June 10 “I AM AN OVERCOMER” John 16:33
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Have you ever awakened to a new day, excited by the fresh opportunities to make a difference in the lives of your fellow travelers, and then it happens? You receive a call that one of your dear friends has taken a turn for the worst, and you scramble your plans, readjust your thoughts, and head for the hospital to minister to your friends! What? Your vehicle will not start! Okay, shift gears and go to the “back-up” vehicle. Unbelievable! It will not start either! In the meantime, you learn that your child is having a more intense and difficult health situation, and she will need to seek medical attention. Down to one vehicle that will operate, you and your spouse create a plan of attack, and go for it! Let me make you aware that you are in a constant state of Prayer and believing that all is well! After a trying experience, with hospital visit made, family comforted, child seen by doctor, and in addition, collected your grandbaby from school. Well, you arrive back home, and turn on the kitchen light and it begins to flicker! After some diagnostic testing, you realize that the fixture (36 years old) needs to be replaced. Boy oh boy, do you need some “Yard Work Therapy,” so you go outside, pull out the “Ole John Deere,” and prepare to receive some good therapy, when you recognize that the John Deere will not start! Is this a conspiracy? Has something floated by your house and affected every battery on the property? Long story short, after some frustrating efforts, you remember that it could be the fuse. Sure enough, fuse replaced, and therapy begins! The next part is a bit freaky, but real! Riding along, communing with your Lord, and you notice that there is a large spider crawling on your face! For a moment, life slows to a crawl, and you begin to go into defense mode. Spider dead, and you regain focus, and realize that you have mowed over your wife’s new and beautiful plant! Oh well, the victim of an unfortunate and scary occurrence. The challenge was to inform your wife that her beautiful plant had been trimmed, a bit! Okay, therapy is not working, so you store tractor, and head in the house to insulate, hydrate and recover. The Phone rings, there is a desperate cry for help on the other end of the phone, so you clean up, dress up, and saddle up for an undetermined ministerial experience. Well, while you are out, you think that you will pick up a battery for your vehicle after your intervention. No problem, the intervention lasts 6 hours and everything is closed when you head home. Oh well, you can do it in the morning. You finally get home, shower, and drop into bed for 2 hours of sleep! Up at 4:30am, complete your morning tasks, and prepare for the new day! Regardless of who you are and what you do and where you are, Life happens, and Life is Difficult, Unfair, Exhausting and Unpredictable, yet for the Believer, We have a PROMISE! “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Stuff will happen, and we will be challenged, yet we ARE OVERCOMERS because of JESUS! Please do not let the issues and challenges of this world steal your joy! Things will happen, people will get sick, people will die, vehicles will break down, people will disappoint you and hurt you, money will be short and hard times will come, but be of Good Cheer! WE ARE OVERCOMERS! Stay Strong, Stay Focused… THE BEST IS YET TO BE!
Post Script: If you were wondering if the characters in the story for today were me and my family, the answer is YES!