I have this fascination with the engineering of lighthouses.

How for them to withstand hundreds of years of saltwater, sun, waves, and storms of all kinds, lighthouse foundations must go way, WAY down deep into the depths of the sea floor. What's more, the foundation of each lighthouse is often screwed down, not simply poured down, into the depths of the ocean to guarantee that the lighthouse will remain standing amidst even the worst storms.

Likewise, God has called believers faith to run deep, that we might be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Today, we look at how the Apostle Paul himself offers us an excellent example from his own life of how to be steadfast and immovable in the face of tremendous suffering. The lessons in this episode are hard, but valuable ones.

Turn your Bibles to Acts, Chapter 20, for this week's episode of Rinse and Repeat!

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Even after the resurrection, the disciples experienced a fair amount of confusion. Despite Jesus' predictions that He would be crucified, buried, and on the third day He would rise again, His own men found it very hard to believe that they were actually seeing the truly risen, flesh-and-blood Savior.

In the last of a three-part lagniappe series looking at moments of betrayal and questioning among the followers of Jesus, I explore Thomas's well-known interaction with Jesus. In this message, I examine how critically important it is to stay part of the body of believers so that we do not allow isolation to breed spiritual confusion.

I also explore the unforgettable words of Jesus in John 20:29b, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed," words that offer encouragement to each of us who today seek to walk by faith and not by sight.

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Have you ever surprised yourself by doing something so seriously wrong, something you never considered yourself even capable of doing?

And worse, have you ever experienced deep shame over that stumble?

Peter, of course, endured such a well-known mistake, which Jesus predicted in Luke 22:31-34:

31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”

34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”

In the days that follow, we see not only Peter betraying Jesus, but we also see Jesus faithfully restoring Peter in a famous scene on the beach by the Sea of Tiberias. In studying this, I learned things I NEVER KNEW before about how PERSONAL Jesus' restoration of Peter was and how even the words "Do you love me?" are incredibly powerful and meaningful, to Peter and to each of us!

Beloved, join me on this journey and explore how God is not shocked by our stumbles, but He is so loving and faithful to restore us to Himself!

The Betrayal of the Follower, today on Rinse and Repeat!

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Has someone betrayed you?

Has a spouse turned their back on your marriage?

Or has a friend recently lied and just changed, seemingly out of nowhere?

Jesus felt the pain of betrayal deeply in the days leading up to the cross.

As I explored this subject of betrayal in preparing this lagniappe episode, God showed me so much about myself, how I worship God, and what I understand of Him, even as I explored the simple phrase:

Hosanna!

God convicted me deeply in preparing this lagniappe, and I pray it ministers to you as much as it did to me as we briefly pause our series on suffering and examine the Betrayal of the Fickle.

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C.S. Lewis, in his book The Problem of Pain, wrote, "Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say 'My tooth is aching' than to say 'My heart is broken.'"

Why can it be so hard for us to be open about our pain? Why do we so quickly answer, "I'm fine," even when we really aren't fine?

We may not be open about our suffering for many reasons - we don't want to trouble people, we may not want to overshare, we may not even have the energy to explain. But ultimately, we don't fully display our suffering because we don't fully understand how God plans to work through our suffering and weakness.

In today's episode, "But Why?" we explore why God allows us to endure seasons of intense tribulation and how He is with us through those seasons.

Turn with me to Romans 5:3-5 for this week's episode of Rinse and Repeat!

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When you see you are about to be hit, either by a car, a person, or an object, what is your first reaction?

Usually, you tend to brace yourself - clench your muscles, close your eyes, and prepare for the worst!

Our tendency is to react in this way not only to physical suffering but also to all kinds of pain. We can tend to fear, clench, and expect the worst because suffering hurts!

And yet, Jesus, in Revelation 2:10a, tells the church in Smyrna, "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer."

The church in Smyrna naturally would fear the extreme persecution it faced for Christ's sake. And yet, Jesus would give them specific reasons NOT to fear suffering, which are instructive for all of us today.

In today's program, we learn not only why we do not have to live in fear during seasons of suffering but also what to do specifically when we ARE afraid!

Turn your Bibles to Revelation Chapter 2, for our second installment in our suffering series, here on Rinse and Repeat.

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"I suggest to you that it is because God loves us that he gives us the gift of suffering. Pain is God's megaphone to rouse a deaf world. You see, we are like blocks of stone out of which the Sculptor carves the forms of men. The blows of his chisel, which hurt us so much are what make us perfect."

C.S. Lewis' thoughts on the purpose of suffering are incredibly true, and still, naturally, we want to avoid suffering at all costs, because, well, it hurts!

Today on Rinse and Repeat we begin a new series on the topic of suffering, and today's message explores 2 Corinthians 4:16

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 

Join me today as we TAKE HEART even in dark hours of suffering, and begin to see God's purpose in pain.

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In our series Strong in the Lord, we have learned all the parts of the armor - the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes with the Gospel of peace, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit.

Having learned all the parts of the armor - the question now is - how do we put it ON, and how do we put it to WORK?

Today as we conclude our series on the armor of God, we learn the answer to this critical question, and how it changes everything in our spiritual battles!!

The conclusion to our series on the armor of God, today on Rinse and Repeat!

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We get news of a loved one's tragic passing.

We face chronic illness or relationship strains or job losses.

In each situation, we long to actually FEEL God's presence. We long for His help. For a touch of His hand.

As I recently meditated on these things, God gave me His Word so clearly in Psalm 139:7-10, this beautiful picture of comfort,

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.

In the Roman soldier's armor, the sword was not what we may typically envision as a sword - long with a hilt. Rather, it was a short sword, more like a dagger in a scabbard, designed for close hand-to-hand combat.

This is particularly significant when we understand that the Word of God is referred to as the Sword of the Spirit in Ephesians 6:17. In other words, the enemy plans to attack us in ways that are up close and personal, and for those battles, we MUST be armed with powerful Word of God.

Hebrews 4:12a tells us that "the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword." In this episode, I share how this powerful tool can be used not only to cut out harmful things from our lives but also to create and add beautiful things that make for our growth!

This episode is a continuation of our series on the armor of God, but it is also something of a special edition. I share four specific instances from my own life where the Word of God spoke CLEARLY into situations I was facing and how the Scriptures powerfully changed me and assured me of God's work amidst difficult circumstances!

So turn in your Bibles to Ephesians 6:17 for this SPECIAL episode of Rinse and Repeat!

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