Lessons for Living (Audio)

There’s an uncomfortable truth that few of us want to acknowledge – we hurt people, and people hurt us. We tend to be more fixated on the second part of that statement, but the first part is very real and it affects us inside, too. Most of the time we hurt people unintentionally but it’s still wounding, and leaves scars.. We let the hurts build up in us and they become like a callus on our soul. Pastor Mark is using the story of Joseph to teach us how God is able to use the most awful situations and work His will through them, and to put us in a place where we can forgive those who wronged us.

There’s an uncomfortable truth that few of us want to acknowledge – we hurt people, and people hurt us. We tend to be more fixated on the second part of that statement, but the first part is very real and it affects us inside, too. Most of the time we hurt people unintentionally but it’s still wounding, and leaves scars.. We let the hurts build up in us and they become like a callus on our soul. Pastor Mark is using the story of Joseph to teach us how God is able to use the most awful situations and work His will through them, and to put us in a place where we can forgive those who wronged us.

One of the wonderful things about the Bible is that for the most part it’s not complicated. Most concepts a child can understand. The challenge comes in the implementation of those concepts, especially as adults. We’ve built up so many defenses and alibis because of life that has happened to us, and those have to be overcome before we can get to where God wants us to be. Pastor Mark will be teaching about our need to forgive those who have hurt us. First, though, he’s going to let a woman share her story of hurt, abuse and tragedy, and how she was able to extend forgiveness to her abusers with God’s help.

One of the wonderful things about the Bible is that for the most part it’s not complicated. Most concepts a child can understand. The challenge comes in the implementation of those concepts, especially as adults. We’ve built up so many defenses and alibis because of life that has happened to us, and those have to be overcome before we can get to where God wants us to be. Pastor Mark will be teaching about our need to forgive those who have hurt us. First, though, he’s going to let a woman share her story of hurt, abuse and tragedy, and how she was able to extend forgiveness to her abusers with God’s help.

Most people carry scars from events in their lives. Many times these events keep us, to an extent, stunted in our development. Oftentimes we get frustrated because we seem unable to mature further in our walk with God and don’t know why. Pastor Mark is using the story of Joseph, who had a messed up family dynamic and as a result was treated quite horribly by his brothers. We will find out, though, that Joseph didn’t seem to hold any lasting grudges against those who wronged him. He was able to prosper in spite of the injustices perpetrated against him and God was able to use him powerfully.

Most people carry scars from events in their lives. Many times these events keep us, to an extent, stunted in our development. Oftentimes we get frustrated because we seem unable to mature further in our walk with God and don’t know why. Pastor Mark is using the story of Joseph, who had a messed up family dynamic and as a result was treated quite horribly by his brothers. We will find out, though, that Joseph didn’t seem to hold any lasting grudges against those who wronged him. He was able to prosper in spite of the injustices perpetrated against him and God was able to use him powerfully.

I think it’s safe to say that many if not most of us have been told of our resemblance to some family member or another. It may be physical or in personality. It’s a matter of genetics and upbringing. The challenge comes when the negative and destructive things in our lives prevent us from being who we know God intended for us to be. Pastor Mark is teaching about the transcendent transformative power of God. The Bible tells us that when we receive Christ that we are remade. Pastor Mark will be challenging us to really believe that and let go of the hurts of our past.

I think it’s safe to say that many if not most of us have been told of our resemblance to some family member or another. It may be physical or in personality. It’s a matter of genetics and upbringing. The challenge comes when the negative and destructive things in our lives prevent us from being who we know God intended for us to be. Pastor Mark is teaching about the transcendent transformative power of God. The Bible tells us that when we receive Christ that we are remade. Pastor Mark will be challenging us to really believe that and let go of the hurts of our past.

It’s really, really easy to be cynical towards life these days. We see corruption in the places we know there shouldn’t be any – government, the church, and many other places. Bad people prosper while good people get beaten down. Looking at current affairs makes it tough to think positively. Pastor Mark will be offering a different viewpoint, a Biblical one. Jesus told us that in spite of the difficulties this world would bring our way that He has overcome it. Pastor Mark will be teaching us how to begin to view life Biblically and to live life the way God intended for us to live it.

It’s really, really easy to be cynical towards life these days. We see corruption in the places we know there shouldn’t be any – government, the church, and many other places. Bad people prosper while good people get beaten down. Looking at current affairs makes it tough to think positively. Pastor Mark will be offering a different viewpoint, a Biblical one. Jesus told us that in spite of the difficulties this world would bring our way that He has overcome it. Pastor Mark will be teaching us how to begin to view life Biblically and to live life the way God intended for us to live it.