But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. v9-10

There have certainly been times recently where I have felt weak...almost assuredly I can say that I have also seen Christ's power, particularly with respect to the extent to which our brothers and sisters in Christ have so graciously supported Lisa and myself have experience prayers, love, and support as Lisa goes through cancer treatment.

1 Corinthians 12 and Paul's discussion of unity in the church.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You indeed are a great God!  Lisa and I are overwhelmed in a positive way with all of the support and love our brothers and sisters in Christ have provided over the past month or so...You church works in amazing and awesome ways!  Thank You Jesus!  Forgive me for my laziness and disobedience.  I am weak.  Help me turn from such 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.  Please cure Lisa and give her comfort.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.

But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."

2 Corinthians 10

But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” v17

There are several nuggets in this chapter, including the following that also speak to me:

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. v3-4

...

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. v12

I know I have pride issues and from time to time I also carry the sin of arrogance...both of which I pray that God can help me turn from these sins and towards Him.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are indeed worth boasting about...You created the heavens and the earth, and everything in it...Your love for Your children abounds beyond what we can describe.  You know everything about me...yet You suffered and died for me.  You bless me beyond what I deserve.  I am not worth the love and blessings You pour out for me.  I am disobedient, lazy, selfish, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Give me strength.  Cure and give Lisa strength and comfort.  Help me serve and lead Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

2 Corinthians 9

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. v10-11

Giving is a blessing and it glorifies God.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have provided abundantly and for all needs and in all ways...You are gracious as You bless and provide well beyond what I deserve.  I am prayerful and hopeful that I glorify You with how I give and use the treasure with which You have placed in my care.  I am not worth the many, many blessings You provide and place in my care.  I am selfish, lazy, disobedient, harsh with my thoughts, words, and actions, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway and thank You for the abundance of blessings in my life.  Forgive me please for my sin and help me turn from my sin 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.  Cure her of this cancer.  Give Lisa comfort and encouragement. Help me serve and strengthen Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9

 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. v7

I know, as I posted yesterday, that I am to be good steward of the blessings God places in my care.  Paul expands on this by telling me HOW to do this...by developing a heart for giving and for being a cheerful giver.  I am prayerful that I am a cheerful giver.

My Prayer: Lord, You have given to me and placed in my care blessings beyond what I deserve and You have given me great riches in terms of treasure, talent, and time.  You are a great God that always provides and You became poor so that I could become rich...in so many ways.  Thank You Jesus!  Again, I am not worth such blessing.  I am quick to anger with Zach...still.  And harsh with my thoughts, words and actions.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Help me lead, serve and strengthen Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.

2 Corinthians 8

The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. v15

I know I am to be generous...to be a good steward of what God has put in my care: treasure, time, talent. In particular in this passage, Paul is focusing on money, but the broader point applies.  God has treasure, time, and talent in my care for His glory.  And I am to be generous and intentional with all of them.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God...giving tremendously to me...even though I am not deserving.  Your love and Your grace abounds...I see it daily in my life and in the lives around me.  Your church and my brothers and sisters in Christ are an incredible creation and they are functioning for the care and love of us during this trial - praise God.  Thank You Jesus for Your love and Your church and for all of the brothers and sisters in Christ who are supporting us and praying for us fervently.  I am not worth such love and blessing. I continue to be disobedient, selfish, impatient, too quick to anger, etc.  Thank You Jesus that You love me despite my sin and knowing everything about me.  Please forgive me and help me turn from 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.  Help me give Lisa strength.  Help me serve and lead Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8

 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. v9

I know, in the moment, that I am rich...in all ways...with Christ I am rich.  I should be thankful for ALL that He provides...the list is long!

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Also:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

My Prayer:  Lord, I KNOW I have it good...even with the trial of Lisa's cancer....there is richness and abundance everywhere...like a great mammogram report that cancer is not in the lymph nodes...that we have so many people praying for us, encouraging, helping us...etc.  God is great in all ways...all the time.  I am not deserving of such blessing!  I worry far too much.  Thank You Jesus that You love me anyway but please forgive me!  Help me turn from my sin 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 lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

2 Corinthians 8 

In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. v2

I know that I am to be generous...but I am called to be generous regardless of what I am experiencing.  This is similar to giving thanks...regardless of the circumstances:

[G]ive thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

My Prayer: Lord, as Paul wrote You became poor so that I could become rich...and I am rich...You have blessed me in all ways and beyond what I deserve.  I am not deserving because I am lazy, disobedient, selfish, impatient, etc.  Thank You Jesus that You love me anyway but please forgive me for these sins!  Help me turn from these 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 grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Help me give Lisa strength.  Help me serve and lead Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.