from them towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Help me serve her, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me glorify You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. v16-18

I am not sure there are going to be as many passages of scripture that speak to Lisa's cancer and our circumstances as squarely as these passages written by Paul.  For sure, I don't see Lisa wasting away but our earthly lives are temporary compared to eternity in heaven with Jesus.  I pray that I can fix my eyes on Jesus and can help Lisa do the same.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that give us both external and more importantly, internal or inward strength.  You provide like no other!  We need no look elsewhere for our care and provision!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such care and love...I continue to sin...I am selfish, lazy, I worry...etc.  Thank You again that You love me despite my sin and knowing about my sin even before I sin.  Help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength and give Lisa strength.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

2 Corinthians 4

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. v8-9

  
I know in my heart and mind that God is with Lisa and myself but I have my worries and my moments of concerns..I am nonetheless encouraged further by Paul's words later in this chapter.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. v17-18

My Prayer: Lord, You are a great God and I know You never leave me nor will You forsake me.  You are with me "til the end of the age".  Yet I continue to worry, and I have other sin..impatience, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Heal her and give her peace and encouragement.  Help me serve her and Zach and Lisa.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. v17

Many believers and non believers alike assume that Christ = rules for living.  Instead, as Paul rightly points out, Christ = freedom.  Of course, Christ is so much more but in the context of this letter to the church in Corinth, Christ motivates us and inspires us by providing freedom...from sin the shame of sin, from worry, etc.  God is great...we need not worry with Christ in our hearts and lives.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great!  You ARE freedom...from sin, from shame of sin, from worry...and so much more!  You are all I need.  Yet unfortunately, I act on a daily basis as if I can do things my way...this is bondage...and of course sinful!  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from my sin and towards You...help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Heal and cure her from this cancer!  Help me serve her.  Help me also understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.