St Marks Congregational Church
Battles & Blessings: Part 1
Life is BOTH / AND
Locations & Times
St Marks Church PE
447 Cape Rd, Westering, Port Elizabeth, 6025, South Africa
Sunday 7:00 AM
INTRODUCTION
Life is not lived EITHER / OR even though we approach it like that sometimes.
“It’s either good or bad. It’s either a battle or a blessing.”
Life is BOTH / AND.
“It’s both good and bad. It’s both a battle and a blessing.”
Life is not lived EITHER / OR even though we approach it like that sometimes.
“It’s either good or bad. It’s either a battle or a blessing.”
Life is BOTH / AND.
“It’s both good and bad. It’s both a battle and a blessing.”
We are guilty of trying to over-simplify this very complex and complicated life.
If we are trying to hold onto unrealistic expectations that we’ve set based on our faulty view, then when LIFE happens, we will be more likely to ignore reality.
If we are trying to hold onto unrealistic expectations that we’ve set based on our faulty view, then when LIFE happens, we will be more likely to ignore reality.
LIFE HAPPENS CONCURRENTLY
Multiple areas all at once.
Are you battling or are you blessed? In which area of my life and at what level?
Battling in these areas at this level. Blessed in these areas at this level.
Not all areas are created equal. They are vastly different in value/importance/significance.
Physical well-being / Relational well-being / Spiritual well-being
Multiple areas all at once.
Are you battling or are you blessed? In which area of my life and at what level?
Battling in these areas at this level. Blessed in these areas at this level.
Not all areas are created equal. They are vastly different in value/importance/significance.
Physical well-being / Relational well-being / Spiritual well-being
YOUR 2022 REFLECTION
Was last year a Battle or a Blessing?
It can’t be a superficial answer.
Dig a little deeper and look for the simultaneous blessings and battles…
Was last year a Battle or a Blessing?
It can’t be a superficial answer.
Dig a little deeper and look for the simultaneous blessings and battles…
THIS IS YOUR LIFE
“The heart knows it’s own bitterness...” Proverbs 11:18
Each life, each set of circumstances, each journey is UNIQUE.
Value in sharing, journeying together, helping - only you can walk your road.
“The heart knows it’s own bitterness...” Proverbs 11:18
Each life, each set of circumstances, each journey is UNIQUE.
Value in sharing, journeying together, helping - only you can walk your road.
That’s when you realise the battles are not the problem.
Problems come from:
- Pretending there’s no battle - everything’s fine!
- Focusing ONLY on the battle!
- Relying on YOUR strength, YOUR insight, YOUR ability ALONE.
Problems come from:
- Pretending there’s no battle - everything’s fine!
- Focusing ONLY on the battle!
- Relying on YOUR strength, YOUR insight, YOUR ability ALONE.
PLAN OF ACTION
Plan of Action that starts with a Plan of Approach.
Follow that with ACTION:
1. Identify Battles - might be obvious / might not.
2. Look for co-existing BLESSINGS - hardly ever obvious.
3. Clarify Roles / Responsibilities - is it MY problem? Is it MY role? Is it MY responsibility?
4. Define Next Step - what must I do?
That’s all theory – very, very necessary theory – analyzing, detailing, planning, clarifying – you haven’t DONE anything yet.
5. DO IT.
Plan of Action that starts with a Plan of Approach.
Follow that with ACTION:
1. Identify Battles - might be obvious / might not.
2. Look for co-existing BLESSINGS - hardly ever obvious.
3. Clarify Roles / Responsibilities - is it MY problem? Is it MY role? Is it MY responsibility?
4. Define Next Step - what must I do?
That’s all theory – very, very necessary theory – analyzing, detailing, planning, clarifying – you haven’t DONE anything yet.
5. DO IT.
This is life.
God Allows, because He KNOWS.
We struggle, not because we don’t know, but because we don’t TRUST.
“I don’t know WHY or for WHAT purpose, but I TRUST that You will use this in a way I cannot imagine.”
God Allows, because He KNOWS.
We struggle, not because we don’t know, but because we don’t TRUST.
“I don’t know WHY or for WHAT purpose, but I TRUST that You will use this in a way I cannot imagine.”
“Lord, You are the Way, the Truth and the Life.” - I TRUST you!